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Topic : Re: What is the art of designing names? If you read names from popular novels you feel like the names define characters. They fit perfectly to the personality of character. For an e.g. Harry Potter, - selfpublishingguru.com

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Here's a system I use for main characters or characters that must have the 'perfect'name:

choose a language (English, Chinese, Spanish, etc)

1.1 decide whether to apply the same language to both first name and surname or use different languages (if in a cosmopolitan country, usually)

1.2 make sure you understand naming conventions of the chosen language (Portuguese can have up to 2 first names and 3 surnames; Japanese have surname first then the given name; Spanish have first name + father's surname + mother's surname; etc)

Meaning, explicit and implicit

2.1 you can have an obvious meaning (Autumn), a hidden meaning (Sarah = princess) or no meaning.

sounds (this may be more important than meaning for the character)

3.1 choose a majority of strong sound (e.g. with p, b sounds) or soft sounds ( e.g. with s, l, sounds) or an appropriate mix

3.2 you can choose an abundance of consonants or vowels (Fred vs. Ayden), keeping in mind that vowels tend to be softer and gentler in sound than consonants

3.3 when working with vowels, check if you prefer open ones (as in cat, hot, pet) or closed ones (as in put, pit, look, leet).

Now, start making a list of names and a list of surnames. Mark the ones you like, the ones you dislike and the ones that are ok. Erase the ones you don't like.

Start combining favourite first names and surnames, and then also mix some of the ok names/surnames. If the character is to have two first names, try first deciding which two go together before adding the surname to the mix.

I strongly suggest that you end up with half a dozen possible names, even if you fall in love with a particular combination.

Now you have two options, you can either poll some friends for which name they prefer, or you can write a short chapter and copy it half a dozen times, each one with the different candidate. Try to make the chapter heavy on using the name in different situtions (eg: start at home with family, stop by the cafe where they're well known and come across a friend, then talk to several work colleagues before meeting the boss, etc).

Put the chapters away and wait a couple of weeks. Re-read and choose the one that sounds more like the character (personality-wise).

Note that this is a time cnsuming approach best reserved for one or two characters per novel at the most. You can also feel satisfied with choosing one name from the half a dozen candidates and call it a deal.


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