So, I’m working on this piece of writing–a novel excerpt–and I’ve been really struggling with naming one of the main characters.
He’s not someone I ever want to know in reality. I don’t like him. And, occasionally, I get a little creeped out editing chapters about him. (Hopefully, that occurrence means that I’ve written him affectively.)
Still, I’ve had a most difficult time naming him.
Now, I take naming real lives quite seriously. When each of our children entered our arms, we spent a minimum of a day reflecting on what to name them, knowing well that a name can have influence on your life in an almost tangible way.
I may be just slightly less serious about naming my characters.
(And this guy isn’t a great guy–so, of course, I don’t want to name him after anyone that I like….)
The only problem there is that I’ve known lots of people, and I like most of them. 🙂
We (the character and I) went through a transition from a name that started with a G (that was a real name, though it kinda sounded like I made it up) to a name that began with a C (but had a pretty obvious Biblical allusion…anyone care to guess?) to a name that began with an E (what he is named currently). The E name is not a name of anyone I know personally, and it is also the name of a fairly malicious character in a book series I read recently. I was okay with using the E name…at least for now.
While we are talking about names, I found a name that I loved but my husband wasn’t too fond of–and one that was in my ancestry. I didn’t have another daughter after I discovered it (which was probably a blessing since I don’t like to argue with my husband–& I just might’ve been willing to fight for that one). I was excited last month when I remembered the name while I started working on a new novel (I’ve been dying to try something dystopian). Hooray! I can name a character after one of my ancestors.
And, I actually like this character.
🙂
How do you name your characters? Do you try to make connections or simply find a name you like? Do your characters show up in your brain with or without names? Do you use online resources to do name research?
middle of my story 
Good questions! I use online resources, an old baby names book (sounds like you may have one, too) and then as you alluded to — I just go with what feels right. Good luck on your naming, and on your writing!
Thanks so much, Melissa! And congrats on your Celebri-Dot! 🙂
I know, right?! We named our youngest while drinking a bottle of wine (embarrassing story to tell your classmates, admittedly, that you’re named after a nice white, but hey). My serial killer, on the other hand, has been the topic of numerous group discussions and has (so far) be renamed 7 times! What the heck?? Yah. I feel you, sister.