Naming characters

I cheat. If I'm really stuck for a name, I'll Google random sci-fi name generators on the internet and just keep going until I find something I like. Doesn't usually take very long. I do also consider the region where the character is from and the style of names in those regions, especially if they are from Earth.

I usually do 1 and use that name for 2 and then think of something better while editing. 

Sometimes though 1 is enough. Or is that Juan?  

Your approach sounds very similar to mine Patricia!

Sometimes characters have a name right away, but often I spend a lot of time sounding out different combinations until something feels right.

Sometimes, for characters that are not human, I like to use a word in my native language that has some relevance to the character, and bend it to my will.

Sometimes I read through lists of baby names or names that mean a certain thing or popular professions of certain era etc, write down any that speaks to me and then combine and modify to my hearts content lol

Really depends on the story and setting and character though. Sometimes it's the easiest part, and sometimes I really struggle naming things. (Don't even get me started on naming places! That's a deeep deeep rabbit hole)

Posted by: @pdblake

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Sometimes though 1 is enough. Or is that Juan?  

Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez!

Posted by: @tj_knight

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Posted by: @pdblake

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Sometimes though 1 is enough. Or is that Juan?  

Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez!

 

There's always Juan. 

@pdblake Ok! Do you sometimes find it hard to then "un-name" them from the placeholder? In the case of finding another name in editing.

@tiinag Thanks for sharing!

"Sometimes, for characters that are not human, I like to use a word in my native language that has some relevance to the character, and bend it to my will."

-Interesting! What is your native language?

"or popular professions of certain era etc"

-This is a good one. I can get so nerdy with that area. Love to read names of what professions used to be called far back and what people did for a living etc. 😊

"(Don't even get me started on naming places! That's a deeep deeep rabbit hole)"

-Agree. I have spent hours on researching a city that I thought was perfect for a story, only to then discover another one was actually better. Oh well... 😄😃

Posted by: @patricia-a

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@pdblake Ok! Do you sometimes find it hard to then "un-name" them from the placeholder? In the case of finding another name in editing.

Not really. If I think of a new name it's usually because the first one didn't ring true to me. From there it's just search and replace. 

For modern or historical stories, I look up lists of names popular at the right time. A couple years ago I wrote a story about a grandmother in her sixties. The names I had picked out for her and her husband would have been appropriate to my grandparents' era, but they were off by a couple of decades so I chose new ones.

I also try to think about the character's parents, especially if I'm using an unusual name - they have to be the sort of people who would give that name to their child. 

As far as fantasy names go, I sometimes pick common names and bend them a little.

Posted by: @patricia-a

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I'm curious about how people here go about naming their characters! 😊

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Would be very interesting to hear how others go about it! 😊 

I'd have to go with #1 from your list. Most names just pop in there Dan Aykroid style.

I did change the spelling of a character's name once and she felt like a different character. Eventually I got over it, but it took a while, and the old spelling would pop up now and then and I felt a little pang of missing that character.

I rarely leave one for later, but for minor characters I'll type (xx) which wasn't easy at first on the keyboard, but after a few hundred times, the fingers now just find those keys and I keep moving.

Name collection is good! I've heard of several authors that do/have done this. I believe Dickens had a notebook for names, collected and invented. Le Guin, if I'm remembering correctly, uses the word sexy when deciding on names. Not in a literal sense, but in a commercial sense.

@patricia-a Haha, yes I've also spend much time obsessed with one idea and researching endless options within that, then ended up hating all of them and going with something simple that pops up when I'm not trying.

I am often in awe of other people's ability to name characters and places just the perfect way. Like when a name is just so obviously right, it's so good!

Inspired by this thread I will start a separate notebook for gathering names. Right now I have scattered them in various places never to be seen again.

