How to find good names for your characters

Why is it so difficult to find a fitting name for your character? Sometimes, all it takes is looking through baby name websites or your friends list, but what if they’re from a certain time period? What about the characters who don’t fit any of the names your finding? What if you want to be different without being absurd?

Why is it so hard to find a name?

Naming characters is like naming a child, almost. Naming a character is an official label. Once you decide, that name will form an image in people’s minds that you hope matches the one you created.

That’s a tough decision.

You want the name to stick out. You want it to be set apart from every other name because your character is special. They have a unique life. They have something no one else has. Depending on who you are as a writer, you may be the type who needs the name to stand out enough that you can set them apart from anyone else you’ve written.

So, how do you accomplish all those things through a name? How do you even find one?

Step one: who is your character?

You need to know who your character is, of course. If you’re struggling to find a name, try fleshing out your character. Some people need a name before they flesh them out, though. If that’s you, jump ahead to step two.

Answer a couple of basic questions:

Gender? This will split your problem down the middle. Or, after answering some of these other questions, you may decide to stick with unisex names as you realize what best fits who your character is.
What language do they speak? If your characters are from Ireland, you’re not likely to have a main character named Francois. If your characters speak an alien language with a bunch of apostrophes in it, you won’t be using a name like Joe. Watch yourself, though. I know you probably want a super unique name like Ma’lechu’kvana, but your readers are trying to read, and complicated character names will not help them do that. If your characters speak a different language, or if you simply want a strange spelling of a normal name (as someone with a strange spelling variant of a normal name, I can speak to the pains of living this reality), be careful. If you want Kaylynn, fine. If you want Markas, fine. In the end, the spelling is your choice.
What species/race/other demographic are they part of and in what timeline? This won’t always be relevant, but in books with historical significance, a narrow geographic setting, or something similar that puts your readers in a particular place with particular people, finding a name may be easier and more realistic if it fits the setting. If you have a Charles in your book, the name carries throughout history and is common and easy. However, Archibald or Anselm fit different timelines. Names like Delilah or Mara have different meanings depending on location and time period and culture. Knowing these things can not only give you places to look for a name, but it can give you more depth to your character’s story as you unmask parts of their life that make their name and life story more meaningful.

Step two: what fit their personality?

What sounds pleasant to me might not sound pleasant to everyone. I love the letter C and letter Y, especially if there’s an S-sound in there somewhere. Cynfra (Sin-fruh) is the name of one of the characters in my book, and her name is based on the meaning of a variant of her name. The spelling isn’t terribly easy to pronounce, but I tried to make that my only complicated one.

Now, Cynfra, to me, is a strong yet gentle name. It flows off the lips with enough of a stab that I think readers can take her seriously, yet I can imagine the character as being compassionate or, in her case, fearful for others’ lives. It’s up to her to take control of her situation, so I need her name to be flexible with her nature.

Think of the sounds in that way. Go to a baby name website, look through your phone book, scroll through your friends list, skim the births and deaths notices in your newspaper, etc. Read names, look for syllables that sound good to you, and think about why they do. Looking through existing names will always help, even if you only save a couple of syllables for consideration (see step four).

Step three: check the time period

If your book takes place in the future, you have a lot of freedom because name trends change. You’ll notice, too, that spellings have changed in the past because people are trying to find uniqueness in the basic structures of existing names. Among other reasons.

It’s inevitable; if you take us one hundred years into the future, we just might see an Allehgrah or Alleeyaundrauh (I’ve already seen the latter spelling). You don’t have to do that, but it will still help to consider what is changing in time.

If your book takes place in the past, you’ll have to do a little digging. Look up the culture, the historic events occurring during that time (maybe a fallen city inspires a name to honor it), and look at some of the names in history that might have been popular at that time. You won’t likely see an Alleeyaundrauh in 1937, so I don’t suggest using it.

Step four: combine names

It’s not easy to come up with a unique name when so many names are taken. If you happen to be looking for a completely original name, play name games. If I’m that stuck on a name, I’ll use names that I like, switch up the syllables, and see what I can make out of them.

I like William and Elaine, but I need a unisex name. Willain? Illium? Illi? Or William and Kade: Wade? Kadi?

You’ll have good ones and bad ones, but the more you play with names like that, the more you’ll be able to find your own original creations amid all the similar sounds.

Step five: ask people or just spit names out; don’t overthink the process

Pick several character names that you kind of liked and share it with a group of people. Tell them what you’re thinking, and tell them why those names just don’t fit, but you can’t find one that does. That will give them ground to build on, and a short character description will take that one step further. Help them help you.

If anything, try repeating these steps. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of overthinking it. Names aren’t as hard to come up with as they seem. Throw names at a wall, and wait for one to bounce back. Every name doesn’t have to have a hidden meaning, each spelling doesn’t have to make someone’s brain hurt. You don’t have to suffer the pain of name hunting.

Give it time, and leave a placeholder name there that you kind of like until you find the right one. Who knows? Maybe it’ll grow on you.

Do you have advice to help people find character names? What do you usually do?