Odd names - Character names

DWSTXS · Feb 22, 2008

Where do you get the ideas/inspirations for your characters names?

I name most of mine after people I've known, using them with slight alterations.

However, over the years, I've come across several real-life names that might fit in with novels, given the right setting.

I have met 2 different men named, Hiawatha. I've known a man named, Keeven Walkingstick.

I recently talked to a woman named, Velvet Steele. (that was her real name too)

several people have told me that my name sounds cool, but I don't think so. I also wanted to be 'David'.

Hapax Legomenon · Feb 22, 2008

I feel very sorry for that woman.

I get my names from things like concert programs and behindthename.com and *gasp!* other books, but usually they just arrive at the front door, all cold and snively, and I just have to take them in.

Eldritch · Feb 22, 2008

For first names, google "baby names and meanings".

I scroll through the lists of names and find the name that sounds right.

And the really magical part of it is, that nine times out of ten, when I read the meaning of the name, it actually describes the character or one of his/her traits.

LilliCray · Feb 22, 2008

For my most recent WIP, I thought of the first name--Ein--and then asked my friend for a last name, not expecting anything good. She said Maar and it totally clicked. I was surprised.

Mostly my names just come when the time is right. Sometimes I have to use temporary names, but mostly I get the names before I start writing.

GeorgieB · Feb 22, 2008

LilliCray said:
Mostly my names just come when the time is right. Sometimes I have to use temporary names, but mostly I get the names before I start writing.

That's what I do ... use temporary names until an appropriate one arrives when I slap my own forehead. I've also been using names from the spam mail that I get. Lots of fun doing that.

hammerklavier · Feb 22, 2008

I use a wide variety: foriegn languages, people I've known, phone book, baby names site, behind the names site, things I just make up, etc. I also use various temporary names until I'm ready to decide on the real name.

dirtsider · Feb 22, 2008

I never had any names tug at my keyboard saying that they must be used. But occasionally, I've heard/seen names that were really cool. I then have to write them down. Don't know if I'll eventually use them.

Then again, I'm just getting back into writing again.

Andre_Laurent · Feb 22, 2008

dirtsider said:
But occasionally, I've heard/seen names that were really cool. I then have to write them down.

I always log down cool names. I'll find a character for them eventually.

Shady Lane · Feb 22, 2008

I just uh...choose some names.

Usually I pick one I like and then look for names that sound good with it. Brothers names need to be stylistically similar, and need to be something their parents would realistically choose, based on their parent's character. Children of religious parents get biblical names--not Michael Paul etc, but Jonah, Asher, Jesse.

Lots of nicknames.

Neon · Feb 22, 2008

I just picture my character and think of what they *look* like.
My current character, in my head, is pretty, feminine, blonde curly hair, blue eyes and quite petite- she looked so much like a Molly to me so that's what i called her.

Paichka · Feb 22, 2008

I'm with Shady.

One of my character names just showed up one day looking at me with puppy eyes. I built the story around her.

USUALLY the MC's name comes at or around the same time as I get the idea for the plot. Secondary characters may require googling or other research. Last names give me fits.

Devil Ledbetter · Feb 22, 2008

Shady Lane said:
I just uh...choose some names.

Usually I pick one I like and then look for names that sound good with it. Brothers names need to be stylistically similar, and need to be something their parents would realistically choose, based on their parent's character. Children of religious parents get biblical names--not Michael Paul etc, but Jonah, Asher, Jesse.

Lots of nicknames.

I go with what the character's parents would have chosen too, then nickname that if appropriate. For example, the MC in my current WIP was the youngest child and the only boy in a family with Greek roots. His parents named him Eustace. He goes by Stacy.

On the shelf with all of my books on writing is the baby name book Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana. It's a good one because it looks at name trends, sibling name strategies, etc. My favorite list in that book is "Endangered Species," names that are rarely used anymore and therefore distinctive without being made up. Another good list is "So far out they'll probably always be out."

But the name really depends on the character. I wouldn't use uncommon names for all of them - that'd just be weird and unrealistic.

HeronW · Feb 22, 2008

I try to fit the name to the time and setting, the character and their types: Ikarias my MC snuck off Ikarus as a part-woman part-dragon with nicknames Iky, Kari, or Rias depending on who it is. The Queen Malakite is like the mineral hard and unforgiving. The demon Devastyn is from the word devastate, which pretty much describes her hobby. Cephira sort of sounds like sapphire and she has a counterpart Raciphe in another realm--anagram that. :}

swvaughn · Feb 22, 2008

Names is fun! I've given characters all sorts of odd names...

I have characters named Nails, Loyal, Silver, Jazz . . . not all in the same book. I use them sparingly. But I love finding an unusual name that works (and isn't really a name).

