A striking character’s NAME immediately conjures up an identifiable image, one the reader will always remember.
That name should suit the personality and age of the character as well as the era and genre of the story. Remember, a name is the first thing the reader will encounter in the story to help him identify with the character.
Many literary and movie characters have become everlasting brands in our culture— Atticus Finch, Winnie the Pooh, Harry Potter, James Bond, Bilbo Baggins and Scarlett O’Hara.
What are my *Top Tips* for choosing Character NAMES?
• Pronounce the names. Do they roll off the tongue? So readers won’t skip over them.
• Vary the sound of the character names in your story so they don’t start with the same letter, or rhyme with each other, or have the same ending. Ensure you have a colourful character roster, keeping the names straight in the reader’s mind.
• Reflect on the age of the readers you are targeting, to make the names more appealing.
• Match the name to your character’s personality … conservative, trendy, hippy?
• Consider the character’s appearance. If it is striking or distinctive, you may want a name that is portrays the same image. If the character has black hair, perhaps you could name him Raven? If she has blue eyes, is her name Crystal?
• Combine two common names to make a less common, but pronounceable name. Example: Donica (Donna and Veronica).
• Discover fabulous names from the phone book, movie credits, soap operas, do a Google search for “baby names” or “random name generator”, Babynames.com
<<<Can you PLEASE help me name Josie’s side-kick in SAYONARA?
My two alter egos, Josie Roberts (the forensic student) and her best friend investigate YUMI’s disappearance from the streets of Brisbane.
<<< SAYONARA’s kick-ass side-kick is a young waitress who dreams of becoming a private detective. She has spiked jet black hair, a nose ring, a barbed-wire tattoo around her bicep and wears a black Wolfmother T-shirt. She’s impulsive and unconventional.
<<< COMPETITION … Enter the challenge …
Give Josie’s side-kick a NEW edgy name.
Perhaps a short, sharp, one syllable name … OR something else.
In the comment boxes below, register the NEW name and your country.
The BEST name will appear in the crime faction novel, SAYONARA when its published.
The TOP #5 names will receive a signed SAYONARA postcard.
Good luck!! ...Winners will be announced here next week.
name the kick ass gal……
Lacey or Lacie
Thanks Leah, your two names are registered. Good luck :))
name the kick ass gal……
Casey
Peyton
I thought perhaps something that creates a duality within the character might work. “Kat”, which in truth is short for Kathleen, but which the character tells people is short for “Katana” (the Japanese sword).
Willsin, Love the duality of your name, and keeping with the Japanese theme. Thanks so much :))
Thanks Leah, Love these names too :))
What about Echo – for mystery and a bit of darkness, plus it’s wierd. Or Tash 🙂
Cally…Callie
for no reason just cant stop my brain from working lol
Thanks Leah, its going to be so Hard to decide the right name :))
Thanks Sandra, fabulous names. How am I ever going to pick one??
After pondering, it’s a toss between Shanghai and Havoc.
Thanks Sabine. These names are very powerful and definitely kick-ass. Good luck Sabine :))
I’ve got a few angry sounding, aggressive names for you, Karen: Di, Ros, Simone, Angie, Gretel, Judy, Judith, Bea. I’m sure there are lots more. Love the photo. Great that you’re revamping ‘Sylvia’ in to a harder-edged with more shove, push, bite, sass. I like that. J x
Thanks Joanna, for giving me your brilliant feedback to Sayonara. Finished all the line edits now working on the characters and making them more edgy, especially the ‘old Sylvia’. She definitly needed a new name. Thanks for all your suggestions. You’ve really been brainstorming :))
What about Mercia? I also like Piper 🙂
How about, Isis. pronounced, eye-sis. After the Egyptian God, all mysterious & exotic.
Thanks Carol, I LOVE those names, very original :))
Thanks Elisabeth, for coming back over. Isis is a powerful name for sure :))
What about Jet to go with her black hair? Traditionally a boy’s name, but she’s a kickass girl! And…
– she’ll be precious like the gemstone
– fast like a jet plane
– rock n roll like Joan Jett
– a fighter like Jet Li
– and maybe she also like the band Jet (along with Wolfmother)
🙂
Mariko
Thanks Ruby, I secretly love Jet. One of my favourites so far :))
Thanks Eddie, Love Mariko, has an oriental mystique to it :))
I have two for you Karen;
Eboni Stiger (Eboni for the black hair and Stiger is close enough to tiger to be fiesty and together I think name exudes kickass.)
The second is Kimi Misko, just because I like it.
Regards
Jeff
When I’m really stuck I go to this site. It is a random name generator.
http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm It throws up some doosies.
I like to use an usual name with people like this.
Raven sounds like a name that could go with her personality.
Vela or Rayne?
Hi Meredith, Thanks for dropping by. Love your very unusual and memorable names :))
Hi Lynda, Raven would definitely suit her personality and hair colour. Thanks :))
Hi Jeffery,
Thanks for utilising the name generator for this one. Love Eboni Stiger and Kimi Misko. Thanks for thinking up surnames too :))
Raven Mad – a hard edged brunette
Kyanja Hertz (for electrifying!)
Zenobia
Mavia- These names are of real ancient Syrian female warriors.
Hi Sonja, these names are Super Powerful and so original. Good luck :))
These are real Japanese names and meanings.
Karasu Isamu (raven – warrior)
Kimiko Kano(ruling child- power)
Kuro Rayder ( dark – god of thunder)
Leiko Tora (arrogant – tiger)
Kurai Kashim (dark – fighter)
Takeshi Ryu (strong-dragon)
Alma Zane
Kaz ……. kick azz lol
My nick name is Kaz and I can be kick-azz LOL.
Asema, that would suit her dark broody character.
Barb. (wire) Rave (short for Raven). Wednesday. Everley. Reeve (more a sexy guy’s name). Calais (not kick-arse but I like it). Chase. Jayson.
Boris.
Hi Vicki, a very unusual and powerful name. Thanks :))
WoW Mani, thanks for so many fabulous names :)) PS Not sure about Boris though.
Thanks Robert, Love that name … the whole package :))
Thanks Sonja for all the research. I have two Japanese girls in the story too, whose surnames may need a make-over :))
Langly Wiles, Lang for short, Wiles when spoken firmly to. Her name, Langly, is uncommon as she is unique, kind of a tough name yet feminine. Lang decreases the femininity some what where Wiles places her in a “male” role as men commonly refer to each other by last names and may be get men to associate more with the character. Wiles sounds close to “wild” possibly subconsciously alerting the reader to this suggestion. The entire name really “rolls” off the tongue.
Thanks Sharon, Fabulous name and love your explanation too. Good luck :))
Karen,
My first thought was Ella because she’s a ‘ell-of-a-girl!
I then came up with Mallory – Mal for short.
Another was Sorrell – Sor for short.
I don’t think you need an ‘ie’ sound at the end because of Josie with her ‘ie’ sound.
Lots of great suggestions – how are you going to choose?
Cheers,
Jan x
Hi Jan, Thanks for these fabulous crime investigator sounding names. Sure will be hard picking a winner next week … Good luck :))