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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12834-Five-Questions-for-Character-Naming.html
Short Stories: November 13, 2024 Issue [#12834]




 This week: Five Questions for Character Naming
  Edited by: NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

"Naming is one of my favorite parts of novel writing. Naming places and things, and especially naming all the characters. Once I give my character a name, they come to life." ~ Gina Sorell


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Letter from the editor

Five Questions for Character Naming


Whether you have trouble coming up with names or you want the character names to mean something, start by asking yourself these five questions.

1. Who is your audience?

2. What do you want to communicate with the name?

3. Is there an attitude or spirit that you want to convey through the name choice?

4. Do you want the name to help with foreboding about the essence of the character?

5. Which ethnic group or nationality do you want to represent?

Now that you have narrowed your options, you can do some research. A logical place are top ten or top 100 baby name lists for the different centuries or decades. Sometimes, at least in the USA, it makes sense to look for top baby names in certain states. For instance, it's likely that the top ten baby names in California are different from the top ten in Alabama. Similar differences appear probably in all large countries with different regions.

Another place to look is in books and short stories. Read a few pages and focus on the character names. Without reading their backstory, what does each name make you feel?

Does Alec feel intelligent but nerdy because: smart alec?

Does Clarissa feel like she knows what's up because she has clarity?

Does Valentine feel romantic but also threatening because his name starts with V?

If the names in your stories mean nothing at all, should you revisit that? Could it be that you're missing out on an easy way to give your characters, well, character without having to tell the reader too much about them?

Unless your uncle's name is Voldemort and you have only good memories of him, including the name as part of the character description is a good starting point to build an image, texture, an idea, and a general feeling about one of your characters.

What is your go-to method for naming characters?


Editor's Picks

 
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What's Val short for? Open in new Window. (13+)
How a pooch got his name
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Galahad Open in new Window. (18+)
A man finds that his name is not a complete waste of time after all.
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Spark Open in new Window. (18+)
Don't tell me your name
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IN THE STATE THAT'S NAMED VERMONT Open in new Window. (E)
Like other states but I live in this one.
#2302963 by Monty Author IconMail Icon

 
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Veni, vedi, vici. Open in new Window. (E)
A name can describe a person.
#2311363 by CathrinStuart Author IconMail Icon

 
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Stories inspired by the music album from the band Sleep Theory by the same name.
#2317758 by Dawn Embers Author IconMail Icon

 
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childlike affinity  Open in new Window. (E)
I got a small cactus when I was ten. I kept it on my nightstand and I gave it a name.
#2320175 by elisabeth Author IconMail Icon

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My name is Yogi, and I'm a St. Bernard. Come read about my first big storm. (Short story)
#2322207 by Allan Charles Author IconMail Icon

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Sprinkles &Bo, New Calico Cat Cafe Story Open in new Window. (E)
Sprinkles& Bo are back with a new friend, a pony named Stetson and some annoying pixies.
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Time and Time Again Open in new Window. (E)
May meets a fay named Tylor, who seems to have a secret
#2328175 by Milo Rose Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

Replies to my last Short Stories newsletter "Talk About Talking" Open in new Window. that asked Why can't the queen, the president, and the prime minster agree on commas?

Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author Icon wrote: Fantastic newsletter, Annette!

Thank you! *Smile*

W.D.Wilcox Author Icon wrote: These are such good rules to live by . . . or die by.

These rules are some of the least flexible, which is why I find them very comforting.

Quick-Quill Author Icon wrote: This was helpful.

Thank you for telling me. I like my newsletters to be helpful.

G. B. Williams Author Icon wrote: Thank you for this month's talking about talking. It was a great refresher with examples.

Thank you for reading and for finding something useful here.


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