Oh and my first language is Finnish. We have a lot words that fit well in the mouth if that makes sense. From harsh sounding ones to ones that flow like a little ripple on water. It's great to play around with

I usually like to have a name before I start the story, likewise with knowing the character a little. How? I search for on the feels "right" to me, either based on how it comes off the tongue, the meaning behind the name, or if it is a name constructed out of a combination of names (as I sometimes do, especially while using old languages like Latin, Anglo Saxon, Gaelic, and so on) whether that combination flows or sounds too much like an obvious amalgamation. I use Behindthename.com A LOT. I also use lists of mythological deities, dictionaries, or Google Maps if I want to name someone based on a certain area (usually an obscure place far removed from North America). All in all, I use that gut feeling: does this name feel right? Does it honor the character and her story?

One thing's for certain: you'll never see me use "Bob" (No offense to any Bobs on here)

And sometimes I change the name if, during the process of writing, the character and world change and outgrow the name I set. Regardless, it's about that sense of rightness.

@folkloremipsum Thanks for sharing! 😊

"The names I had picked out for her and her husband would have been appropriate to my grandparents' era, but they were off by a couple of decades so I chose new ones."

-Interesting. Did those new names change your "feeling" of those characters after the change was made? I.E. you already knew these characters, but the new names from another time now gave them slightly different qualities or "feeling"? I can see that it might have had that effect on me in such a case.

"I also try to think about the character's parents, especially if I'm using an unusual name - they have to be the sort of people who would give that name to their child."

-Yes, that is a good point.

"As far as fantasy names go, I sometimes pick common names and bend them a little." 

-I like to do that as well 👍 And it's fun too! 😊

@tj_knight Thank you for sharing!

"I did change the spelling of a character's name once and she felt like a different character. Eventually I got over it, but it took a while, and the old spelling would pop up now and then and I felt a little pang of missing that character."

-I fully understand how you mean. I've had this with a location I picked once for a story, found myself missing it now and then 😄

"I rarely leave one for later, but for minor characters I'll type (xx) which wasn't easy at first on the keyboard, but after a few hundred times, the fingers now just find those keys and I keep moving."

-I do the same actually! If it doesn't come instantly, that is kind of standard for me. I don't want to stop the flow of the writing so any holdup could become (xx).

"Name collection is good! I've heard of several authors that do/have done this. I believe Dickens had a notebook for names, collected and invented. Le Guin, if I'm remembering correctly, uses the word sexy when deciding on names. Not in a literal sense, but in a commercial sense." 

-I didn't know this, interesting! Thanks! 

@tiinag 

"Like when a name is just so obviously right, it's so good"

-Agree! Any favorites? 😃 (I will try to think of something myself)

"Inspired by this thread I will start a separate notebook for gathering names. Right now I have scattered them in various places never to be seen again."

-That's a great idea! I think a real notebook can actually be better than digital sometimes, because a note somewhere in all the million notes on the phone...when do I ever see it again? 😄

"Oh and my first language is Finnish. We have a lot words that fit well in the mouth if that makes sense. From harsh sounding ones to ones that flow like a little ripple on water. It's great to play around with "

-Cool, we're neighbours! 😃 I'm Swedish! My knowledge of Finnish words is very poor though. Could you mention an example of a Finnish word you used for a character name? (Not one you need to keep secret of course!! 😄 Just thought it would be fun to see!)

@patricia-a 

Oh my, I try to think of a specific example of a favourite anything and my brain shuts off 😀 I have a terrible memory for things like this.

I'm in a small writing group where one person writes a lot of children's stories and every time absolutely nails naming things. His WIP right now consists of only Perfect Names and it has me in stitches every time I get to read/hear more of it. Unfortunately I can't share any of those, since it's not mine, and not public (yet at least). 

I absolutely can't keep digital notes, I have to have things in paper for that. I can't even use a digital calendar, it doesn't agree with my brain.

Jätte bra! I actually have one character whose name came out sounding fairytale Swedish and I imagine him having a bit of a Swedish accent. Can't share that either as it is in a story I've started over four times and is currently put aside. Love the characters and the idea, just haven't found the right way to tell the story yet.

Couple names I have used:  Hilia and Rauha. Hilia from the Finnish name Hilja, but also the word hiljaisuus, meaning quiet. Rauha means peace.

Do you use Swedish names or words? 

