Naming characters

[mr friendly guy]

This might seem like a silly question, but what techniques do people use to give names to characters. I prefer to write in a sci fi / fantasy setting so some of the characters are clearly non human with non English names. I have seen people suggest the scrabble method and even some websites which can randomly generate names within certain guidelines. Since I write fan fiction I can just use existing characters or look up the names of other members of the species and assume they are not uncommon names when inventing an original character for a certain role. However I am trying to work on some original fiction so I can't use this tactic.

Obviously for the names besides identifying the character they must give a sense of being alien or not from Earth (if we talk about humans in a fantasy world which isn't Earth). They must also give a sense that two characters are from the same culture. So with characters like Asterix, Getafix, Cacophonix, Obelix and then a new character is introduced named John Smith it would seem jarring. James Cameron hired a linguist to make up a language for the Na'vi, which of course we don't have that luxury.

The problem with the scrabble method I find is that you will end up with names which sound so different you wonder how these characters can be from the same culture.

The other thought I had is to use slightly altered spelling of English names to give the sense of being different. IIRC the Star Wars EU spelt Jacen Solo's name in this manner instead of the usual Jason (even though we would likely pronounce it similar) to do this.

My other thought is to use foreign names +/- slight spelling alteration to do the same things as well.

So any other thoughts? Any websites that might help?

[Vastatosaurus Rex]

Most of the cultures I make up draw from real world cultures, so I just look up names from the real cultures I am using. For instance, if I had a culture based on West Africa, I'd look up actual West African names.

[Ford Prefect]

It depends on my mood. Most recently I seem to have lost the ability to construct names less ridiculous than 'Chain Trauma', 'Bear Fury' or 'William Badass', which works for me, but may not work for others. There are no really hard and fast rules for this, and existing literature has given us examples of names so hamfistedly meaningful or such truly staggering puns that you can probably get away with anything.

[open_sketchbook]

I occasionally name my characters either after people whom with they share a talents or roles (usually picking fairly obscure people though, so that most people don't get it but someone studying that field might), but most of the time names just come to me and fit characters naturally. This kind of makes sense with how I work; plots, settings and characters pretty much spring forth more or less fully formed, or literately come to me in dreams, and I honestly have little control over the process

As for alien names, a few buddies once programmed an alien name maker for RPGs. You could set common sound groups, average lengths and which sounds are not avaliable, as well as a few othe rules, then generate. It's served me well ever since.

[Sarevok]

As for alien names, a few buddies once programmed an alien name maker for RPGs. You could set common sound groups, average lengths and which sounds are not avaliable, as well as a few othe rules, then generate. It's served me well ever since.

We cant pronounce whale or dolphin names. Unless you have fake star trek like aliens there is no reason to call aliens their native names. Humans will give their alien companions nicknames and they will do likewise for us because our bodies are not capable of making similar range of sounds. There is no sense in trying to speak in ultrasonic pulses like a whale or emit radio waves like when you can call your alien friend just Mr John.

[Ilya Muromets]

It depends on what I want, really.

For "exotic" sounding names I use foreign or dead languages, often with allusions to the character's personality, attributes, or suchlike. For example, I named a character whose old life was taken away and who was bound to some shadow entity "Rasa Sceadwe." Her first name is derived from the feminized version of the Latin word rasus (erased, wiped clean) and the Old English word for shadow, sceadwe. Her real name is "Ann Ying", derived from the Madarin "an ying" which means "shadow" or "umbra."

If I want "normal" names, especially for foreigners, I at first do a web search on the proper naming conventions of their home country/culture, do another search for list of common names from said country/culture, then play mix-and-match.

If I'm feeling playful, I try to make 'em out of themes, puns, or whatnot. Although I try not to make said themes, puns, or whatnot too blatant. For example, I named a magical gun-nut Hiram Montigny Richards. Derived from Hiram Maxim (inventor of the machinegun), The Joseph Montigny (developer of the mitrailleuse), and Richard Gatling (creator of the Gatling gun).

As for alien names, well, I either pull them out of my ass, use corrupted versions of my native Cebuano or Filipino words, or look around for whatever text I can find around me then play with that. For example, I have a race called the Nason, derived from my home's PaNASONic tv.

Yeah... I am a huge geek.

[Shroom Man 777]

Go for funny names, and names that have a good ring to them.

[Teleros]

For human names I've found the Wikipedia pages on various real-world governments to be a handy place to start. All those ministers and the like to pick and choose bits of names from. Occasionally it'll be someone from another book I read as a kind of nod towards them.

For aliens & non-human characters... mostly I just dream them up myself. I've tried random name generators and such in the past, but never used them (that I can remember). Although being a big fan of Doc Smith I'm also well aware of Sarevok's point above.

As for symbolism... generally I try to avoid this, particularly in sci-fi: most of the people in my Terran Alliance setting are just regular people who for example have volunteered for the armed forces. Although I do admit to naming the commander in chief of the Alliance Navy "Julia Corbett", and the "Base Delta Zero" equivalent just happens to be "Sierra Delta November" .

[Sarevok]

Go for funny names, and names that have a good ring to them.

Character names such as Hiro Protagonist ?

[Shroom Man 777]

Try Rock Ironbeef, or Rock Stronggo.

(ps fuck your post-modern cyberpunk novels)

[Steve]

I have a copy of Kate Monk's Onomastikon on my computer to facilitate naming Earth-born people. As for other cultures, alien or fantasy human, if it's an established setting I try to consider what other characters of that particular culture have as names and derive from there, seeking to use some similar sounds or word arrangements. With fantasy humans I'll also occasionally looks to make names that are similar in sound to "known" ones but spelled different, like Fellip or Fillip = Phillip.

[Darth Paxis]

I remember when I needed a name for an ISB colonel in Alien Empire, I went to Wookieepedia and took apart the names of various ISB agents. Other names came from various characters from EU books. Sometimes, I would just rack my brain until something came out, but that turned out to be a great way to cook up some writer's block, so now I use random name generators such as this one, I like it because of the obscurity, this also might work for alien names, but I haven't tried it for that yet.

[mr friendly guy]

I have a copy of Kate Monk's Onomastikon on my computer to facilitate naming Earth-born people. As for other cultures, alien or fantasy human, if it's an established setting I try to consider what other characters of that particular culture have as names and derive from there, seeking to use some similar sounds or word arrangements. With fantasy humans I'll also occasionally looks to make names that are similar in sound to "known" ones but spelled different, like Fellip or Fillip = Phillip.

Got a link to this Onomastikon? My original fiction is a fantasy with elements of sci fi, think might and magic computer games or Prince of Nothing series to have an idea of how much sci fi elements enter into it. So most names would be from human cultures, however two of the fantasy / alien races are clearly non human.

[Steve]

Not sure where it's online now, you can try and google it.