Devil Ledbetter · Feb 22, 2008

swvaughn said:
Names is fun! I've given characters all sorts of odd names...

I have characters named Nails, Loyal, Silver, Jazz . . . not all in the same book. I use them sparingly. But I love finding an unusual name that works (and isn't really a name).

Vaughn, your characterizations make the names you choose unforgettable. There's nothing inherently creepy about the name Jenner, but thanks to you it now makes my skin crawl.

swvaughn · Feb 22, 2008

Devil Ledbetter said:
Vaughn, your characterizations make the names you choose unforgettable. There's nothing inherently creepy about the name Jenner, but thanks to you it now makes my skin crawl.

I loves you, Devil... you have just officially made my year!

AZ_Dawn · Feb 22, 2008

I tend to give my character nice normal names for my characters, like Peter or Jacques. The strangest name I've given out so far is Patricia. Strange, that is, when you consider the character is an Englishwoman in a time when Patricia was very rarely used outside of Italy and Spain. I go hog-wild with some of the nicknames, though. :tongue

Once, I tried to invent the stupidest Puritan slogan name to give to a character. I came up with some real, erm, winners, like Freed-from-Sin, No-One-Holy-Shall-Be-Forsaken, and Swift-in-Justice-is-the-Lord. :scared:

I found I couldn't give that kind of name even to a fictional character! (Been to Baby's Named a Bad, Bad Thing too much.) I named the character Eli.

Danger Jane · Feb 22, 2008

My characters tend to come with names, either because they just...do...or because they're straight out of mythology. But when they don't, I'm all over the internet looking for the right one. I can't write with CHARACTER 1 as a placeholder. I need to know what they're called. I like to give characters names I wouldn't give my kids...weird ones, a hundred years out of date or something. Of course it only works if the character has weird/dumb parents. It's fun.

sheadakota · Feb 22, 2008

Andre_Laurent said:
I always log down cool names. I'll find a character for them eventually.

I do the same thing- I was watching animal planet of all things and they had this beautiful dog with stunning blue eyes named Quinn- I thought "What a cool name"
My protag in my current WIP name is - you guessed it- Quinn

( I also write down cool phrases or sentence phrases that I have no use for at the moment, but probably will eventually)

Jersey Chick · Feb 22, 2008

I usually have the names before I even have the story. Other times, I use The Character Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon - it's got names for a zillion different nationalities and their meanings. That's my go-to when I have a character (usually a secondary one) who needs namin'.

geardrops · Feb 22, 2008

http://www.zoope.com/about/about_names.html

That page has some fun names on it, too. And all taken from real people.

SmartAsh · Feb 22, 2008

Graveyards. I have this weird thing about walking through them, looking at tombstones, etc. Lots of cool names to be found.

Eldritch · Feb 22, 2008

SmartAsh said:
Graveyards. I have this weird thing about walking through them, looking at tombstones, etc. Lots of cool names to be found.

Same here! I love graveyards.

You can also find graveyard sites online that list the names of those buried there. This comes in very handy when you need a name from a particular time period.

Shady Lane · Feb 22, 2008

Devil Ledbetter said:
I go with what the character's parents would have chosen too, then nickname that if appropriate. For example, the MC in my current WIP was the youngest child and the only boy in a family with Greek roots. His parents named him Eustace. He goes by Stacy.

On the shelf with all of my books on writing is the baby name book Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana. It's a good one because it looks at name trends, sibling name strategies, etc. My favorite list in that book is "Endangered Species," names that are rarely used anymore and therefore distinctive without being made up. Another good list is "So far out they'll probably always be out."

But the name really depends on the character. I wouldn't use uncommon names for all of them - that'd just be weird and unrealistic.

I.

Love.

That.

Book.

So far, the characters in my WIP are named Logan, Jen, Miles, Brown, Dan...oh my God, that's a lot of names ending in N. I'll probably do something about that.

There's Bacon, too, but he's a pig. And his name also ends in N. Jeez. *Goes to change Jen's name*

ETA: Her name is now Annie.

IceCreamEmpress · Feb 22, 2008

I know a Hiawatha! And a Reno, and two Dakotas.

I have some awesome Puritan names among my ancestors. My only ancestor who was a US Civil War veteran was named Zealous B. Tower.

The "B.", of course, stood for "Be".

Odd names - Character names

Mr Mojo Risin...

Plot? What plot?

Almost a wannabe writer

It was a dark and stormy night

Not so new, really

my name is hannah

The BIC-Believer

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Down Under Fan

adrift

Come on you stranger, you legend,

adrift

AW Addict

part of the human equation

Up all night to get Loki

Good thing I like my day job

my name is hannah

Hapless Virago