Find names for your characters? I've read loads of books and have always wondered where the names come from.
Are they family names? Television or movie inspired? Heritage-toned?
Mine are all of the above. Plus sometimes I seek help from either a baby name book or a particular heritage's website for genuine names. Or even religious/biblical names.
For example, in Ranch Hands, Sid is for Sidney, Austrailia. Roger was a coworker's name. Jerry is for Jerry Springer.
Another example is For the Heart of Phillip, Phillip with the 2 L's is uncommon, and that's why I liked it. Robert of course, Andrew, David...all biblical names and/or kings. I will often use royalty/biblical/family/heritage-driven names first over anything contemporary.
How about you? Do you follow the baby name trends and use their list or make up your own?
I sometimes use family, usually for minor characters. The major characters usually tell me their names. In my first book I used my son's name Jon as the main character. Jon Ryder Galactic Bounty Hunter Extraordinaire. Since I never plan a story, (I have a beginning and an end, the rest just develops) As I encounter a new character I let them dictate their name.
ReplyDeleteI love using family names too. That's a neat idea to have the main character tell you the names...
DeleteI usually start out with the main two and the rest just 'happen' along the way :)