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How do you pick a name for your main character?
12 tips on how to name your characters
- Keep the time period of your story and your character’s age in mind.
- Make sure your characters’ names fit their ethnic background.
- Pick a name that fits the character’s personality.
- If you want, pay attention to a name’s meaning.
- Avoid giving several characters similar names.
Can two characters have the same name?
For characters, the answer is often yes, but with more exceptions. If you name your character the same as a famous fictional character, readers (and perhaps a judge) might think you’re attempting to cash in on the character name by creating confusion in the reader’s mind.
Giving a fictional person a name bestows upon them a certain degree of importance—it’s what turns them from an unidentified human being into a character. And if you have too many of them, you run the risk of creating unnecessary distractions or making it difficult for readers to keep them straight.
How did JK Rowling come up with names?
Rowling said that she had enjoyed working under a pseudonym. On her Robert Galbraith website, Rowling explained that she took the name from one of her personal heroes, Robert F. Kennedy, and a childhood fantasy name she had invented for herself, Ella Galbraith.
How do you make an OC name?
Here’s how to come up with interesting character names in your fiction.
- Match name with theme using a character name generator.
- Use Fido and your street.
- Combine the names of your favorite authors.
- Use a name translator.
- Use an encyclopedia and your creative side.
- “Borrow” from a friend or family member.
Why do characters in Anna Karenina have multiple names?
The root of the middle name is that of the father, plus a suffix meaning “son of” or “daughter of.” Thus Anna’s middle name is “Arkadyevna,” while that of her brother is “Arkadyevitch.” Russians call each other by the Christian name and patronymic, rarely by surname.
By using a nameless character, an author can prevent readers from unconsciously attaching the identity of another person, ethnic group, or social background. But while the lack of identity may make a character seem unknowable, it can also make the character more accessible to readers.
Do character names matter?
Major character names are important, minor characters especially ones you meet only once or twice and do not significantly affect the storyline much less so. If a particular cultural template is used then the name must follow that template’s rules unless there is a storyline reason for it to deviate.
How do I change the name of a character?
Remember, you can give characters placeholder names while you start writing, then later change the name. Programs such as Microsoft Word have a handy Replace word feature, which makes changing a name easy.
How to pick a name for a fictional character?
The 7 Rules of Picking Names for Fictional Characters. 1 1. Check root meanings. It’s better to call a character Caleb, which means “faithful” or “faithful dog,” than to overkill it by naming him Loyal or 2 2. Get your era right. 3 3. Speak them out loud. 4 4. Manage your crew appropriately. 5 5. Use alliterative initials.
Do you need names for your characters?
There is no need for names that you, the author, don’t know how to say. Even if you’re naming elves, they can be relatively easy, such as Tolkien’s ‘Arwen’ and ‘Legolas’. Another thing to be wary of is giving two or more characters similar names. Even if you don’t find it difficult to tell them apart, you reader may.
What are some examples of naming conventions in literature?
While naming conventions can usually work across all sub-genres and ages, you may find some interesting ideas. For example, Marissa Meyer, author of fantasy/dystopian YA series The Lunar Chronicles, named some characters from nouns, such as ‘Scarlet’, ‘Thorne’ and ‘Crescent’.