Posted by: @patricia-a

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Did those new names change your "feeling" of those characters after the change was made? I.E. you already knew these characters, but the new names from another time now gave them slightly different qualities or "feeling"? I can see that it might have had that effect on me in such a case.

It wasn't so much switching their names that changed my feel for the characters as it was realizing that the early days of their marriage occurred decades later than I'd planned. 

You may have pieced together that math isn't my strong suit! 

I have a tendency to use names of friends and relatives that have left us. To me it's keeping their name here on this plain, sort of like a tribute.

Plus, I make up names for stories that need something weird or new.

Characters. I name them Drawing from intuitive insights, mixed with methodical exploration. Begin with stand-in names sorted out through alphabet experiments. To make sure named characters 'blend' with their environment, I research cultural standards historical contexts. Sometimes personal meanings. Adapted-named characters add a layer of depth. Finally, it is about detail.

Each character's alias is deliberate choice. It is to enhance their contribution to storyline.

@spencer_s That totally makes sense!

(Sorry for the slow reply, been some busy weeks.)

I didn't know about Behindthename.com, thanks for the tip! 😃

I use https://www.etymonline.com/ a lot for checking what time words and expressions date from, especially if it is historical fiction. It is a very extensive and useful resource for that purpose

@tiinag -Sorry I didn’t mean to disappear from our thread, was just some really busy weeks here 😊

Haha I know what you mean, and picking favorites is hard, there are so many good things around!  

I guess that in the end it all boils down to how well a name reflects the character’s being and that one as the author feels that connection. Words, names and sounds all do have a unique quality to them, as do people.  

Sounds cool with that person in your writing group. Once that work is published, we can perhaps resume our analysis of their ”Perfect Names” 😃

”I absolutely can't keep digital notes, I have to have things in paper for that. I can't even use a digital calendar, it doesn't agree with my brain.”

-I get that. I usually do both depending on what I have  

”Jätte bra! I actually have one character whose name came out sounding fairytale Swedish and I imagine him having a bit of a Swedish accent. Can't share that either as it is in a story I've started over four times and is currently put aside. Love the characters and the idea, just haven't found the right way to tell the story yet.”

-Oh that’s so cool! I would love to read that story once done! 

"Couple names I have used:  Hilia and Rauha. Hilia from the Finnish name Hilja, but also the word hiljaisuus, meaning quiet. Rauha means peace."

-These are jättebra! I like their meaning too 👍

Do you use Swedish names or words? 

-I have tried to come up with something but I end up wanting to use all the names in future stories 😂 But for example the Swedish word ”Klippa” meaning ”Rock” could become ”Klepor” or ”Klippen” or something like that. It has a figurative meaning in Swedish too, "to be someone you can count on".

What also happens now and then is that I make up a name, where I am thinking in terms of storytelling in English, and then I realize after a little while that it is actually a word with a meaning in Swedish 😂 

@storysinger That's a very nice gesture 😊 

(Sorry for my slow reply, been some busy weeks.)

@Anonymous 12940 -Thanks for sharing!

I agree, the names are an important part of the mix 😊👍  

@patricia-a Thanks for sharing that resource, it looks great. I think I'll be using it a lot from now on

@spencer_s You’re most welcome, and yes, it really is! 😊👍

If I don't know what to name a character, I write XXXXX in the doc and move on, so as not to lose momentum. Once I fully understand who the character is, I find and replace that with their name, which arrives along with everything else about that now more fleshed-out and realized character. If I don't know what a character's name is, that is a clue that I haven't got a real enough person yet. If it's a background character, I use whatever pops into my head, fits their norms and neither clashes nor matches too well with any MC name.

@esireeday Thanks for sharing, interesting! I totally agree on the idea not to lose momentum. I do that myself also with other things, if something doesn't come up instantly. I find it a very helpful way to just keep going with the inspiration! 😊

I like what you said about having a real enough person to know the name, agree.

What genre/genres do you write in? 😊

@esireeday good idea on the XXXXX.  I give the character a name and then later change it. Bad thing is that my head still remembers the first name I gave the character.  Augh.