“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
While Juliet may have had a point, it’s hard to imagine Shakespeare’s leading lady calling out to Jimmy, or Dalton, or anyone else besides her beloved Romeo.
In real life, we know that names don’t define us, and we usually don’t go around judging others based on the sound of their first name.
But if you’re creating a fictional character, you may want to put some thought into a name that will live on forever in print.
Tips for Naming Characters
The following tips will help you craft fitting and memorable names for your characters.
1. Consider your setting and time period.
One of the first things that should offer you some direction is your story’s location and time period. “Anna Karenina” fits a Russian aristocrat just fine, but it would seem pretty out of place if she were an American nurse living in the 1950s. (Americans were very wary of anything they associated with communism during this time, including Russian names. This is why it’s important to know the context of your setting inside and out.)
Of course, you don’t have to completely limit yourself to the setting. Perhaps your character has an exotic name that doesn’t quite fit with their location or age, which is one of the traits that makes them so unique. In this case, you might want to offer some backstory (implied or stated directly) about why their parents chose that name, or if it’s a nickname, how they got it.
And if you’re writing a fantasy set in a world that you’ve created, then you get to make the rules! (I don’t think J.K. Rowling found Albus Dumbledore in a book of baby names.)
2. Research the name’s meaning.
The meaning behind a name certainly isn’t the only thing you should consider, but you might want to do some research if you wish to add some symbolism to your prose.
Assigning names based on their meaning—either explicit or implicit—is like leaving little Easter eggs for your readers to discover.
For example, it’s hardly an accident that Hester Prynne’s daughter is named Pearl in The Scarlet Letter. It is stated in chapter 5 that she was given the name because she came at a “great price—purchased with all she had—her mother’s only treasure!”
However, there’s also the symbolism of pearls and how they’re created. Pearls are symbols of perfection and incorruptibility, and they’re formed only after years of pressure and friction closed inside an oyster. Hester’s daughter is the result of trials, pressure, and suffering, but as a young child, she is pure and innocent.
You can consult a name dictionary to learn more about a name’s meaning, origin, and history.
3. Consider the connotation of the name.
Certain names come with certain connotations. This basically means that the sounds (or actual words, if the name itself contains a common word) can send off good vibes, bad vibes, quirky vibes, etc., or bring certain images to mind.
To best understand this, it helps to look at some examples: let’s try Ebenezer Scrooge. This just isn’t a name for a cheery old man who sells flowers (nor is Hannibal Lecter). Even if you don’t know the origins or meanings of these names, you can sense immediately that we’re dealing with a less-than-friendly dude.
“Jay Gatsby,” on the other hand, just seems to ooze glamour and make us picture sparkling ball gowns and magnums of champagne.
It’s important to note that connotations can change significantly based on language and culture. What sounds lovely to an English reader might sound like a fine name for a serial killer to someone reading in German, so always consider your target audience when choosing names for your characters.
You should also ask yourself who you think about first when you hear the name. For example, you probably don’t want to name a character “Adolf,” because there’s really just one guy that comes to everyone’s minds when they hear that name.
4. Choose a fitting length.
Even the length of a name can imply a lot about a character. For example, short, easy names like “Huck Finn” tend to imply simple backgrounds, quite different from “Prince Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky.”
In another example, Lady Brett Ashley also seems unnecessarily long at first glance, but that’s mostly because of the title placed in front (which she doesn’t actually want, by the way). If we look at her first name, “Brett” gives off the more masculine, free-spirited vibe of this iconic female character.
5. Sound it out.
Some names just look and sound better than others (which is probably why many expecting parents put a lot of thought into choosing a baby name).
To find a name that feels made for the page (or screen), experiment with literary devices like repetition (Humbert Humbert), rhyme (Holly Golightly), or alliteration (Bilbo Baggins).
You also don’t want to choose a name that’s so strange or fantastical that your readers will struggle to pronounce it. Foreign names are great, but if you start making up your own language or alphabet, you’ve probably gone too far.
6. Brainstorm nicknames.
Not all have nicknames, but if there’s an obvious diminutive, it’s worth considering how that would sound, as well as who might call the character by that nickname and what this implies about their relationship.
Similarly, another character might use a term of endearment, such as “sweetie” or “half-pint” that they use more often than the character’s actual name.
7. Find inspiration from your own life.
You can also find inspiration for your character’s names from your own life, such as friends or family members.
However, while it’s totally fine to get inspiration from the names of others, you should always ask first if you plan to use someone’s full name, or at least change it slightly. (See more about using names of real people in the section below.)
You should also do a quick Google search to make sure the name hasn’t already been used for other characters, or that it’s not the name of a famous figure.
8. Get help from a name generator.
If you’re feeling stuck or in need of some extra inspiration, try using a character name generator.
These online tools can generate name ideas based on genre, origin, and even personality traits. You might find the perfect name for your character, or at least see something that sparks your imagination.
Names of Real People
When it comes to using the names of real people in your book, there are several factors to consider. These days, it’s pretty hard to think up a name that’s never been claimed before, unless maybe you’re writing fantasy. (I’m willing to bet there are more than a few Harry Potters out there who work as accountants, not wizards.)
What can get you into legal trouble is if in addition to their name, your character also shares some identifying qualities or traits with the real person, and on top of that, you paint them in a not-so-pretty light. This is where you might find yourself being sued for libel. However, I’m not a lawyer, and this is a pretty complicated subject which warrants its own blog post.
To be safe, avoid using famous names, and if you’re intentionally choosing the name of a real person, get their approval first. You should also include in your book the standard disclaimer: “This is a work of fiction and all resemblances to real people, living or deceased, are purely coincidental.“
Do Characters Need Names?
While names can offer insights to your characters’ personalities and definitely make them more memorable, you don’t need to name every single character who makes an appearance in your book.
If you casually make a reference to the “campus security guard” or “the elderly woman who lives on the third floor,” you don’t need to name them, unless you want to show a closer relationship.
For example, saying, “Sarah greeted the campus security guard on her way into the library” is slightly different from “Sarah greeted Mike, the campus security guard, on her way into the library.” This doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it tends to imply that Sarah at least knows his name, or it might signal that Mike will make another appearance later.
In some novels, central characters remain nameless. For example, in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the character Marlow narrates many of his own experiences, but the story actually opens and closes with an unnamed narrator. All we know is that he serves on the same ship as Marlow.
Other examples are the nameless protagonists in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground.
However, writing a nameless protagonist is an artistic choice and should be done with a deeper intention, not just because you couldn’t think of a name.
Finding the Perfect Name
Your character is more than just their name, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be intentional about your choices.
By using the tips above, you can create a name that not only sounds iconic, but also suits your character. Then, work on completing the rest of your character profile to make sure your star and supporting players are well-developed.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 10 Best Character Name Generator Tools
- The Best Pen Name Generator Tools
- 40 Literary Baby Names Inspired by Your Favorite Characters and Authors
- How to Create a Character Profile: Complete Guide with Template
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
