How do you choose names?

Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Jack Asher, May 12, 2014.

  1. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    I just start imagining names and keep going until something stops me. Then I tend to write it down and then play with a few names. Eventually I'll just pick one. The funny thing is though, I'll only remember it at a later date if the name actually stuck. Eg. if the name didn't really fit the character, I'll forget it pretty fast.

    For example, I only realised I'd tried to give my MC the surname "Bakewell" because I looked back on my notes one day. I have no recollection of ever giving him that name lol.

    On the other hand, from my notes, I saw that I'd settled on two names and had to choose between them. It was either gonna be Heinrich, or it was William.

    I went with Heinrich at the time. Some 3-4 years later, I changed my MC's name to Will without ever knowing that once upon a time I'd strongly considered that name as an option. I honestly only realised because I went through my notes.

    As for my current piece, my friend gave me my MC's name actually. The moment she suggested it, I knew that was it. I loved it.

    But usually, just whatever feels right. Names can always be changed later. But then again, changing names often changes the character too.

    If I'm not looking for a fantasy name but just an ordinary name, then there's usually one that just comes to me. I use that unless and until I feel it no longer fits, which often happens, and then I tailor the name to the character at a much later date.
     
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  2. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I did chance my MC's names at the beginning. In my notes, they had very 80's names that were not really them. When I seriously started to write their story, their new names came very quickly but once I'd written them down, I did go off and look for alternatives. None really floated my boat like the new ones so I stuck with them.

    As part of my research into names, I also take time to look at nicknames. I love using nicknames and terms of endearment, particularly when they are not your normal run-of-the-mill ones.
     
  3. the Sídhe's Writer

    the Sídhe's Writer New Member

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    Behind the Name and then I search through different ethnicities depending on the character's backstory. But with one of my characters (Natasha) she re-named herself after running away from an abusive parent. Because all she had was superhero comics that her friend next door used to share with her, she chose the name Natasha to represent who she wanted to be rather than who she was.

    And then there's Morrígan who's, well, the Morrígan from mythology.

    So, in short, changes from character to character. Sometimes the meaning is important (Hoshimoto for my protagonist, for example) and sometimes it's just about finding a name that's aesthetically pleasing for you and/or the character.
     
  4. Beloved of Assur

    Beloved of Assur Active Member

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    At most times I just pick a name for a character and let it stick to him or her. Usually people will come to associate the name with the character than say "No way, a guy like this is called that!"

    More profilic characters can motivate some more research but normally I just pick a name I think sounds ok for the context the character comes from.
     
  5. jaebird

    jaebird Active Member

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    Some of my characters get their names right off the bat. Sometimes one will just pop into my head, or I'll search a baby name database for ideas. Other times, characters seem to put up a fight with me over the matter, screaming "That is NOT my name!" until I get it right. In the middle of those extremes, I have to fiddle with a name for a bit. Add a letter here, change a vowel there. Overall, I think picking the name is fun. But last names are horrible. It's so hard to get those right.
     
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  6. live2write

    live2write Senior Member

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    Here is a big question I have.

    Is it okay to use your own name in the book? I can understand with common names that it is acceptable because anybody could be John, Chris, Mary, David etc. In my story the character has two names: Her identity she was given and her born name. I ended up using mine only because I could not think of any other name that would fit the character. It seemed like a strong name to use. Is this acceptable or frowned down upon?
     
  7. elynne

    elynne Active Member

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    names are my what's-his-name's-heel-thing*. I will agonize over names for everything--characters, pets, my own username--long past the point of being productive, and then go "OH WELL FINE I'LL JUST USE KLJWELIWJLEIRTG THAT'LL WORK," and then three days later change it to "Bob." (speaking of which, I'm seriously considering changing my username here... sigh)




    *yes I know who it is, it is a joke thing attempt
     
  8. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

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    Are you planning to publish under your own name? As a reader, I think I'd find it a bit strange if the character and the author had the same name...
     
  9. live2write

    live2write Senior Member

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    I was debating on that too. I do want to publish it, Eventually I may have to change it. Though if it is a decision I can't, I am considering using a pen name
     
  10. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    Chester Anderson, in his deeply influential and largely forgotten work, "The Butterfly Kid" talks about how much it bothers him when books written in the first person and the name of the narrator is not the name of the author.

    His friend Michael Kurland did the same thing, and David Watterson, and most recently David Wong.

    So no, it's not that strange.
     
  11. Howard_B

    Howard_B Active Member

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    Personally I value the creative process in the main.
    The software I use, Scrivener, is fantastic and has a built in name generator. However I prefer to totally ignore it. When I need a name I lean my head back, close my eyes and wait for something to pop into my head. Then I stick to that unless there is some major reason not to.
    When I needed a specialist name I looked for names on the web ... as I had to do when I need five muslim names.
     
  12. Michaelson345

    Michaelson345 New Member

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    Hey, it is a great way to select names. Till now I only use names which come to my mind and suits to the character with frequent changes.
     
  13. eg8hardcore

    eg8hardcore Member

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    As a brand new writer, thank you so much for mentioning the seventh sanctum. Had never heard of it, will be using it more.
     
