Workshop: How To Create The Perfect Name for Your Character

Since January, Mara and I have been walking through the steps of creating the foundation for any story, from the premise to a plot to a wide cast full of interesting, unique characters. But now the biggest question remains: : What should we call all of these wonderful characters?

For most writers, character names do not come easily. It’s because we want the beautiful character we’ve spent so much time and energy into creating to have a good (dare I even say perfect) name. And although name generators can sometimes be helpful, especially for the more minor characters, they don’t always offer the best solution. We need to  find a name that fits with the character’s personality, their aesthetic, and has a meaning that communicates exactly who they are as a person, not some random word chosen by a robot. We want their name to have a purpose as special as the character itself. 

So, how can we find the perfect name for our characters? Grab some pen and paper, and follow along with this workshop to find out!

How To Find the Perfect Name For Your Characters

For this workshop, we’re going to be using the character Mara has previously created and give her a name. 

First, write out all the information you have about your character so far. List their desire, fear, goal, personality traits, and flaw(s). You can even add certain plot points or themes to this list as well. Just compile all the things you know about your character into one spot. 

Next, pick one of these things you’d like to highlight, and really think about what the core of what you want to emphasize with this character’s name. Maybe your protagonist is super energetic, so you’ll want to hone in on the personality. Or maybe your villain is greedy, so you’ll want to circle their desire or goal. Or maybe you want to highlight the theme of your story. Just think about what you want your character to emphasize pick something from this list of story items and use it for the next step. 

Now take the trait you chose for your character and look for names that mean something similar. You can do this by researching online, asking your friends for ideas, observing real people’s names, or sifting through name generators and looking up the meaning afterward  You may not be able to find a name that correlates exactly with the thing you chose from your list, and you may even have to change the trait you picked, but either way this is a guaranteed way to find a name that means something. 

One of my favorite ways of finding a good name is by translating the trait I chose into another language. This is especially helpful for last names, since some long, complicated foreign  words may not make great first ones. 

You may have to play around with sound, tone, and structure for a while, but as long as you keep seeking that important attribute, you’ll be able to find the name you’re looking for in no time. Make sure it has plenty of depth and meaning to it, but don’t forget to have fun as you search. Whether you’ll be using a generator or your own researching skills, I’m sure you’ll find a name that’s just as well-crafted as your character.