Author: Lau-ra Anu  (signed)
Date posted: 4/22/2001 11:12:03 AM
Lau-ra Anu's Comments:

Very good! This should be helpful to everyone! Thank you a million thank yous!

Author: JediJen*
Date posted: 4/22/2001 2:44:28 PM
JediJen*'s Comments:

You've typed wonderful info for those who write FanFiction!

Author: Zara Macloed
Date posted: 4/24/2001 1:23:47 PM
Zara Macloed's Comments:

That was so helpful! I right all kinds of stories and that just helped me out so much! Thank you!

Author: Kenobi Maul  (signed)
Date posted: 4/25/2001 3:43:15 PM
Kenobi Maul's Comments:

This was well-written, helpful and informative. Just what anyone could wish for! :)

Author: Katharine
Date posted: 4/26/2001 11:41:18 AM
Katharine's Comments:

I'm takeing a bottony class this semester, and I've found the scientific latin spiecies names we lerned exalent for star wars people places and things. Don't Chytrid, Ulothrix, Kybus, and Chondrus, (A type of fungus, and three types of algea respectively) sound like great star wars names?

Author: Sreya
Date posted: 4/28/2001 12:11:20 PM
Sreya's Comments:

Another suggestion: just like you should keep paper and pen handy for those flashes of plot inspiration, also jot down interesting words or names that could be useful later. If there's a particular association you want to remember, jot that down too. Before you know it, you'll have a very useful list of names to turn to when starting a new character.

Author: Mouse
Date posted: 4/29/2001 8:46:15 AM
Mouse's Comments:

One more way to make up caracter names is to think of the way that species (considering it's non-human)speaks, and, preferably in private, just make the appropriate sounds till you get a name. I've named three Mon Cal and a Quarren this way.

Author: Jane Jinn
Date posted: 4/30/2001 4:39:16 AM
Jane Jinn's Comments:

I liked the tip about looking in histories and genealogies for unusual names. From the list of Eygptian pharaohs, I found the delightful sounding names Radjedef and Nektanebos.
I have also found names by looking at maps of, say, Aztec or Mayan cities. But my favourite source for names is my little Anglo-Saxon glossary. The words that I find there sound both foreign and yet somehow familiar, because they are the original forms of many of the words we use to-day. I named a planet Sceotan, after the word that evolved into "shoot", and gave one of my villains the last name of Betwioh, which later became "between".
Another thing I've done is to take parts of words, such as Fidence from "confidence" or Xacer from "exacerbating".

Author: solojones  (signed)
Date posted: 5/16/2001 5:37:16 PM
solojones's Comments:

I find great names in many places.

1. Old books- especially if you like unique names that still seem plausable
example: I have a character in a few of my fics name Emil. This was an old name I found in Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women' Series.

2. Dictionaries- yes, it may seem odd but you can find good words. Thesaurus' often turn up very lively ones too
example: a character in my upcoming fics has the last name Hale... a twist on Hail, that still sounds good.

3. Around the room- try looking at company names and titles on things. Brings much inspiration.
Example: I looked at my monitor and saw 'E-machines' and thus I have a minor character with the last name Emach.

4. Just plain crazy- sometimes, the odd does happen to create perfect SW names. Who knows, your favorite character could have been named this way!
Example: I was trying to think up words related with SW with my pal (who has only seen them once) on IM. She's like, "What's the name of that base in the snow?" and I'm like, "Echo Base". And she's like, "Scho" mis-typing 'Echo'. It sortof became a joke between us and she called me Sko for a bit as an inside joke. Then I was looking for a good name for a SW character, and instantly thought of Sko. But it was too plain, so I lengthened it to Skoden. Viola! My craziness has prevailed.

5. Foreign languages- this was mentioned, and has always been a favorite of mine.
Example: I have a bounty hunter in a story name Villtur Eldur, which is Icelandic for 'Wild Fire'.

You really can find good SW names. Here are some I have thought up of in the most odd ways:
Emil Deluide
Skoden Hale
Libe Emach
Johann Calheed
Judge Maxefin
Villtur Eldur

Ok, so I basically wrote a mini-article add on to this... oops!

If you need help with character names, the best way is to do it yourself, but I'd be happy to help (especially in hte foreign/odd language department).

e-mail Corelliarogue@cs.com

Thanks for the great work!
-solojones

Author: Carrie
Date posted: 5/18/2001 1:04:07 AM
Carrie's Comments:

Nice article. One thing I'd add: try and avoid ending girls' names in "a" - it's such a science fiction cliche!

Author: The Great Yoda  (signed)
Date posted: 6/10/2001 1:00:39 AM
The Great Yoda's Comments:

Named Yoda you did! Automatic ten! I mean good article.

