Naming Fictional Characters
You are your name.
A character’s most important quality is their name. The right moniker can influence a reader’s perception and understanding of who a character is. A name must suit the personality, appearance, and role the character plays in a story. Unless you have other intentions like humor or irony — then the name doesn’t have to suit the character in an obvious way.
The character Saul Goodman of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul started his law career as James McGill. Before his decision to become a lawyer, he went by Jimmy McGill and his criminal nickname was, Slippin’ Jimmy. After many failed attempts at going ‘legit’ and falling out with Chuck, his hyper-critical older brother, James changed his name to Saul Goodman, after a reassuring quip he’d use on his buddies, “It’s all good, man.” Speed it up, and it becomes ‘S’all good, man...Saul Goodman.”
All names have a meaning. Baby naming books and websites are a great way to learn the meaning of a given name. Ancestry websites give insight on last names and how they evolved. Find a few names that speak of the qualities your character is to be known for and experiment with different combinations of given and sir names.
Unless you’re writing sci-fi or fantasy, it’s important to consider the historical time frame, geographical region or location, and culture of the…
