My Character Names are set in Stone

I always liken finding the right character name to buying a house or falling in love — you know it when you see it.  They can be fun, serious, or have a deliciously deep meaning.  Now...deep meaning does not equal Mr. Pennywise the spendthrift.  Ms. Vixen the town tramp.  Mr. Hunter the pursuer.  Thanks, but no thanks.  I’m not a fan of a names that either align or are the exact opposite of a characters personality in a silly, literal manner.  A good character name has to feel right and fit the story it’s in.  Think that comfortable pair of jeans that you love to slip into. 

Timing also plays a huge role.  Nothing ruins the moment more than some off the wall character name that suddenly appears out of nowhere.  It’s like running into a brick wall.

Side note:  I use Brick Wall (or his sister Brooke for a female)

as temporary character names if I haven’t settled on one yet. It makes them easy to 'Find & Replace' when I ultimately discover their true identity.

Let’s have a quick example, shall we?

“Trying to be equally quiet as fast, I maneuvered through the cluttered basement; my arms outstretched.  The batteries in my flashlight were dying and its beam fading.  A child’s nightlight would have provided more illumination. 

As my head snapped back towards the sound of the basement door opening behind me, I collided into a damp stack of cardboard boxes equally as tall as myself.  I lost my grip on the flashlight as I attempted to shield my face from the assortment of objects that tumbled out.  It fell to the floor and rolled in a circle as if I were playing spin the bottle with it.  Its last glimmer of light coming to rest on a bloodied face before going dark.  Seeing it for no more than what amounted to the flash of a photograph, a feeling of dread washed over me.  It was Eoghan!”

Who???

I stop reading.  I stare.  E-O-Ghan?  Eog-han?  Owen (silent “e” and “g”)?

Meanwhile, the feeling of being caught up in the story is suddenly washed away.  In these times of Facebook, Twitter, ten-thousand channels (and still nothing on) you have just given your reader an opportunity to put the book down.  The middle of a tense scene is no place to introduce an out of the norm character name.  If we had meet Eoghan before, were given the pronunciation, and now he’s occupying his time on the basement floor…fine.  I’m still not a fan of getting fancy with names, but at least it isn’t entirely brand new.

For sci-fi and alternate universe I expect (happily) to encounter some...well…out of this world names or ones it may take me a minute understand.  It’s part of being on a journey to the unknown.  Not every world uses English.  All personal taste, but I like my character names a bit more old fashioned.

The Social Security Administration has a section of their website dedicated to the top 200 male and female names from each decade going back to the 1880s.

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/

Its simple layout and easy navigation (imagine that for a government site!) can be useful for a quick hit of inspiration.

I spend a lot of time in the cemetery snapping photographs of headstones to find my character names.  Yes, I could do an internet search as suggested above, but the mystery writer in me enjoys the atmosphere.  Below are some shots of headstones and the thoughts/feelings they invoke to ME — not their proper family surname meanings.  

I'd be curious as to the types of first impressions the names make on you.  Let me know in the comments section.

Blackwelder - there's one!

I don't get a good guy/bad guy vibe.  I could use it either way.

Definitely a strong character, though.

Someone socially important or plot important.

Berryhill.

Simple.  Plain.

A spinster school teacher?

Middle class family name?

Lookabill.

Not one I'd personally use.

Something about this name just doesn't flow with me.

I snapped this to remind myself to try and venture into names I wouldn't normally use.

Abernethy.

Deeply religious.  Prude.

Barnhardt - this got me a twofer!

Zooming in...

Behind Barnhardt is Irwin.

And so Irwin Barnhardt was born.

Names I will not use.  Ever.

Swindells.

And then make them an embezzler or crook.

Do not do this.  I beg you.

See earlier note on Pennywise, Vixen, and Hunter.

I do, however, always pick one random name for fun.  I pseudo hide it though.  In my novel The Stockings Were Hung there is a character named Minnie Cooper (I drive a Mini).  

If you’re paying attention, you can spot it.  But not a single time in the novel do I use her first and last name together.  It’s Ms. Minnie (a southern greeting), Ms. Cooper, or Minnie.  There’s another character like that in the follow up Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.

Where do you find your names or inspiration for them?  Let me know in the comments section.