Frodo, Daenerys, Kaladin, FitzChivalry, Anakin, Feyre. Just a few examples of some great fantasy names from some great fantasy stories.
But if you're a writer, I'm sure you know it's not always easy to come up with that great name that not only perfectly fits your character and sounds amazing, but that people can also actually pronounce.
I know I sometimes am completely immersed in writing, words just flowing out of my head, and then I come across a new character and I have to stop and stare off into space to think about what on earth to name them.
If that feeling is all too familiar to you, here are some tips to help you name your fantasy character.
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP
Consider the time/setting of your story
None of these tips are hard rules, so you're of course always free to name your character anything you want, but for most fantasy readers, it will look rather strange if you name your protagonist, the hero in an epic fantasy full of magic and worlds torn by war, Bob.
Therefore, it's always good to be mindful of the time and setting of your story. Does your novel take place in modern times and in our own world? Then it would make sense to the readers to use modern names. Take a look at Harry Potter, for example. It's set in modern England, so the main character has a perfectly modern English name.
If you're looking for common names used in our world, there's an abundance to chose from. Simply take a look around in your own community, or read a few baby names books.
Is your novel set in a world of swords and sorcery, of royals and intrigue, then perhaps it is better to chose a name that sounds a bit more 'fantasy-ish'. However, like I mentioned above, it can be difficult to come up with completely new names. So, have a look at the rest of these tips to see if anything can help you!
Names that have meaning
Is your main character the shining hero that will eventually end all conflict and bring about peace? Or perhaps the evil villain who wants to destroy everything? Are they someone willing to do anything to find love? Or perhaps they're just a lazy bum who's forced into adventure against their will.
In any of these cases, you might want a name that reflects their character and attitude.
There are several ways to go about this:
Use the literal word as a name. One great example of using this technique is, of course, Robin Hobb. Her characters have names like Chivalry, Shrewd, and Regal, making it very clear what kind of people they are and what they stand for.
Use a translation of the word in any other language. It's good to know what your character stands for, but you do not always want to give so much about them away just by mentioning their names. Or perhaps you want their names to mean something, but you also want them to sound a little more fantasy, a little more exotic. In this case, it might help to simply open google translate, type in the word best describing your character, and then toggle between all kinds of different languages. You'll often find something that both looks and sounds great.
Mash up several words that describe your character, in both your own or another language, and mix them together to create a wonderful new name. For example, if I was writing a character that is both kind and stubborn, I could name him Kinborn.
Remember that borrowing from other languages doesn't have to be limited to existing, human languages. Try taking a look at Elvish, or Dothtraki, or a dead language like ancient Greek.
Borrow from ancient mythology and old cultures
Nothing speaks to the imagination like myths, ancient cultures, and old fairy tales. I'm a complete sucker for them myself.
Norse mythology, for example, doesn't only have great names, but using them can also help you set the tone for your story. People easily recognize them and they know from the start what they're getting into.
If you're not writing about Norse mythology or ancient Greece, but you still want to use these names, don't worry. Try the mash-up technique from before. Combine two names you like, or chop up three and mix them together to create something new that will fit into the fantasy world you've made.
Personally, I like the names Loki and Heimdall, for example. A new name born from these two could be Lodall. Now, doesn't that sound like it would fit right into a fantasy book?
Create your own system with which to name your characters
Just like here on earth, fantasy books have their own cultures, their own religions, and their own rules for everything. Including names.
Just think about how different many Russian names sound from Dutch names, or Japanese names, for example.
Is your fantasy world divided up into continents, countries that are far apart, or into very different religious groups, then all of those separate continents or groups likely have a different language and a different way to pronounce words. As well as a specific way to name their children. Perhaps one continent uses many vowels and long names. Another one might often use an apostrophe or dashes in names. Another one might end most names in 'a', or 'en'.
Creating these kinds of rules in your books can especially help when you're writing long series with multiple characters from all over that world. As the reader gets more and more involved in the universe you've created, it will help them recognize where your characters come from and what their cultural or religious background is.
Most importantly: Choose something you like
In the end, choosing a name for your character is similar to choosing a name for your baby. You want to give them a name that fits them well, that will help shape them, that they will love. Which is why most of the time you choose something you love.
But be careful, the other day I was working on a new character that I only wanted to give a small role, but then I gave him a name I completely fell in love with, and I ended up making his role three times as big! (Don't worry, though, he's a great character that contributes to the plot, so it's completely fine.)
I hope any of these tips helped you come up with some amazing fantasy names. If they did, let me know in the comments! I love seeing fantastical and inventive names!
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