Naming Characters
Have you ever thought of the perfect character but cannot come up with a name? I have. More often than not, I can think of absolutely everything (hair, eyes, personality) but none of the names I have seem right. Naming characters has to be my favorite and most troublesome task while writing.
Names can be so tricky. Can you name the villain something sweet like Lacy? Or what about the hot boy next store? What’s his name? Would Drew work? Does he seem like a Drew? These are just some of the questions that run through my mind while I’m trying to find that perfect name. Then when I finally find the first name, it’s like I have to start all over again to find the last name. At one point I actually opened a phone book, closed my eyes and pointed. This, just so you know, is how I found Amelia’s last name (Caldwell).
So here is a list of things I do while trying to find that perfect name.
1) Look through a phone book and see if there are any unique names that pop out.
2) Read the newspaper, especially the authors of the articles.
3) Look through baby name books.
4) Google is always a great help.
Once I’ve compiled a list of first and last names I write them out, side by side, and draw a bunch of arrows trying to match them together. Once I have the names matched up I draw more arrows to the character description. And then most of the time I go through the process again until I find that perfect name.
Names can be so tricky. Can you name the villain something sweet like Lacy? Or what about the hot boy next store? What’s his name? Would Drew work? Does he seem like a Drew? These are just some of the questions that run through my mind while I’m trying to find that perfect name. Then when I finally find the first name, it’s like I have to start all over again to find the last name. At one point I actually opened a phone book, closed my eyes and pointed. This, just so you know, is how I found Amelia’s last name (Caldwell).
So here is a list of things I do while trying to find that perfect name.
1) Look through a phone book and see if there are any unique names that pop out.
2) Read the newspaper, especially the authors of the articles.
3) Look through baby name books.
4) Google is always a great help.
Once I’ve compiled a list of first and last names I write them out, side by side, and draw a bunch of arrows trying to match them together. Once I have the names matched up I draw more arrows to the character description. And then most of the time I go through the process again until I find that perfect name.
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Hi Carole,Love the feedback. Sometimes I really think that I'm over thinking the whole name thing. I can always think of names but still find myself looking for the perfect one for that specific character. I think of it like naming a pet. You stare at it, talk to it, and play with it, until the right name just comes to you.
Like I said, I over think it. LOL.
Thanks for sharing your troubles. It's nice to be reminded every once in a while that I'm not the only one that gets stumped.
Thanks for stopping by.
You're very welcome. BTW, I am like that when it comes to naming pets!
Stephen King believes that stories are like stones in the ground that we, as writers uncover one bit at a time. He thinks that they're already there, we just reveal them. I don't know about that but sometimes details seem so close to hand, things I couldn't possibly know that it does feel like a kind of magic...
Names come easily to me but I have plenty of trouble with other aspects of writing, like punctuation for instance- complete nightmare!