#how to name a character

[creativepromptsforwriting]

How to name your characters

do not repost

Choosing a character's name is an important part of creating a story. You want people to remember your characters and the first step is the name. But how do you choose the perfect name?

Two things to keep in mind:

Clarity: Having names in a story that are the same or similar (and it not being a plotpoint) can be very confusing for the reader and especially in the beginning, this can hinder them in their reading. Memorability: Do you want your character to have an iconic name that everyone can immediately attribute to your story?

Unique names

There are a lot of memes about characters with very unique names (especially in YA novels). And if there isn't a good explanation for why their parents would name them Sunshine Bentley I would personally try to use a bit more common names. Character names don't need to be something unique for people to recognize them easily. Bella, Edward and Jacob are not unique names and you probably still know who I am talking about.

More questions to answer:

Association: Do you want people to associate something with the name? Another fictional character or a historic person?

Fitting: Should the name fit the person? Or should the name not fit the person, should the name even feel uncomfortable for the character? Also: Does the name fit the story you are trying to tell?

Length: The length of a name, especially if they are called by that name without abbreviation can give a different vibe to a character.

Nickname: Is that person called by another name?

Theme: Do you want the names in the story (or at least some of them) to fit a theme? Example: Sisters named after flowers, a group of people with names of historic figures.

You should also keep in mind the genre of your story, what era it plays in and the place/language those names should fit in.

More: How to choose a first name | How to choose a last name | How to use nicknames

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[crystallized-cheese]

so like imagine Undertale characters but they're all crafts supplies (Undyne and Alphys) (Toriel and Asgore) (Frisk and Flowey) (Napstablook and Mettaton)

[outer-andromeda]

... I couldn't resist doing more self-insert stuff whoops

Edit : Can't believe I have to add this in but the human in the picture is NOT Stanford Pines from hit cartoon Gravity Falls. Gabby is a self insert, which means he's literally based off of me. READ THE TEXT AND THE TAGS. istg people 💀

[noornight]

Long distance besties. This definitely happened after the third movie (source: trust me bro)

Based on this

[nomohmoss]

[wolfythewitch]

sketch of the guy haha. Not sure what his name is yet, toying with Ulysses. The duck's name is Penny

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Get that man (pregnant)!

[kommsterkun]

Also I have still been writing, finishing up the last main character's character profile.

After this I'm gonna do some research to finalize some ideas on the magic systems, I think it's gonna be pretty sick.

Also no, I still don't know any of my main characters names. Still working on it.

[xxcrystalinerose]

Going back to Zag's romantic relationships from Mel is extremely hilarious to me because of how comparatively well-adjusted he was.

Sure he done fucked up with Meg in the past and they had to kill each other as part of the job description, his sudden leaving seriously hurt Than while also having communication issues w/ each other, and there's the matter of Dusa being a lowly servant of the House. But in the end, he sorted everything out with 0 grievances from all parties involved (that one dialogue where Than admits Meg is the one who tells him to finally pursue Zag seriously warms my heart). Got the Mom(s) Seal of Approval™ even, and from Achilles too!

Meanwhile I look at Melinoë and she has a frankly criminal amount of situationships. Her rizz level is insane and she goes straight for the throat when flirting yet somehow her dating life is simultaneously a mess and nonexistent. Nemesis regularly kicks her into the dirt verbally AND physically but is the only person to acknowledge how fucked up it is that Mel is sent out alone in the hopes of killing an all powerful Titan that took SIX gods to kill in the past. "Fuck you and fuck your stupid frog in particular" then turns around and gives free Death Defiances. Her and Moros try to flirt with each other but they kept missing the mark because sometimes one of them says something totally unhinged like it was normal (I don't think watching people die is an appropriate bathtime conversation topic, my man). Her and Eris are a hot mess—literally with all those rounds she shot at Mel AND without a basis of workplace professionalism. Icarus is one shot nerve away from accidentally proclaiming his undying (literally) love to her but his guilt complex is hanging on to that nerve. And then there's Arachne and her not so little crush warring with the fact that said crush is family with and is helping the gods who cursed her.

Never have I realized how important it is that Zag has become a minor god of relationship counselling until I look at his baby sister and think, "yeah girl you definitely need help for all that shit".

[egophiliac]

still ruminating over Lost In the Book With Spooky Skeletons Part 1, so here's a selection of some of my favorite little bits! (...some more loosely paraphrased than others) (I just feel like Idia has no room to criticize in general, okay)

anyway, I'm sure we're just going to have a fun time celebrating Halloween and nothing bad is going to happen whatsoever! :)

[justladders]

This is your protagonist, everyone. This is the man sap that we’re supposed to cheer for.

[andro-dino]

guess who got themself hyperfixated on yet another piece of shockingly emotionally compelling children’s media

[alfheimr]

the L in law stands for LOVED...its his birthday:)

[space-blue]

Cute fish-man enforcer: a comprehensive artist's reference collection

I've heard people simp for him already, so I gathered screenshots. Also, to note : his ears flick, and he has third eyelids like a Na'vi Metkayina.

I caught the third eyelid in 2 different shots.

Anyway, make great art of the fish twink. He's also the first one to rush to the captive Zaunite's help, and reacts after Vi to Cait's bloodlust. He saved Mel during the attack on her speech, and rescued his enforcer buddy. He has zero lines but it's pretty obvious he has a good heart despite a snooty resting face.

if you know what his name is, drop it in comments so I can update the tags.

pretty boi

[bixels]

Reminiscing about Little Witch Academia.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

I'm back in the Tigers cage again.

(You too can join in on throwing a Rat Of A Man into a Tiger cage by reading Tiger Tiger)