The Name Game

Happy Monday, friends,

This week, we are back at work after taking a playful, mental break with my last blog. The topic for today is one we all struggle with at times—naming our characters. How do you come up with the names of your protagonists and other supporting characters? There are various ways and some are quite fun. Let's take a look.

To Start. . .

. . .you need to think about your character. Each person has their own unique appearance, personality, likes/dislikes, and quirks. Once you've defined your character, it will be easier to find a name for them.

Let The Search Begin

How you go about searching for names is completely up to you. Today, most people will grab their cell phones, tablets or laptops and Google whatever information they need. That is an option. If you want to step beyond searching for "spunky girl names," or "curmudgeon names," here are some great options:

Reedsy Character Name Generator

This is a fun way to find names. All you have to do is type in gender, book genre, and setting or world. There's even a place to add additional information. Once you've finished, you'll be able to look through a list of suitable names for your character.

Behind The Name Generator

If name origins, cultures and exact meanings are important to you, this will be what you need. There's a list of the most popular first names in the U.S. Peruse those lists for boys and girls names for your characters.

Calling All Organic People

If you'd rather use an organic approach to come up with character names, that is another option. Make delving into real life productive. Grab a coffee and spend some time out in a public place. Once there, play the listen-for-good-names game. You'll be surprised what you pick up. You can also think about your past. Do you remember the name of the funniest guy in your 10th grade class? What about the bully who picked on everyone? Or the girl who was the kindest person you once met at lunchtime? Those names could be just what you're looking for.

Give Yourself Time

Once you've found your character's names, give yourself some time with them. You may need to change one of them because it just doesn't flow with the other names. There is one important rule: beware of giving your characters names that start with the same letter. This way you won't confuse your readers.

I think the most important rule of naming characters is to have fun. Once those names become familiar, and their personalities are defined, you'll feel as if you really know them. That is a great feeling because if you feel that way, most likely your readers will, too. ☺️

Have a wonderful, productive week!