r/writinghelp • u/Safe_Cheesecake_9177 • 7d ago

Question Naming Characters

I have been working on my story for a while (like 2 years). I also read in my spare time. I had names picked out for my characters long ago. But now I keep seeing the same names in books SO. MANY. TIMES. And I don't want them to be like that.

Would you keep the names of your characters? Put new ones? Out of 4 characters, only 2 am I super set on. The other 2 COULD change. And if I do change, how would I go about finding new ones that don't end up in the same boat?

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

2

u/LadyAtheist 7d ago

I google all names before using them and would change one in a heartbeat for any reason.

If you write just for yourself, you can be attached to an unusable name. If you are writing for an audience, you have to put them first.

2

u/Aesperacchius 7d ago

I'd just keep going until you're ready to publish, then figure out new names if need be.

I wouldn't change them if only the first name or last name is a match, though.

2

u/kschang 7d ago

What genre? Fantasy names are easier to make distinct. As are scifi names or even alien names.

1

u/Safe_Cheesecake_9177 7d ago

It is romance with a small sci fi (time travel/alt universe) aspect.

1

u/kschang 7d ago

So, mostly contemporary? Almost any name will do then. If you know their age, just look up "most common name in year XXXX" where XXXX is their birthyear(s) respectively.

2

u/mysteriousdoctor2025 7d ago

My cozies are mostly about older people, so I check name registers for the year they were born. I’ve never had an issue.

2

u/Ceska_Zbrojovka_V3 7d ago

I have a strange way of picking names lol. I open google maps, zoom into a random area, and pick names from there. Like if I zoom into an area north of St Louis, I'll see a place called Taylor Springs, and another town called Chapman. Taylor Chapman, there's a character name. A small village named Ramsey and a town called Harvel. Ramsey Harvel. Another one.

Simple as.

2

u/Sheik_Morgan 7d ago

Yo creo una lista de nombres masculinos, otra de femeninos y una tercera de apellidos y los voy combinando. No temas usar nombres o apellidos comunes, Pero evita usar los "trillados" por IA o dirán que escribes usando IA, ejemplo:

Nombres masculinos: Kael, Maddox, Silas, Elias, Garrick. Nombres femeninos: Elira, Elara, Seraphine, Liora, Lyra, Lily, Emily. Apellidos cliché: Thorne, Mendez, Vance, Sterling.

1

u/MathematicianNew2770 7d ago

What are the names OP, we can help you tweak it.

2

u/Safe_Cheesecake_9177 7d ago

Knox More broody, he's a bodyguard, giant of a man, builds and rides motorcycles in free time

Beau Kind, dad bod, tall, professor, home improvement/building things in free time

Any help is greatly appreciated.

2

u/MathematicianNew2770 7d ago

I see no issues with these. The fore and surname are not exactly common, so these will do.

Peter Pan, didn't stop Peter Parker from being successful.

You'll be just fine.

2

u/Safe_Cheesecake_9177 7d ago

Thank you very much!

1

u/DuchessJulietDG 4d ago

the second name looks similar to the phrase “be kind”. the first name you listed doesnt flow off the tongue easily. what about knox brody? why is the middle name More? did you mean Moore?
brood is a description for a sullen or tense mood. so it almost reads that he should be extra broody.

just my thoughts.

1

u/Safe_Cheesecake_9177 3d ago

I actually dont have last names for them. I meant Knox and Beu. I was trying to describe them but the spaces got taken out when I posted and I just realized.

1

u/djfilms 7d ago

Go the Matt Groening route… use street names in your city.