Method 1: Think of Your Loved Ones (and your hated ones!)
The most simple way to create character names is to draw from your own life experience. And this does not necessarily mean copy and paste your brother's name into your book! To begin, start with one of your protagonists and then consider the following questions. Who are they? What do they like? What are their strengths and what are their weaknesses? How much do you, the author, care about this character? Does your character remind you of anyone in your life? If you can answer one of these questions you have a basis for a killer name. Perhaps you based the character off someone you know consciously or unconsciously. If so, you have basis for a name. For example, say that one of your characters is loosely based on your cousin and her name is Stacy. You can then create a derivative of "Stacy." Create a name that is similar to its inspiration such as "Lacy," "Sarah," "Kinzie," "Samantha." The name only needs to have 1 similarity to its inspiration. It could be a letter, a sound, a rhyme, or anything that is reminiscent of its original. Keep trying new ones until you find something that resonates with your character. Inversely, for antagonistic characters think of people you hate or despise and follow the same procedure.
Method 2: Take Inspiration from Other Languages
If looking through a list of English names isn't working for you, try to look at other languages names. One way to go about it is to think about your character's ethnic roots. Everybody has a homeland somewhere in their ancestry and it is your job to know where your characters came from. Perhaps your creation has Russian ancestry, so you research a list of Russian names. Amongst them you find Stanislav, Rurik, or Valentin! The odds are one of these names will peak your interest.
But foreign names aren't the only way to make use of other languages. In a tradition older than Shakespeare, use modified root words to bequeath your names. This is a process wherein you identify a primary character trait and find a single word to describe it. My upcoming book under the codename "Mushroom Story" utilizes this technique in the character of Odia. She is a woman filled with hate for those she perceives to be better than her. Her name comes from the Latin word for hate: odium. By taking the root word and modifying it you can create some truly unique names that have beyond-the-surface meaning.
Method 3: Brainstorm Names
So, you have looked at too many lists of names to count in English and beyond. Nothing, no matter how many you see, seems to work for your unique character. In such a case, you can try brainstorming! Brainstorming is the process of spit-balling ideas without thinking about what you say before you speak. Close your eyes and remember names you have heard throughout your life. Do not think about them and do not dwell on them. Remember classmates, TV shows, random names you've heard in public, bill boards, celebrities and shout them out loud! The moment you start to think about the quality of the names is the moment you slow down and we will have none of that here. Angel, Bruce, Caterina, Dave, Jamal, Kenji, Samantha, Po, Rami, Raj, Jeffery, Margo, Marge, George... and on and on and on. When you vocalize the right name, you will know.
I hope that one of these methods will help you on your literary journey. Thank you so much for giving these methods a shot and come back again to The Fabler's Quill for free daily guides, reviews, stories, and more!
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