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  14. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    Well, in my first book, my MC went through several name changes. I think it's okay to change the name at a later date once you get to know your character a little more. But these days I think it's best to either change it early on, if you're gonna change it, or else change only once the book's done. What I've found is - you usually write the character to fit the name. Changing names has given me more than enough trouble in the past because I subconsciously started writing the character different after the name change.
     
  15. jonahmann

    jonahmann Active Member

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    I use historical figures to name my characters, for example Lars Ulrich, the drummer from Metallica for a metalhead, Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein for a goth and Edward D Wood Jr, director of Plan 9 From Outer Space for a scifi nut.
     
  16. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Writers need to keep in mind that names are the tags the reader uses to identify characters. So they have to be easy to remember—and easily differentiated.

    While it's fun to play around with names, especially if you're writing fantasy, it's a good idea to rein in the fun a bit, to make sure the names will work in the context of the story.

    Some problems come built-in. Complex names can be hard to remember, especially if lots of your characters have them. Names interspersed with several nicknames all applying to the same character can be irritating. And names that are similar to one another cause headaches and confusion in the reader.

    And I'm guilty of all of these, I'm afraid. I've got twin brothers, whose names are foreign and similar to each other (and to their father's!) at the start of my story. Fortunately the two names together are not used all through the book, as both of them undergo a name change early on. But they start out very similar. Having similar names is part of the story itself, so I can't simply pick two names that are unalike. So it was a merry dance, trying to make this work.

    I took great care to make all OTHER names in the story very different from one another. I think I pulled this off, but it was a struggle. I will take care to avoid a similar situation in the future!
     
  17. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    Are you pretending that these characters don't live in the real world where everyone would immediately see the parallels? Like does the Lars of your imagination not live in a universe in which people are constantly asking him the same questions every time he introduces himself?

    "Wait, like the drummer?"
    "Your parents must have really liked Metallica."
    "What's your favorite song?"

    BONUS ROUND:
     
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  18. obsidian_cicatrix

    obsidian_cicatrix I ink, therefore I am. Contributor

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    Strange though, despite your thinking the Anglicisation of the names helped, I still when thinking of the characters refer to them by their native Hungarian names. ;) But then again, I love the naming process myself and would pay particular attention.
     
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  19. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    Do you mean you mix and match famous people's names, like Lars Ulrich and Mary Shelley might become, say, Lars Shelley?

    Cus if all you're gonna do is steal people's full names - you're going to get a LOT of readers rolling their eyes. Names are important. If the name annoys a reader, the reader will likely put the book down.

    I've done that before - there was once a fantasy book filled with ridiculous names. The main character was called Pug. I couldn't take the character seriously cus every time I saw the name I thought of a ridiculous-looking dog (I don't in general find pugs cute). The book's villain was Ashen-Shugar and there're characters called Gardan and Macro. I just couldn't take it. Adding or changing just one letter does not a name make. Couldn't finish the book. There was even a character named something on the lines of Chakachakala...
     
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  20. Anthonydavid11

    Anthonydavid11 New Member

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    Generally, I go with whatever name strikes me at the moment. However, over rewrites I will choose a name based on what I now know about the character that I did not before. If he ends up being from a certain country or region, I might make a change and make it seem more likely. However, for one story I knew I wanted the female protagonist's name to be Vixie which was like Trixie but different and a little mysterious and playful which fit her role. I think it is different for everybody. I think avoiding the clichéd names are bet to avoid or popular ones. Don't ever name a wizard Harry or a guy into S & M Christian or a hard ass cop Harry. Whoops. Sorry, Michael Connelly. Happy writing!
     
  21. Tara

    Tara Senior Member

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    I usually come up with at least one name before I come up with the story. For me it's usually the name that inspires me, so the name of my MC is never a big deal. For al the other characters I usually go with what suits them, a name with a certain sound or meaning which suits the character.

    Because my current story has an awful lot of characters by my standard I came up with a slightly more simple solution: most of my characters are part of a rebellion with a military-like system, so I just picked a theme for each rank and searched for names related to the themes. I didn't have much faith in that approach when I started the story, but I've got to say it turned out pretty good.
     
  22. Lemon flavoured

    Lemon flavoured Active Member

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    I tend to base names loosely on people I know. I know loads of women called Sarah, so that pops up quite a bit. I also like to use the name Leela, since that' s what I'd have been called if I had been a girl (although not with that spelling apparently, my mum prefers Leila)
     
  23. Some_Bloke

    Some_Bloke Active Member

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    In my case, I build a character before I choose their name. Sometimes I'll try to think of a name that suits that character's personality or physical description but more often than not I'll simply look around my room for inspiration. If that fails, then Google is there as my backup.
     
  24. teaandbooks

    teaandbooks New Member

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    I sometimes spend hours choosing a name for a character, trying to find something that has the right feel for the character you have in mind can be difficult. I will just search through a name site until I find the perfect name to suit who my character is.
     
  25. Mike Hill

    Mike Hill Natural born citizen of republic of Finland.

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    Randomly in my had but I also use random name generators and I do research especially in foreing names. Just recenly I had to look up Mexican names so that my character wouldn't name that is rare in Mexico but common in Spain. I hate when writers don't get their names right.
     

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