![]() ![]() I like this one for the sheer number of filters you can use for generating names.į - This site has an exhaustive list of options for generating your fantasy names, to include characters, weapons, and pets. This is my least favorite way to name characters, but there are some very good generators out there. Random Name Generatorsįinally, there are the name generators. Some of the categories I’ve found most useful include dragon names, evil names, angel names, and androgynous names. Beyond a number of country-specific names, they have a specialty name section that has a broad selection of categories to choose from. If I have a specific theme or type of character I’m trying to name, is one of my favorite sites to use. From these words, I blend them to create the character name “Jatari”. I choose the Basque word “ehiztari” and the Flemish word “jager”. What I do is I go to, a multilingual translator and search a word that I think describes my character, Logos will return a translation of that work into dozens of different languages, I will pick the two words that sound the most interesting to me and turn them into a name.įor example, let’s say the character is a hunter. Language blending is my favorite way to create fantasy names. There are generally two different ways I pick fantasy and science fiction names. Generally, I like to come up with entirely original names, but, on occasion, I will use some established names as well. Fantasy & Science Fiction Namesįantasy and science fiction names are some of my favorites. A few of the categories their selection includes are ancient Roman names, Colonial names, Gothic, gods & goddesses, and cowboys. If I’m writing historical fiction and need to go a little farther back then the 1800s, or to some of the other regions of the world, has a good collection of historical names. In general, baby name books and websites are a fantastic resource for naming characters. baby names arranged by decade from the late 1800s all the way to 2019. ![]() One of my favorite methods for naming these characters is to decide what year I want them to have been born in, then look at what were the most popular names in that year.įor example, if I have a character whose grandmother was born in the 1920s, I’ll look up what names were popular in that decade and probably name her grandmother something like Lillian, Virginia, or Barbara.ī has a great collection of U.S. Historical NamesĪs an American who hasn’t traveled nearly as much as I’d like to, I often end up with American characters. I’ll break the tools down into naming categories: Historical, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Name Generators. The first five or so are easy enough - anyone can come up with five names for people who aren’t terribly important, but after that, I start worrying about whether I’m reusing a name, whether it’s too similar to a primary characters’ name, or I just start putting in place holder names to fill the spot until I come up with a better name.įor both primary and secondary characters, I’ve started to collect some tools and tricks to help me name my characters. Regardless of how hard or easy the primary characters’ names come to me, I almost always struggle with secondary characters about half-way through the story. Other times I’ll rename my main character twenty times. With some stories I’ve named my main character, their whole family, along with their best friends, and archnemesis within five minutes of starting. I don’t believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.” ― L.M. Even if you adjust these names slightly, they all have shared similarities built in that will help make them look like they belong together.“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. for Culture B, and Egyptian names like Imhotep, Hatsheput, and Ramses for Culture C). You can also find a name list from an ancient culture and use each one as the foundation for a particular culture (e.g., adapting Latin names such as Gaius, Marius, Cicero, Tullius, etc., for Culture A, Greek names such as Patroclus, Agamemnon, Ptolemy, Seleucus, etc. ![]() There's the George RR Martin way, which involves taking a modern day name and adjusting it slightly (Jeffrey to Joffrey, Rob to Robb, Alexander to Sandor, etc.) while also using some less-common modern names (Arya, Jaime). Coming up with character names can be tough making them seem like they're from the same culture, doubly so! ![]()
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