Character Names 19 Methods Tips for Naming Characters Step-by-Step

Character Names 19 Methods Tips for Naming Characters Step-by-Step Character Names: 19 Methods Tips for Naming Characters Step-by-Step Your character names have the ability to transform the perception readers have of your book and story.If you think about itcharacter names are actually a specific literary device you can use most sneakily.And if you want readers to love, adore, and care for your main character, giving them the best and most memorable name can make all the difference.Use these methods for naming characters in your book:Using baby name websitesThe Root-Meaning methodMash-up character naming methodThe Add-on methodDevelop-First naming methodMaking character names up from scratchNaming-by-era methodUsing similar-to-real-life names11 tips for getting character names rightNOTE:Are you ready to give your characters a real home? Check out our VIP Fundamentals of Fiction and Storytelling Self-Publishing Program to learn how. Learn more about it hereNaming Characters Intentionally: Why Character Names MatterCharacter names have the power to transform your readers perception of your character entirely.Lets use the example of names from How to Train Your Dragon, the animated film.Character name example: HiccupWhy this character name matters: This name is extremely fitting to the type of character Hiccup is. The reason for a silly, weak name like this is because that is what the creators want you to think of when you hear the name. They want you to have low expectations so that when this character rises above, the emotional impact is far greater than if he had a typical hero name.You can use this same ideology for villains. One in particular with a famous name is from Harry Potter.Character name example: Lord VoldemortWhy this character name matters: From the beginning, Rowling crafted this name to be foreboding. In fact, this character himself chose the name because of that. As the author, you can craft your villains name based on your intentions. If you want readers to underestimate them, choose a silly name like Bob. But if you want readers to fear the wrath of your villain, choose a mor e fitting name like Lord Voldemort.Character Name GeneratorsIf youre looking for the easy way out and would rather someone else do the work in naming your characters, there are tools online for that.Here are some of the top character name generators:Character Name Generator This one allows you to fill in several different defining factors in order to produce a character name that fits your character best.Fantasy Name Generator Are you writing a fantasy novel and need some character name ideas? This generator offers several different options for theme-based character names for your fantasy book.Name Generator for Fun With this one, you can choose from several categories, like villain names, rap names, superhero names, and more.Name Generator This character name generator also gives you options to narrow in on details about your character for a more fitting name. However, this one has more real-life names than uniquely created, so it may serve better if youre writing in the conte mporary book genre.Writers Character Name Generator While very random, this one may just allow you to stumble upon your next main characters name.Character Name GeneratorHow to Come Up With Character NamesNaming your characters is one of the best and scariest parts of writing a novel.Using one of these methods will help ease the process while providing higher quality final results.#1 Baby Name WebsitesOne of the most popular methods of coming up with new character names is to pretend theyre your babyliterally!Baby naming websites have been serving up characer names for writers for years.Oftentimes, these websites even offer name meanings, trending names, and even names that were popular doing different years.Here are some great baby name websites to discover your characters names:NameberryBaby Name WizardBaby Name CenterNymblerBaby NamesBabble Baby Names#2 Root-Meaning MethodWelcome to the most common, tried-and-true method to name characters in books.People use this method in re al-life to name their children, too!The root-meaning method simply refers to using a core meaning or belief or even origin of a name for symbolism in your book.Here are some examples of this:Tobias Kaya in The Saviors Champion: His name means goodness and is very much meant to align with who his character is and his role in the series.Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings: Little do most people know, the name Frodo originated from the old English word frà ³d, which translates to wise by experience.Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games: This books author really took the name meaning seriously when crafting her main character. Katniss is a plant in the genus Sagittaria, which roughly translates from Latin as archer.You can easily find the meanings of names by venturing to baby naming websites. You can also type in a name you like to Google and it will usually pop up.#3 The Mash-UpOne of my personal favorite ways of creating new names is to simply mash real-life names together until I find s omething thats real-sounding but also unique to my world and characters.This method of coming up with character names is better learned through seeing than a simple explanation:Josh and Riley = Joley, Jile, Rosh, RisheCasey and Michael = Cachel, Cachael, Casel, Misey, Miche, Michey, MaseyEmily and Rochelle = Emelle, Echelle, Romil, Romily, Rochil, RocilyObviously, some combinations will be better than others, but this is a quick way to generate new but realistic character names.Heres the step-by-step breakdown for how to create simple character names with this method:Choose or find 2 real-life namesMatch them side by sideTake the first half of the first name and mix and mach it with the last half of the second nameRepeat step 3 but vice versaYou should have a list of several different sounding namesChoose a few to keep that you likeRepeat this process with several pairs until you have a roster of character names to choose from#4 The Add-OnThis method is super similar to the previou s method but with more freedom.This is another personal favorite and how I manage to come up with cool and interesting names that are also unique to my story.Instead of taking two names and matching the beginning of one with the end of the other, simply choose real names and swap out the endings or add on to them completely.Heres what this looks likeRebecca = Rebera, Rebilla, Rebyr, Rebine, ReborraTaylor = Tayr, Tayora, Tayrin, Taysila, TayserraCory = Corrin, Corel, Coreesa, Coryn, Corros, Cortsa, CortaJohn = Johva, Johrrin, Johk, JohreyThe steps for this one are pretty obvious. Choose a random real-life name and simply swap out the endings for a combination you create on your own.I always try to do varying combinations, remembering that double consonants work well, as does changing the length of the vowel sounds by adding or changing those letters.I do this often and keep a spreadsheet with names I like, as in the image below.