Author: daniel
Date posted: 6/19/2001 11:33:00 AM
daniel's Comments:

IT IS VERY



GOOD

Author: craigrr  (signed)
Date posted: 7/30/2001 10:57:23 AM
craigrr's Comments:

Oddly enough, the phone book is an incredible resource for names. Since it's listed last name first, you can quickly skim the pages. I just jot down the names the sound the most interesting.

Author: Talon Squad Leader
Date posted: 7/31/2001 11:44:10 PM
Talon Squad Leader's Comments:

Oddly enough I tend to disagree with points in this article. Sure tweaking and altering names is good, but I have found that if a reader cannot pronounce a name, then they find the story that much *less* interesting. So please think of your audience when you write, it is one of the most single important rules I can stress. Please allow the reader to actually be able to attempt to pronounce the names, or else your book, story, poem will not be as successful as you had hoped.

Author: FernWithy
Date posted: 8/2/2001 9:15:26 AM
FernWithy's Comments:

Actually, TSL, that's not a point of disagreement -- I believe I said someplace that the name has to be pronounceable. And if you tweak a name to the point of silliness, of course it's not going to work.

Author: Grand_Admiral_Jaxx
Date posted: 8/2/2001 7:32:07 PM
Grand_Admiral_Jaxx's Comments:

I try looking at star charts. Some of the planets/moons/stars sound like names. That's how I came up with my character's name: Arcturus Lynx. And his girlfriend's name as well: Mazza Phobos (well, I came up with Mazza on my own, Phobos is a star somewhere around here)

Good article!

Author: me
Date posted: 8/18/2001 5:37:22 PM
me's Comments:

good good good
pay attention to the way a name looks too for example Qiiri makes a different impression than Keyre even though they sound the same

Author: Rori Firehawk  (signed)
Date posted: 1/19/2002 10:26:17 PM
Rori Firehawk's Comments:

I get names from a bunch of different places- I have a baby name book that I get ideas from, and I really like messing around with names... a buddy of mine came up with Rori, when I already had the last name, Firehawk- I tried to think of other names, but I eventually just started thinking of my pyrokinetic Sith/Dark Jedi chick as Rori! (Doesn't Rori create a much different impression from the more familiar spelling of Rory???)
I think one of the best names I ever came up with was Dasheri Nichos, for an Imperial Cadet chick... and then there's my Jedi dude Marc Zion. :-) Sooo, what impressions do you get from those names?? hehehe.

Author: Muurnk  (signed)
Date posted: 1/28/2002 9:40:10 AM
Muurnk's Comments:

Uhhh what twins??? I thought Guerri was the only one in JEDI APPRINTICE!

Author: Impyrial Scrybe  (signed)
Date posted: 2/12/2002 1:17:28 AM
Impyrial Scrybe's Comments:

I disagree with the points in this article about trendy names, for two reasons. First, when I was born, my parents gave me a horrible name! It was so awful that I will not even disclose it here! I have since gone through a lengthy court proceeding to have the problem repaired, and doing so has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Second, ample research has been done that supports the fact that people with trendy or popular names simply do better in school, and in life, for that matter. I read about this when I was in the process of having my name changed, and presented several citations and examples to the judge as evidence for my case. The judge agreed, and approved my petition for a complete name change (first, middle, _and_ last). Granted, while some negative associations may be unavoidable, as the author notes, people, and characters, with trendy names are simply more attractive and have an advantage in being successful. An alternate spelling can also a unique twist to an already attractive name.

Author: Muurnk  (signed)
Date posted: 2/13/2002 4:12:27 PM
Muurnk's Comments:

I do agree that planets sound like names because in a still-in-the-drawing-board series I'm writing, a Main Character is named Javal Mars, a newly-created Alien.

Author: FernWithy  (signed)
Date posted: 2/14/2002 7:17:33 PM
FernWithy's Comments:

"An alternate spelling can also a unique twist to an already attractive name."

No... it will just make people think the author is trying to be cute.

The point about trendy names doesn't apply as much in realistic fiction (or, obviously, real life) as it does in science fiction and fantasy, though I'd still hesitate. Very few things will bring someone out of a fantasy world more quickly than seeing today's "hot name" on a character who does not belong in this world.

Author: Impyrial Scrybe  (signed)
Date posted: 2/15/2002 6:50:45 PM
Impyrial Scrybe's Comments:

Not to be morbid, but I just thought I'd offer another place to get interesting character names, especially those old-fashioned, distinguished-sounding ones. My mother and I were discussing this character name thread today--on our way to tend my grandmother's grave! We then drove around the cemetery and collected a dozen or so interesting possibilities, mostly last names that can be used as single alien or first names.

