Names with a meaning vs random names

How do you choose character names?


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CarburetorThompson

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Specifically talking about character names for this thread.

Do you pick names because you like the way they sound?

Do you pick names with a historical or entomological meaning? Is that meaning meant to reflect character or story themes, possibly foreshadowing?
 

LilRora

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Most of the time, I either find a reasonably popular real name that fits my character or create a name by playing on some references (how I got Helia - from Hel, that's the Sun, because her powers are related to stars). I sometimes make up names as well, but that's mostly for alien characters who are supposed to have unnatural or peculiar names in the first place.
 

ElijahRyne

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Specifically talking about character names for this thread.

Do you pick names because you like the way they sound?

Do you pick names with a historical or entomological meaning? Is that meaning meant to reflect character or story themes, possibly foreshadowing?
Sometimes I give meaning to a name, other times I just pull it from nowhere. If I am to give it meaning I usually translate the word twice cut the resulting words in half and splice them together.
 

Ananias5

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Specifically talking about character names for this thread.

Do you pick names because you like the way they sound?

Do you pick names with a historical or entomological meaning? Is that meaning meant to reflect character or story themes, possibly foreshadowing?
I use a random name generator.
 

John_Owl

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it's entirely dependant. Some characters I want deeper meaning - Some I name specific words in german, latin, Spanish, etc. One of my unposted one-shots has a doggirl named "Hund".

Other characters, I use fantasynamegenerators.com to looked for a name that sounds good, though most of them I alter a little. It'll spit out "Hayleigh" And I alter it to "Heilee" type thing, to better suit the character it's going to.
 

Pujimaki

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I use random name generator since even thinking of a name is a hassle to me.
 

ClosetPossum

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I like to name my characters based on their personality. Like if they're a noble I add some BS like VON, DAN, ZAR, or something in their name. Or I give a name that means something to them based on their.....well...personality. Sometimes it's also just random!
 

Clo

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First name is usually something that sounds appropriate. Last name, I try to pick something that fits the character or their culture.
 

l8rose

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I went with some for each because I'm weird. Most times I cannot think of a name go to baby name sites to find interesting sounding/looking names but only if their meanings don't suck.

Except for my medieval-fantasy type characters. Those are just ones that sound nifty to me that I then make up meanings for. Hilariously enough, I just strung random "Orc" sounding syllables together for my DA/Skyrim fanfiction but I discovered those sounds match up to the Dragon language from Skyrim so that worked in my favor.
 

beast_regards

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I am a contrarian who questions the OP's motives to make this thread (and I also have compulsive need to be unique).
 

Golden_Hyde

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I just picked a name for my characters out of Reedsy.
 

ThisAdamGuy

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Giving characters meaningful names is a trap for overthinkers like me. Make one character's name mean something deeper, and suddenly you have to do that with every character or else you feel like you're being lazy.

"What's this character's name?"
"That's Basilicus Nox, which is Latin for Royal Darkness. I thought it fit him because he always puts on a regal and dignified air to hide the darkness and cruelty that fuel him just beneath the surface."
"And what's this character's name?"
"Oh, that's Travn."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. It just sounded cool."
 

sbdrag

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I kind of do a mix of everything ha ha - currently building out a constructed language for one series of names, so they started out made up and now they have meanings relevant to the characters/stories lol
 

fcures

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I usually do slightly deeper meaning for all characters for fun, if too lazy then i just pull up some random name that sounds right for the character.
 

C.Details

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My characters at first started off with names that fit or sounded nice. but someone mentioned how a character's name fit them because of its meaning. so now every new character gets a name that somewhat fits their personality, physical traits, reference to something or means the opposite of who they are.

Plus it's fun to look up different names from different countries too.
 
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