How to Name Your Characters

Story Info
What's in a name? More than you might think!
943 words
4.46
138.9k
26
Share this Story

Font Size

Default Font Size

Font Spacing

Default Font Spacing

Font Face

Default Font Face

Reading Theme

Default Theme (White)
You need to Log In or Sign Up to have your customization saved in your Literotica profile.
PUBLIC BETA

Note: You can change font size, font face, and turn on dark mode by clicking the "A" icon tab in the Story Info Box.

You can temporarily switch back to a Classic Literotica® experience during our ongoing public Beta testing. Please consider leaving feedback on issues you experience or suggest improvements.

Click here

What’s in a name?
More than you might think, actually. Can you imagine if the hero in Raiders of the Lost Ark was named Kenny Miller instead of Indiana Jones? Or if Dorothy Gale had been Libby Lieberman?

Whether you’re writing an erotic, intergenerational saga, or just a simple description of a sexual encounter, character names are important. They imbue your characters with a certain flavor all their own and can enhance all the personality traits you develop in the course of your story. If you choose a name that grates against the character’s disposition, your readers will feel a vague annoyance each and every time that name comes up.

Hypothetical question for ya’--what if I’m writing a true story about my significant other and me?
That’s great. Many people write stories for Literotica based on fantasies they’ve had since high school, or to mentally live out a recurring daydream they have about a co-worker. If you want to keep your real names for that extra thrill that you, and maybe your sweetie, will get every time you read it, go for it.

But take into consideration that someday the truth might come out. Whomever you’re writing about might not appreciate the fact that you’ve been fantasizing about doing her in the X-rated theater, so you might want to "change the names to protect the innocent."

I’ve heard that some people just assign a name at random, intending to change it later. Anything wrong with that?
Not at all. If that method works for you, then you should keep using it. Writing is completely individual, and you may find unique routines that are successful for you. However, I think you should take the time to find a character’s name right off the bat.

For me, naming a character is much like choosing a name for a baby, except that I get to choose the baby’s personality. (In fact, I’ll get into baby name books later.) When I start a story, I find it helpful knowing what my main characters’ names are. It helps clarify their natures for me, which makes it easier to write about them and to decide what their courses of action will be in the plot.

Baby name books??
Yes, baby name books. Although they’re meant for expectant parents, they’re also excellent resources for writers with nameless characters. I picked upBaby Names from the Bible, a pocket baby name book by the check-out at the grocery store because it had some unusual names in it. But if you’re going to be writing a lot, I’d suggest splurging on a more comprehensive list. The one I use most isThe Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide Worldby Bruce Lansky. It doesn’t quite live up to its name, but it’s not bad.

I have another interesting name source called,The Writer’s Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, in which the names are listed according to their ethnic origin. So, if you have your heart set on a certain nationality, you instantly have a large list from which to choose.

So, what do I do? Just close my eyes and point?
Good heavens, no. And I wouldn’t suggest picking your favorite name either. Here are some suggestions on what to do.


  1. Think about your character’s personality. Is she prissy, proper, and devout? I’d think about Mary, Sarah, Abigail, and I’d reject Delilah, Lolita, and Serena. Is your hero mean and sadistic? Then Danny, Biff, or Bruce might not be the best choice. That’s not to say that you can’t make a Mary a slutty cocksucker. If you’re a good writer, you definitely can. Just be careful.

  2. Say the name out loud. Listen to see if it has hard sounds (k, g, t, d, b, p, j, etc.) or soft sounds (sh, th, s, h, l, v, m, n, w, r, etc.) A hard-hearted person might be better off with a hard name. Villains often have names with sibilant sounds.

  3. Be wary also of having two major characters that share a common first initial. Strange as it may seem, sometimes readers have trouble distinguishing between the father, Michael, and the best friend, Matthew.

  4. Just as words have connotations, so do names. "Skip," is obviously a preppy, yacht-sailing kind of guy. "Bertha" is a large woman with facial hair and a voice like a foghorn. Use this to your advantage. If you want a character to fit a certain stereotype, you might want to use a name that carries that same feeling.

How do YOU choose a name?
As I said, I use the baby name book. Sometimes I start with A and skim the pages until I find something I like. Sometimes I know the name I want right off the bat. Sometimes I have to name an incidental character, and I turn to my bookshelf, the phone book, or a magazine’s editorial staff list, and mix up names from there. I sometimes think of students I’ve had in the past (I’m a teacher.) and take a first name from one person and a last name from another. The Bible, literary classics, myths, and movies are all good sources for names.

Which ever method you end up using, take some time to make sure the name fits. I’ve taken an hour before to find the right name and not thought a minute of that time was wasted. Then again, I’m sort of anal about my writing. You don’t have to go that far, but don’t necessarily use the first name that pops into your head.

Good luck with your writing. I’m off to write about Mary, the Slutty Cocksucker!

Please rate this story
The author would appreciate your feedback.
  • COMMENTS
Anonymous
Our Comments Policy is available in the Lit FAQ
Post as:
Anonymous
25 Comments
DarkAurther6969DarkAurther6969about 2 years ago

First off All of your Points are Valid I'm Not Disputing that by any stretch of the the imagination but some times to me Names are just Names they don't really mean anything aside from Identifying your Characters to your Audiences, in real life I know a lot few people with the same name, but with vastly deferent interests and personalities. some times just like in Batman Begins "It's Not Who I Am Is Important It's What I Do Is Important." Some times to me Names are Just Names to Identify your Characters as I Have Said.

DC_Michael_1981DC_Michael_1981about 6 years ago
Innocent?

You said authors might 'want to "change the names to protect the innocent."' to prevent someone you write a fantasy about from finding out. But if you take the discovery into mind you might want to say 'want to "change the names to protect the [indecent]."'

Scotsman69Scotsman69over 8 years ago
The common Scots name Fiona,

and the less common Malvina, were invented by c18 Scots author James McPherson. They featured in his Ossian sagas, widely held to be one of the most convincing frauds in Literary history.

SalomeAhrimanSalomeAhrimanover 8 years ago
Another Name Source

Authors can also invent brand new names for their characters. This is most commonly done in fantasy and sci fi, but it can happen in any genre. The name Pamela was originally the invention of an author for a novel.

AnonymousAnonymousover 10 years ago
also consider...

When basing a character loosely or directly on a person that you know or have seen, choose a name with a similar meaning (if it has a meaning). For example if the real life person is named Jennifer you could consider Mina. I have also used the equivalence of a name from English to Spanish although my favorite is Croation. Another great way to choose a name would be to pick a distinguishing feature of the character and look it up in various languages. I was surprised when a friend of mine complimented me on naming a warrior character Mohel.

Show More
Share this Story

story TAGS

Similar Stories

How To Make Characters Talk in Your Stories The ins and outs of potent dialogue.in How To
Erotic Synonyms When Roget's just won't do.in How To
A Checklist for a Good Editor Advice on proper editing.in How To
How To Break the Literotica Toplist The formula in each category.in How To
Writing Quality Sex Scenes Guide for those who struggle with fucking.in How To
More Stories