Why names matter

A work of fiction can be enriched and enlivened by the use of unusual and interesting character names. Meanings behind names that are symbolic of a character’s situation or personality can add depth to the text. Names that are rarely used in literature, film and other media can help to make your work stand out by making it seem fresh, original and memorable. Great character names often possess some of these features: originality, rarity, beauty, poetry, meaning, symbolism, humour, or downright weirdness.

When a celebrity’s first name is sufficient for everyone to know who it is, that’s the sign of an unusual name. Ringo doesn’t need ‘Starr’. Elvis didn’t need ‘Presley’. If you create a fictional character so successful that its first name has the same effect, then you know you’ve done well.

There are many wonderful names that are familiar to us from the works of Shakespeare yet which rarely see the light of day in the modern world. There are historic people – from the Romans to the Victorians – whose names trip off the tongue in a delightful way when rediscovered. There are Biblical names that are wonderfully evocative and poetic. Additionally, there is a new category of unusual names spawned by celebrities who seem to have a knack for finding (or coining) bizarre and interesting names for their children.

Of course, you may want to give your character a common or plain name, and there may be literary justifications for that. But if you want your literary creation to have a distinct and memorable identity, use this site to find fresh and interesting names that hint at the personality traits of each character.