Naming in fantasy

silentpoet · Jan 4, 2006

This is my big weakness. Anybody else have trouble with this area? In one of my current stories, I have even used Gargamel as a place holder name until I can think of something that actually fits the story.

Any good resources? Baby name books aren't totally helpful when you are trying to name a wizard. I even have a book of bible names which may have a name or two, but there has to be a good set of resources out there.

azbikergirl · Jan 4, 2006

I use a fantasy name generator, and then, from the lists it creates, tweak one that I sort of like until it fits.

Sometimes I alter common names: Shawna -> Brawna; Brutus -> Brodas; Aidan -> Edan; Logan -> Rogan, etc.

LloydBrown · Jan 4, 2006

Lots of us use placeholder names until we find one we like. It lets you keep going so the writing doesn't stop over a stupid issue like that.

As for names, I use a specific real-world culture as a model, and then adapt as necessary.

One thing with names: a list does not keep you from using a name that is unknown to you but has a very important meaning to a large group of people familiar with it. A google search on any given name to find out who else has had it or what it means is a good idea.

For example, one time I used Moil something-or-other for the name of a magic sword. A friend still gives me grief over that one.

mhughes · Jan 4, 2006

If the character hasn't told me his name yet, I just put in a placeholder like PRIEST or NOBLEMAN. That way, when I finally wring the sneaky little bugger's name out of him, I can do a simple Find/Replace in Word. Some characters give up their names easily. Others I have to spend a few hours thinking about it, writing it on paper, or just flipping through a phone book. One of my character's last name is 'Mayle'. Came to me when I went outside to pick up the mail but that was two weeks after I created him.

I only do that with major characters though. I have a spreadsheet filled with names or words I like that sound fantasy-ish. That way I don't have to put a lot of thought into a minor character's name or some item.

clara bow · Jan 4, 2006

Sometimes I swipe names from my favorite movies, books, and tv shows...even video games. I make sure there's enough distance from the source material (or I use rather obscure sources) so that it won't be recognized or I veil the reference. (E.g., one of my character's name is a Portuguese word, taken from part of the Portuguese title of my favorite Japanese animated show from the early seventies. I had always thought it would make a neat name and when the story came to me I had a chance to use it). I guess my point is, be on the lookout for names in unusual or unexpected places.

In some ways, it's not really swiping because names are fair game, but i get to play at homages in the manuscript plus it cuts down on the work of thinking stuff up! Sometimes I get so lazy that my temp names become permanent.

TheIT · Jan 4, 2006

Baby name books that have lots of alternate spellings are useful. I usually flip through the book to get an idea for the sound of a name, then modify the spelling or tweak the name a bit to make it fit the names I've already chosen.

PattiTheWicked · Jan 4, 2006

I think the biggest mistake people make in fantasy character naming is when they feel they need to make the name all weird and exotic looking, with lots of apostrophes and extra vowels and stuff.

"This is the alien ambassador, Ry'aa Ch'lumpuuk Freglaab'x. Just call him Bob."

clara bow · Jan 4, 2006

PattiTheWicked said:
I think the biggest mistake people make in fantasy character naming is when they feel they need to make the name all weird and exotic looking, with lots of apostrophes and extra vowels and stuff.

"This is the alien ambassador, Ry'aa Ch'lumpuuk Freglaab'x. Just call him Bob."

Yes, thank you for pointing that out. That is a big turn off for me. Not that it can't be used here and there in the right story, but authors have run that into the ground. It's too convoluted. Takes me right out of the story.

Vuligora · Jan 4, 2006

Apostrified names! Save me! I hate those things because I don't know how to say the name and it is hard for me to connect to a character when I don't know they're name. Anyway, I've never looked up nammes. The charactet generally has a certain feeling that comes witha name I feel is right. Basically they name themselves, except for a few people that I have placeholder names for. Damn them!

katiemac · Jan 4, 2006

I've read a lot of fantasy/science fiction where character personalities are true to the meanings of their names. There's a reverse name dictionary, compiled backwards so you can look for a named based on its meaning, rather the other way around. (Of course, you have to be careful not to overdo it.)

It's a bit of a neat concept, although I've never actually seen a copy of the book. I believe the woman who compiled it (Yvonne Navarro) is an author herself.

Sage · Jan 4, 2006

Is it the apostrophe that annoys you, or the lack of pronounceable names? Ry'aa Ch'lumpuuk Freglaab'x is one thing, but how about something like using an apostrophe to separate two vowels, so that you'd know to pronounce them separately? For example, you'd pronounce Tea differently than Te'a, wouldn't you? One sounds like a name & the other like a drink with jam & bread. Even between some consonants it could make a difference. For example, Trenti (Trent-ee) vs. Tren'ti (Tren-tee). So is it the apostrophe, or the fact that it's usually used with unpronouncebable names?

mdin · Jan 4, 2006

I'm guilty of using the apostrophe for one character in my first book, but I am now firmly in the "I hate them" boat. I can't even tell you why, really. I cringe when I see them, and I'm knocked out of the story. I can't help it.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 5, 2006

I thought I answered this thread. I must have dreamt I answered it.

I have no trouble coming up with character names. In fact, naming my characters almost comes naturally. The name just comes unbidden almost.

Sometimes I think they come from my subconscious, from names I've seen long ago but forgot.

For instance, two main characters I named a long time ago were Tara, my princess heroine. I thought I made that up. I had never heard anyone named that before. Then I find out it was the name of the mansion in "Gone with the Wind" and a fairly popular Irish name.

