What’s In a Name? The Key to Naming Your Characters
Alayna Winans
Let me paint you a picture. You sit down at your desk, crack open your laptop, and begin writing a new story. You’re typing away with, “Once upon a time, there was a farmer named… named,” and you blank. Sound familiar? I know I, for one, have found myself stumped many a time when crafting a character, hung up on that perfect name, trying to pick something memorable in consideration of the character, the place, and the very story itself. If that rings true in any sense, then here are a few things that can help you grasp that elusive perfect name.
Throughout the history of literature, there have been many memorable names. Here are just a few timeless examples:
- Katniss Everdeen
- Sherlock Holmes
- Hermione Granger
- Percy Jackson
While looking at these popular characters, it is equally important to stay away from famous or overused names as you might inadvertently cause your reader to associate your character with another. For instance, if you name your character Gandalf, and you don’t want your readers to think of a lovable wizard from Middle-earth, good luck. However, that association can be a useful tool if you want to compare your protagonist to that same great wizard, as mentioned before. But use this sparingly since it will take away from the individuality of the character you are creating.
Look at the Meaning
In Shakespeare’s world-renowned play Romeo and Juliet, he writes one of his most memorable quotes, “What’s in a name,” meaning that it is not the name of someone that truly matters but rather their character. Although this may be true in life and is certainly true for Juliet Capulet, it is not the case when writing characters. After all, one can hardly think of Juliet without her forbidden counterpart. That distinct association shows how important the meaning behind a character’s name can be.
“William Shakespeare quote” by AZ Quotes is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
This second key to finding the perfect name for your character requires you to do your research. Look up the meaning behind a name you are mulling over to see if it fits the character. This is a major factor that many tend to forget when naming characters. One might name their evil antagonist “Axel” without realizing that its meaning is “Father of Peace.” While this is not a necessity, it can help have that special tie to the demeanor and beliefs of your character if you carefully consult the meaning.
Look at the Setting
In a similar manner to the last point, this one will also require research. It is crucial to pick a name that fits the setting of your narrative. One would not want to write a 1940s war novel set in Germany with an early 2000s American-named protagonist. This is why whenever a period piece is concerned, authors take time to not only consult the history of the culture but of the names as well. Even if you are writing a story that takes place today in your hometown, it is still worth a look at what names are typical in that region.
You can find the meaning, origin, popularity, and other factors of names on a variety of baby websites, such as The Bump. These aspects can be crucial to your naming process as you want to ensure that the name you choose fits well within the setting of your story. You can research the origin of the name alongside its popularity to see when and where it was typically used.
Look at the Websites
The final key to finding that perfect name for your character, as briefly mentioned above, is to utilize the sources you have at hand. There are a number of great tools to help you decide on the names of your characters. Some that I have found useful over the years are as follows:
- Reedsy’s Character Name Generator
This website consists of over one million names from different regions of the world. All you need to do is click on the region your story takes place, and it will provide you with a list of culturally curated names. If your story is set in a fantasy world, no need to worry, as it also has sections specifically for fantastical characters ranging from humans, elves, and even dragons. If you scroll further, you will find the medieval section, which will provide period-centric names as well as a section dedicated to the different gods throughout a variety of cultures. Reeds can be a great source if you are looking for a specific name to fit your story’s setting and time period.
- Nameberry’s Baby Names 2025
Nameberry offers a list of the top 1000 popular baby names throughout the years. This can help if you are working on a specific time period and want a name that will fit the trend at the time. The website also lists more unique names during each time frame.
- And, of course, the reliable Babynames.com
Babynames.com is a tried and true classic. It contains pretty much every name you could possibly think of, along with its meaning and origin. However, if you are looking for something specific, I would suggest first exploring the aforementioned websites before sifting this endless catalog of names.
There are a number of factors that go into naming your character. I hope that through these tips, you can find a name that fits your protagonist, antagonist, side character, or whomever you may be writing. However, there still remains the most crucial aspect of naming your character. No matter how you come across that perfect name, whether through searching the internet or researching the time period, the most important key to naming your character is that you make them your own. If you feel a name fits your character, stick with it and make it memorable. And with that, I wish you luck in crafting your characters. After all, what’s in a name but the legacy to whom they will be referred?
Works Cited
“Baby Names and Meanings.” Baby Names and Meanings – BabyNames.Com, babynames.com/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
“Baby Names 2025.” Nameberry, Nameberry, 24 Jan. 2025, nameberry.com/.
“Character Name Generator.” Reedsy, blog.reedsy.com/character-name-generator/.
“Pregnancy, Parenting and Baby Information.” TheBump.Com – Pregnancy, Parenting and Baby Information, www.thebump.com/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Floating Press, 2008.
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