Naming Names

A daunting task for writers is picking names for their characters. Resorting to telephone books or online word lists can be overwhelming. When naming your characters, importance is placed on how the name resonates, the relationship between first name and surname, the ethnic roots of the surname, as well as what nickname can be derived from that chosen name. There are many attributes attached to names, and picking the right one entails an understanding of the role this character will play in the story you are writing.

Consider the action hero John Rambo, first introduced by David Morrell, in his 1972 novel First Blood. Morell states that his choice of Rambo as the name for his main character was in "the sound of force". Morell further demonstrated the power of Rambo by minimizing usage of the character's first name. What if he had chosen the name Clarence, an antiquated name more suited for a contemporary, yet elderly character?

Resonance or how the name sounds is key in choosing the name of your character. We have the harsh sounding Nurse Ratched, whose name sounds like wretched or ratchet, from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, written by Ken Kesey, . Compare this to the stilted sounding Billy Bibbit mimicking the stutter that defines this character as well as implying his timid nature; that of a rabbit.

Guidelines regarding selecting the right name for your characters have been written by many authors. In his article, What’s In A Name? by Scott Nicholson, he addresses how tone adds to the character in finding the right name. A repairman is more likely to be called Danny than Danforth or a lawyer Charles rather than Charlie. A character named Richard is different from the variation Dick or Richie. Just as Ricardo implies ethnicity. The harsher and sinister-sounding villain names are expertly expressed through the works of Stephen King; names such as Randall Flagg, Leland Gaunt, George Stark or the menacing clown called It.

In the article Name That Character! by Anne Marble, she lists ten points to consider for coming up with character names:

1. Let the name reflect a character's attributes, as in Jonathan Price III for an upper class aristocratic type or Bud Nelson for a blue-collar worker at the town factory.

2. Make sure the name you choose does not belong to someone famous. This is important, as you don’t want to inadvertently introduce unwanted elements of the real person into your fictional character. A Google search will alert you if the name of Guy Pearce is your choice.

3. Avoid names that end in 's' to make it easier to write in the possessive form. Consider the name Thomas Sanders: "Thomas'/Thomas's coat was thrown over the floor" or "Sander's/Sanders' blood pressure skyrocketed on hearing the news".

4. Use names that fit the era. You cannot have a medieval setting with a character named Liz Butler. Choosing Elizabeth gives it a congruency with the period and also retains the name.

5. Avoid present trends of overly used names. This is best accomplished by reading books and book covers at stores to find which names are presently common. Then you can seek something original or a derivative of an overused name. Lisa can become a more elegant Elise just as John can become Jon.

6. Fancy spelling of ordinary names, as in turning Richard into Rykie attracts too much reader attention. Subtlety in names such as Donna or Will have a better way of blending into your story.

7. Avoid names that sound similar to prevent confusion. Two characters named Bill and Jill or Janice and Jane create confusion. Clearly defined opposing names such as Jay, Greg, and Alice will do the trick.

8. Avoid androgynous names. Pat or Sam can be either a man or a woman. Why should you have to go the extra mile to explain their gender throughout the novel?

9. Avoid too much emphasis on the meaning of names. Wanting that special name with symbolic attributes may end up making you do more research than writing. Yes, it can be rewarding if the reader catches the hidden meaning in names, but most do not.

10. Surnames that begin with the same letter the first name ends with do not bode well in pronunciation. Consider the name Alfred Donaldson or Nancy Yates. Also try combinations of common first names with lesser-known last names or vice versa. John Tribble or Allister Smith are two examples. Finally, made-up names end up sounding, well, made-up. Use online resources or your own imagination to find real names that fit into your story.

Additional help can be found in Vickie Britton's article, Naming Fictional Characters in which she emphasizes that first names of characters are more important since this is how they are most commonly referred, whereas last names are a vehicle for ethnicity. The role of unusual nicknames offers greater texture to a character's persona just as nicknames contradictory to a character's attributes may work for others. Using Slim for a portly man or Too Tall for a man of average height, for example. Additionally, do not overuse unusual names or long surnames to complicate matters. You may have an Ebenezer in the story but make the other characters a Bob or Fred. Experienced readers know that last names typically contain one or two syllables.

But be prepared to break some of these stated rules as they suit your cause. If a main character's name must end in 's', there are ways around using the possessive form; you can use his nickname, his last name or a simple he instead of his name.

A name that does not belong in a period piece may be your way of expressing alienation in this character just as introducing an androgynous name can be an intentional tool to promote confusion as part of the plot.

You may want to devote extra time to find a name with depth if he/she is a main character and the multi-layered symbolism attached to the chosen name is a portent to the plot that lies ahead. The average reader may catch the connections by the end of the novel depending on how you write it.

Made-up names may sound artificial and yet Stan Lee, creator of many comic book heroes and villains has, as his trademark, the use of alliterative names where both first and last names have the same letter. Characters such as Bruce Banner, Peter Parker and Vicki Vale have evolved into well-recognized characters.

Thinking "outside the box" is rewarding when it comes to creative writing. The various sources for this article serve as a guideline to keep you on course but not to make you walk "the straight and narrow". Your story is original and the recipe is your own. To this end, you may bend the rules when naming your main and secondary characters to achieve the desired effect in your novel. As much as we desire the advice of other more experienced writers and editors, we must not lose sight of our own creative capabilities. Borrow knowledge from others but remember the most important source of your story —and that is you.

Article by Vasilios Moudilos