What’s in a name? Character names and why they matter

Choosing the right names for your characters is crucial, not least when writing historical fiction. A character’s name, whether it be short and simple, or flamboyantly hyphenated, can convey a surprisingly large amount of information, and requires as much careful consideration as finding the right title for your novel.

What’s in a name?

For the reader, a name is usually the first clue they have about a character. Even before a character begins to embark on their journey, the reader is beginning to form a mental picture of them based solely on their name. For example, consider these two female names:

Lucinda
Kylie

Firstly, they each suggest very different time periods, with Kylie sounding much more modern than Lucinda. Secondly, and perhaps more controversially, they perhaps invoke a certain class prejudice, with Lucinda coming across as rather ‘posher’ than Kylie.

Names usually have meanings, often deriving from ancient times, and a well-chosen name can suggest a personality, or a core essence, or even a narrative function of a character. For example, in Lord of the Rings, Frodo’s name is derived from the old English word frod, which means ‘wise by experience’. There is no doubt JRR Tolkien chose Frodo’s name deliberately.

Nicknames can also be particularly revealing. For example, in Gone With the Wind, Bonnie Blue Butler’s real name is Eugenie Victoria, but everyone calls her Bonnie after the Bonnie Blue Flag because she has blue eyes. In Little Women, Josephine March is called Jo throughout the novel, and this suits her tomboy nature. In Jude the Obscure, Jude’s eldest child is known almost exclusively as Little Father Time, which suits him as he seems old beyond his years.

Using both the real name and a nickname runs the risk of confusing the reader, but done well it can also add context to your characters relationships with others. For instance, Huckleberry Finn is Huck for the whole of Twain’s novel, and the only person who uses his full name is Miss Watson, which reflects her desire to civilise Huck.

So, names are important. But how can you ensure you create appropriate, effective, ideal names for your characters? 

Tips for choosing character names

1. Determine the core essence or main narrative function of your character.

Doing this first can help inspire you when you come to brainstorm potential character names. For instance, in the book I’m writing at the moment my main character is a poor Edwardian woman who overcomes great adversity. Naming her Sharon or Tracey clearly isn’t going to work, so instead I’ve chosen the name Edie. It’s redolent of the period I’m writing in (early 1900s); it’s a simple name which isn’t insipid or flowery or hard to pronounce; and it could be considered a nickname, or perhaps a working class derivation of a longer name. In essence, the name Edie reflects the no-nonsense, enduring heroine in my story perfectly.

But beware: you don’t want your character’s name to be too obvious a reflection of who they are and what their narrative function is, because that could suggest a thin character rather than a multidimensional one.

2. Consult baby name lists and name generator websites.

Baby name lists can easily be found online with a Google search, or there are baby name books available either to buy, or borrow from your local library. These books often give the dates that names came into use, or were in fashion, and sometimes the meanings of names too. For instance, my own name Louise means ‘renowned warrior’ (and this librarian does love to kickbox!). Name generator websites can also provide inspiration and are easily found with a Google search.

3. Ensure the name fits the historical period, genre, and the story you’re telling.

Even when a name was in use in the past, be careful. If it sounds too modern, you reader will be suspicious. In addition, make sure that your character’s name fits the story you’re telling and the genre you’re writing in. For example, Zaphod Beeblebrox suits comedic science fiction, but would be entirely out of place in Of Mice and Men.

4. Watch out for unusual names and spellings.

If you choose a strange name or spelling that serves no particular purpose, it could pull the reader out of the story. You should also avoid using a famous person’s name for this same reason (unless you’re writing about that famous person, of course!). Similarly, lack of clarity over a character’s gender could cause unnecessary confusion, so watch out for using androgynous names unless relevant to the character.

5. Avoid similar sounding names.

Calling one character Emily and another character Emilia is likely to confuse your reader. In fact, it’s best to try not to use names that begin with the same letter if you can help it.

 6. Don’t get hung up on choosing a name at the beginning of the writing process.

This can be a cause of procrastination. Instead, select a placeholder name, then change it to something more appropriate as you get to know your character better.

7. Give your characters authentic names, which will ensure they are ‘real’ to your reader.

Ask yourself, does the name fit the character? For example, Christie’s Hercule Poirot is almost ‘Hercules’, but not quite. Poirot’s name is diminutive and a bit camp, much like his character.

8. Use the name’s connotations to offer insight.

You can use the connotations, sounds, and even the letters of the name to offer insight into your character’s personality. Authors often use literary devices such as repetition, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. For example, Bilbo Baggins sounds baggy and homely.

9. Use the name to subvert readers’ expectations.

Alternatively, you might choose to deliberately do the opposite of point #8 and subvert reader expectations with an incongruous name choice, just as Toni Morrison did with her disruptive antagonist, Sula Peace.

10. Do a web search before you settle on any name.

That way, you can make sure your unique character name hasn’t already been taken by someone else.

11. Refer to your character by the same name throughout your novel.

Unless you are intentionally changing the name at some point, or writing from the point of view of someone who would call them by a different name, it’s best to keep the character’s name consistent throughout.

12. Say it out loud.

Speak the name out loud, ask yourself, is it easy to remember, is it easy to pronounce, does it sound like any other name in your book?

In summary, a carefully chosen name can transform a character from mundane to marvellous. Choose with care, and ask yourself whether you’ve made it easy for your reader to differentiate between the major, and minor, players in your story.

Louise Morrish is a guest contributor to The History Quill. Her debut novel, Operation Moonlight, won the Penguin Random House First Novel Competition and was published by Century in July 2022. A dual-timeline novel set in 1944 and the present, it tells the story of Betty, a 100-year-old woman hiding a dark secret from the war, when she worked as a secret agent for the Special Operations Executive. Find out more about Louise via her website, louisemorrish.com, or Twitter, @LouiseMorrish1.