Q&A for How to Find Unique Names for Your Characters

Of course! You can even make it so that their name takes on a special meaning to the character. For instance, if a character always sat around like a duck, you could name him Drake.

Behind The Name is a great website where you can search names that originated from different countries.

Try mixing two names of rare or extinct animals so that no one will have heard it before.

Try combining two city or country names. You could also make an anagram or add a different suffix/prefix onto an existing name.

Yes, if you don't use the last name, if there was one, and you remember to still make your character unique.

Consider every part in the story you are trying to make. Often times, authors, such as John Steinbeck, will give names with special meaning to their characters. However, be sure that the name you choose fits the character and the setting of the story.

No name is too unusual. There could be many reasons behind a name, like if someone's parents were video game enthusiasts or love the Terminator movies so much that they named someone after one of the characters. Though if the parents are just normal people, try to look for unused names that would be considered normal (for example, Jezebel, Magnus). If you want something totally different, try translating a few words in a language like Greek or Latin. Several names come from these languages and cultures. For example, Coriolanus Snow, Cinna, etc.

If it were kinda a random person and you don't use the last name, then yes. Friends or more personal people to you should be asked first.

Try to pick the best one, or ask a friend or family member to decide for you. If you still can't decide, roll a die or flip a coin. You could also have more characters that the extra names go to. Another option would be to combine the names you like the best, or have the character switch names somewhere in the story (the how and why are up to you).

Sure. It might be a good idea to explain why she has that name, though. Maybe she was named after her father, or another male relative? It should have some kind of relevance to the story.

Well, it depends. For example, I used a name that incorporates one of the things that my character will do in the future. My character's middle names are all adjectives that describes them the best. Use your creativity.

Yes; it could certainly work for a character in a modern setting.

Something like Xanthia, Argos (quick/argentum means silver in Latin), Hudria (water jug), Kala (pretty) would be good. Or maybe a name from a Greek myth.

Do what you think is best. If you like the name and others say it's dumb, just ignore them it is your character not theirs.

Tear is an awfully short word to make an anagram for, but some examples I like more than the others are Reta, Trea, Erat, and Aret. You could also try adding in extra letters to spice up the name a bit, e.g. Errat, Treia, Aretta, etc. Some other ways of doing this could be searching up names that mean tear, sadness, or something like that, or try lengthening the phrase you want an anagram from, e.g. "joyful tears," "sad tears," etc.

Yes. You could go into different languages and put them through a few translations and it could mean something deep about the character.

Both are great choices, but I would suggest Rune. It is easier for the reader to remember and pronounce.

It doesn't matter if it belongs to a famous person or not. Many celebrities have unique names, but that doesn't mean you can't use one.

It seems to suit their personalities, especially "Lakeshore" for Evan. I'd use them if I were you.

Sure! Think about Harry Potter. Harry, Ron, and most of the other names are completely normal. Same with Percy Jackson.

Good Latin names for characters include: Adrinanna, Aggrippa , Naamah, and Lachlan.

If you are just using the first name or last name it should be okay. If you want to use the whole name, try changing the surname a little. Let's say you wanted to name your character after Harry Potter: you could name him Henry Potter or Harry Potts.

Yes, that is a good name, as long as it hasn't been used anywhere else yet.

Keep thinking and don't settle for less than the best. Check baby name lists of the most popular baby names (make sure the year is the year the character was born). Names take a while, but be patient.

I like Zoe or Ash. I think Ash is a cool name that totally makes sense with the personality you described.

Absolutely, I have read books featuring characters named for other fictional characters.

Yes, it's a perfect name for a wolf. It sounds cool and dark, especially with the X at the end.

According to background references of anime, Aoi Amano works well. As long as the name relates to action, and coordinates with their background and features of family ancestry, it will work.

Villain names are often dark and sinister sounding (i.e. "Voldemort," "Jafar," and "Ursula"), so try to make it sound scary and unique. Something like maybe "Malgoroth" or "Deltharos"? "Kentozelf" might work, too. If you want, you could make their name have evil connotations, like "Maleficent" ("Mal" is the root word for "evil").

Try looking up popular girl names from the year your character was born in. There are tons of websites listing popular names from specific years and time periods!