Character Naming

As an Author naming your Character is an important step right after coming up with the plot. I am here to help you choose the right character name for you and your story.

Make sure your character name is Genre Appropriate. Make sure if it's a Historical Fiction novel or takes place in a real time period that the name was used then. Or if it's a fictionalized place then you can be as creative as you wish.

Just have fun with naming your character. It is after all your story.



Monday, March 19, 2012

Adalee / Adalea / Adaleigh

Meaning: (Ada: Pet form of Adele (Noble) and Adelaide (Noble One), Ada is also a Germanic cognate of the Biblical Adah (Adornment) and an Ibo name meaning “First Born Female”. Honorable, Ornament, Brightness. Lee / Lea / Leigh: Clearing, Meadow, Forest Clearing, Pastor, Healer.)

Origin: (English, Celtic, German, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (ADD-uh-lee, ADD-ah-lee, a-da-lee, AY-dah-LEE)

Gender: Female

I was watching a show about this family that had a bunch of kids and one of there kids had the name Adalee. I love the look of the name, the meaning is great and people that know my blog know I love names that have a regal meaning. The variant spellings are growing on me little by little, I added them for everyone else's benefit.

Echo

Meaning: (Reflected Sound, Echo, Re-Sound, Reverberating Sound, from the word for the repeating reflected sound, which derives from Greek ηχη (eche) "sound". In Greek mythology Echo was a nymph given a speech impediment by Hera, so that she could only repeat what others said. She fell in love with Narcissus, but her love was not returned, and she pined away until nothing remained of her except her voice.)

Origin: (Latin, Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (EK-oh, EH-k-oh, E-ko (English)

Gender: Female

The other day on Yahoo Answers a person was asking about a character name to go with there other character name Echo. I knew Echo was a mythology name and I never much cared for it but when I saw it on Yahoo Answers I actually began to like it, call me crazy. There are many ways an author can go with this name too.

Honey

Meaning: (Nectar, Sweet as Honey, Also a nickname for Honora. A term of endearment.)

Origin: (American, English, Old English, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (HUN-ee)

Gender: Female

I never thought this could be a name until years ago when I watched the movie Honey. The title character Honey was played by Jessica Alba. After that I thought that it would make a cool name but I don't know about in modern times. Also since I have been adding nature names lately I thought this would fit great. It's such a sweet name, LOL!

Sigourney

Meaning: (Triumphant Conqueror, The Conqueror)

Origin: (Scandinavian, French)

Pronunciation: (sig-gor-nee, suh-GOR-nee)

Gender: Female

I was watching a movie the other day with Sigourney Weaver and I wondered what her first name meant. Upon researching the name I realized she was born Susan Weaver and that Sigourney was her stage name she took on. The name Sigourney has a great meaning though. It might not be all that classically pretty but that might work for someones character. I think the name looks cool.

Felix

Meaning: (Happy, Lucky, Favored by Luck, The Lucky One, Fortunate, Prosperous, Successful, The name of three popes and numerous saints. Feliciano is a Spanish and Italian form. Linked in America with cartoon character Felix the Cat, and Felix Unger from "The Odd Couple". American physicist Felix Bloch. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages, though it has been more popular in continental Europe.)

Origin: (Latin, Spanish, German, Dutch, Biblical, Ancient Roman, English, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (FEE-liks, FEEL-iks, FE-liks (German), FAY-liks (Dutch), FEE-liks (English)

Gender: Male

I can't remember where I heard this the other day but I have been hearing this lately and I realized I keep putting off adding it to my blog so finally I am adding it. It has a great meaning and it has a cool look. It's short and easily pronounced. It has been around a long time so it can be in stories set in the past but has a futuristic look which I think makes this a super cool name.

Dimitri

Meaning: (Earth Mother, Earth Lover, Devoted to, dedicated to, or follower of Demeter “Mother Earth”, the Greek Goddess of Agriculture. Russian and French variant of Demetrius.)

Origin: (Russian, Greek, French)

Pronunciation: (Dem-MEE-TREE, De-MEE-tree, Di-MEE-tree, Dee-MEE-tree)

Gender: Male


While watching the movie Anastasia (1997) the other day I started liking the name Dimitri which in the film was the name of Anastasia's love interest. The meaning is great and it has an interesting look.