Author: TellAndrade
Date posted: 10/22/2002 9:42:36 AM
TellAndrade's Comments:

Hey, this was a great article! For most of my stories,I try to think up a name that goes with the personality of the character i'm tring to portray. ( like for one of my villains, I took Malvolio from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, added an N and came up with the name Malvolion, which is a perfect sinister "bad guy" name), but if all else fails and I just cannot think up the perfect name,my last resort is browsing through baby name websites.( actually this works 9 out of 10 times in my experience)
There's my "2 cents" worth.(haha lol)
once again , great article!
Tell

Author: Atrox  (signed)
Date posted: 2/28/2003 6:09:52 PM
Atrox's Comments:

Good article.
One point, though: If you do go into foreign languages to build/acquire a name for your character, do try and alter it somewhat, especially when you publish in the Web. I remember with distaste two non-player characters from an RPG named Haesslich ("Ugly") and Niedertracht ("Malice")respectively. Trying to charm German-speaking PCs proved utterly impossible.
OTOH, I also point out that, depending on culture, these are valid names. "Virtue" is defined by culture, and malice might well be considered so by the Sith.
(I still wonder if Lucas didn't know exactly what a "maul" is, when he named that character)

Author: Jhalora
Date posted: 6/2/2003 11:37:54 AM
Jhalora's Comments:

Okay, I've never posted here before, but Sci-fi names are one of my strong points.

Open a text editor on your computer, and type a few random letters, not too many, like so:
Kjft.

Add in some vowels, random, in order, or backwards order.
Kajefit, Kujofit, Kejofat.

Then mix it up however you want:
Kaeljo Fant, Kerj Holant, Mikar Jhofalt.

You now have an unique sci-fi name.

Author: The Stormtrooper Shrink
Date posted: 2/11/2004 6:02:12 PM
The Stormtrooper Shrink's Comments:

Well, I agree. Completely. With everything that was said.
Just one very minor nitpick I had. You said "Leia" was a homophone of "Leah". I'm not so sure. Isn't Leah pronounced "Lee-ah"? and Leia pronounced "Lay-ah"? At least, so I've always imagined. But then, I had a huge fight with my friends...the ones who seem to disagree with everything I say about Star Wars...about Padme's name, when TPM came out, about whether it was pronounced "Padmee" or "Padmay". Anyway, in about a week I decided to get over it and let them live their confused lives in peace.
We're all entitled to our delusions. I'm sure that someday in the near future I'll wake up and realise it doesn't matter whether Leia is pronounced wrong. *Sigh* Oh well.
Anyway, it's pretty easy to make up your own names...if you're writing a fanfic, I think it's best to use a mix of way-out and conventional names.
Or maybe we should all stick to the original characters already named. Nah. I'm just tired today. Sorry.
Nice article. Live long. May the Force be with you.

Author: pokey1984
Date posted: 4/24/2004 12:03:35 AM
pokey1984's Comments:

I like this article and as an aspiring fanfic author I think mony of the tips will be very useful.

I did want to add that when reading a story (it doesn't matter if it is a fanfic or an original novel) I sometimes read an unusual or difficult to understand passage aloud. I find it very frustrating when I am reading aloud for clarity and have to stop every four words to sound out a name that contains a ridiculous number of consonants or six apostrophes.

Ch'k'tk'l may look interesting and you may think Qirolyne sounds fun but these types of names leave me stuttering and confused.

I can't help remembering a book I read to my younger brother when I was fourteen. He hated to read but liked to hear stories so I was reading him one of my favorite books, knowing he would love the story. Much to my disappointment (and embarrasment) the names and made-up words I had simply accepted when reading the story originaly proved nearly impossible for me to say aloud. My brother lost interest and the favorite story I had been trying to share lost much of it's magic.

I don't know if anyone else ever has this problem but it has almost reached pet peeve intensity for me.

Author: jalesta
Date posted: 10/13/2004 11:58:59 AM
jalesta's Comments:

I see everyone else has been offering helpful tidbits, and ever the copycat, I feel compelled to do the same. My tidbit is this: do a word find every now and then. The random rows of letters often combine in interesting ways. I've used it to come up with names of characters, cultures and planets. It's a nifty source.

Author: Dakarne
Date posted: 7/12/2005 8:29:00 AM
Dakarne's Comments:

Nice, I've had a few problems thinking of names in the past, my current main character is Dakarne (I got my Pseudonym from my Character's name, not the other way around)

It's also a good Idea to use the "Elven Name Generator" from Myth-Drannor.net, they have some names which would fit in perfectly with Star Wars

Author: Bri
Date posted: 12/7/2005 9:21:21 AM
Bri's Comments:

I loved this! This will help people so much! One of the things that I've found helpful is looking at maps. For a completely different story for English I used a combination of cities.

Sault Antanaru was the name.