by Thomas Kies
How important is it to get the right name for your characters?
Think about some memorable literary characters: Ebenezer Scrooge, Huckleberry Finn, Voldemort, Forrest Gump, Long John Silver, Atticus Finch, Hannibal Lecter, Nurse Ratched, Boo Radley, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde.
All of them are unforgettable characters. Is it simply because the writer blessed them with the perfect moniker? No, the writer also made them fascinating and interesting to read.
But let’s face it. The names fit.
The protagonist of my series of mysteries is named Geneva Chase. She’s tall, somewhere around forty, an investigative reporter, a struggling alcoholic, and she makes bad life decisions. But she’s whip smart, fearless, and an intransigent smartass. When I was looking for a name for her, I immediately chose her first name, Geneva. I’m from the Finger Lakes region of New York State and Geneva is a lovely town on the north tip of Seneca Lake.
Her last name was more difficult. I wanted something short and preferred something that denoted action. Geneva Run, Geneva Dash, Geneva Leap, Geneva Jump….nope, nope, nope.
Some character names take on their own life. When Ian Fleming wanted a name for his protagonist, an English spy, he searched for the most boring name he could come up with. Spies aren’t supposed to be memorable. Fleming was an avid birdwatcher and one of books on his shelf was written by an ornithologist by the name of James Bond. Fleming thought that was perfect. He wanted his character to be masculine, but more of a blunt instrument. He wanted the action around him to stand out.
Fat chance. The name James Bond is synonymous with action, excitement, romance, and exotic locations.
Speaking of names, Bond’s nemesis is Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Say it out loud. It feels and sounds evil. Fleming was excellent at naming villains as well. Dr. No, Auric Goldfinger, Emilio Largo, Rosa Klebb.
And let’s not forget Fleming’s flair for naming female characters. Honeychile Ryder, Tiffany Case, Vesper Lynd, Miss Moneypenny, and of course, Pussy Galore,
Charles Dickens was especially adept at character names. Oliver Twist, Uriah Heep, Madam Defarge, Miss Havisham, Tiny Tim, Fagin.
In mysteries and thrillers, names do even more heavy lifting. Names that a easy to recall--Harry Bosch, Alex Cross, Lisbeth Salander, Sherlock Holmes. Jack Reacher, Joe Pickett, Kinsey Millhone, Kay Scarpetta, Sam Spade. Nero Wolfe.
So, when you’re naming a character in your novel, what should you think about? It’s going to be that first impression you’re giving to your reader, so it’s actually pretty important.
Genre: Names signal the kind of story you’re telling. A hard-boiled crime novel feels different with a protagonist named Jack Reacher than one named Bridgerton. Also, if you’re writing a fantasy, names like Tyrion and Daenerys sound better than a character called Bernie.
How does it sound when you read it? Say it out loud. Does it flow in dialogue? Does it have punch, softness, or menace where needed? Short, sharp names often suit fast-paced fiction; longer or lyrical names can slow things down in a deliberate way. They might work better in a romance novel than a thriller.
A name should make sense for a character’s background, age, and setting. A 70-year-old man from coastal North Carolina probably isn’t named Chad Love, and a medieval nun isn’t named Tiffany. Even the smallest inconsistency can pull readers out of the story.
Avoid names that look or sound too similar, especially for major characters (no Matt, Mark, and Mike in the same chapter). Readers shouldn’t have to stop and decode who’s who. Clear differentiation keeps the story moving.
So, a name isn’t the only thing that makes a character memorable for a reader, but it certainly goes a long way.
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