Writers support discussion

When I'm looking for character name, I tend to go straight for the baby name sites.

There is one great site for unusual names that I use for most of my writing, it includes different categories ranging from old style to plant names.
It's called "Heather's Page Of Unusual Baby Names." Below I've linked her pages for easy access.

Old Fashioned Names:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...
Surnames as First Names:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...
Nature Names:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...
Made Up Names:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...
Names From Movies:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...
Home-style Names:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...
The Site Creator's Personal Favorites:
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...

I like this site especially because it's easy to use and has a wide variety of naming ideas.


There's another cool naming site, BabyCenter, linked here:
http://www.babycenter.com/baby-names
This provides a good naming data base, but my favorite feature is their "Baby Name Explorer" Which lets you choose a name you like and then look at suggested names, sibling names, and similar sounding names based on your query. This helps you get closer to a name you like in an easy, user-friendly way.


For last names, finding census or most common last names websites like this one: http://names.mongabay.com/most_common... is a big help, they generally have large lists of names that are common from various years. Though, obviously, all of the names you will come up with will be very common ones. Your next question: What if I want an uncommon or unique last name? My advice to you is to do your research. Firstly: What makes a name unique, specifically a surname? Well, when they have interesting letters included, your readers will instinctively classify it as uncommon or different whether they do so voluntarily or other wise. But that's just me putting a lot of big words in a post. More simply put:
What makes a last name seem different?
• Unusual letters such as x's, y's and z's. (Though make sure not to over use them or it will become cliché.)
• An unusual amount of letters (most common letter amounts are 5-8 so a small amount like 3-4 or large like 9+ can be interesting as long as you don't go overboard, obviously.)
• If it shares its name with something odd (like Bondage, but you can go weirder if you wish)
Make your own ideas and add them on and then pick a few ideas to play around with. Sometimes making a physical list of ideas you like the best can help you pick the outstanding ones for your writing.
If this is unappealing to you, we can go back to what I said about doing your research. Scientific names are not only very long and a boring thing to study in school, they are also your best friend when it comes to creating your own uncommon or unique last names. For instance, if my character shares some attribute etc. with a willow tree, then I can try looking up the scientific name of it and see what I find. Salix is what I come up with. That's a cool name, right? You can also try scrolling through lists of these names. This site:
http://www.scientificname.net/
is pretty user-friendly, and a good start if you feel like trying it out.
Lastly, convert things into latin. Google translate here: http://translate.google.com/#en|la|
or Latin Translator here: http://www.translation-guide.com/free...
are great for typing in attributes of your character has and coming up with great name ideas.


Now for my middle name spiel!
Middle names are least important in the naming process. Though you shouldn't just discount them. Finding a middle name that fits with the first and last name is very important and can make the whole name come together. My main tip for this would be if you have a complicated first name, thats long or obviously unique like my character, Alyssum, then something less intricate like Mae can prove to make the name much less of an annoying mouthful. But make sure that if it is much more simple (or complex) it still fits with the naming style, remember, the same people who gave your character their first name also gave them their middle one.


If you still can't find what you need, looking up a classic baby naming website is as good an option as any. Some even give you meanings for the names, which helps in choosing the perfect match for your character.

I hope this helps!

Hey, my name is up there, on that list! Coolio!

My name is so old and out of use it's never on lists.

Haha no it's ok, I like having a rare name, not that I like the name itself much.

Yeah... sadly the only thing people see Eve as is biblical.

I used to really like the name Katrina. I really like the name Envy and Raven now.

Those are cool... I like old fashioned names like Charlotte of Beatrice... or odd names in si-fi I named my main character Alyssum.

Ginny! <3
Hahaha, yeah, the connection is what most people see and it's really just plain annoying, But then of course they quickly regret their teasing. I know pressure points. *evil grin*

Yeah, they can become very very useful. >;]

Names are really important to me for some reason... not sure why :) I like strange, uncommon names, but I do use other ones

Eve *the wild* wrote: "My name is so old and out of use it's never on lists."

My name is in Arabic so it's definitely not on the list :D hehe

hehe Well, I really like your name :)

I need some name ideas for the parent, and siblings of the main characters in my new novel. Here is a link: http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2... .

