CornerScribe

Get to Know Your Characters: What’s in a Name?

It’s time to name your character. You’ve spent a lot of time developing the character and making them as real to you, and your reader, as possible.

How much does the name matter?

Consider the following men’s names.

• Raoul
• Dirk
• Freddy
• Sam
• Alice

What does each name bring to mind? Maybe Alice is defensive about his name, or he could see it as a good story to break the ice. Dirk sounds like he belongs in a romance, or maybe an adventure novel. Freddy sounds positively normal, doesn’t he?

My point is, each name will bring with it certain impressions and assumptions in your readers. You can go with that, like making Sam a typical business man, or you can go against the grain. Maybe Alice is a mobster and Dirk is a coward!

Where to find names 

For ideas, check out one of the many name sites on the internet.

• Behind the name is a good, all-purpose name site that includes both first and last names.
• Medieval names galleria lists medieval names from several regions.
• The SSA lists the most popular names, by year.
• Here is a list of unique baby names if you still need inspiration.

Don’t forget other sources, such as the phone book, for ideas.