The Naming Guidebook

[Smexi Chex Mix]

I've recently decided to go out and research for a series I'd like to write, and this will help me dramatically! Thank you.

Having an idea that has a broad spectrum of outcomes, journeys, and characters, it's sometimes tough to pinpoint the little things that can make or break a story, like names.

I'll be using characters from around the globe, and I want their names to be fitting, but not ridiculous, and extremely literal to their personalities, plus it'll help me decide which characters can be more important to the storyline, and ones that can be minor, or that I could do without.

Thank you!

[Apple OMFG]

This is helpful. I would really like to be an author someday and of course as an aspiring author, it did. Thanks!

[Panumbra]

Huzzah, helpful thread is helpful!

[I_Write_Ivre]

I have a world where there are three islands, each with it's own culture. Should each have it's own different kinds of names (such as Korean-like, Japanese-like, and Indian-like), or make them all random or based on one culture?

[MysteriaBunnie]

Hello everyone! I was hoping someone could help me with a title for this roleplay I'll be starting (on this site; it's going through some planning, however). Actually, it could very well become a novel in the future, but I'm getting ahead of myself. biggrin


So, the roleplaying plot goes down like this: It's set in the world of fairytales and nursery ryhmes (sp?) and such. Fairytale characters (such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Goldie Locks, Hansel and Gretel, etc.) have all grown up. I've changed the stories of the characters around just a little to fit the story more - for example, instead of the Big Bad Wolf about to eat the grandmother but instead is stopped and killed by the Hunter, and the grandmother is saved and happy ending blah blah blah, the Hunter is too late and the Grandmother is eaten, and the Big Bad Wolf is killed by the Hunter before Red's eyes. See, it's twisted around like that.


And all of the villians centered around in the forest in those fairytales - The Big Bad Wolf's son, who follows in his fathers footsteps, the Witch from Hansel and Gretel, the Three Bears from Goldie Locks, etc. - are in this big group and such, and hide out in the forest. Little Red, Goldie Locks and whoever else are set out on getting revenge on all of them, and form somewhat of a 'group' to kill all of them and get revenge.


That was way more information then I needed to give you, but whatever. See, the problem I'm having trouble with is a name. I don't want it to be something like 'The Forest' or 'The Dark Forest' or something cheesy like that, I want it to be unique and clever-sounding, especially since this is my first RP I'll be starting.


Thank you in advance to those who help me, I'd really appreciate some help. xoxo

[Jadefleck]

I get lots of the inspiration for my characters' names from nature, company names, and butterflies! Yes, butterflies. I like using scientific names of animals(mostly butterflies) for places. Like a school in a roleplay I started. I named it Danaus Academy. Danaus is part of the scientific name for the Monarch Butterfly.

[foxydrea]

Ive always had more trouble with describing things...elaborating is my downfall.

[LoperDoper]

Does anyone know of a better site to this http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager ?
I want the ability to look how popular it was through time, preferably stretching back about a hundred years longer.

I'm looking for a character name for 100 years in the future, and I want to be able to spot name peaks and trends in order to work out a realistic name for a character in 2111.