Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on the ACFW blog, but with this issue’s theme of characters, I felt it was appropriate to share with the Voices too.
While working on my third novel, I emailed my agent and asked her thoughts about my characters’ names. She suggested I change one because having two old-fashioned names may confuse the reader with the genre. So I changed my male character’s name to something a little more modern.
One of the most used books on my bookshelf of writing books is one of baby names. For me, story begins with the characters. And the characters begin with their names. My characters’ names tie into their personality traits or the truth they will learn about themselves by the end of the novel. So when choosing a name for your character, think about the qualities you want that character to possess, then find a name to fit that character. Or think about the lie your character believes and consider the truth your character will learn, and tie the name into that truth.
When naming your characters, consider the character’s age and name your character appropriately. If you do choose to name your modern-day hero or heroine something old-fashioned, consider letting the reader know why. For example, my current heroine’s name is Agnes, who is in her early thirties, but she was named after her grandmother. On the Social Security Administration site, you can click on the year of your character’s birth and choose a name that was popular during that year.
Ensure your characters’ names fit the genre you are writing. Modern day heroes aren’t named Frodo or Chewbacca. And be careful not to have your names too exotic or too hard to pronounce that it interrupts the flow of the story for your reader. On that note, try to avoid overly popular names too. There’s nothing wrong with the popular names, but it’s like naming your child—you don’t want her to be one of four Emmas in her class.
Be aware of the first letters in your characters’ names. Too many characters with the same first letter or first letter sound may cause confusion for the reader, especially if your novel contains a large cast.
Those closest to you have nicknames for you. That same goes for your characters. Although that strays into the topic of POV, consider the nicknames your characters may have. My hero calls my heroine Red because of her hair color. So while in his POV and if he’s thinking or speaking to her, he’s mainly calling her Red. Nicknames create an intimacy shared between two people with a special bond.
Naming your characters allows you to tap into their personas. By giving them a name to fit their personalities, you’re on your way to creating a character who is relatable to your readers. If you struggle with character names, buy a baby names book or visit online baby names sites. Those books and sites offer names for boys and girls, as well as the origins and meanings of names. Naming your characters is nearly as important as naming your children—it’s going to stay with them for the rest of their lives, so choose wisely.
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Married 23 years, Lisa Jordan knows a thing or two about romance. Early childhood educator by day and author by night, Lisa writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, released in November 2011. Her second novel, Lakeside Family, will be out in August 2012. Learn more about her at www.lisajordanbooks.com
