deadlyrose
how shocking
How do you guys name your characters? do you gie them any old name or do you make thier name have meaning?
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names of characters
- Thread starter deadlyrose
- Start date
katiekitten
The Compromise
Any old name, really. I think some people go to baby sites and search, or go to a translator, but I just make mine up. XD
I just go for something realistic from various cultures on this planet. Human characters are easy to name and sometimes I use names that either sound good or are the first names of people I know. For aliens, I just make up names that have nice rings to it. And I make sure they sound spacey.
LX
LX
Arcanine Royale
Well-Known Member
For more realistic work, such as journey fics, I'll choose ordinary names.
However, for fantasy work, I tend to prefer names with significance. I fight Celtic/Gaelic names quite interesting.
Usually if they are, say, Spanish, I would give them a Spanish name.
However, for fantasy work, I tend to prefer names with significance. I fight Celtic/Gaelic names quite interesting.
Usually if they are, say, Spanish, I would give them a Spanish name.
Orange_Flaaffy
Jello Pokéballs
I actually just pick names that I like, mostly names that people I have met have. While a few may be family names, the characters are nothing like the person I first took the name from...
I try to take into account the character's personality and race when naming them. Rosoku and Umi are named thusly because they're Japanese, but when I write stories about other characters I try to give them unique names. Also I look for unique names in magazines and math books and stuff.
Wandering Rhythmical Phoenix
rEvolutionary INC.
Most of the time, I take sugestions from pther people. I'll sit down with them at lunch and go. "Heres Person X, He does this this and this, this is his style, this is his attitude. Whats his name." I find you can get a lot of good names like that. Some, however, I just opend up a forgin language dictoary, pick a letter and look for one that sounds good. Its also a good way to spend a boring saturday.
Blackjack Gabbiani
Clearly we're great!
Sometimes a name will just come to me. Like in Obsession (link in sig), I went through all my name books trying to find some exotic name for Jirarudan's mother, but finally realized that the ideal name for her was Gloria.
Conversley, I'll find one that has a really great meaning. Also in Obsession, I went with the name Asaph for Jiri's mentor because it means "collector".
Conversley, I'll find one that has a really great meaning. Also in Obsession, I went with the name Asaph for Jiri's mentor because it means "collector".
Dragonfree
Just me
I give them names that seem fitting for their character. Names give me a feeling about what sort of a person it is, and while the names' meaning may not really fit, it feels fitting, if you know what I mean.
Since most of my characters are pokemon, naming may be a bit different compared to human characters.
Many of the characters in my fic (mostly the good guys) are named after real pokemon in my GBA games. Which in turn are named after certain attributes or people or whatever.
Then there are some characters (mostly bad guys) who are only known by their species name (such as Fatty's Trio, Gligar, Beedrill and Feraligatr)
Many of the characters in my fic (mostly the good guys) are named after real pokemon in my GBA games. Which in turn are named after certain attributes or people or whatever.
Then there are some characters (mostly bad guys) who are only known by their species name (such as Fatty's Trio, Gligar, Beedrill and Feraligatr)
Saffire Persian
Now you see me...
I like to chose names that have some kind of significance to their character -- not all of them are named that way, though. But I try to pick one that would at least "fit" the character in some way or another.
Though, Castor and Pollux from Requiem of a Dream were named specifically for their meanings in astrology -- they were part of the twin stars: Gemini, I think. And they were twins, so that's why they were chosen -- all the Absol in that story are named after stars, actually.
Though, Castor and Pollux from Requiem of a Dream were named specifically for their meanings in astrology -- they were part of the twin stars: Gemini, I think. And they were twins, so that's why they were chosen -- all the Absol in that story are named after stars, actually.
I don't go out of my way to make the names of my characters fit the situation just because that kind of coincidence doesn't usually happen in real life. I just pick names that I think sound "right" for who that character is and not for what that character is going through or is about to go through, although that'd be a neat foreshadowing technique.
I just pick names I like which, strangly, usually happen to be hebrew in origin. When it comes to Pokemon, I base it off their trainer's personalities. Like in the fic that I haven't continued in years even though I still think about it (aka, Guilty by Design), the main antagonist was rather rash and uncreative, so he named the main Hitmonchan character Champ. Rival trainers tend to give their Pokemon "tough" names like Cyclone and Athena. For Rebecca's Persian, Calpurnia, that name always seemed kind of pleasant and motherly to me. Rebecca cares deeply for Pokemon, so I thought a nice name that wasn't too gentle (it still battles, after all) would fit the Persian.
edit: an exception to the trainer personality/pokemon name in Guilty is the hiker Boscoe and his Hitmonchik (a female Hitmon, ooooh) named Aya and a Rapidash named Uni. Of course, it's a bit strange really that a hefty guy would own "pretty" Pokemon anyhow. I like to think of Aya as being purchased or adopted or something, so she came with her name. As for Uni, well... it's an uncreative name, so maybe Boscoe isn't that great at names either.
edit: an exception to the trainer personality/pokemon name in Guilty is the hiker Boscoe and his Hitmonchik (a female Hitmon, ooooh) named Aya and a Rapidash named Uni. Of course, it's a bit strange really that a hefty guy would own "pretty" Pokemon anyhow. I like to think of Aya as being purchased or adopted or something, so she came with her name. As for Uni, well... it's an uncreative name, so maybe Boscoe isn't that great at names either.
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Judai-and-sho
The Best of the Best
deadlyrose said:
I usually use Name Fusion. Except few a few which I just make up.
Omega Pirate
shove it up ya bum!
Most names I use are from constellations or moons of planets.
For me, it often depends on who is naming them and what personality they have, not the personality of the one being named (well, that can of course also vary, with things like name changes or even a character who didn't have a name for a long time...like, till they can walk, talk and understand time).
I usually play russian roulette with a water gun to decide on names. It's a very complicated proceedure that would take weeks to explain... mainly because I'm not even convinced myself. Still, names are no big deal, and are simply an outlet in which a character is given some form of name in which their character is embodied. Put simply, it is merely a means to an end which prevents characters from being nameless.