I know I already did a post on Character Profiles, but I think that I should do posts on each subject (that I can write a long enough post about) so that you can understand each thing better.
Let's start with names.
Okay, first, what is so important about name choosing? I mean, can't you just name your rule-following heroine who would never hold a grudge something like "Maria" and get on with it?
Well, you could. But if your someone like me who is extremely obsessed with characters, you will no doubt care that Maria means "rebel" and "bitter". The meanings of the name is nothing like the personality. Now, if you character was a female who was bitter towards her parents and rebelled against the system, then "Maria" is a great name. Otherwise, kick the name to the curb and run over it.
Repeatedly.
There are four different ways I come up with my character's names. They are:
Let's start with names.
Okay, first, what is so important about name choosing? I mean, can't you just name your rule-following heroine who would never hold a grudge something like "Maria" and get on with it?
Well, you could. But if your someone like me who is extremely obsessed with characters, you will no doubt care that Maria means "rebel" and "bitter". The meanings of the name is nothing like the personality. Now, if you character was a female who was bitter towards her parents and rebelled against the system, then "Maria" is a great name. Otherwise, kick the name to the curb and run over it.
Repeatedly.
There are four different ways I come up with my character's names. They are:
- I find a name, then model the character after the name. For example: I came up with a character named "Greg". His name means "flock" or "herder", so I altered his profile so that he was a farmhand on his father's cattle ranch.
- I come up with a character, then find a name that means his/her personality. For example, I had a boy raised by a rich family, and he always spent all his money on useless things. I had to find a name that meant prudent, so I went to a baby names website. I found one that I liked, "Trevor". I used it for him.
- I come up with the name myself: I only use this for fantasy or sci-fi stories, and only if there is a new language I need to come up with for the story.
- I develop the character, and find a word that means that in another language: Again, I only use this in fantasy or sci-fi. I like to use Latin, because barely anyone knows lots of Latin, but you can use whatever you want.