How to Name the Characters in a Novel
Take Time Choosing the Best Male and Female Character Names
Oct 19, 2009
Some lucky authors have characters spring into existence fully-formed; they are easy to visualise, and even bring the perfect name with them. Other writers struggle. They try out half a dozen names, and finally settle for "Jane" or "Joe" as a temporary measure, planning to do a quick search-and-replace later. The problem with that approach is that characters tend to grow into their names, no matter how bland the initial choice. "Jane" might not be as easy to replace as first anticipated! It's worth giving the whole issue of story character names more thought before starting to write.
What Makes a Good Fiction Character's Name?
A good character name has to 'sound right' at first glance. Ask a random group of readers for memorable names from fiction, and certain names will recur. 'Hannibal Lecter' was an inspired choice for the smiling killer from Silence of the Lambs. Stephanie Plum is known and loved by millions as the hapless heroine in Janet Evanovich's series of comic mysteries; Jack Reacher is admired by both men and women as a strong, silent hero, and Scarlett O'Hara, the feisty heroine in Gone With the Wind, just wouldn't be the same with any other name.
A closer look at these fictional characters' names reveals how well they fit the genre. 'Hannibal the Cannibal' is perfect for a serial killer. 'Stephanie Plum' sounds amusing, and 'Jack Reacher' has a strong, masculine sound to it. The authors have chosen well. It's important that the character's name sound right for the genre. This doesn't mean there is no room for creativity – but it does mean that the name shouldn't sound out of place.
Pick a Name That the Reader Can Pronounce
When readers pick up a book, they 'hear' the character's name as they begin to read. If they can't work out how to pronounce it, they feel uncomfortable. Few readers will bother to put the book down while they find out how to pronounce a name, but they will mentally stumble every time they come across it. One such name is Phryne Fisher, the heroine of a series of stories set in the 1920s. "Phryne" may be a beautiful name that suits the period, but many readers have no idea how to say it. ("Frine"? "Friney"? "Freen"?). To the reader, it's almost like they haven't been properly introduced. Another example: "Siobahn" is a lovely, musical Irish name, but someone who is not familiar with it might read it as "Sigh-oh-barn".
Science fiction and fantasy writers often run into the "how do I pronounce this?" problem when their other-worldly characters are given names to match. Some of these writers get around the problem by changing a letter or two in an easily-recognised name – for example, 'Derek' might become an alien called 'Denek'.
Some Common Traps in Naming Characters
Knowing how to avoid some of the common problems with naming problems can save a writer a lot of time and trouble later. Keep this checklist handy.
- Steer away from names that begin with the same letter, or which sound too much alike (for example: Ron and John; Lily and Lisa).
- Avoid names ending in 's' – this can lead to awkward punctuation (for example, having to add an apostrophe 's' to show possession).
- Reject names that can be used for both male or female characters (Terry, Cameron, Lee).
- Don't use names that sound too much like a list from an Anglo-Saxon phone book (John Robertson, Elizabeth Brown). Of course, there's an exception to every rule: 'Harry Potter' is phone-book material... as well as an unlikely name for a wizard!
It's ironic that while most people put a great deal of thought into naming a child (or a dog) they tend to feel frustrated if they can't come up with a good name for a character in an hour or two – yet a character can live between the pages of a book for decades. Even if the name of a character doesn't come easily, it's worth persevering to find the perfect name. Who knows how famous that character might become?
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