If you have had children then you know how hard it is to pick names for them. It’s the same as trying to name your characters. The names need to suit their personality, must match with the era and be memorable. There are some unwritten rules that you can use to make choosing names easier:

Check the Root Meanings

The name Caleb means ‘faithful’ so surely it is better to use that name that something like Goodman or Loyal – unless of course, you are writing from an ironic point of view. Some readers will already know what the root meaning of a name is but if they don’t, they may be able to sense it.

Get the Right Era

If your book is based around 1930’s Texas and an 18-year-old store worker, you know enough not to name them something modern like Courtney. Look for names that fit your era because it will make your character resonate better with the reader.

Speak the Name Aloud

If your book is going to become an audiobook or perhaps a Kindle book that has text-to-speech, say the names aloud. What looks like a clear name on paper may not translate so well when spoken.

Manage Your Cast

If you have a large character cast, use different first initials for their names and vary how many syllables are in the names. Otherwise, you could end up with a cast of characters whose names all sound the same.

Use Alliteration for the Initials

Use this for when you want to call attention to a character, for example, Davy Davies, Tony Titmouse, and so on.

Think About It Carefully

Think about it; most of your favorite characters rarely have a middle name or an initial. Why is that? The more you go into detail on a name, the more likely it is that a real person somewhere has that name and if they happen to read your novel and see their name, they might get a little upset over it. And that can open a whole world of hurt that you do not want to get into.

Check Your Names Again

Make sure that your names are correct. For example, if you are writing a book based on a Japanese character, ensure that their name really is of Japanese origin and not Chinese. Unless, of course, your Japanese character was adopted by a Chinese family before the story started – in which case, that needs to be written into the backstory so your readers understand!

Coming up with the right names for your characters can be a real challenge but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Rise to that challenge, give it plenty of thought and you might find that you can have some fun with it. Look at the names your favorite authors used for their characters, loosen your mind so it can play about, and do your research well. Most of all, trust what you hear. If the name doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t!