Birdie's Quill

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What’s In a Name?

The conception and birth of characters is an intimate process. It doesn’t matter if they represent good or evil; a certain closeness develops. It’s a private relationship between writer and character. This bond builds along with the story. From the first glimmer of existence, it’s fun and challenging to bring physical, mental and behavioral particulars into focus as characters interact with their budding environment. Naming these emerging individuals is part of this process.

When I first started writing, I’d sit at the computer pondering prospective character names. Many times, I chose names of people I knew. It made it easy to base the namesake’s physical appearance on familiar features, but when the character developed beyond what I first anticipated the name did not always fit.

My story, “Shelter in the Shadow,” originated from a writer’s prompt instructing me to write for twenty minutes without stopping. A girl ran down an alley in the rain searching for a place to hide. My mind lingered for a moment trying to figure out a name without wasting time when Peggy walked by my door. The character became Peggy, but not for long. A slinky red dress and heavy makeup didn’t work with the tag “Peggy.” In my mind, the name did not convey the personality of the character with blood on her gloves. I finished the prompt knowing the name would change before I typed the last period.

Avoid Similar Sounding Names
I know a couple with three daughters named Whitney, Lindsay, and Brittany. Pretty names, but people tend to get them confused. The same happens when characters have similar sounding names. Here’s an example:

Whitney walked into the room and slumped into the overstuffed chair.

“Stop pouting,” her sister Lindsay said. “When dad makes up his mind, that’s it.”

“I know. It’s not fair.” Her bottom lip protruded.

“Get, over it,” Brittany said as she bounced into the room.

Lindsay walked over to the window. “He’s here.”

Consider the difference in the following example:

Taylor walked into the room and slumped into the overstuffed chair.

“Stop pouting,” her sister Becky said. “When dad makes up his mind, that’s it.”

“I know. It’s not fair.” Her bottom lip protruded.

“Get, over it,” Michelle said as she bounced into the room.

Becky walked over to the window. “He’s here.”

The change in names makes this passage easier to follow. The first example threatens to send eyes scanning to double check which sister walks to the window, the one in the chair or the one speaking to the sister in the chair.

Choose distinct names. Avoid names starting with the same letter. For instance, Boris and Bruno are short male names starting with the letter “B.” Even though they don’t sound the same, they are similar enough to become confused.

When writing Fantasy and Science Fiction, characters sport untraditional titles. T’reck and T’bak may be distinctly different to the writer, but the similarities hold the potential to sidetrack and break the pace of the action when readers pause to contemplate whether or not they have the correct character in mind.

Not only do these nontraditional names start with a “T’” but end in a “k.” Give your characters dissimilar, pronounceable names. You don’t want readers turning back to already read portions to see if they have the right character in mind.

Another thing to consider—enunciation of the name. If readers love your story, they’ll tell others about it. Don’t make them stumble over hard to pronounce names. When reading, people tend to skip over such names or even substitute one of their own. The goal is to have readers lose themselves in the story as they follow clearly defined characters from one scene to the next.

Appropriate to the Period
Another factor to consider when naming characters is the period in which the story is written. Consider names such as Ceres, Francisco, Alonso, Gonzalo, Ferdinand, Caliban, and Iris. Can you imagine this group of teenagers driving around in a ’67 Chevy scooping the loop for something to do? No, neither can I. Those names are not right for that period. However, names like Al, Tom, Roger, Ben and Sandy are a better fit. The first are character names from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The second present a more contemporary feel fitting to the period.

In 12th and 13th century France, children were often named after major characters in romances. Names like Roland, Olivier, and Lancelot were popular. Research history. Look into the culture of the period in which your story takes place for apposite names.

For instance, “Arash” comes from Iranian mythology and means “truthfulness” or “bright” in Persian, while “Belenus” is an elaboration of the form Bel (the name of a solar god) and means bright or brilliant. The name can be found in Celtic Mythology, while in Greek Mythology “Charon” means “fierce brightness.” Within each culture and period you’ll find names with similar meanings but unique to the time and place.

Depending on where and when your story takes place, names change based on era and location. Whether you write Mainstream, Romance, Mystery, Sci-Fi, or Fantasy, match characters with names appropriate to the period and culture.

What’s It Mean?
Over the years, I’ve developed the habit of choosing names tied to my character’s personality. Choosing a name based on the meaning produces a relational link to the character from the outset of the story. It keeps my thinking anchored to what I know about the individual.

In my fantasy novel, Windwalker, the main character finds himself shunned by most of society. A young girl befriends him. For her, I chose the name Jalil. It means friend. I liked the sound, length and meaning. Not only does it function as a name, but it helps define her role.

Stigma and Reputation
I’m happy to be the eldest of seven children. As a child I didn’t have to bear the brunt of consequences based on reputations of older siblings, but I did assume the stigma of trying to excel to meet the high standards set by my parents. Whether characters struggle to meet expectations of a teacher in 1938, a CEO father in 1998, or live in the 16th Century as a child of royalty a certain stigma or reputation is attached to their role. If a king has ruled with an iron fist, and his kind-hearted son lives in his shadow, subjects of the land will attach the stigma of the father’s reputation to the son until he proves he is worthy of his own reputation.

In my family, my brother followed two grades behind my sister Gail. She slipped from grade to grade without effort. Her report card filled with A's brought praise from teachers and my parents, while my brother not only struggled to read but had to live up to teachers’ expectations because he came from Gail’s family. It’s not necessarily fair, but a realistic occurrence in society around the world and a worthy consideration in your story line as you choose a family name and what your character contributes to it.

Culture
I once knew a family from India with the last name Samuels, or so I thought it was their last name until I got to know them better. In fact, the husband’s given name was Samuel. In their culture, his given name is placed behind his village name and father’s name. In that case, my name would be Port Charlotte Howard Donna. My last name would be Port Charlotte, but I’d be called by my given name Donna. Mind boggling, isn’t it?

The reason I bring this up is that not every story we write falls within the parameters of the world in which we live. Part of world-building includes developing culture unique to the world you’re creating. Understanding your characters’ names and even the naming process is part of that culture.

Growing Relationship
Writers' imaginations give birth. A new character forms on the page before us. Much like naming children, we search for the perfect sound and fit. Yet, with characters we have the flexibility to change our minds. Some of my characters have transitioned through four names as a story unfolds. These individuals grew beyond my initial concept, and that’s fine. This refining process reflects that character’s growth. Like a caterpillar, the first name worked as a cocoon but when the mature character emerges at the end of the story the first name no longer fits.

Readers enjoying the end product may never know the reasons behind the names you’ve chosen. If you’ve done your job, names will define and set characters apart as they lead readers into the depths of your plot smoothly transitioning from scene to scene until reaching the conclusion.

About the Author
Author and freelance writer, Donna Sundblad, resides in Florida with her husband, Rick. Her creative writing book, Pumping Your Muse, is available in paper or ebook format. Check her website for more information at www.theinkslinger.net. Donna also edits for and co-owns Team Spirit Critique and Editing, LLC.