You're creating a fiction/fantasy characters, how you'd choose their names?

[InvaderShy 18]

When we're creating a story of any genre (for some schoolwork or just for mere fun) the names of our characters are one of the main issues on it. I mean, no one wants to give a weird or stupid name to its main character(s).

 

Therefore, we have two options:

1. To turn to any random words of any language and use it as name and surname. Ex: Rainbow Dash (obviously) or Rarity.

2. To use real names for our characters depending on its nationality. Ex: Afonso (from Portuguese), Abe (from English), Adolfo (from Spanish) or Aldric (from French).

 

If you were writing a fictitious/fantastic story, what option you'd stick with?

 

[Scootalove 10,689]

If I wanted to give my character a name, I would use words from any language. As for the story taking place in a distant world, I would make some names for creativity sake.

[Everleaf 541]

Well just make up a random name really for example my oc is called Everleaf i create them and see which name fits best

[Castle Bleck 19,360]

I call my ponysona Peridot (my birthstone, and his coat color and Cutie Mark).

Edited February 10, 2014 by Anti-Villain

[Jackleberry 1,922]

Gosh I hate trying to come up with names. xD

 

Well, it depends on the setting really, but I usually either take existing names that I already know, real or not, and twist them around a bit so they sound and look different (Lance to Lhans, or Jackleberry to Jack LeBerry ... I don't know xD), or I go MLP style and use two separate words (Starry Skies, Melody Soar, Scorching Bass, etc.)

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

This post has been redacted by the author.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Blue

[Guest]

Well, for my Skyrim character. I just picked names that sounded unique or ....fantasyish.

 

I named them: Kitanya, Luelle, Sibella, and Mianna.

 

but if I were you I'd say picking due to nationality, is easier.

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

I hate coming up with names for characters. Sometimes I try to use words from other languages, but you have to do this right for the name to sound good. Also, some languages are way overused when it comes to character names. (Japanese-I'll admit I'm guilt of using a few Japanese names for some characters)

 

Anyways, I'm not really good with coming up with Pony sounding names like "Rainbow so-and-so" or "Something Sparkle". So I just use names that have significant meaning to me. I named my main OC Andy for a good number of reasons.

• My parents were either going to name me my current name, or Andrew. So there's a good chance my nickname would've been Andy.
• Toy Story was a favorite movie as mine as a kid.
• Andy is the name of a singer I like.

For non-pony characters such as say, a Skyrim character I just pick something I think sounds cool enough. My Argonian was named Jinxx. Not really an argonian-sounding name, but it worked.

[Neon Fire 473]

It honestly depends on the type of character and their personality.  For example, for my dragon characters, I'll usually scramble words together until I get something cool, or I'll use something in another language that has to do with their personality.  With my wolf/dog characters, I usually use dog names or sometimes make them up (like Arkin, my fursona).  

[SomariFeyWright 776]

When forming names and identity for your character, the best idea is to focus on the aspect of them that stands out and have it symbolize them.

 

For instance, let's focus on one of my only good OCs. He was a manakete; in Fire Emblem lore (and perhaps real lore, idk), a manakete is a dragon, holding a human form, hiding their dragon form in a stone. As such, I based my name off of this. I'm having a hard time finding the exact words I used, but I ended up making his name a combination of about two variations of the word "dragon" in other languages, eventually forming the name Lutaro.

 

Traits of a character, physical or characteristic, is an excellent way of coming up with the name of a fantasy character... or even a name in general.

 

Of course, it isn't the only means. I wouldn't dare say that. But it's a good way to fall back on.

[FractalMoon 378]

Depends on the character. I go with whatever sounds cool. I remember having some trouble coming up with a real name for a succubus paladin in a Pathfinder, so I went with something cool and let the uniqueness of the character make up for that. On the other hand, Stephen Mk. the third was the most hilarious character I've ever had, if only because the only thing sillier than his name was his character. However, I do have to say that it's never a good idea to use a random generator... They will come up with the most terrible names possible.

[Burning Question 69]

Why not use first method and then try to make it sound like a real name? ;D

[Irish Mist 119]

If it's a relevant character I give them some name pertaining to their role in the story or something. Background character however, stripper names or something around those lines. 

[Zhortac 1,474]

I try to create my own names off the top of my head. I do have a couple characters that have names, that area a play on words, which is always fun.

[Judgement 445]

I would make the name out of words from a different language that involve a character's personality. For example, if the main character was a total Jerk, I would call him Jāku,Tǐngjǔ, or eolgan-i.

(Japanese,Chinese,and Korean pronounciations of the word "Jerk") It sounds much better than anything I could think of, and better yet, it sounds like a real name.

Edited February 10, 2014 by Judgement

[Sky Cutter 294]

Well, when I create a character, if he/she is an alien, then I take a word that describes him or her and translate it to another language.

 

If the character is human, then I use a real name according to his or her ethnicity.

 

Or if the character is a plane I name it B-17

Edited February 10, 2014 by Sky Cutter

[Stary Dreams 87]

What I do if Im stuck in a name-choosing ditch is to pluck out a real name and twist it around and play with the letters or change the beginnings and stuff like that. Like my OC Gwyyn.

 

Her name started out as Gwen, then turned into Gwendolyn, then Gwyn, then Gwyyneth, and now the end result of Gwyyn. Its just the matter of switching stuff around for meh. Though I have no idea how I got the name Archellia for another OC of mine