Anastasia / Anastacia

Meaning: (Resurrection, Breaker of Chains, Reborn, From the word "anastasis". Russian feminine form of the Greek male name Anastasios. Popular in Eastern Europe in honor of a fourth-century saint who was martyred at Sirmium in Dalmatia. Also used occasionally in England in the Middle Ages and as late as the 17th century. Anastasia Romanova, Grand Duchess of Russia and the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last Russian czar. Anastasia and her family were murdered by the Bolshevik secret police in 1918, though rumors of her escape have persisted. A 1956 film and a 1997 animated film, were based (loosely) on the circumstances of her family's death and the possibility of Anastasia's survival.)

Origin: (Greek, Russian, English, Spanish)

Pronunciation: (ahn-a-STAH-shah, ahn-a-STAY-zhah, ah-nah-stah-SEE-yah (Russian), a-nə-STAY-zhə (English), a-nə-STAS-yə (English), ah-nahs-TAH-syah (Spanish)

Gender: Female

I have used Anastasia as a character name before. I love the meaning and though it is a long name it is pretty with plenty of nickname options. I was watching the Disney movie Anastasia (1997) the other day and realized I hadn't put this name on my blog yet. It is a great name. The history of those named Anastasia is interesting as well.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Belladonna

Meaning: (Beautiful Woman, Beautiful Lady, Atropa belladonna or Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as Belladonna, Devil's Berries, Death Cherries or Deadly Nightshade, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing tropane alkaloids. These toxins include scopolamine and hyoscyamine which cause a bizarre delirium and hallucinations, and are also used as pharmaceutical anticholinergics. The drug atropine is derived from the plant. It has a long history of use as a medicine, cosmetic, and poison. Before the Middle Ages, it was used as an anesthetic for surgery; the ancient Romans used it as a poison (the wife of Emperor Augustus and the wife of Claudius both used it to murder contemporaries); and predating this, it was used to make poison tipped arrows. The genus name "atropa" comes from Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology, and the name "bella donna" is derived from Italian and means "beautiful woman".)

Origin: (Italian)

Pronunciation: (bell-ah-DON-ah)

Gender: Female

I love nature names and have been adding them lately but this is both a beautiful and deadly name. I don't add too many names that can be used for a villian character so I thought I would add this one. It has a beautiful meaning but the actual plant is toxic. So maybe a beautiful character can also be toxic to those around her, whether accidental or on purpose that's up to the author. Seperate Bella and Donna are pretty together they look even better.

Blossom

Meaning: (Lovely, Flower Like, Blossom, Bloom, A Cluster of Flowers, To Thrive, Flourish, Generic flower name first used in the 19th century as an affectionate pet name for a young girl.)

Origin: (Old English, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (BLAH-sum, BLAUS-uhm)

Gender: Female

Blossom is such a very pretty ultra feminine name. I don't know if it would fit in a lot of different novel genres but I think it might fit in a few. It might also be better as a characters middle name or maybe used as an affectionate nickname by a characters parents. I love the meaning and recently I have been posting nature names and this is an obvious one.

Dune

Meaning: (A hill or ridge of wind-blown sand, Brown-Skinned Soldier, Brown Warrior, Brown Head.)

Origin: (Celtic, Scottish, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (DUWN)

Gender: Male

I have always thought this would make a cool name. I love nature names and this is one of my favorites for males. Dunes in a dessert are raw but pretty so this would be a good name for a male character who is rough around the edges but strong, determined and handsome.

Fern

Meaning: (Fern Plant, A name from nature: green shade-loving plant. Short form of Fernanda. Used by E.B. White in "Charlotte's Web" as the name of the little girl who loved Wilbur the pig. In the language of flowers, ferns signify magic, fascination, and sincerity. It has been used as a given name since the late 19th century.)

Origin: (Old English, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (FERN, FURN)

Gender: Female

I was thinking of nature names the other day and decided to add this name to the blog. This name isn't conventionally pretty but when I hear it I think of the movie I loved when I was a kid Fern Gully. Ferns are pretty and I love there bright greenness and freshness.

