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Character Names for Writers

© Kristen Hanley Cardozo

Although this section is titled Baby Names, suggesting that it is intended for expecting parents, I've noticed that baby name websites are often accessed by writers as well. Coming up with suitable character names for stories is a remarkably difficult task at times, and a good baby names site can sometimes provide a frustrated author with the help he needs to name his characters. With that end in view, I thought I would devote this month's column specifically to character names and to some of the web's best resources in finding them.

As with almost all name searches, the best place to start is Social Security's website. There one can find a list of the top names in the U.S. from the late 19th century on. It is particularly important if one is writing a period piece to find a name suited to the time. As appealing as Caitlyn may be to the modern ear, it would be wildly inappropriate for a heroine from 1930. Glancing over the top 1000 names from the 19 teens, I see that Evelyn might be a better choice. Remember to look at the decade your character was born in, rather than the decade you are writing about.

Another important point to keep in mind is location. If you are writing about characters in the U.S. from 1880 on, Social Security is good place to start. But what if your story is set in India? Try searching Google for a baby names site detailing lists of baby names for the region. However, it is important to consider popularity for a particular time or region within the country. In India, for example, religion might play a big role in the name of a character, and a Shikh is likely to have a Shikh name, while a Hindu character would have a Hindu name.

There's a more specific matter of region and time. Geneology sites are a good place to go for this. Cemeteries also offer a wide range of interesting names, many of which might not be obvious. Remember that names, even in a particular country and time, still vary from place to place. A name that is popular in California might not be popular in Maine. If you are looking for a particularly obscure culture, try using Google to find history sites on the region. It's amazing what one can find.

For fantasy and science fiction names, the search becomes both easier and more difficult. Fantasy and sci fi names can be made up out of wholecloth, although this can be difficult. If you are stuck, try combining elements from different names or looking up names by meaning. Many baby name sites offer this search option. Check the Links on this site to find some great baby name databases. There's also, for the truly desperate, the random fantasy name generators. Although these are more fun than useful, you may get an idea from them.

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