Swimmergirl wrote: "I need some name ideas for the parent, and siblings of the main characters in my new novel. Here is a link: http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2... ."

I will read it if I haven't already, but check out this site, it has a lot of names that aren't your every day kind of thing :)
http://www.angelfire.com/id2/heathers...

☠Loudfire♥ wrote: "Cool!
"Cecelia! I'm down on my knees, Begging you please..." Okay. Sorry.
Um...
Perhaps her sister's name could be Roxanne?

And do you guys mind me adding all your names to the list? To accumulat..."

"What are you begging me?"

I used Roxanne, and the website.

Eve *the wild* wrote: "hehe Well, I really like your name :)"

Thanks :)

Nice! Now I just need to do the Little Family.

Not sure, not really, I mean I haven't really decided, but they will probably come up once or twice. The girls are going to be twins, and I already want one to be named Amalia, so I just need a name to go with that.

Hmmm..This is the picture I picked, so I need a name for the girl on the left. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hGPSciM7D1M...

Haley. Now I need a boys name to with Samantha.

Here's a pic: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/1...

I was actually thinking Erik when I was scrolling down, but Rick would probably fit better. Thanks! I'll tell you when I am done with the characters, but here is a link to the Martin family: http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...

I'm finished with all the characters, except the teacher.

She hyper, and always exited, and I already have a name.

What about some examples for good last names and middle names? I find myself having trouble with those.

Whoa! I defiantly need those sites!

I would give my names out, but their a bit special to me, and I just don't like people using them.

I know, it's weird, it's just a phobia. I feel like people would use them for everything.

Mostly because I spend hours making unique characters for role plays, and some bozo comes by and just copies and pastes the whole entire character sheet, and claim it's their own. It bugs the crap out of me.

☠Loudfire♥ wrote: "Rameela wrote: "Eve *the wild* wrote: "hehe Well, I really like your name :)"

Thanks :)"

How is your name pronounced? Rom-eel-la?"

Ra-me (like You love me! :D)-la It's pronounced exactly as it's spelled :)

Another great place to look for names are those babe name sites. They give you the name and it's meaning in several languages.

Yeah, that's what I use.

me too.

help!
i need a name for a king of a country. he's a total jerk, and his country is attacking my main character's country. any ideas?

Beauregard

oooh, good one. thanks!

☠Loudfire♥ wrote: "The elves?"

no, different one. this is the one i wrote for nanowrimo

cool! will use.

I love this name i found its one of my characters name its Lyric. I also love Sapphire.

That's cool! Is it a name for a male or female?

both for female. I have a character named Blossom too. I like that name shes a girl. I also have a guy named Zaharra.

Wow, you've got some great names! Do you use a name book or website for inspiration, or do you come up with them by yourself?

Well I came up with Sapphire somehow can't remember lol and Zaharra I came up with when I wanted an odd name. Blossom is my Grandma's middle name and it was almost my name. and i was flipping through a baby name book when i saw Lyric.

I also am in love with the names Willow, Delilah, Jade and Phoebe (not pronounced feebe, i like it it like foebe). I like the ordinary names Ali and Abby. I love the combo of Sapphire Sky. :)

Awesome! I agree, Saphire and sky work well together ; )

Very unique! Hehe, I've already planned out what I want to name my kids. I was talking to my friend about a name I came up with for this guy in our movie, but she was (for whatever reason) repelled by the name Tristan. When I described what he looked like, though, she totally melted. :)

haha Tristan isn't that bad of a name. :) I to have decided my childrens future names. lol most of them are the ones i put in here.

Cool, what exactly are they?
Mine are: Tristan or Austin, for a boy. And Faith or Hope, for a girl.

Sapphire, Willow, Lyric and Phoebe, i also love the name Carter for a girl. Then for boys I like the more traditional names like: Benjamin, John, Carson (though i like that one for a girl to), Drew and Jonas. ANy of those.

Nice choices. :)

thanks i like yours too. I also might name one of my daughters Blossom idk.

Ooh, cool. A lot of people name girls after flowers, but I don't think I've heard that one before.

There is a chat topic, so if you wouldn't mind moving the baby names discussion over there, that would be great.