Q&A for How to Name a Main Character

Loves Earth: Midori, Loves Water: Una. Loves Fire: Akatsuki. Loves Animals: Tori.

Choosing a name comes down to what you, as the author, feels fits your story and character. If you want to emphasize the antagonist's jealousy and ruthlessness, look up names by meaning on a baby name website. For example, Nassir, Livius, and Zavis all mean envy. Look up different names by different meanings that relate to your character and see if any of the names work for your story.

Depending on your book, it could be any number of things. If the creator wants the robot to fit in, they might deliberately choose a fairly popular name like "Jane," or "Sam." They may also have a pseudonym such as X3-2006 used by scientists/researchers/whoever created him/her.

Depends on the personality of the unicorn. If it's a water unicorn, try something like Aquira, Undine, or Brook. A fire unicorn could be Blaze, Flame, Burn, or Scorch. An air unicorn could be Cloud, Alto, or Gale. An Earth unicorn could be Terros, Clay, or Loam.

It can be boring for readers to read about a really good/bad character for a book. Characters need more depth to add to a story.

Give your characters names that reflect the setting of the story and/or where the character comes from. Japanese people are generally not named "Bob" for example.

I like the name Morgan. Try not to use too many names ending with the letter 'a' for females, as this sound can bore the reader.

Sabrina is a good name for a mean girl, and for her best friends, Britney and Lexi.

A good name for a werewolf teenager is Brass or Randy for a boy. For a girl, some good names are Millie or Bree.

Search a list of the most popular baby names for the year your character was born and pick from the list.

There aren't really any good or bad names for characters. Does Alison Hartman fit your character? Does it make sense for the time and place where she lives? If so, then it might be the right name for your character.

A good name for an adoptive mother could be something with the root meaning "nurturing," "warm," or "kind." As for the character being lesbian, I think any name would suit her. When thinking about a name, sexual preference shouldn't have anything to do with it.

Naming characters comes down to what the author feels fits the story. However, it is common for authors to name their characters after a defining trait or characteristic. In this case, that characteristic is living in the snow and each of these names continues that theme. The bottom line is that you should go with what you feel fits the best for your story and its plot.

The manner of its death is entirely up to you: decapitation, abduction, death by disease, car accident, or simply vanishing without a trace. You can also choose the moment in your plot when this element occurs, as a surprise twist, a necessary device to get to the finale, or simply to throw a wrench into the reader's expectations. It's your story, you choose.

You could look up common Japanese surnames for the time. If you find one that feels right, pick that one. But it can be any name you like, really. The character does not draw its personality from its name. Instead, you give her the characteristics you like, and the name will come to be associated with that character. Consider an extreme example: If all you know about a character is that his name is "Will", would all people all over the world write down the same characteristics they associate with that name? No, so choose as you will.

Maybe try looking at a fantasy name generator and taking fragments of the name to make something of your own. For example, if you wanted to use the name Lynaxeith, try using certain parts of the name to make your own, such as Xena, Leeth, or Lilith.

You could name them after things in space, such as Sky, Star, Moon, Luna, Sol, Mars, etc.

Taylor, Clare, Blair, Roxy, Beverly? These are some good names that are new age and fierce.

Layla/Leila: Arabic and Modern Hebrew for 'night' or 'night sky.' This name didn't see widespread use in English until the early seventies, so be careful.

Names that might work here include: Dean, Jason, David, Jack, Gabriel, Sebastian or Robin.

Names that might be suitable here include: Sabrina, Pandora, Pamela, Arya, Lydia, Lucy, Shalyla or Sylvia.

For Veronica, Veri and Onica. For Caroline, Carol and Lin. For Ariana, Ari and Aria, Ana.

Ezma is really good, but some people might find Rywen difficult to pronounce, they might say it REEWEN. And for the dad, maybe Louis or Arthur.

Saena Miread* is an idea for a female main character who is to embark on a big adventure. Age group is twenty-somethings. *Say: mee-ree-add.

A rebellious name would be fitting for your detective. A few names for your character are Damara, Irene, Ruth, or Josephine.

Reagan is a great name! It’s uncommon, gender-neutral and means “(little) ruler” in Irish. It has a shy tone, but it’s powerful sounding.

Some powerful names for your villain are Augustus, Garrett, Rostam, or Flint.

Go for it, if you want - I have a character in my story whose name is "Sofiya", a name meaning "wisdom", even though she's rather unintelligent. For ironic names, especially cases of more straightforward ironic names such as "Narcissa" for a kind/modest character, you may find it interesting to show how the character and others around them feel about such a name.

Yes, Akira is a great name for a Japanese character. While Kiki as a nickname is fine, a nickname like Aki would be better.