What’s in a name? Juliet asked.
In fiction, plenty.
“What’s your name?” is one of the first questions we ask a stranger – someone we meet at party, the person sitting next to us on the plane, our new coworker. Learning a person’s name transforms them from a stranger to someone we are now acquainted with, however superficially.
Many classic novels have featured characters with memorable names: Huckleberry Finn, Atticus Finch, Ebenezer Scrooge, Hercule Poirot, Pippi Longstocking, Frodo Baggins, Rabbit Engstrom, and Victor Frankenstein, to name a few.
Alas, not every writer will strike upon a name that is both unique and memorable, but every writer can take care to ensure that their names fit the time, place, and personality of their characters. When I was writing Bicentennial Eve, I wrestled with the names of my characters. I felt like I didn’t really know them until I had settled on their monikers. In the process, I discovered that naming fictional characters is much more complicated than I had thought. Here’s what I learned along the way.
First, the name should be appropriate to that character’s age, time, and place. For example, Kitty was born in 1902, and her full name is Katherine, a common girl’s name throughout the decades. Her youngest daughter, who was born in 1932, is named Claire. While that name was not among the most common name for girls in the 1930s, the actress Claire Trevor made a couple of short films in in 1931, so Kitty and Frederick might have come across that name in movie credits. Claire is also a variation of Clara, which was the 64th most common girl’s name in 1930.
Claire and Joe’s daughters are named Grace and Skylar. Grace Kelly was a popular movie actress in the 1950s. so it’s plausible that the lovely actress would have been an inspiration for their oldest daughter’s name.
Second, the names of the main characters should not be the same as the author’s family members or close friends, unless they give their blessing for their name to be used in the book. That ruled out several names I would have liked to use.
Third, the names of main characters should not be similar to avoid confusing the readers. That is, no Tim and Tom, Judy and Jody, Bill and Will, unless the similar names are a plot point, such as identical twins with closely matched names.
If possible, the name should also provide a clue to the character’s personality. For example, Skylar is a alternate spelling of Schuyler, which is a Dutch name that means scholar. Claire and Joe’s youngest daughter is smart and loves to read, so the name fits.
When it comes to surnames, the same guidelines apply. Many immigrants to Wisconsin in the 19th century, were from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, England, and Ireland, for example, and the characters have surnames – Jansen, Ames, Wright, McClaren – that reflect Wisconsin’s immigrant heritage.
And, of course, the combination of the first and last name should not be the same as that of any well-known person. That rules out, for example, any Jennifer in a family called Lawrence or any Michael in a family called Jordan.
Naming a character is as personal and nerve-wracking as choosing a name for your own child or pet. It may seem like an impossible process, but just like in real life, the right name will come. When it does, you can say to your character, “Hello, it’s nice to finally meet you!”