Dade

Meaning: (Rich, Wealthy, Dark One, Variant of Dadrian (pronounced DAY-dree-en. It is of American origin. A contemporary rhyming variant on Adrian.), This interesting surname is of Irish origin, and is an Anglicized form of "MacDaibheid", which means Son of David", derived from the Hebrew male given name David, "beloved". The given name has always been popular among the Jewish people, in honour of the biblical king of this name, the greatest of the early kings of Israel. The popularity of the name was increased in Britain, firstly, because it was the name of the patron saint of Wales, and secondly, because it was borne by two kings of Scotland, King David 1 (1124 - 1153) and King David 11 (1329 - 1371). The name was probably introduced into Ireland from Britain. The first recording of David as a surname was of one Robert David in the Hundred Rolls of Leicestershire in 1278. Other Irish forms of the name include: (Mac) David, (Mac) Deuitt, (Mac) Davitt and Taaffe. The christening was recorded in London of John, son of William and Eleanor Dade, on February 21st 1741 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alys Dad (marriage to Thomas Awnsell), which was dated May 4th 1544, in St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Good King Hal", 1509 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Dade#ixzz1oNkBBYex)

Origin: (Greek, Irish, German)

Pronunciation: (DAYD, DEYD)

Gender: Male

I was watching the 1995 movie Hackers the other day. It was the movie with Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller. Jonny Lee Miller played a hacker named Dade. I like the name. When I hear Dade I also think of Miami-Dade County in Florida. Dade is a good name with a great meaning and it's easily pronounceable. It's a name I don't hear very much which is good in my opinion. I have never read this name in a novel before.

Lochlyn

Meaning: (Lake, Fjord, Land of Lakes, Derived from the Gaelic laochail (war-like), which is from the root laoch (war, strife). Alternatively, it may be from the Irish Lochlainn (Lakeland, Fiordland), a name that originated from the name the Irish used for the native home of the Norse invaders.)

Origin: (Scottish, Celtic, Gaelic, Irish)

Pronunciation: (LOCK-lin, lawk-lin, LOCH-lan)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I have never been a fan of this name but it has begun to grow on me a bit. Of all the spellings of this name Lochlyn is my favorite. The meaning is nice and the pronunciation is easy enough. I saw this on someones blog once but I can't remember if I commented and if I did I can't remember if I liked or disliked the name. Now I am liking this name more and more every time I see, hear, and say it.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Satie

Meaning: (Faithful, Form of Sati (True, Existent, Good, Faithful, Awareness of one’s thoughts, actions or motivations.)

Origin: (Sanskrit)

Pronunciation: (SAETiy, sah-TEE)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I have liked this name for a while. It is originally a surname but when I saw it I thought how cool would that name be as a first name. It has a different look which I like. I also love the pronunciation. I first heard the name when watching an episode of Star Trek. Here is the quote from Captain Jean-Luc Picard.... "You know, there are some words I've known since I was a schoolboy: ' With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.' Those words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie as wisdom and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on we're all damaged. I fear that today..." That quote stayed with me as it was so similar to a novel I am planning on writing which deals with people being censored and denied certain human rights and freedoms.

Divya

Meaning: (The Devine, Devine Brilliance, Devine Lustre, Heavenly)

Origin: (Indian, Sanskrit, Hindu)

Pronunciation: (Div-ee-uh, Div-yuh, DIV-ya, d ee v y uh, d ih v- y ah)

Gender: Female

I hit the wrong channel the other day and saw a few minutes of the show Royal Pains and I heard the one Indian character ladies name. Her name was Divya and I really liked the sound of it. Upon looking it up I instantly loved the meanings as well. It's a beautiful name. I recently saw people post about the name Devine and forgive me it sounds like an exotic dancers name. Divya on the other hand has the meaning Devine but has a more exotic look and sound and is much prettier.

Orianthi

Meaning: (Beautiful Flower, My Light)

Origin: (Greek, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (or-ee-on-th-ee, ore-ee-ANN-thee)

Gender: Female

There is a singer with this name and I at first thought that's a weird name. I partially thought that as I had not a clue as to how to say it or what it meant. I looked it up and thought the meaning was beautiful and the pronunciations are easy enough. I might not ever use it as a character name but it might work for someone but the only downer is the pronunciation. People might not know how to say it unless you show the pronunciation and that's not always doable in a story and it may appear amateur if you do.

I try to have the most accurate Meanings, Origin and Pronunciations for the names on this blog. It is best though to do research into the names you decide to use for your characters as there can be errors on my blog. Or meanings, origins, and pronunciations I have not seen thus not been able to add to this blog.





Try some of the leading Baby Name Sites and Baby Name or Character Naming books as well.


The baby name sites below are where I collect many of the Names, Origins, and Pronunciations I use on this blog.

Baby Names Sites:

http://www.thinkbabynames.com
http://www.babynamewizard.com
http://www.behindthename.com
http://www.babynamespedia.com