5 Ways to Find The Perfect Names for a Fantasy Story
Names matter. Struggling to find the right names can be a major roadblock. Here are some strategies I've used when I'm feeling especially stumped.
When writing fantasy worlds with sprawling cities populated by unique characters, fantastical concepts, and dangerous creatures, there’s an obstacle that often gets in the way. Naming it all.
Finding the right names can be a challenge, particularly for major characters or story elements. There are literally endless possibilities, but that makes choosing the right names even harder!
Sometimes a name just springs to mind for a character or title. However, in many cases that’s just not the case. To make matters worse, it can be hard to flesh out certain story elements without a having a name.
Here are some tips that helped me personally bypass this “nameless” situation.
1. Think About What Kind Of Sounds You Want
When I try to think of a name, whether it be for a character, country, or creature, I try to think of what kind of sound I want it to have. Should it sound powerful, whimsical, affluent, or creepy? Are there certain letters or sounds that would work best? Having at least a vague idea of what kind of sound would fit is a great place to start.
Considering any possible real-world influences can be a good jumping off point. Perhaps a character is from a country inspired by Spain. Then looking at Spanish names can spark ideas that could fit. These names can then be altered or combined with another sound to become something new for that character.
2. Break Down Syllables
Once I have an idea of how I want the name to sound, I like to compile a list of names and words that match a certain feeling or sound. Once I have my list, I break down all those words and names to syllables. I then write these syllables as a new list.
Now it’s time to experiment! I try mixing and matching syllables, and move the order around. If I like one combo, but it doesn’t quite work, I play around with the letters, or maybe I’ll change the ending. If I’m still not satisfied, I go back to the drawing board.
While this might not seem very efficient, it does help me get my mind going and think about what direction I want for whatever I am trying to name.
3. Take Inspiration from Real World Names
When writing something set in the real world, it’s not only possible but advised to draw from the deep well of existing names. While selecting the right names might still be a bit tricky, it’s far easier than coming up with entirely invented names.
On the other hand, a story set in a medieval fantasy inspired world featuring a sorcerer named Ricky might be a bit jarring for some readers (unless it’s a comedy).
However, that’s not to say fantasy writers can’t also look at real names. This is where things can get pretty subjective, because some real names might work in one person’s fantasy world, but not another’s (Sorry, but Kyle probably isn’t a name I’d find in mine).
Still, some names that are more antiquated or unique might actually find themselves more at home there. For example, the main character of my story is Dayne and it feels, at least in my opinion, perfectly natural in a story inspired by the early 20th century.
If I decide I’d like a character to have a more fantastical name, then I use a similar approach to the above point. I take real-world names that evoke a certain aspect that works with that character and then try to alter them to fit that character.
For example, a key character in my story has the name Selyr, which I came up with through using this method. Magic is a core aspect to her character. Naturally, I wanted her name to evoke this.
When thinking of real names that could fit, I found myself drawn to the following ones:
Celene
Serena
Celeste
Then when considering words that evoked this sense, I thought of:
Serene
Ethereal
Effervescent
Iridescent
So I played with certain combinations. I liked the “Se” sound of the listed names and the “r” sound from the listed words. Eventually I settled on the name “Celere.” However, while I liked the spoken name, I wasn’t quite happy with it on paper. So I made some tweaks, changing the “C” to an “S” and the way the “ere” was written to “yr” and finally got Selyr as the final name.
4. Use Working Names Until You Figure it Out
If I’m really struggling with finding names and want to just dig into a story, working names are a life saver. Sometimes they even stick, and I can’t imagine using another name. Other times, placeholder names buy the time to work on the story, flesh out the characters and use the information developed to find a name that really works.
If I’m so stuck that even coming up with a working name is a challenge, then I’ll use a random name. I’ll call my sorcerer Ricky or my main character Kyle. At least it’s something to laugh about when looking back at older drafts!
What really matters is that names or lack there of don’t halt progress.
5. Use Certain Words for Organizations or Places
Not every made-up name needs to come from scratch. For example, names such as Winterfell or The Night’s Watch rely on putting terms together to evoke a sense of place or purpose.
This is also a good idea to prevent bogging down the reader with too many new terms and fantasy sounds to keep up with. Story elements, such as an order of knights, a reptilian creature, or a city district might work better with this type of name.
This can still be tricky, especially after fabricating so many fantastical names, but the process is similar. How should the name sound? If it’s a place, what kind of atmosphere does it have? If it’s an organization, what is its purpose or reputation?
Once I answer these questions, then I look for the right words. If there’s any symbolism or particular motifs related to the place or organization, then that’s even better! I like to play around with different variations of the same word, maybe something more antiquated, maybe a descriptor, such as raven in place of black. There are a plethora of possibilities!