THE NAME GAME How To Decide What To Call Your Characters
THE NAME GAME
How To Decide What To Call Your Characters
By Christina Hamlett
Naming your fictional characters can be as challenging as deciding what to call a real-life bundle of human joy. Unlike reality, however, this is a purposeful mission insofar as encouraging your readers to immediately love them, hate them, distrust them or label them as total rubes. My own naming process employs a variety of techniques and resources, all of which I’m pleased to share for your own use and enjoyment.
CIRCA & SETTING
We’re guessing there weren’t a lot of Brads, Phoebes and Corkys running around 13th century Scotland. To give a modern name to a protagonist in an era/region different from the here and now is a sure sign to readers you haven’t done your homework. Why chance it when there are so many websites and databases to keep things authentic? Here’s a sampler:
Popular Civil War Names:
https://civilwar.gratzpa.org/2012/06/popular-names/
Viking Names:
Ancient Chinese Names:
http://www.peiraeuspubliclibrary.com/names/asia/china.html
US Baby Names Through the Decades: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/?channel=Organic&medium=Google%20-%20Search
AGE & PERSONALITY
Mildred, Maud and Edna may have been popular in the 1880s but—just like fluctuating fashion trends—won’t be a smart fit for a contemporary YA heroine in high school. Check out resources such as http://www.babynames.it/top100/1/year-2005.html.
Consider the naming influence Hollywood has had through the ages: https://www.thebump.com/a/hollywood-icons-baby-names.
Nor should you rule out the current trend of using surnames as first names:
https://babyology.com.au/pregnancy/baby-names/50-famous-last-names-make-even-cuter-first-names. (This link will also direct you to vintage, hipster and wacky names.)
“Sandy” evokes a different image than “Helga,” just as “Alex” is probably more approachable than “Vernon.” Are your name choices consistent with your characters’ personalities or are they purposely opposite? Are the names pronounced with hard consonants such as k, t, p and b? These are often associated with strong personalities. In contrast, soft consonants such as s, f, j and h denote a gentler persona when coupled with soft vowels.
WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
One of my favorite books for surnames is New Dictionary of American Family Names by Elsdon C. Smith. Within these fascinating listings are spelling variations, country of origin and what the name means. For example:
Marazzi, Marazzo (It.) One who used a hand axe in his work, a cask-maker.
Selby (Eng.) One who came from Selby (sallow copse) in Yorkshire.
Gallet (Fr.) The merry, joyous companion.
Online resources include https://forebears.io/surnames, https://www.surnamedb.com, https://surnames.behindthename.com, https://www.momjunction.com/articles/funny-last-names-surnames-in-the-world_00773821, and https://blog.myheritage.com/2011/04/rare-british-surnames.
IS IT PRONOUNCEABLE?
Even though most people read novels by themselves, it doesn’t stop them from trying to sound out the names they encounter. While they can obviously skip over monikers like Zere Anikulapo-kuti and Vaffithrei Dileisphro, why torture them and make them feel as if they’re dunces? If it doesn’t slide easily off your own tongue (or you don’t want to include a pronunciation guide), don’t use it.
IS IT DUPLICATIVE?
Names that sound similar to those of other characters—Cara/Sara, Jan/Jen, Rod/Tod, Ben/Ken—can be just as annoying as names which can’t be pronounced at all. I especially stress this to those who write for theatre. Sound travels differently as it moves from the stage to the back row and it only invites confusion if a single letter is misheard.
TAPPING NATURE AND MYTHOLOGY
Flowers, gemstones and animals are rich fodder for the name game. For females, there’s Rose, Daisy, Amaryllis, Pearl, Amber, and Crystal. For males, there’s Rock, Bull, Drake, Hawk(eye), Rooster and Snake. Myth and legend yields such tags as Lilith, Penelope, Athena, Juno, Griffin, Phoenix, Ajax and Tristan. If you give your character a really odd name, however, it helps to have a good reason for it. “Calypso,” for instance, means “she who hides” and would work well for a female spy or someone who lives off the grid.
AWKWARD POSSESSIVES
If your hero or heroine’s name ends in “s,” it’s sometimes messy if you have to add an apostrophe. For example, is it “Silas’ opinion” or “Silas’s opinion”? The general rule for proper names is to use an apostrophe only, and yet I often read names such as Cass, James and Tess which add an apostrophe and an “s”. Both are grammatically correct but if you don’t want to agonize about this, simply choose names that end with something else.
MUSIC TO OUR EARS
How many syllables are in your names? A short first name paired with a long last name will sound nice together and vice versa. You can also do short/short and long/long but be sure to say your combinations out loud to ensure a smooth flow.
NOT EVERYONE NEEDS AN ID
Whenever readers come across a name, they assume it’s important and may have to be remembered later. Yet many authors give names to minor players who only appear in one scene; i.e., delivery people, cabbies, shopkeepers. Unless there’s ongoing interaction throughout the plot, it will only confuse issues trying to keep everyone straight. (Was Gunther the dogwalker or the guy from UPS?)
REAL LIFE INSPIRATIONS
It’s not uncommon to not only imbue characters with the traits and appearances of those we love but the same names as well. There are also quite a few of us who derive cathartic satisfaction from turning our exes and former horrid bosses into chalk outlines on the floor in murder mysteries. Use your own judgment in tweaking the spellings and circumstances.
JUST FOR FUN
Last but not least, one can spend hours conjuring new names based on genre at https://www.namegeneratorfun.com/character. Your male adventurer, for instance, could be Dixon Kipling, Colorado Victus or Clark Templeton. This whimsical site will even generate a backstory replete with personality traits and preferred occupations.
I also recommend https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com. Where else could you find gems such as Palazar The Insane, Grexius Deville, Professor Jitters, Verity Euphrasia Gushlow and Patience Augustina Billinghurst. And that’s not all. You’ll find a plethora of ethnic names, places and locations, physical descriptions, positive/negative personality tags, and even recipes for faux potions.
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Former actress and director Christina Hamlett is an award-winning author whose credits to date include 47 books, 266 stage plays and squillions of articles. She is also a script consultant for stage and screen and a professional ghostwriter. www.authorhamlett.com.
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Category: How To and Tips
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