Dude, I have a fellow killed off-screen in my weird west story. Totally going to use your name now :) If you're OK with being a low-down dirty dog, I mean. Otherwise I'll wait until I have a good guy that I need to kill off!
I use the Beyond the Name website and alter the spelling to make it easier to pronounce, usually. *pauses* Wow, Sam, you are so connected to your community. I'm so disconnected at times that it's like i was never there. 🤔 Anyway, hang in there. 👍
Beyond the name is great! Something else I've done is go for walks through graveyards, and check out the headstones. Works really well for walks (they often have very well-maintained roads and paths!) and for finding unique and interesting period-appropriate names.
I also take names from the Bible. That's how I got the Ranger's name for my Wyrd West short (in a way you were white shirted), and one of the rogue wielders in my Galactic Empire novella.
I've used a few different processes for character names. Often, they just come to me. I've also used the list of county names in the state where the story is set for inspiration. A novel set in Texas, well, Texas has 259 counties, mostly usable for first and last names (Victoria Burnet, Clay Garza, Sabine, Leon, Jasper, etc.). I've done this with North Carolina and Missouri-based stories as well. It gives the names a feel that they could be local. Of course, Google names and search on social media to make sure there isn't some celebrity with the same name or someone that could be mistaken for your serial killer or whatever. My most recent novel has some apocalyptic prophecy included, so I searched for Hebrew names and their meanings, then used variations of those names for characters who fit that original meaning (for example, Mara, which means 'bitter'). And yeah, I've used baby name websites to find popular names for the ages of my characters. If a character was born in 1950 or 1999, what were the top 100 baby names in that year?
I can't wait to hear about 'Chewie's' adventures in an upcoming Sam Robb story ;)
Dude, I have a fellow killed off-screen in my weird west story. Totally going to use your name now :) If you're OK with being a low-down dirty dog, I mean. Otherwise I'll wait until I have a good guy that I need to kill off!
I'm your dirty dog brother... kill me as you see fit ;)
I use the Beyond the Name website and alter the spelling to make it easier to pronounce, usually. *pauses* Wow, Sam, you are so connected to your community. I'm so disconnected at times that it's like i was never there. 🤔 Anyway, hang in there. 👍
Beyond the name is great! Something else I've done is go for walks through graveyards, and check out the headstones. Works really well for walks (they often have very well-maintained roads and paths!) and for finding unique and interesting period-appropriate names.
I also take names from the Bible. That's how I got the Ranger's name for my Wyrd West short (in a way you were white shirted), and one of the rogue wielders in my Galactic Empire novella.
I've used a few different processes for character names. Often, they just come to me. I've also used the list of county names in the state where the story is set for inspiration. A novel set in Texas, well, Texas has 259 counties, mostly usable for first and last names (Victoria Burnet, Clay Garza, Sabine, Leon, Jasper, etc.). I've done this with North Carolina and Missouri-based stories as well. It gives the names a feel that they could be local. Of course, Google names and search on social media to make sure there isn't some celebrity with the same name or someone that could be mistaken for your serial killer or whatever. My most recent novel has some apocalyptic prophecy included, so I searched for Hebrew names and their meanings, then used variations of those names for characters who fit that original meaning (for example, Mara, which means 'bitter'). And yeah, I've used baby name websites to find popular names for the ages of my characters. If a character was born in 1950 or 1999, what were the top 100 baby names in that year?
Oooooh! The county names trick is interesting. I'll have to remember that one!