By: Emery R.
You're
set. You have an awesome character, a great supporting cast, and a spectacular
plot. But then you get stuck on names. We all have these moments; when no name
seems just right for the character you've envisioned, and you're very
frustrated. However, you will know when the right name comes because it strikes
a certain chord. Here are some of my suggestions for finding the right names.
1. Browse a baby names website like momswhothink.com. You may not find
the perfect name, but you could get a feel for what you like in a name. For
example, you might prefer flower names like Violet or Rose, or tree names like
Willow or Alder. Did anyone else notice that Suzanne Collins's characters had
plant themed names? Katniss is a root, Primrose is a flower, and Cloves are
herbs. Nature isn't the only theme for a name. You can go for time periods too.
You might prefer old colonial names like Felicity or Elizabeth, Victorian names
like Theodosia or Amelia. 1940s names like Molly or Dorothy. The right name is
the right name!
2. Write down your favorite names or
names that are especially interesting to you in a notebook. You can go back
over it and see if any seem to fit your characters later on. I tend to favor
names that start out with more than one syllable but have terrific nicknames.
This leads us to number three...
3. Nicknames work wonders! For
instance, Jackie for Jacqueline or Eve/Evie for Evelyn are lovely nicknames
that can work well for characters, but still allow readers to be more focused
on the overall story and not on the name. Here are some more examples:
. Em (Emma, Emily, Emmeline,
Emerson, etc.).
. Kate (Katherine, Kathleen,
Katrina, etc.).
. Bee/Vee (anything that has a
notable phonetic syllable or the particular presence of a certain letter;
Bianca, Vivian, Viola etc.).
. O's: Jo, Zo (Josephine, Zoe,
etc.).
Now maybe you've written that novel,
found the right name, done everything. But what about your pseudonym? If you
choose to use a pen name, make sure it is something that you're okay with being
your main source of identification in the world of literature. You want
something that you won't tire of, something that maybe you would have chosen
for yourself in a different world, or an alter ego. Here are more of my
suggestions, this time for pseudonyms.
1. Initials and then your last name.
For example, say my name is Cecelia Grace Smith. That would make my pen name
C.G. Smith. It actually comes together quite well.
2. A first name and a surname that
have some kind of link. For example, Persephone Bloom. Persephone is the Greek
vegetation goddess and a representation of spring, as well as Demeter's (goddess
of the harvest) daughter. Bloom is what flowers do in spring, thus Persephone
Bloom.
3. A name with the same number of
syllables and some of the same first letters as the words in your own. Let's
say that this time my name is Ella Faith Reynolds. I could then be Emma Hope
Rosen.
I hope that some of these
suggestions have helped your quests for great character names and excellent
pseudonyms. Remember that even if you find the right name, what matters more
than that in writing is the content. Don't let "namers block" keep
you from writing a good piece, be it a novel, short story, poem, or even a
school assignment. If the work is of a good quality, than it should be able to
carry many different character names within or pseudonyms on the cover; even if
there is only one that is perfect.
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