#5 Develop-First NamingSometimes choosing a characters name too early will make you subconsciously develop that character into someone who fits that name.This can be bad if you need that specific character to act and behave in a certain way.With this character naming method, you will develop your character in full first and then choose their name. The reason for this is to ensure youll write that character with intention.For example: in the Harry Potter series, the mood tends to be more serious. Rowling created Ron Weasley as comedic relief. While Ron is much more than that, the intention is still for him to be a goofy, funny character.The name Ron Weasley supports this development.Had she named him a more serious name like Reginald, Theodore, or Christopher, crafting those scenes may have been very different.The same can be said for another character called Draco Malfoy. This name is far more dark than it is funny, which is fitting for his character.The steps for this character naming method are simple:Download and fill out this charac ter development worksheet.Understand your characters role in the story. Do you want them to be serious, funny, silly, foreboding?List names that make you feel the way of your intentions.Ask friend and family to tell you what each name makes them think of personality-wise.Narrow down your choices to 3 and ask another group.Decide on the best-fitting name.#6 Make Them UpIf you want to have 100% unique character names (like Lhonniadreah, a character in the book Im writing, Lhonni for short), youve got to get creative.But youre a writer, so you know how to get creative.This particular method doesnt have many rules.Essentially, you can simply think up a random name. Perhaps you have a base or a beginning that you like.For example, my full original name for the character mentioned above was Lhonni. But I felt her character needed a longer name to fit with the traditional style of the names in her culture.Secondly, I decided to pull from the common letter match-ups this culture sees often . In this case, the combinations of the dr sound with long vowels is popular.I went on to create several combinations of potential full names:LhonnidrayLhonniyadraLhonniodrinLhonnidraUltimately, the name I chose best fit her as a character, and I decided afterward that her mothers name would be Dreah, so that her name is a namesake thats in common format for the culture I created.Heres how you can replicate this process:Write down a sound or start or end of a name you like (this can be a -ly ending, an ash- beginning, or even an -eer- middle of a name.Decide if you want the name to hold any significant meaning the way mine does. This does not have to be the same meaning. You can even find base words in English or Latin to use.Take into account any world-specific cultural influences on the name. Your world building expands to even your characters name. Dont forget this! (If your book takes place in this world, think about family spellings and such as a substitute)Create a list with s everal different versions and variations. Remember your characters name can take on very different meanings and intentions based on the sound (and look!) of it.Choose the name that feels right and embodies your intentions for the character. And let it stew for a few days! Now, even if your character is brave and strong, like in the Hiccup example, using a less-than-obvious name can provide a unique perception that fosters a better reaction later.#7 Name-by-eraOne of the biggest mistakes you can make is unintentionally destroying your readers suspension of disbelief by naming a character something wildly out of the ordinary for a time period.If youre writing historical fiction or just a story from 10-15 years ago, you want to make sure your names are realistic for the time period.This trick is also helpful if you want to give your out-of-the-real-world novel a specific time era vibe.Here are some resources for baby names by era:Popular Baby Names by EraBusiness Insiders Baby Name Li st from the 1880s onVictorian baby namesBaby Center Baby Names Through the Centuries#8 Using similar but different real namesThe most famous author who uses this method is George R.R. Martin in his infamous series Game of Thrones.What Martin did in order to give this epic fantasy series realistic but medieval sounding names is simply alter just a few letters in a name.Here are some examples of names from Game of Thrones with more common real names:Gregor GregoryJoffrey JefferyBrienne BrianneTheon Theo / TheodorePetyr PeterJorah JonahGilly LillyPodrick RodrickMartin has a way of completely transforming these very similar-to-real-life names into something with both a. fantastical and medieval twist in order to further transport us to his world. Of course Game of Thrones also features completely unique names like Daenerys and Tyrion along with real-life names like Robert and Jon. Martin uses this combination to his advantage- and you can too!Top Tips for Naming Characters in Y our BookNo matter which method you choose for naming your characters, youll need a few tips to make it more effective.Here are the best tips for naming book characters with intention.#1 Remember, length mattersThis is particularly true if you have several characters who will interact with one another regularly.If you have all very long names, your reader will be exhausted.You dont want thatWhat you do want is a reader who doesnt have to focus on the pronunciation or longevity of several character names.Using a combination of long, short, and medium length names will allow your readers to read easier so they can focus more on visualizing whats happening.Heres an example of this with names from my work in progress:EssadraVhieDailanLhonniadreahRiddickKetThis combination allows several of these characters to be in the same scene without exhausting or confusing the reader.#2 Keep nicknames in mindYou can use your characters name as a plot device if you really wanted to.Maybe the reveal of your main characters full name is important to the story and your character has only been called by a nickname their whole life.Nicknames can also serve as a way to show and not tell within your writing as well. Those close to your character are more likely to use a nickname and therefore, you dont have to dumb as much exposition in order for them to learn.Just make sure the nickname is also fitting and not too similar to other characters names.#3 Make sure the name fits the characterWeve already mentioned this tip a number of times but its worth mentioning again.If your characters name is very, very ill-fitting, it will stand out in a bad way to readers.This is why getting feedback and understanding your character fully is so vital for the naming process.#4 Make sure the name fits the settingWhere your story takes place can change the names you use for your characters.Whats the location?Does your story take place in a cold, harsh climate or in a dry, warmer environment?The lo cation matters because the names used can help enhance or take away from the mood youre trying to create within that environment.For example, harsher climates tend to pair well with curt, quipped names to mirror this. But if you want your character in this specific place to stand out, you can give them a name thats ill-fitting in order to focus on this contrast.A great example of this is Ygritte from Game of Thrones. Yet again, George R.R. Martin has named someone who lives in a tough, gritty environment with a suitable name that gives off this vibe.What are the cultural influences?As mentioned in a few of these tips, culture plays a large role in your characters names.Does your culture, whether you make it up or its real, influence your characters name in any way?For example, in a certain culture in my work in progress, names can often be namesakes. However, instead of simply naming a baby the full name of whomever theyd like to honor, they add the name to the start of another.Lhon nidra is a common name in a certain place of my book. However, her mother Dreah died. Her father then named her after her mother, but in this world, that would translate to Lhonniadreah instead of just Dreah.Ask yourself if there are any cultural influences and if there isnt (and youre completely making up this world), feel free to add some!What is the intended time period?Even if your book takes places in a completely different world, you can still allow readers to get a sense of the intended time period youre going for with the names you use.For this method, use old victorian names or names from medieval times as a base when also using another method for coming up with a unique name.Victorian name example: EmalineCreated for a unique world while maintaining the same vibe: EmariseYou can tweak the names until you find something that feels right.#5 Consider how each name soundsThere are several literary elements that touch on the way similar or contrastingly different sounds can pl ay into the attractiveness of writing.Although most people dont read novels out loud, unless theyre reading to their kids, we all still have a voice in our head that is out loud.And that voice is drawn to names that sound appealing.This can often be a subjective element when coming up with character names, but you can probably recognize names that sound good versus names that sound bad.But you can also use this to your advantage for further character development as well.Ugly sounding names are a great fit for characters youd like your audience to interpret as just that. Its all about what intention you have for that character.An example of this is the name James Bond. I think we can all agree this is a great sounding, tough name that fits the character well.#6 Get feedback on the namesOther people are a better judge of the first impression of a character name simply because its fresh for them.Enlist 7-10 people you can get feedback from when it comes to these names.Send the name al ong with 2 sentences describing the character (physically and personality) and ask them if they sound like they fit.Oftentimes, we might really like names that are hard to read or pronounce for new readers. In that case, youll want to problem solve for a solution.#7 Dont be afraid to go crazy with itThis is your book! This is your world and if you have names that are a little out there, thats okay!The only reason youd want to reel in the craziness is if the names are too complex for readers to easily comprehend and remember.Nobody wants a character whose name people forget when talking about the book. After all, characters are one of the first things raving fans gush about with a new book they love.That being said, dont be afraid of creating your own names in your own world. Real-life parents make up names for their children every day. You can do the same for your characters.#8 Create cultural similarities in your worldThis is mainly for authors writing in a unique world they make up on their own.Different cultures and languages have very different names and common ways to spell and pronounce those names.Heres a quick example of several names from opposite sites of the world in my story: If your characters are from very different areas, the names should reflect that, just like in life.#9 Avoid using already-popular book character namesUsing the name Harry or Katniss isnt the best idea. At leastnot if you want your characters to be remembered as your characters.With infamous names, itll be very hard to set your character (and therefore, your book) apart.If you want to use a name and arent sure if its in another super popular book, just do a Google search for Name in book and if it doesnt populate a very specific result, youre in the clear.#10 Avoid similar names if your character is based on someone you knowAll writers draw inspiration from the real world. Theyre lying if they say otherwise.BUT, if you do base a character on someone you know in real life (which we recommend you change enough that they wouldnt know anyway), dont use a name thats similar for the character.This can make people feel very uncomfortable, not to mention itll be that much more obvious to ou tsiders who know you.#11 Bring your characters to lifeDont just name your characters and leave them to exist only in your imagination and future conversations of friends or family asking you if youve finished your book yet.Give them a world by finishing and even publishing your book.Weve got some tips to help you with that in this free video training.Save your spot by signing up below!