June 24, 2019
How do you select the names of your characters?
A long time ago, I was introduced to the concept that some cultures hold that names hold power. Different cultures interpret that in different ways, but I have used the idea to help come up with the names of my characters.
But there are a number of other factors that come into play. I previously worked a job where I dealt with names. Every know and then, I’d run across one that was just so unique I had to explore its background. And the really cool ones I’d write down in a notebook to refer to later. I’d never use a someone’s whole name for a character, but the process gave me some cool first and last names.
Speaking of not using real names, Google is my friend. When I come up with a name, I search to see if it belongs to a real person. If it does, and I really want to use the name, I’ll change the spelling of the name. Sure, I can’t avoid using someone’s real name once in a while, but I cover that with the copyright statement.
I also try to uses names as an indicator of ethnic background. (You know that research I referred to earlier? That’s where it comes into play.) In my first book, Wolves’ Pawn, I decided my main character would have a Native American background. That led me to research traditional names for members of various tribes. That’s where Dot, the main character in Wolves’ Pawn, last name come from.
In Wolves’ Gambit, I dealt with feuding wolf-shifter packs. Because they limited their contact with the outside world, I decided to use old-fashioned names for one of the packs. On top of that, I used alternative spellings.
But sometimes a name just comes to me. That’s what happened with Harmony Durpie, the main character in my mystery series. I don’t know where it came from, it was a name that found me. Eli, on the other hand, came to me because I was listening to the song “Eli’s coming” one day when I was writing!
One thing I try really hard to watch for is that I don’t give characters names that use same first letter. That makes it easier for readers to keep them straight. I do make exceptions though-calling twins similar names, for example.
I will admit to using the names of people I’ve met once in a while. I enjoy naming my villains with the names of people I don’t like. Of course, I still disguise the names so they can’t be connected to real-life people.
I haven’t used any of the name generators that are out there-yet. What I do refer to are the baby-name sites that exist. If I have an idea for a name, they help me narrow down my choices based on sex and ethnic background.
The truth is, I never know where the next name will come from. I ran across one recently that I need to add to my list of potential names Liam. It’s been around for a while, but I ‘found” it again recently. Which makes me wonder if it will show up in my next book!
Now, let’s check out all the other authors to see how they name their characters.
June 24, 2019
How do you select the names of your characters?
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