**My theme for this year’s
A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you’d want to know about naming
characters.**
You have a lot of
choices when it comes to figuring out a character’s name. You can go with a
first name that’s popular or common—one that everyone has heard before. Or you
can go with something that’s a little more unique.
What exactly makes a
name quirky or unique? It could mean different things depending on the name.
There are plenty of names out there that aren’t as common as others. A unique
name could just be one that you’ve heard of maybe a few times, but isn’t quite
as popular as those names you tend to hear every day. Some names may be more
common in different places, but unheard of in others. And there’s always the
option of creating a brand new name, which could work depending on your genre
or your character’s backstory.
So why would you want your
character to have a quirky name? The good thing about a unique name is that it
will stand out. People will remember it. It’s a great way to have your main
character stand out right from the very beginning, and it may just give your
character a little something extra to their personality.
The bad thing about a
unique name is pretty much the same as the good thing. It’s going to stand out,
meaning that people could question it if it’s really out there. This probably
won’t be a problem if it’s just a name that’s fairly uncommon. If you choose a
name that no one’s ever heard of, though, you’ll probably need to address it.
The reader will want to know where this name came from and how it affects your
character’s life. How does he/she deal with having this name? Is it something she
embraces or does she hate it? A unique name could impact how a character sees herself.
FUN TIP: If you do want a unique
name for your main character, it may be a good idea to give your supporting
characters more average names. Your main character’s name will be more
memorable than the others’, and it will make the characters more believable. If
you think of the names of all the people you know—how many of those names are
unique vs. average? There could be a mix, but there are probably more common
names in that group. You’ll want your group of characters to be the same.
Do you prefer quirky or common names? Have you ever made up a name?
I made up names for my dystopian books. Hopefully, like you say, they are more memorable! However, some other characters had regular names, but with an unusual surname. It's good to have a mix.
ReplyDeleteI have made up a name--for my daughter! When my first daughter was born, we almost named her Savannah, but then discovered that name was on the top 10 list of popularity, so we went with Sedona instead. When her sister was born, we decided to name her Micada (rhymes with Cicada). Later we found out that there is a company called Micada that sells large farming equipment out west. My husband contacted them about possible merchandise and they sent us 3 ball caps and a kids t-shirt--for free!
ReplyDeleteThese days I volunteer in a kindergarten class and the majority of kids have unique names or names with unusual spellings, like Amen (pronounced ah-main), Lincoln, Deasia (Dee-asia), and on and on. It's becoming a "thing". Common names like Jennifer or Mary are getting harder to come by.
My second YA novel, my MC has a quirky name. Cyclop. Although, it's actually a nickname because he doesn't have a real name given his past. Then I made that into another nickname and always refer to him as Cyc. Pretty soon, I'll be calling him C.
ReplyDeleteFor my supernatural series, I loved coming up with unique names for my characters. Even the minor characters had unique names and that worked with the world/setting. But that's a great idea to give your minor characters average names to make the MC's name even more unique.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you should have normal names surrounding one quirky name! I sort of made up a name for my finished WIP. I took a very popular name and combined his first initial in his last name. It's so cool!!
ReplyDeleteQuirky names have their place, but they are sure fun to match their personalities with. :)
ReplyDeleteQuirky gets my vote. I loved Buffy BTW.
ReplyDeleteI like quirky names. In a fanfic, my MC's name was Miracle, Mir for short.
ReplyDeleteBig Buffy fan, and I love how the name is such a stark contrast to all the a$$ kicking she does.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all of the names I use are made up. I do try to keep them simple so they will be remembered.
ReplyDeleteI love looking through baby name books, and finding very old/traditional names that have fallen by the wayside. One of my favourite characters is called Rona, which I think is just traditional (Scottish, I think) enough.
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
Love the Buffy and Spike tidbit!! I've made up a name for my wizard in my YA fantasy. Solomus Straylark. Kinda fun. :-p
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, Snap - I'm blogging on names, too. this is my first year in the challenge and I've enjoyed the posts a lot.
ReplyDeleteHave I made up a name? Yes, I made up a name for a villain in an as yet unpublished historical. However, I was browsing the web and discovered there are real people with that surname. Drat! Back to the thinking cap. today I'm featuring Reuben. That's the name I've chosen for my hero in my next book with MuseItUp. Unusual, but not unheard of. Anne Stenhouse. Novels Now
I guess the names I create really depend on the story I'm writing. Gotta love those two-Spike & Buffy! That gif made me smile!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had to make up any names as of yet.
ReplyDeleteYou never know.
:)
Heather