How to Find the Perfect Name for Your Character

I know a good number of writers who say that naming their characters is one of the hardest things for them. And although I don’t usually struggle with finding names for my characters, I totally understand, finding the perfect name for your character can be ridiculously hard.

If you struggle with naming characters or if you’re trying to find the perfect name for them, never fear! I’ve been naming things since I could talk, strangers, furniture, kitchen utensils, animals (let’s just ignore the fact that I named them all after me… *cough*).

I like to think of characters as a blank piece of paper, they have so much potential and future personality, and because they are still blank it can be hard to name them. Try to get to know your character first. This will help you to figure out their personality, which can lead to the perfect name for them.

Ways to do this:

1. Fill out a character personality sheet. Character sheets will ask you a bunch of questions about your characters, their age, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and pretty much everything. It can really help when trying to figure out who your character is. I found a good article with some personality sheets, check it out HERE.

2. Look up pictures of what you think your character looks like. I personally think that Pinterest is the best for doing this, there’s less risk of accidentally looking up something more explicit. Just search your character’s gender, any details you’ve decided on (hair color, eye color, etc.), you can put photography or even character inspiration, and bingo!

Finding a picture that you think looks like your character can help with figuring out their personality and name.

 

And lastly, my personal favorite: 3. Talk to your characters in your head. I first read about doing this in Seize the Story: A Teen’s Guide to Writing, and it works for me. I like to imagine my character and I sitting across from each other in a coffee shop, and I just ask them what their name is.

Okay, okay, maybe that sounds crazy. But hey, if you’re a writer you are crazy, so accept that fact and try this!

 

Still stumped? Or you want to try a faster way?

1. Google baby names. Yes, if anyone goes through your search history, they’ll probably think you’re expecting or just weird because you’re on a lot of baby sites, but this works and you can find some great names this way! My favorite baby name sites: babble.com, Name Lists, and BabyNames.com
 

2. Mix n’ match names. Movie credits, people you know, etc. Works well.
 

Types of names to stay away from: 

1. Unnecessarily exotic names. Nothing screams “Mary Sue” and “special snowflake” like an exotic name on an average person, so unless your character’s parents are hippies, yeah, try not to do this.

I’m looking at you, Bella Swan and America Singer!

 

2. Names of celebrities. Always, always, always, google your character’s name to make sure you’re not naming them after an actor, author, comedian, or political figure.

 

 

At the end of it all, make sure the name feels right. Names are sometimes overlooked, but they are important. Take one of your favorite characters from a book and give them a different name. Feels wrong? That’s because the name most likely doesn’t fit their personality, which just goes to show why your character needs to have a solid name.

 

 

Do you have a hard time with naming characters?

What has helped you?

 

Happy Writing,