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Character Names
Should Fit You
Select character
names that makes sense for characters. Never choose a character name
simply because you like the sound of it. The name should represent
the character and not your taste in names. Below is advice on how to
choose character names, along with a list of popular female and male
names.
Character
Names
 When I have
difficulty selecting a character name, I never rush the process. I
either write "MC" in place of the main character's name or
attach a main attribute as the name such as "Lonely
Girl." Eventually, a name that rings true to the character
surfaces.
Clever or exotic
names can take the reader out of the story when the name is selected
purely for the "cool" factor.
History and trends
dictate the perception of names. Names that were popular decades ago
such as Bertha and Ethel have evolved into older woman's names. As a
result, readers may not buy a young sexy starlet name Bertha. At the
same token, readers may cringe at a seventy year old grandmother
named Crystal.
I wrote a story
with an Amish character. Immediately the last name Smucker came to
my mind. I wrestled with the name because Smucker's jelly is a
popular brand and I felt readers would make the same connection. In
the end, I decided to chuck the name and select a new one.
Invest in a baby
name book. Reading through names jars your creativity and gives you
access to names you may never have thought of on your own.
Stay away from
names that derive from your real name. For example, if your name is
Elisabeth, choosing Lisa as a character name may not be wise
because you run the risk of creating a "mary sue"
character. Especially, if the character shares many of your
character personal traits.
Character
Names: Top 25 Popular Female Names
Mary - Patricia -
Linda - Barbara - Elizabeth - Jennifer - Maria - Susan - Margaret -
Dorothy - Lisa - Nancy - Karen - Betty - Sandra - Donna - Carol -
Ruth - Sharon - Michelle - Laura - Sarah - Kimberly - Jordan
Character
Names: Top 25 Popular Male Names
James - John -
Robert - Michael - William - David - Richard - Charles - Joseph -
Thomas - Christopher - Daniel - Paul - Mark - Donald - George -
Kenneth - Steven - Edward - Brian - Ronald - Anthony - Kevin - Jason
- Matthew
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