How to Choose the Perfect Character Name

Character Sketches

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One of the trickiest parts of writing fiction can sometimes be choosing the right name. Here are some hints to finding the perfect name for your character.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Characters without names

Step1

Choosing a character name has it’s own special twists that aren’t addressed in the standard baby naming articles. The first thing you should consider is: Race. Especially for fantasy/sci-fi stories, what race is your character? Elven names tend to be long and have lots of the letters “y” or “l” thrown in. Dwarven names, on the other hand, are short and commonly have the letters “d” or “s.” Don’t forget about the compound names (Stronghammer, for example).

Step2

Next, consider the character’s appearance. If it is striking or distinctive, you may want a name that is portrays the same image. If the character has black hair, perhaps you could name him Raven? If she has blue eyes, is her name Crystal?

Step3

What time period does this character live in? Consult various records for the popular names of the time and consider those for the name of your character.

Step4

Is there a family tradition or was the character named to honor someone? Dig deep into the character (and his/her parents). Would they have named their child after a great-grandfather who bravely died in battle or the grandmother who raised them?

Step5

Don’t forget the siblings. If the character has any siblings, be sure to choose names that “go together.” For example, a family might consist of Mary, Elizabeth, Charles and Joseph and the reader would believe it. If a family was Hayley, Anouk, Juan and Alexei, the reader might wonder why all the names are so different. In real life, people like certain names that all sound like they belong together, so try to pick names accordingly.

Step6

Watch the initials. Be careful not to give your character initials like Y.U.K. or B.A.D. However, keep an eye out for initials that might lend themselves to nicknames, like M.A.C. or L.E.E.

Step7

If the above ideas don’t yield any results, create a new name! There’s no better way to leave a lasting impression on your reader than to give them a striking new name. Just remember to make it easy to pronounce!