Why Character Names Matter — and What You Can Do To Create an Unforgettable One

Guest Post by Kleia Paluca

Quick pop quiz for you: would you be more attracted to a leading man named Gaylord or Chad? Does Bertha or Taira sound sexier to your ears?
Probably the latter for both, right? This, in a nutshell, is why character names matter.

Asking if the name makes the character or if the character makes the name is a bit of an “egg or chicken” question since the two share a bit of symbiotic relationship.

But it’s unquestionable that Scrooge probably wouldn’t be so famous if he was named John. Neither would Godzilla be the awe-inspiring monster that he is if his Japanese creators had decided to name him Michael.

So what can you to make sure that you’ve got a good character name on your hands? Here are some things for you to consider as you come up with an unforgettable one.

Does it make sense, given the circumstances of your story?

This is pretty much the only must when it comes to character naming. A character’s name should first and foremost make sense in the circumstances of your story — namely, the setting of your story. Seems obvious enough, right? But take note: setting doesn’t just mean place. It also encompasses time.

An obvious example is James Fraser of Outlander — a good, solid Scottish name of old. Needless to say, it would be a tad awkward if this man (or any other hero born in the 18th century) was named, for instance, Zeke or Zane.

By “circumstances of the story,” I also mean that the name should fit the character, if possible. J.K. Rowling, famously, poured days into the business of character naming (granted, she was a bit of an extreme case, even visiting graveyards in search of the perfect name.)

As a result, though, her character names are a fascinating study — and in many cases, the etymology matches the situation perfectly. Take “Remus Lupin,” the professor by day and werewolf by night. “Remus” hails from the
Roman myth of the twin brothers who were brought up by a she-wolf, while “Lupin” is derived from the Latin word for “of a wolf.” Subtle, Rowling was not.

Does it roll off of your tongue?

Sadly, there’s no formula for an ear-wormy name. But there are certain “guidelines” (as Captain Jack Sparrow, another character with a now iconic name, might say) that past characters have provided for us.

Do you want the name to ring richly with assonance? Humbert Humbert, for instance, is so frictionless that it’s uncomfortably inelegant, which is probably part of the effect that Vladimir Nabokov was trying to achieve.
Or perhaps you’d prefer consonants so that the name jars a little in readers’ minds? (See: Victor Frankenstein.)

You may also want to attend to the length of the name. Most iconic characters in literature and film don’t have too many syllables in their names (see: Tony Stark, Han Solo, Groot, Nancy Drew, for instance. Though there are always exceptions!)

But the best way for you to figure out if your character name sounds okay is simply to say it out loud to yourself. One of the most beloved heroines of the 21 st -century, Hermione Granger, was originally supposed to be named Hermione Puckle. Did that make you cringe a little? Or did your tongue get tripped up a bit as you tried to sound that name out? Yep, right? J.K. Rowling probably thought so, too, which is why she changed it Puckle to Granger in the end.

How does it appear on the page?

It’s one thing for a character name to sound good, and another for it to look good on the page. But that’s something else that you might want to contemplate since readers will (hypothetically) be seeing your character’s name hundreds of times on the page. Though it’s quite obvious, repetition will undoubtedly make a name vividly stand out.

We mentioned Humbert Humbert already, but another MVP in this department is Jean Valjean, the long-suffering protagonist of Les Miserables.

Extra points for alliteration, too, which happens to be a favored trick of many authors (take Willy Wonka and Bilbo Baggins, for example). And Charles Dickens way overachieved in this respect with Pip, whose full name is Philip Pirrip.

Is it evocative?

Han Solo makes you think of, well, just that: a rugged man who is above all fiercely independent and works solo. Bertie Wooster just doesn’t seem like someone who’s too bright. And as far as fun goes, you won’t be able to get much better than Pippi Longstocking.

This leads me to my last point: character names can tell the reader something about the character before a word has even been said. How you go about it depends on you. But have fun with it, whether you’re experimenting with themes, sound, or meaning to capture the essence of the character!

Something else that romance writers in particular may want to consider is how the two protagonists’ names play off of each other. Beatrice and Benedict (a deserved legendary literary couple) just flow when those two names are put next to each other.

Of course, you can’t put an exorbitant amount of time on naming your characters (this is when a character name generator might come in handy, to give you that extra boost of inspiration). At some point, you’ll want to get started on the most important part of your writing journey: the story itself.

But this post has hopefully shown you why it’s worth it to make an effort on your character names. If you want to create iconic characters, a bit of thought and care when it comes to their names can go a long way.