Character names can be slippery little things. Sometimes, you think you’ve nailed the perfect name—only to get halfway through your story and realise it absolutely does not fit. Maybe it sounded good at the start, but now your brooding mercenary really shouldn’t be called Nigel. Or maybe you picked something edgy and unique, only to discover it looks ridiculous on the page (yes, I’m looking at you, X’Zypharion Shadowfang).
A well-chosen name can evoke imagery, emotion, and even hidden meaning. A badly chosen one can pull your reader straight out of the story, leaving them wondering why your 12th-century knight is called Brayden. (Or why your Downton Abbey cast doesn’t include Slartibartfast—because honestly, that would be iconic.)
So, how do you find the balance between a name that fits, a name you love, and a name that won’t make readers do a double take?
When Names Work (and When They Don’t)
We’re often told to avoid names that are too outlandish, unpronounceable, or over-the-top. And sure, that’s generally good advice. But sometimes, the story needs something ridiculous. Take The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where we get gems like Zaphod Beeblebrox and Slartibartfast. Those names work because the universe is absurd. No one’s expecting realism when the plot involves space whales and towels.
But if you try to sneak a name like that into, say, a contemporary romance? Readers might not take it seriously. (Unless, of course, you’re writing a romantic comedy about a man named Slartibartfast trying to navigate modern dating. In which case, please proceed.)
Then there are names that try too hard to be cool. You know the ones. The action hero named Rock Stoneblast. The hacker named Cipher RavenDark. These names can be fun in a self-aware, over-the-top way (Sky once made a list of 20 Mental Movie Monikers, and it is a ride), but if they’re played too straight, they can tip into unintentional comedy.
And then we have sci-fi and fantasy, where naming conventions sometimes spiral into a black hole of apostrophes and unpronounceable letter combinations. If your main character is L’kazyx’hiqxues from the planet Xzerquee’h’ex, congratulations—you’ve created a name that no audiobook narrator will ever forgive you for. Readers might love immersive world-building, but they also want to be able to read the names without pulling a muscle.
Finding the Right Name
When I’m naming characters, I usually start with Behind the Name to check meanings—partly to avoid accidental faux pas, partly because I love it when authors sneak hidden symbolism into names. There’s something satisfying about looking up a character’s name and realising it connects to their backstory in a clever way.
I also keep an eye on historical accuracy. Dropping a Beyoncé into 17th-century England? Probably not going to go down well with the history buffs. The same goes for modern-sounding surnames in settings where they wouldn’t exist yet. (Unless you’re writing time travel. In which case, all bets are off.)
If I’m stuck, there are plenty of resources to pull from:
📖 Movie credits – Loads of names, all in one place.
📞 Phone books – A bit old-school, but hey, still useful!
☠️ Graveyards – Creepy? Maybe. But those headstones have some great names.
🍼 Baby name sites – Yes, they’re for new parents, but they work for writers too.
🎲 Random name generators – When all else fails, let chaos decide.
How Do You Name Your Characters?
Do your characters arrive fully formed, name and all? Or do you build their identity around the name? Do you struggle with naming, or does it come easily?
And most importantly—have you ever been halfway through a book and suddenly realised you’ve given your hardened assassin a name that sounds like an insurance salesman?
Let’s talk character names! Drop your best (or worst) in the comments.
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