Your methods for naming characters?

Question

What methods do you use for name characters? I am a little picky naming characters. Some of them are alligerations (Hermenegilde Heeps).

Named after historical figures that shares caracteristics (Nerón Ambrosio César)

Wordplay (Nihilus Sollers; check what they mean in Latin)

and absurd repetitions (Douglas D. Douglas)

Also I check a lot of name meaning websites and old name lists; I like unusual names

Answer 1

I tend to spend some time figuring out who my characters are before I work on names: Where do they live? What are their family's cultures? What are their personalities like? Then, I take a browse through an online directory of baby names until something catches my eye. These two are excellent:
http://www.babynamesworld.com/
http://www.babynames.com/

When it comes to my fantasy writing, I have a little more trouble. Once I get a few names, the other ones seem to flow but I need some inspiration. One great thing that I've used is internet name generators. They give me ideas and letter combinations that spark my imagination. Here's one that I like:
http://www.geocities.com/phillipriley/ngmain.html

Answer 2

i usually pick names for their meanings or names that fit the character because of the way they sound. For example, I don't need to look up the name Alexandria to know that it has power behind it or look up Lily to know that it would fit someone sweet. What I really like is putting foreign names because that way, if your book is translated, the readers don't have to worry about figuring out all of the strange names and instead will find a name or two that they will know how to pronounce. so i try putting in names from many different languages, but not too many because then the English speakers would have trouble learnng all of the names.

Answer 3

I have a copy of The Character naming Sourcebook, which lists thousands of name (first and last), divided by gender, country, and ethinicity. It also includes explanations on how to construct names (for example, some cultures write the name surname first...good to know if you are trying to be authentic.) It also provides meanings for the names and a very nice index to look up names to see what they mean.

Answer 4

I have several name books and go through them writing down any that strick me as interesting. I make a list for each character and then go from there. Some times it takes me days and days to find that perfect name. I have one character from a story I wrote years ago that still doesn't have a name. Maybe I should look over all my writing again? Thank you for giving me the writing bug again!

Answer 5

try to think of an normal word or name. then add to it. like... her: hermione or u could even use a regular word for a last name like patil or lovegood in harry potter. i think it is cool too when the name has real meaning behind it. like in the abhorsen series lirael's name was given to her for a couple reasons the first being that she was meant to be the abhorsen in waiting and the remamberancer and she was Seen by her mother so she knew her daughter's name!

Answer 6

i name my characters by their impact on the text, the people they are drawn from or society in which they exist.

i like to give them beautiful, intersting and realistic names.

Answer 7

Baby names.com
the Bible(that have some nice, unique names if you really look)
and my own instinct.