12 Responses

  1. Teri Harman
    Teri Harman January 14, 2013 at 2:11 pm |

    I love finding names for characters – I think they are really important. I keep a list of names that I hear or read about that I like. I also search meanings, take them off gravestones, steal them from other fictional characters I like, etc. Names are too much fun.

  2. Penny Freeman
    Penny Freeman January 15, 2013 at 7:59 am |

    Naming characters is always a huge thing for me. They have to be just right and bespeak the character. Sometimes, what I name them helps to create the character. I’m also always careful not to name the “walk-on” parts, because once I do, they take on a life of their own.

    I have a huge collection of names from my decades of typing for MDs. That has produced some wonderful memorable names. My favorite, though, comes from my sister-in-law’s ancestors: Lilywhite.

    I love Dickensian names, although it’s more accurately British common-folk predating Dickens. He just did it the best.

  3. christobal
    christobal January 15, 2013 at 9:32 pm |

    My darling daughter has a lengthy list of fictional character names. Names like females Fleming Lewis and Maeve Sousa and males Bartley Overstreet and Chance Heffington. If you ever need suggestions…

  4. Jenniffer Wardell
    Jenniffer Wardell January 25, 2013 at 1:09 pm |

    In the novel I’m working on, I have one character who I tried three different names for in the brainstorming process. The problem was, I would immediately forgot them a day later – something I never do. When a name finally did stick, I decided she must not have liked my other choices and got rid of them as quick as she could.

  5. Erin McBride
    Erin McBride January 25, 2013 at 1:54 pm |

    Naming characters is both my favorite and least favorite part about book writing. When I use my favorite names I always worry that I won’t be able to name a baby that some day in my future. (A major worry when I named my most recent leading lady ‘Haley.’) And yet some characters just tell you their names! I always try to sneak in the names of my friends and family in subtle ways. They love it, and I love giving them ridiculous characters. I always feel awkward when I meet someone in real life who has the same name as one of my “bad guys.” I feel like I should apologize to them in advance or something!

  6. Jewel Leann Williams
    Jewel Leann Williams January 25, 2013 at 1:56 pm |

    Don’t forget “A Boy Named Sue”– a whole life story summed up in one song. Gotta love the Man in Black 🙂

Comments are closed.