Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Creating unique names
• Method 2 of 3: Using a letter (or letters) you like
• Method 3 of 3: Finding a name that fits your character
• Tips
• Warnings

Tired of using the same names for the characters in your stories? Do you feel that you depend on the same, typical names over and over to give your writings some extra meaning? Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to create unique and interesting names for your characters.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Creating unique names

1. Use a first name as a last name. Since first names usually sound very different from surnames, breaking through this tradition can help a certain character to stand out to some extent.
   • For example: Anna Joey, Robert Gideon, Paul Michael.
   • This is a very subtle approach and makes the most sense to use with a story unfolding over time and in a place very similar to your own.
2. Look for names in unexpected places. Watch the credits of a television series or movie; many unusual names and name combinations you can find there. When walking, cycling or driving around, pay attention to the street names. You can even take the name from a foreign city, a star nebula, or a rare plant.
   • Since this is a broad approach, it could apply to a wide variety of genres, in addition to male and female characters.
3. Find an unusual name in a book. Browse the phone book or a baby name book. Especially in the latter you will find many unusual names and interesting spelling variations.
   • For example: Razilee, Kadiah, Joval, Jantanie, Keryl or Kaline.
   • If you want to be inspired by a name and a character, have a look at a book on mythology (in the library); however, do not choose names from Norse, Greek or Latin mythology, unless you want to use something obvious (such as Athens).
4. Create names from other words. From J.K. For example, Rowling is said to have coined some of the names in Harry Potter by first describing the character and then making an anagram of those descriptions. There are a number of strategies you can use to construct such a name. For instance:
   • Blend common names. So Sarah and Josephine becomes something like Josah and Sarefien; Gerrit and Adriaan can become something like Adrit and Garriaan; etc.
   • Try different variations of the spelling of names. Replace Michael with Mykael, Gabriel with Gaebriel, etc.
   • Rearrange your (or a friend's) name. If your name is Bob Smith, shuffle the letters together to get something like Omi Thibbs. Your girlfriend Eileen can then become something like Neliee, Annabel becomes Belanna, for example, and so on.
   • Create anagrams of common words. For example, laughter can become something like Cal Ehn and jumper becomes Mer Puj. You can also use this technique to come up with a name that fits the character of a character. So, the anagram for laughter, Cal Ehn, could be a good name for a comedian and the anagram for jumper, Mer Puj, a good name for someone who can jump high.
5. Come up with a random name. If you want something really unique, stop naming it based on something you're already familiar with and try to come up with something completely new. This may be appropriate for an SF story that is outside of the current cultural context.
   • Type any sequence of letters in a word in a Word document, then choose a collection that looks promising and arrange them until you create something you like.
   • Or cut letters from a sheet, throw them in the air and choose a combination based on the way they fall to the floor.
6. Name characters after a favorite character. But don't let this stand out too much, as you don't want to steal an existing character name.
   • For example, if you want to name your character after Katniss Everdeen, don't just name your character Katniss Everdeen. Not only is this not exactly original, but it is simply not allowed under copyright law. Instead, try to create names that resemble the existing name, such as "Katherine" instead of "Katniss", or "Dean" instead of "Everdeen."
   • You can also use celebrity names to create new names by combining names. For example: Justin Bieber and Kate Alexa will become Jexa Kelbeir.
7. Change words or spell them wrong. Take a word or few words and spell it wrong to create a new name.
   • For example: spell "like this" so that it reads like: ladotsliz. Then choose an interesting letter combination from the results. For example, Lado, Dots or Sli.
   • Type a few lines from a song without spaces to find interesting combinations. For example, "All we are is the wind" could become: Llwea, Arei, Isdus, Hewin, etc.
8. Change the gender of the name. Change a male name to match a female character and vice versa.
   • Keep in mind that not all names have a male or female equivalent.
9. Look up names. If you search for names through a name generator (meant for baby names, but useful), you will likely come across one or more names that you could use for your character.

Method 2 of 3: Using a letter (or letters) you like

1. Make a list of letters you want to use for the name. If you are not quite sure, choose your favorite letters. For example, maybe you want a character with the letters L and S in their name because you like how those letters sound or because you feel they fit the character's personality.
2. Choose the last letters for your name. Common last letters for girls are: a, bel, na, ly, ie, y, line, etc. Common last letters for boys are: ob, ab, an, ly, etc. Choose one that you like, or make up one yourself!
3. Make the name something you like, or choose the first thing you see when you look up from your screen or look out the window. If what you see / choose is not a good starting point for a name, think of synonyms for it.
   • For example, if you are staring at the moon, think of a synonym, such as "celestial body", which you can use to create the name "Melli".
4. Add more letters to the letters you like. Maybe you like the letters “o” and “a”, and you could add an “n” and “h” to make “Noah”.
   • If the name you're coming up with sounds a bit clumsy, add more letters, but don't overdo it.

Method 3 of 3: Finding a name that fits your character

1. Use a name that fits the setting of your story. Choose names for characters that match the world, time frame and / or country where the story is set.
   • It will add credibility to your story if the characters' names match the environment. For example, if a story is set in China, the characters will likely have different names than a story in Africa.
   • Another technique, used by John Braine, is to use place names from the region or area where the story takes place.
2. Choose a name that is easy to pronounce. Most readers don't have the patience to try to decipher a character's name every time it is mentioned. A difficult-to-pronounce name can also interrupt the flow of the story and take the reader out of the story, rather than being absorbed in the story.
   • Choose names that are easy to say out loud and roll off your tongue.
   • Avoid using lots of oddly spelled names as this can confuse and alienate your readers.
3. Think about how the meaning (s) of a name can work with a character in your story. The meaning of a name can help associate it with one of your characters, depending on the personality. Think about how the meaning of a name can enhance a character's traits.
   • You can also use a contrasting name to create some friction between the sound or meaning of the name and the character's personality. For example: you can call a rough girl Madelief, or a nerd you can call Bikkel.

Tips

• Try to rearrange the letters in a word that describes a character, such as cunning (Lig Tis), modest (Seb den Heci), simple (Sim Lep), words like that. Then you can add and remove letters as desired.
• Do you want an SF name, mix and match. There are tons of names out there, and you can come up with a pretty unique character by combining SF names.
• Names like Aristotle, Sebastian and Brigitte are good for the more classic stories, while André, Tom or Emma and Sarah are good standard names for the more "contemporary" stories.
• Scramble common names to break them up into more interesting shapes. For example, Chris could become something like Kryss, Kris, Chrys, or even Crystal.

Warnings

• Do not use the names of famous characters for your own stories, especially if they have the same kind of personality. Before you know it, you have a lawsuit on your pants. Make sure someone has already used a particular name in a published work before giving it to your character.
• Make your characters credible, especially if you're dealing with a more serious or gloomy story. While you should always be as creative and outlandish as you can, it can be difficult for the reader to take your characters and your story seriously if you've given them names like "Lord Marky Mark" or "Princess Surfbort".
• Do not use a name immediately after you have created or found it; at least show it to one other (unbiased) person. What you think sounds great may sound like a prescription drug to your readership.