Naming Characters - what's your method.

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Naming Characters - what's your method.

    I always struggle with character names. Some people, like Vig, always come up with great names. For me it's a problem.

    But today I decided to pay more attention to the names in emails from penny-stock spammers. For example, 3 spam emails I got in the last hour include:

    Moises Clark

    Estelle Blue

    Reynaldo Chattanooga


    Hmmm.... anyway - how do you go about developing character names/
    Advice from writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick. "Try this: if you can replace your female character with a sexy lamp and the story still basically works, maybe you need another draft.-

  • #2
    Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

    spam-naming is a great idea!!! Or using subject lines, such as 'viagra' and 'implants' for names:

    Viagra: I can't stand any longer
    implants: just lean on me, baby.

    I suck at names, so I have a baby name book. Something between Bob and Zephyr is usually the best I got.
    https://actbreakdown.com

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

      Originally posted by amandag View Post
      spam-naming is a great idea!!! Or using subject lines, such as 'viagra' and 'implants' for names:

      Viagra: I can't stand any longer
      implants: just lean on me, baby.

      I suck at names, so I have a baby name book. Something between Bob and Zephyr is usually the best I got.
      Same. I peruse the baby names website every time i start a new story.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

        http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm

        random name generator that takes the data from a US census. you can go male/female and set the obscurity factor. it is random though, so some combinations are amazing, some are just bizarre. =)

        http://www.behindthename.com/

        this one's handy for knowing the origins and meanings of the names.
        Aiming for mediocrity and falling well short =)

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

          Brilliant idea. I can see it now, my next protag is gonna be named "add 3 inches".

          But seriously, i'm gonna use that method.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

            Names are a big deal for me in a screenplay. I seriously can't write if I don't have the name down. Not even with a temp name. It's got to be THE name.

            Lately I just try and think of sounds that would portray my character. If he's a cop, I want a rough edge so I throw in a "k" or a "ck" but then some "s" to make it flow. /shrug I guess my method is pretty much using a first name that's already out there that goes with my character and then inventing his last name according to what would "sound" like him.

            Sometimes it stalls my writing for quite a while.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

              I keep a list of names that I like so I can use them in future screenplays.

              Character names, to me, are just as important as everything else in the script, so I always make sure there's a meaning or reason to go with the name.

              http://www.babynames.com has a feature where you can search names by meaning, and I usually do that for a while until I find something that fits what I'm looking for.

              Terry Rossio wrote a nice article on names, which can be found here:
              http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp...-dropping.html

              Bill Martell has a good tip on names, which can be found here:
              http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip179.htm

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                One of my favorite names of any script is a character I have named

                RUSTIN NILES and another one of my favorites is Grendell Mekens.

                I spend a lot of time searching for interesting names.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                  I usually get the first name of my character, not their surname. I don't have a
                  method other than trying to find a name that fits the character: Naomi I
                  think means empty so I gave that to a character who went through a divorce.

                  Black for a girl who lost her mom, Jet for a girl who's always on the go,
                  Nikki for a pixie type girl, etc. I give city names for rugged guys like Dallas.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                    Depending on the location and the period of the script, I do a bit of research to find proper names. Sometimes (in this case angels and demons), I take a certain liberty at slightly changing names.
                    A talent for drama is not a talent for writing, but is an ability to articulate human relationships.
                    Gore Vidal

                    "Aisatsu Yori Ensatsu"
                    Money is better than compliments.


                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                      Wonderful, y'all. And remember to pick a name that's easy to pronounce. It's a terrible thing when a reader has to think of how to pronounce your main character's name everytime he reads it.

                      Corona
                      I love you, Reyna . . .

                      Brown-Balled by the Hollywood Clika

                      Latino Heart Project's MEXICAN HEART...ATTACK!
                      I ain't no punk b1tch...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                        Forgot where I got this from, but if you're looking to name a porn star, you pick the name of your pet for the first name, and the name of the street you live on for the last name.

                        My name would be Harry Blackberry. See? Works.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                          All I know is that it's better to hear 'Verbal' Kint tell Agent Kujan about Keyser Soze than to hear Jim Collins tell Agent Ross about Frank Reynolds.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                            i use biblical names if it fits the character.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Naming Characters - what's your method.

                              Originally posted by Qazworld View Post
                              i use biblical names if it fits the character.
                              You know, I do the same.
                              A talent for drama is not a talent for writing, but is an ability to articulate human relationships.
                              Gore Vidal

                              "Aisatsu Yori Ensatsu"
                              Money is better than compliments.


                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X