How do you pick names? - Page 3

Mayzshon · 02-20-2011, 06:08 PM

It's weird, for me the name more often than not comes first, the character second. What I'm reading or watching at the time can influence. When I wrote Have Broom, Will Travel, I was reading a lot of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, particularly the books featuring Susan Sto Helit, so my lead character got named Susan.

For the book I'm working on now, GS Lyman: Accidental Master of the Unknown the name Lyman has been kicking around in my head for years, ever since Jim Davis used it in Garfield.
I had a crush on a girl named Hannah, so I created a character named Hannah. (Something I've done more than once) Later when I had gotten over my crush, I thought about changing the name. However, while she had grown till she no longer resembled her real-life namesake, she was inextricably entwined with the name Hannah.

Freeshadow · 02-21-2011, 07:52 PM

@Anke creation of arrows is as i found out (RPG authoring research) all but not simple since these differences: smithing of well-weighted arrowtips as a task on its own and fletching also befiedern, both crutial and can screw an arrow and thus the archers life too

the same reason for so much different profession in the smithing branch.
(P.S.: at all: if anyone feels we are derailing the topic too much with the influences of crafts on names please say so; then we'll fork it out - if no one else interested I'll transfer it to profile MSGs)

@Mayzshon: this is IMO usual
what I think as strange is why one likes some names as such w/o having any personal or emotional connotation to bearers of such one
altough I'never met one I like the fem. names Tara and Taru have no idea why.
always ask myself if it's something similar to liking (or having a weakness) for a specific type of physical appearance. (which I also admit to have - yes I'd be able to describe my personal Galatea pretty detailed, but been and have nevertheless fallen in lowe for women having absolutely nothing in common with her) - so it's not kind of an attraction exckluding fetish.

jumpingjack42 · 02-22-2011, 10:03 AM

Most of my characters start with just a first name, and they are common contemporary (ish) names - James, Reg, Jessica, Amy, Sarah, Joe etc. Then I try to come up with a last name that sounds a little obscure but still in keeping with their nationality.

I then google the whole name and see if there are many results. If I don't get much back then I've hit trumps with something moderately original.

Must admit, I'm not sure when I started the same practice for all my characters.

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02-20-2011, 06:08 PM	#31
Mayzshon Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 490480 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North Carolina Device: Kindle	It's weird, for me the name more often than not comes first, the character second. What I'm reading or watching at the time can influence. When I wrote Have Broom, Will Travel, I was reading a lot of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, particularly the books featuring Susan Sto Helit, so my lead character got named Susan. For the book I'm working on now, GS Lyman: Accidental Master of the Unknown the name Lyman has been kicking around in my head for years, ever since Jim Davis used it in Garfield. I had a crush on a girl named Hannah, so I created a character named Hannah. (Something I've done more than once) Later when I had gotten over my crush, I thought about changing the name. However, while she had grown till she no longer resembled her real-life namesake, she was inextricably entwined with the name Hannah.

02-21-2011, 07:52 PM	#32
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	@Anke creation of arrows is as i found out (RPG authoring research) all but not simple since these differences: smithing of well-weighted arrowtips as a task on its own and fletching also befiedern, both crutial and can screw an arrow and thus the archers life too the same reason for so much different profession in the smithing branch. (P.S.: at all: if anyone feels we are derailing the topic too much with the influences of crafts on names please say so; then we'll fork it out - if no one else interested I'll transfer it to profile MSGs) @Mayzshon: this is IMO usual what I think as strange is why one likes some names as such w/o having any personal or emotional connotation to bearers of such one altough I'never met one I like the fem. names Tara and Taru have no idea why. always ask myself if it's something similar to liking (or having a weakness) for a specific type of physical appearance. (which I also admit to have - yes I'd be able to describe my personal Galatea pretty detailed, but been and have nevertheless fallen in lowe for women having absolutely nothing in common with her) - so it's not kind of an attraction exckluding fetish.

02-22-2011, 10:03 AM	#33
jumpingjack42 DiSpLaCeD Posts: 98 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle 2	Most of my characters start with just a first name, and they are common contemporary (ish) names - James, Reg, Jessica, Amy, Sarah, Joe etc. Then I try to come up with a last name that sounds a little obscure but still in keeping with their nationality. I then google the whole name and see if there are many results. If I don't get much back then I've hit trumps with something moderately original. Must admit, I'm not sure when I started the same practice for all my characters.

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