(Aug 23, 2024. This article is being updated, so some methods in the list are not expanded yet.)
I asked “The Sci-fi & Fantasy Writer’s Guild” on Facebook (which is, as of 2019, the most active and most responsive out of all the writing groups I’ve joined) if they struggle with coming up with character names.
The poll is single selection per person so there are no duplicates. I asked this question on December 7, 2019 and here are the results as of December 27, 2019.
The last one, “I make other people do it so idk 😛 ” I put in there with serious intent actually. Maybe some co-authors don’t come up with their own character names, right?
The results are pretty interesting, I have to say. I was expecting more people to say they have a nightmarish time coming up with character names because in the group itself, I have seen many people complaining about how hard it is or asking if their character name is good enough.
This shows that yes, coming up with character names can be daunting, but many people have found some good ways to come up with character names. Together with comments from my original 2019 survey, and a new 2024 question asking people to share their character name creation methods, I compiled a list.
Unused Letters and Letter Combinations
Look up names using letters of the alphabet you haven’t used for names yet. If you have none, use letters that you don’t use for names often. Some for me are usually e, h, i, j, k and n, o, q, u, w, x, y, z. You specifically look for k names or y names, for example.
Unused letter combinations are those like “sl” or “kl” for example. Find combinations you don’t often use and find names beginning with those combinations. Where to find? Look up “names beginning with sl” or “names that start with sl” for example.
Baby Name Websites
Baby name websites are a popular place to go even if you’re not a parent.
I’ve seen so many writers saying they use baby name websites. Often you can find baby name websites categorize the names by gender, or having a specific meaning like angel, warrior, peaceful, hope, and some baby name websites categorize by specific jobs (e.g., scientist, doctor, teacher, magician, actor, singer, etc.) or by occasion (e.g., Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc.). You can also find names related to certain religions, anime, movies, famous people, famous fictional characters, etc.
I have also seen lists of names based on traits like strong, mysterious, peaceful, pretty, handsome, playful, happy, etc. Whatever adjective you can think of, there’s probably a list. You can also find ones based on animals, plants, planets, the ocean, the sky, the zodiac, etc.
There’s also baby name sites for any country. I once needed a name in Khmer for a character in my ancient-Cambodia-inspired fantasy world. I looked up a list of Khmer baby names. It exists.
It’s good if you look at two or three different sites because looking up name lists can give you multiple results and often the lists are slightly different. For example, “girl names that mean peace” give a whole bunch of results where some lists have 20 names and some have over 100. If you want to find the ultimate perfect name for your character and don’t mind the long lists, go for it! But if you’re overwhelmed, stick to two or three shorter lists. If you really don’t see anything you like, you might be in it for the long haul.
I’ve spent hours pouring over those sites. It can get exhausting. I thought I might melt. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Keyboard Staring
This is one of my desperate methods. If I don’t feel like looking at baby name websites, I stare at the keyboard and sound out letters together like a baby learning to speak.
“Frewwww….ty? Tee? Polion? Po and Lion? Hmm… Froitlion… Frolion…”
Together with “Unused Letters and Letter Combinations”, there’s been a few names I came up with that way.
Google Translate
Say you have an idea of what your character is like (happy-go-lucky child, funny jokester, a strong and buff warrior, or a sword master) and you want that to reflect in their name. Take some of those specific words and translate them into different languages using Google Translate. Usually, I wouldn’t use the exact translated word. I would take two of the translated words and mash them together to make the name.
For example, say you name your character Tanpopo. I, and many others who speak Japanese, would immediately know that’s “dandelion” in Japanese. If that’s okay with you, go ahead and use it as is. If not, you might consider using two words and mixing them. Say, you want “kind dandelion” you could say “yasashii tanpopo” and call the kid “Yashipo” or “Postan” or “Tanypo” or something like that.
Mix Names
Take two of your favorite names. Mix ’em up!
Julie + Annie = Juliannie, Anjulie, Anili, Anuju, Anju, etc.
I often use this method together with “Baby Name Websites”. It’s quite fun. You can get a bunch of characters this way, too.
Name Generators
Fantasy name generators are a popular go-to for many writers.
People you’ve met
Not a method I’ve ever tried, but some people use names of people they’ve met and change them around a bit.
Places and Things
Using places, streets, and names of things.
Misspell or Rearrange Existing Names
Caroline and Coraline, for example.
I have a character named Eryn and it comes from Erin 😉
Last Names for First Names and Vice Versa
Use last names as first names and vice versa.
Behind-The-Name-Dot-Com
Use behindthename.com and filter the name by its origins.
Old Cemeteries
One of the more unique naming methods I’ve come across while asking people is to look through names from old cemeteries at Find a Grave.
Random Movies on IMDb or Movie Credits
Using the cast or crew names from movies. Mixing and matching last and first names from movie credits.
Common or Normal Word
Here’s something I’ve never done or seen before, so I’ll quote the person who talked about it.
Choose a normal word, like “cheese,” and tweak it (e.g. to “Chez” or “Kese”) ~ by anon in FB group.
I think it’s quite ingenious.
Already quite an exhaustive list of various methods you can use to come up with character names. If you have anything that you have done that is not on this list, leave a comment below 🙂
FOXWOOD FOREST 