Turbo Monkey Tales is a group blog focusing on the craft, production, marketing and consumption of Children's Literature. We are illustrators, writers, animators and media mongrels. We are readers! We are published, unpublished and self-published; agented and searching, and 100% dedicated to our Kid Lit journey, no matter where we are on the path. Join our Tribe and grab a vine. The more the merrier!

Monday, January 14, 2013

[Insert Perfect Name Here]: Character Naming Resources for Writers.


by Kristen Crowley Held



I am really, really, really good at obsessing over character names. So good, in fact, that I've assembled quite a collection of books and websites that I use to seek out the PERFECT name. The name has to sound right both out loud and inside my head, has to fit the character without being too obvious and, if I'm really on my game, should have an extra layer of meaning known only to me (and readers well versed in name origins).
Occasionally, if it's not my protagonist who remains nameless, I can get away with writing things like [insert perfect name here] but usually I spend hours/days/weeks searching through my favorite character naming resources before I can move on.

Since I'm big on hidden meanings, one of my favorite resources is a book called Baby Names Made Easy: The Complete Reverse Dictionary of Baby Names by Amanda Elizabeth Barden. 

"Baby Names Made Easy offers selections organized into categories of meaning, making it easier than ever to choose a name that is significant to you."
Some sample categories: Animals & Insects, Hardworking, Magic, and Protector. Have a character trait in mind? Pick a category and you'll find a list of associated names.

Does your character have siblings? The Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenberg includes potential names for sisters and brothers with each listing. The Baby Name Wizard also has an awesome website that lets you track the popularity of a name over time and figure out in which part of the country your name is most often used. For a small fee you can also sign up for the Baby Name Wizard Expert Edition which uses Flash tools like the Name MatchMaker to find a name based on "your unique tastes and style."

Writing a Fantasy? Check out The New Book of Magical Names by Phoenix McFarland.
 
Need a surname?
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon has names and surnames from more than 45 countries.


Some of my favorite online character naming resources include:

Nameberry.com which lists names by every conceivable category. Looking for a Hipster name? Or maybe an Old Lady name? They've got you covered.

ParentsConnect.com allows you to search for names by meaning. Enter a word and they'll provide a list of names.

Nymbler.com helps you find the perfect name by having you choose names you like, but that aren't quite right, and extrapolates from there.
            
Looking for a cool nickname? Check out:

Or maybe you just want a randomly generated name?
If you use Scrivener you've got a name generator built right in. 
If not, here are a couple of online name generators to check out:

That ought to keep you busy for a few hours/days/weeks!
And now that I've shown you some places to look for them, how do YOU choose the perfect name for your character?

20 comments:

  1. Awesome! I love researching names too, and am always on the lookout for new resources. An old one I wish they'd update is the Baby Name Personality Survey (1991), in which the authors did surveys looking at how certain names are perceived and what associations most have with a name. It's now too dated to be much use, but was hugely helpful decades ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Laurel! They did update the Baby Name Personality Survey, they just changed the name! I think the latest iteration (2007?) is called The New Baby Name Survey Book. I have a copy from 1998 (entitled The Baby Name Survey Book) and you're right, it's a great resource!
      Some of the online baby name sites include users' ratings in their listings (babynamewizard.com is one) so it's possible to get more up to date survey results that way but they're not as extensive. It would be lovely if they published The New New Baby Name Survey Book :).

      Delete
  2. This is GREAT, KCH! I normally just use names from people I went to elementary school with, but your suggestions are much better -- not to mention, less fraught with potential litigation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm always happy to save you from potential litigation :).

      Delete
  3. I need to check out all these sources. Too many times my character's have names that sound too similar. Great job, Kristen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ellen! I'm sure there's an ancient Roman name page out there, too!

      Delete
  4. Excellent info! I spend a lot of time researching meanings behind names,except the villain. They are named after people who have done me wrong...NO Kristen's as of yet. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Kristens are all tremendously heroic and wickedly smart, right?

      Delete
  5. Wonderful post, Kristen! I like to use unusual names and keep my ears open. I keep a list and then see if any of them fit a character I'm working with. Like you, the name has to fit the character's personality, and it's nice when there's meaning behind the name.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Marilyn! I'm always finding random post-its with names on them. In fact there's one stuck to my laptop right now that reads, "Despina Butterbaugh." :)
      I wonder what she's like...

      Delete
  6. There is so much to be said about a name. I never start a story without a name and its meaning. And the "No one she be called a 'what's his face'" haha! Cute post :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Naomi! You have such a great name and are indeed, "delightful." :)

      Delete
  7. Cheezers, Kristen! Talk about thorough--and neat-o! Here I felt all cool because I knew about Nymbler. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is very helpful! Thank you. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by, Roberta. :)

      Delete
  9. Excellent post! Thanks for sharing these great resources. I will definitely look into them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Romelle! And you have such a cool name!

      Delete
  10. I am so glad that I found this post!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Deanna! I hope you find some great names. Thanks for coming by!

    ReplyDelete