Picking names for a novel?

Question

I'm trying to write a novel and am having trouble getting names. I googled baby names and got some baby name sites that list every name on earth by type origin and etymology, all of which takes years to sort through. I want names that aren't too common yet not so out there that it makes you think that the author is trying to hard. The names are for middle aged people living in Britain with Northern European origins.

Any tips for picking names?

By Northern European I mean british isles, France, Germanic areas. And the timeframe is present.

Answer 1

Yes. Use those sites. That is really the best way. Once you have done your character analysis, you should just sort through those sites until you find what you want. No, it doesn't take years. It is a part of your research and prep time. Novels weren't written in a day. It does take time to do your basic ground work - which includes character studies, an outline and research. There are really no shortcuts. Just take your time until you find the names that suit your characters. I would never let a total stranger from Yahoo Answers name my characters. They are like my children. Their names are special to me. Pax - C

Answer 2

Here's what I do. No lie.

If you have cable TV and have the capability to read a synopsis on the movies, then check actor names.

Of course, do NOT put the same first and last name together, but you should find a short list that you can make a choice from. Or even, change traditional names by 1 letter to come up with cool stuff . . .

Nora - Nola
Marty - Marly
Cheyanne - Sheyanne
Sherry - Cherry

I have used each of these 'altered' names in my own stories.

Answer 3

You could pick random names of people you know and slightly alter them.
You could do a shang high noon and take real names but make them sound slightly different like the movie.
You could take words that mean something in a different language and use those, but then again this one seems like a lot of trouble... unless you come up with some good ones.
Like Agnus is Latin for Lamb, or Diablo is Spanish for Devil, or something else that fits as a name like those.

slightly altering words gives a big difference, and the best example i can think of is in german
hast = have
hasst = hate

Answer 4

Northern Europe? Do you mean like Norway and Sweden ..ect.? If so, then I would say names like Nels and Dagmar are good. If not then maybe Nicholas or Natasha and Kirsten and Ivor. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

no count if it incredibly is desperate in twentieth century eire then seem on the Irish telephone itemizing and the names you detect in there will be what human beings relate to. each from time to time unusual names could be fairly a downer whilst it is composed of analyzing, e.g. how might you pronounce Aoife? bear in mind too that no longer each physique in eire is Irish. solid success consisting of your writing and your tale.

Answer 6

The names that I use just come to me. I have a giant list that I add to all the time and put to memory. So when I'm making a new character...I dunno a name just pops in my head. The sites I commonly use are:

http://20000-names.com/

http://www.last-names.net/

Don't over think their name, but if it doesn't feel right, don't keep it as that.

Answer 7

behindthename.com is fabulous. I suggest....

Aveline
Dorothea
Topher
Kegan

You can sort both by gender and etymology (English, Dutch, etc) They even have meanings, origins, AND surnames!

Good luck!

Answer 8

Nigel
Penelope
George
Elsbeth

Answer 9

You're doing what I do when I need names for new characters that I'm creating, here are more links for you to try.

The etymology and history of first names

http://www.behindthename.com/

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/chyams/Names/boys.html

http://www.gov.im/mnh/heritage/library/publicinfo/manxNames.xml

http://www.alphadictionary.com/directory/Specialty_Dictionaries/Names/

http://www.word2word.com/name.html

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/names.html

http://www.adorablenames.com/

Good luck.

Answer 10

Hagel and Bomba