3 Ways to Find Unique Names for Your Characters

Table of contents:

3 Ways to Find Unique Names for Your Characters
3 Ways to Find Unique Names for Your Characters

Video: 3 Ways to Find Unique Names for Your Characters

Video: 3 Ways to Find Unique Names for Your Characters
Video: Naming Your Characters: 3 Tips - The Other Epic Story Vlog (Ep 14) 2024, March
Anonim

Tired of switching between the same names for the characters in your stories all the time? Do you feel there is an attachment to generic names and even a lack of inspiration to create new names? There are several methods to come up with new and interesting nicknames for your personas!

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Creating Unique Names

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 1
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 1

Step 1. Use a first name as a last name

Since first and last names are characteristically different (except maybe for Sílvia e Silva), breaking this custom will drastically highlight your character.

  • For example: Magno Claudio, Caio Roger, Angela Clara
  • This approach is subtle and will make more sense in a story that develops in a socio-historical context close to your own.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 2
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 2

Step 2. Look for names in unlikely situations

Wait for the credits at the end of your favorite series or movie, there are a lot of weird and funny combinations in them. When walking around, pay attention to street names. Maybe you want to use the name of a foreign city (like Leiria, Portugal), or a nebula (like Dumbbell) and even a plant (like Cucurbita Pepo)!

This is a very broad method and can be used in various genres for both male and female characters

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 3
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 3

Step 3. Find unusual names in books

Look it up in your contacts, or in a baby name book. These usually have great examples and ideas, with funny and different names.

  • Examples: Noah, Liam, Mattia, Aryan.
  • Take a look at mythology books if you want to be inspired to name and for the character. But beware: unless the intention is to show an obvious connection to the chosen mythology (eg, "Athena"), don't use Norse, Greek or Latin.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 4
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 4

Step 4. Make up names from other words

It is said that J. K. Rowling came up with the names of some of her characters by making their descriptions and shuffling the character letters that described them later. You can make several mixtures this way, for example:

  • Mix common names. "Paula" and "Ivone" would become "Pavone", "Henrique" and "Rodrigo" would form "Hendrigo", etc.
  • Use different spellings. Use Jouzé instead of José, Kathya instead of Kátia, etc.
  • Mix up the letters of your name, or a friend's. For example, Rita can be Tari or Tiar. Your friend Jarbas can become Sabjar, or Rajabs. Anabel can become Belana, etc.
  • Scramble common words. The word "laughter" can become "Disara" and "jump" can become Tarsal. Use this technique to come up with a name that has to do with the character's personality, so Disara can be the name of your funny character and Tarsal can be the name of an athlete.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 5
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 5

Step 5. Make up a name from scratch

To have something truly unique, stop using things you know for inspiration and invent something completely new. In science fiction and fantasy stories this can be particularly useful, as the cultural context is distant enough to justify anything.

  • Type a line of random letters into a word document or notepad and select sets that sound louder, then rearrange the letters until you come up with something you like.
  • You can cut out letters in a magazine, toss them up, and create a name based on the order they fall.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 6
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 6

Step 6. Honor your favorite characters

But try not to be obvious, the idea is not to copy a famous name.

  • For example, if you want to pay homage to Sinhozinho Malta, do not use the name Sinhozinho Malta, as besides being ridiculously the same, it can be considered plagiarism. Instead, just use "Malta", as it is generic, or "Sinho".
  • Use celebrity names to create new names. For example, Luana Piovani and Paloma Duarte could become Loluma or Lupi Padu.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 7
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 7

Step 7. Play with existing phrases or terms

Use a compound noun, or a piece of phrase, mix up the letters and create a new name.

  • For example, reverse the order of "this way" and do "Messe Dodo", "Dod Omesse" or "Mosdo Headquarters". Use other combinations in a single name, such as "Desmodd".
  • Type a few phrases from your favorite song lyrics and discover unusual combinations. For example, "Like a wave at sea" could become "Daon Carmo" or "Conoda" and still "Comuma Danomar".
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 8
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 8

Step 8. Change the gender of the name

Use a male name for a female character or a female name for a male character.

Keep in mind that not all names have a male or female equivalent

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 9
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 9

Step 9. Look up names

Use a name generator (commonly used for babies and very useful for literature), perhaps see names that would match your character.

Method 2 of 3: Use Your Favorite Letters

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 10
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 10

Step 1. Make a list of the letters you would like to use in this name

Choose a favorite letter if you still have questions. For example, a character with an L and I in the name because you like the sound of these letters together, or because you think they match his personality.

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 11
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 11

Step 2. Choose the name ending

Common endings in female names are: a, bella, na, ly, line, lia, belle, etc. Common endings in male names are: o, an, year, el, etc. Choose one of these or invent!

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 12
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 12

Step 3. Use something you like in the name, or something you see from your window

If the name of this isn't particularly inspiring, think of its synonyms.

For example, if you see the moon, think of a term like “celestial body” and so the name might be “Celestial”

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 13
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 13

Step 4. Add more lyrics to your favorites

Maybe you also like the letters "o" and "a" and joining with "n" and "h", form "Noah".

If you still don't get a satisfactory result, use more letters (without overdoing it)

Method 3 of 3: A Name That Matches the Character

Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 14
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 14

Step 1. Use an appropriate name for the situation in your story

Choose character names that correspond to the world, time and/or country where you are set.

  • Context-appropriate names make the story believable. For example, a story set in China will have different names than one set in Africa.
  • One technique used by John Braine, a British novelist, is to use the names of places that exist within the region where the story takes place.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 15
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 15

Step 2. Choose a name that is easy to speak

Most readers don't have the patience to decipher a character's name every time it appears. A difficult name can break the pace of reading and distract the reader rather than help them go deeper.

  • Look for names that are easy to say aloud that come out easily.
  • Avoid using very strange names, as this may disturb or distract the reader.
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 16
Find Unique Names for Your Characters Step 16

Step 3. Think about the dynamics between the meaning of the name and your character's characteristics

The meaning of the name can help you relate it to one of the characters, based on their personality. Think about how the meaning of the name reinforces its attributes.

Use a name that contrasts the character's personality and the meaning of the name. For example, a bully named Cadu Paz, a tough girl named "Aninha" or an introverted tomboy named "Johny Bacana"

Tips

  • Try rearranging the letters in a word that describes the character, such as "smart" becoming Gine Litenti" or "jerk" becoming Papa Losh." You can add or remove lyrics at will.
  • Make combinations if you want names for science fiction. There are thousands of names out there and you could end up making up names that will make literature history!
  • Names like Ulisses, Sebastian and Brigitte are more suited to classic stories, while André, Cauê or Renan are more appropriate for contemporary stories.
  • Shuffle a name into more interesting shapes. For example, Chris could become Kryss, Kris, Chrys or even Crystal.

Notices

  • Don't name a character that already exists, especially if the two have similar attributes, or you could be sued for plagiarism. Search to find out if anyone has ever used that name in a published work before naming your character.
  • Make possible names for your characters, especially if the story is dark and serious. Of course, you have to give your imagination free rein, but if you name a persona "Sorumbática Highness" or "Mister Macambúzio", it can be difficult for the reader to take anything seriously.
  • Do not use the name immediately after creating or discovering it; show it to an impartial person first. What sounds great to you might sound like a chemical name to the audience.

Recommended: