Readers Ask: How do you choose character names?

Posted May 11, 2014 in readers ask / 0 Comments

Someone asked me that question in an interview recently, and it got me thinking about the whole process and how readersaskvarious characters came into their names. I couldn’t go into all the details in the interview, so I thought it would be fun to post about it. Names to me represent personalities. They’re important.

Naming Main vs. Side Characters
I’m very particular about my main characters’ names because I’ll be living with them for quite a while (especially in a series). It’s important to me that my main characters have distinctive names, but not necessarily weird names. I tend toward names that feel traditional, but are not overused.

For supporting characters, I’m not as picky. I didn’t sweat as much over Victoria and Kyle as I did over Belinda and Bennett. (In case you’re wondering, the alliteration is on purpose. I was aiming for a Nick and Nora feel.)

The Naming Process
Is it an easy process to name a character? Um…not always. Like I said, I can obsess way more than necessary! I’m having that problem as we speak with a newish character. When I can’t decide, I pick a name and start using it in my notes to see how it fits. If the character and name become one, we have a winner!

On the flip side, some characters pretty much name themselves. Kyle and Victoria are good examples. I never considered changing their names. Sometimes characters even come about because of a name. The name Imogen sparked my heroine in Dead Locked. So the process is a little different with each character.

 

Some characters name themselves, others need help. Like the Baby Center name explorer.
Some characters name themselves, others need help. Like the Baby Center name explorer.

 

I’m also concerned about how names sound and look together. So I say them out loud and write them out next to each other. I especially pay attention to beginnings and endings so that every name doesn’t end with an “ee” sound, or so they don’t all start with the letter “A.” I also take name length into consideration. It could be cumbersome to read if every name was three syllables long. (And cumbersome to type every time….)

Along that line, I look for names that are relatively easy to pronounce. (Of course, this largely depends on where in the world you’re coming from.) For instance, I usually avoid names with too many “R’s” because they’re tougher to say.

Finding Names
So, how do I find names? For one, I keep my ears open for names I like and write them down. I have lists in several notebooks that I turn to when in need. I use baby naming resources, including books and websites. And those who know me pass on interesting names.

Speaking of which, what are your favorite names? (Be warned, they may end up on one of my lists…) How important are character names to you when reading a book? What are some of your favorite character names?

Curious about some aspect of my books or writing process? Leave your question as a comment below (or you can use the form on the contact page) and it may be answered in a future blog post!

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