The other character was Ashtar. It was a silly way I came up with it. He was abandoned as a baby in a hollow in an ash tree and he was covered in it's sap when he was found. Ash Tar. Now I find out the name refers to some ancient cult group or something.

bylinebree · Jan 6, 2006

You guys crack me up.

Same with me, I created the name for my MC and afterwards found it on a name website that said it's Celtic for "red hawk." He doesn't have red hair, but he is a skilled warrior/hunter, oddly enough. Guess the red could be because he is passionate.

I have no trouble making up names, almost all come easily. I do try to evoke something of the character with one, for ex, a 'sturdy sidekick-squire' that just came to me as "Twaig." Who knows why the mind does what it does??

It's also fun to think about various ethnic groups/races and if it applies to the race I am creating, and I usually blend two-plus of these to get something unique --like French or African, with Russian or Chinese, etc.

To help avoid confusion, I try NOT to give characters similar names or use the same initial consonant/vowel -- how did Tolkien get away with "Saruman" and "Sauron," for the love of pete?? (I do love JRRT)

Names are a blast -- wish doing PLOT was as easy, for me!

Maybe some of my ideas will help...

Bree

silver_melusine · Jan 6, 2006

20000-names.com might be a big help to you. This is where I get some of my names from.

Atomic Bear · Jan 10, 2006

I have used http://www.seventhsanctum.com/

Some of the random generators are silly, but you can find some good things as well. The section on writers excercises are fun to do.

MadScientistMatt · Jan 10, 2006

silentpoet said:
This is my big weakness. Anybody else have trouble with this area? In one of my current stories, I have even used Gargamel as a place holder name until I can think of something that actually fits the story.

Any good resources? Baby name books aren't totally helpful when you are trying to name a wizard. I even have a book of bible names which may have a name or two, but there has to be a good set of resources out there.

What's wrong with having a powerful enchanter named Tim?

My own rule - although it's been a while since I tried writing fantasy, so the usual unpublished author cavaet applies - is that it's best to pick a historical culture similar to your civilization and give your characters names that would show up in that civilization. A fantasy world can certainly have characters named Richard, Elizabeth, or John - or Hakim or Kurosawa, for that matter, although those last two probably won't be from the same village as the first three.

TheIT · Jan 10, 2006

MadScientistMatt said:
What's wrong with having a powerful enchanter named Tim?

Aside from Holy Grail, in the Magic: The Gathering card game the wizard character who pokes the opponent for one point of damage at a time is nicknamed Tim.

My rules for names: 1) make sure no two characters have names which sound alike, 2) preferably all characters have names beginning with different letters, and 3) make sure the pronunciation of the name is obvious from the spelling. I've read a lot of fantasy novels where I give up trying to pronounce the character names and try to recognize the name by sight.

Atomic Bear · Jan 10, 2006

How about naming a whole kingdom?

In my comic book series I have both more common names as well as fantasy ones. I have Victor, Kate, Shamus and Wendell, but also have the wizards Ducelot and Agacon, and the celebrity knight Sir Tugert Vole.

What I am having trouble with is place names. For a whole vast kingdom to be precise. It’s important to have it appropriate to the world, and unique enough that it can stand on its own.

Vomaxx · Jan 10, 2006

I had a major character named Renal. Fortunately I realized the word means "having to do with the kidneys"", and he became Relan. Gotta watch for stuff like that.

TheIT · Jan 10, 2006

I once named a character from a baby name book then later discovered it was the same name as a convicted child molester. That name got changed really quick.

DaveKuzminski · Jan 10, 2006

Yes, but Renal could be a good name for a villain. You could even have one of his minions get offed for making a joke of it.

Christine N. · Jan 10, 2006

You guys crack me up - Moil as a sword! LOL... Renal! We should come up with a list of the silliest names you've ever put in a book or story.

A drunk named Syrosis? A thief named Clepto?

Ok, I'm just getting punchy. Time for bed.

WVWriterGirl · Jan 11, 2006

I get attached to the names of my characters and tend to identify with them, and not being able to come up with an appropriate name is a sticking point for me. A placeholder like WIZARD would just foul me all up.

The worst name I've ever come up with by far is a supporting character in one of my stories - Cislin. It's pronounced "Sizzlin'", which, unfortunately, makes me think of a steakhouse every time I see it. Can't change it now, because she IS Cislin. *growl*

Sage · Jan 12, 2006

WVWriterGirl said:
I get attached to the names of my characters and tend to identify with them, and not being able to come up with an appropriate name is a sticking point for me. A placeholder like WIZARD would just foul me all up.

The worst name I've ever come up with by far is a supporting character in one of my stories - Cislin. It's pronounced "Sizzlin'", which, unfortunately, makes me think of a steakhouse every time I see it. Can't change it now, because she IS Cislin. *growl*

I think Cislin is a cute name.

I have a character I named "Ishee" as part of Lunantishee, which is a type of fairy that guards a special tree. He was originally a Leiutenant, so I thought that that was close enough to Lunant for me, & called him Ishee. He got promoted by me to Commander, & I realized I hated the name (is he... is she...? Ishy...? :Wha:

Actually, it's supposed to be Ee-shay, but I can't read it like that anymore), but I can't find a good name to replace it. The only one I ever thought of for him was too close to another character's name in appearance, & I still can't see anything else but Ishee there & think of the same character. But it drives me nuts.

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