Are char names that Important?

[PeacefulMyst]

Hello, I'm quite new to writing and I've recently run into an issue where I can't for the life of me think up a single name. I end up scrolling through hours In a list of names only to procrastinate it. So my question is are char names even that important? and... Is this the right place for this thread?

Hello, I'm quite new to writing and I've recently run into an issue where I can't for the life of me think up a single name. I end up scrolling through hours In a list of names only to procrastinate it. So my question is are char names even that important? and... Is this the right place for this thread?

I began thinking about deleting this thread because it's probably at the wrong place and it sounds stupid. And now i can't figure out how

 

[CadmarLegend]

Hello, I'm quite new to writing and I've recently run into an issue where I can't for the life of me think up a single name. I end up scrolling through hours In a list of names only to procrastinate it. So my question is are char names even that important? and... Is this the right place for this thread?

I guess you could say character names will define the rest of your story.

After all, you should think long and hard, but not so much that you procrastinate, about some important characters' names.

For example, if your name is going to be hard to pronounce, even in your head, then that's probably going to turn readers off.

If you make a character name that is hard to type out on the normal keyboard, you'll have to go through more effort as an author.

If the character name isn't impactful, readers might soon forget about that character.

Basically, think of a unique-enough character name to make that sole character stand out. Yes, you should give each character a unique-enough name. And, usually, you don't want to have the same name used twice since it can get confusing.

And the answer to your last question is... yes. Good enough place to ask for advice as to any other.

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

Hello, I'm quite new to writing and I've recently run into an issue where I can't for the life of me think up a single name. I end up scrolling through hours In a list of names only to procrastinate it. So my question is are char names even that important? and... Is this the right place for this thread?

I began thinking about deleting this thread because it's probably at the wrong place and it sounds stupid. And now i can't figure out how

Do your plot first than names. Also, names are very important. You don’t want to make the FMC named Bertha

 

[Deleted member 58005]

Many of the characters in my story have meaning. For example, let's say, Conroy.

In Irish it means "Wise advisor." Which is a spoiler for my story, but I don't mind lmao

 

[2021]

Yes, having dickbutt youre mc, gonna get annoying. Unless you make it intresting. Like a god made that their name, and they try to have people not learn their real name, but when someone ask they are force to tell them, but they try to find loopholes through it, to not tell their name

 

[Agentt]

Na, you can name them anything easy to remember and keep track of.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Urban dictionary is a good way to choose names. Have you ever looked up your name on Urban Dictionary?

 

[Deleted member 54065]

Depends on you as an author really. While there are authors who think character name is important, I, for one, just slap in whatever comes to my mind the moment I was writing. It's for the simple reason that I feel that character names that have connection to the theme of the story is unnatural. Like a story (I don't remember the title) I read before that was about dogs, and the MC is named "Inu Inukai".

Felt really forced. I prefer 'Bob' over 'Inukai' anytime.

 

[NotYourTypicalMan]

Yes ofc its important. Imagine having a character named Rose but its a dude with big muscles. My immersion is ruined pepehands

 

[Deleted member 54065]

Yes ofc its important. Imagine having a character named Rose but its a dude with big muscles. My immersion is ruined pepehands

You, sir, just gave me an idea. ?

 

[Lloyd]

No

 

[Varstark]

If they're not important to you and you just need any old name, there are name generators on the internet.

 

[Ai-chan]

Hello, I'm quite new to writing and I've recently run into an issue where I can't for the life of me think up a single name. I end up scrolling through hours In a list of names only to procrastinate it. So my question is are char names even that important? and... Is this the right place for this thread?

I began thinking about deleting this thread because it's probably at the wrong place and it sounds stupid. And now i can't figure out how

Ai-chan just programs a random name generator and let everything run on auto. If Ai-chan likes any of the names, Ai-chan uses them or make small modifications. If Ai-chan doesn't like any of the names, Ai-chan just press "Reroll". Works well so far. There are trillions of different permutations that it is impossible for Ai-chan to click enough times to get the same names suggested twice.

For example:
Set 1:
Name 1: Nsu
Name 2: Neroku
Name 3: Mayuwore
Name 4: Ootsuyuso

Set 2:
Name 1: Ma'
Name 2: Munuwi
Name 3: Mokihete
Name 4: Raki'remu

Set 3:
Name 1: Kuno
Name 2: Yoemu
Name 3: Ketachia
Name 4: Sawetsuharu

Set 4:
Name 1: Weha
Name 2: Kusoso
Name 3: Uro're
Name 4: Kiwetohiku

All these took less than 2 minutes to generate in total. Ai-chan can take the second name from the first set as is, Neroku. Or modify a name from the fourth name of set three, turning it from Sawetsuharu into Sawa Suharu. Easy, fast, reliably unique.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Just start with 'concept names' or nicknames that fit their role like naming the MC Mary Sue or their buddy Sid E. Kick.

Easiest way to name them is something that fits them or something that doesn't and then make them dislike their name for that reason or point it out by other characters.

I named my gloriously sadistic antagonist/second protagonist "Joy" and while she's a joy to write, she's anything but joyful for everyone else

 

[CarburetorThompson]

I take names from minor historical figures. Their personalities or occupations doesn’t need to match the character, I just find it easy to find names that sound period accurate that way. Then just take two people and choose a first and last name and you’ve got something original. For the type of writing you’re gonna find on SH, names don’t really need meaning beyond surface value.

 

[Deeprotsorcerer]

They are when you make them important. Most readers here aren't lit students even even the ones that are may fall into the camp that thinks the "everything has meaning" maxim is rather silly.

 

[IDKWtWrite-San]

In my opinion, Character names are important depending on the story that you're going to make .

Most of the time, the story I see is the char names are just concept names with a personality that fits or not given to them by the authors

If you wanted to, you can make the character stay truthful to his/her name meaning . Some character do the opposite to what they're name means which is pretty ironic and funny if you're going for a japanese style of things

But I suggest you make your plot first and think what character you wanted to be. (Disregard this post if you think this is not helpful btw)

 

[SakeVision]

No. Names don't define a person, neither real no fictional.
You can give most common generic name to awesome character, and by association, it will become awesome and badass name.

Example: Youjo Senki's Tanya. Now then, Tanya is a rather common and frankly speaking, silly name. I used to make fun of it. But youjo senki changed my perception, and now I can't think of anything but a psycho loli when I hear that.