How can I name my characters in my book?

Question

It's a fantasy

Answer 1

Names are so important. I can't imagine a great writer ever choosing names at random. They need to mean something. Whether it shows irony or reveals something about the character it needs to have a purpose. Will, for example, as in the Will to get something accomplished. (His Dark Materials Trilogy)
J.K. Rowling uses Weasley to help display those characters. Also, Dolores "Umbridge" is brilliant. Names absolutely have to have meaning. Sometimes I'll write an entire short story or novella and then after I learn more about my characters I have to go back through and rename them.

Answer 2

For me, I like to pay attention to the initial sensation I get after looking at a name (I use a baby name site like many). Think about personality. Sometimes meanings of names are cool, but maybe readers won't get that impression or know the meaning. I did the meaning thing for a character Upenyu, which means life. It's a perception of reality piece. But also think about the syllables of the name, the way it rolls off the tongue. Is it short, strong? Tacky or wimpy? In reality our names don't always suit our personalities but fiction is a different universe. People will have different opinions about characters given their names. At least, that is my opinion.

Answer 3

I keep a folder on names.

How I come up with the names:
I usually write about vampires so I need old names so I look through historical books and old records to find names.

If you write about fantasy then look through old european names. cornish and welsh names can make good names for people in a fantasy novel!!

Answer 4

you could go at it from a variety angles

1.) random. just choose names out of a phonebook or pick and choose, one persons' last name with another's first. (milhouse van houten, from the simpsons, is a mix of richard nixon's middle name (milhous) and one of charlie manson's followers, leslie van houten)

2.) you could choose something that comments on the character on a secondary level. either in the actual words (e.g. chillingsworth from "the scarlet letter" evokes coldness and reflects his emotional mindset) or perhaps in reference to something else (cleveland brown, from family guy, is a joke in reference to the nfl team and to cleveland's race - he's african american)

3.) pick a name based on the sound of it. e.g. in the case of a real name "dutch schultz" has a heavy leaden quality to it (i've someone say it's reminiscent of axe blows)

lois lane, lana lang, etc. etc. have an almost melodic quality to it, which may be why superman always has girlfriends with LL names

4.) a mix of any of these and whatever mood you're in at the time.

Answer 5

look at a baby book, or online name reference and see if the description of the name reflects your vision of the character.

Answer 6

I love the site Behind the Name. I like choosing names that have meaning for the character. I keep it bookmarked to use often.

http://www.behindthename.com/


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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 7

Name them crazy unusual names! I personally like the names Ivy, Leo, Giza, and Gordon... Don't choose names like john.. its very unappealing to the reader... With the last names you could get REALLY crazy! I like to think of random objects and then spell them a bit differently!

Answer 8

I've heard that James Michener will spend week or months agonizing over choosing a name.
I usually wait, and the right name comes to me. I may hear it, or read it, and suddenly realize that it's the one for my character.
If you get impatient and pick one that's not right, you will get used to it and it will be very hard to change it later.

Answer 9

think of names you like that match thier personalities
most of the time the names will come to you
even if you don't like it try it
the character is picking it's own name

Answer 10

Pick a name and name them? Name them after family members that helped me :)