Screenwriting : Choosing names for your characters by Mariannjely Marval

A lot depends. In one script, for thematic reasons, I wanted the names of characters to connect to English folklore. Some of the names I ended up using are probably so obscure even to us Britons that I doubt people would have realised the connection, but I liked the idea of it as a touch.

But other times, I just pick names because I think they sound cool.

Sometimes I pick character names based on personality.

Sometimes based on their role in the script. Ex: Dakota means "friend/ally." I would name the friend (or ally) of the main character Dakota.

Just yesterday I legit Googled, "Stupid names for boys." It worked; I found the perfect ridiculous name for a minor character. I'd say what it is, but my luck, someone on this platform would have it or their child would, lol. I hope not? Yikes! I usually know right away what a main character's name will be, but sometimes I peruse baby name lists and even, cough, phone books until I find the perfect one.

John Austin love that! Yes, it was crazy for me to think I just pick names for fun most of the times, and the actors are analyzing these random names as part of their preparation work!

Maurice Vaughan cool! So you do check the meaning of the names when selecting one!

Marty Howe that is a fun exercise! love the tip!

Andrea Zastrow that's hilarious! google is a good friend haha, and the phone books is a cool idea

Derek Reid subconscious :)

Naming characters to be descriptive of their personalities is the hallmark of Restoration Era comedy and Commedia Dell'arte. It is a good idea to use today, if one can be subtle enough.

There really are so many ways to choose our character's names. For me, how the names sound is very important. It may seem weird, but it needs to have a nice ring to it.

I use any/all sources; most popular names in my character's birth year, character descriptive names like Max Payne, Trudy Lite, Job Mann. Sometimes I lift names right here from S32 Forum participants - wherever.

I did a lot of research into the names of my characters in, Adventures in Xenoarcheology.

Yes, Mariannjely Marval, I look up the meaning of names. First name and last name.

I think often names are just used because they sound (1) cool, or are (2) recognizable (and that's fine).

Sure, producers tell you to not use names that are too often used, then they use the same name(s) in their next film. Just ask Mary, she knows!

Personally I like to create irony through using opposites.

A well known example:

Natural Born Killers

Born as Micky:

Micky = “ (he) who resembles God”

--- Who are you to judge me killing you – I’m like God's right hand.

Born as Mallory:

Mallory = “Ill Omened”

--- Stupid you, you should never have crossed my path. My “unhappiness” will become yours. My man will take my "unhappiness" away by killing you.

The series I wrote is set in Greece, but intended for an international audience. So I chose Greek last names for my characters that allude to one of their characteristics. For Greeks it will be amusing, and if foreigners catch on, they may like it too. Many Greek surnames are, in fact, nick-names alluding to traits, so it is not off the wall.

I might be guilty of that too, Thomas! :)

Mariannjely, I'm all over the map when it comes to naming characters.

Sometimes, I, too, pick out names for fun ("Pixie Dust" gave me an opportunity for that); other times, I'm like John Austin in that certain names sound cool to me.

I tend to fixate on characters' last names...and I'm a big sports fan. With that in mind, I get a lot of last names from sports encyclopedias. (For instance, "Bleeding Gums'" lead character, Barbara Mikolajczyk, was named after a former pro football player, Ron Mikolajczyk, who did his thing between 1972 and 1985 in four leagues: CFL, WFL, NFL, and USFL. The same script had a character named Anne Marie Pikiell...named after Rutgers University's head men's basketball coach, Steve Pikiell, a former player at the U of Connecticut.)

I like to look to TV as well...and "Pipe Up!" gave me a chance to do that. Always wanted to name a character after the late televangelist (or cult leader, depending on your point of view) Garner Ted Armstrong...so I came up with Garner Ted Williams, the president of the local (Phoenix, AZ) theater organ club Karyn Anne Klemme joined. (Not that an organ club is a cult...)

The same organ club had the Kipper family...all named after TV/movie stars: Dad Ryan (named after O'Neal), mom Mia (named for Farrow), son Meeno (in honor of Peluce...from TV's "The Bad News Bears"), and daughter Soleil (as in Moon Frye).

Great topic, Mariannjely: All the VERY BEST to you...so glad you're here on Stage 32!

Sometimes I focus on name meanings other times I use a random name generator and pick what sounds the best. It depends on the thematic implications of the characters, time period, and location for me.

Doug Nelson I like your style. I hope if you ever write a Venezuelan character, you use my name haha :)

Rutger Oosterhoff, I love the irony use!

@Jim Boston it looks like you have a lot of fun with it :) All the very best to you as well, happy to be around this supportive community!

Christiane Lange that makes a lot of sense :), I do google typical names when writing in a different culture/ place.

Jess Waters nice! What random name generator do you use?? :)

Oh... sometimes I use websites with lists of the most common names, based on the age of the characters. If I have a character who is 40 years old, I try to find the most common names of people who are that age and, therefore, were born in the 80s. But that's just to give me some leads. I don't always use them.

Just reading through some other comments; yes, I will confess to giving antagonists and other annoying characters the names of people who have somehow annoyed me. This is especially true of any cannon fodder character who meets a grizzly end.

My script, A FOOL'S ERRAND is based on a true story, and the names were changed. The individuals cited in the story will know who they are. Little Easter Eggs for them otherwise, the "not-so-innocent" names were changed to protect them from the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

I am writing a spec series that takes place in a particular region. For name inspiration, I go to a map of the region and review town names. It has never failed to give me realistic names for people.

I think names have a personality and age.

Sara is younger than Sarah. James is white and more boring compared to a Jimmy. Plus I work with people as names are also cultural.

Randy is a name in the USA, it means horny in Australia.

I try to attach meaning to the names of my characters. It is usually something related to their personalities, for example.

i always make the name have some intrinsic value to the character, whether overt or historical or a subjective positive or negative association with it that fits. sometimes something slick, or only those who are hip to the deeper source material would get.

Mariannjely Marval Examples of Greek surnames that seem to be nicknames that 'stuck' as family names: Orphan (Orphanos), Six-fingers (Exadaktylos), Chubby (Bakas), Adopted (Psychogios) etc.

Sometimes I research and choose based on meaning, sometimes I combine names of people I know, and sometimes I just go with a feeling.

Christiane Lange that's so interesting!

Craig D Griffiths that's so true about the cultural names. I'm not a fan of "black or white names" and don't really understand much as I'm from Venezuela. However, here in the US, I have seen this situation with my husband's name. His name is Jerome and before people meet him in person they think he is black, but he is white. He is from Switzerland and it is a pretty common white name over there.

Joseph Thibodaux It makes sense :)

Craig Propst yes, using town names, I love that!

For important characters, once I feel out the character by writing as much about them as possible, I begin an internet search for names based on characteristics, and use as many name lists as possible to compile a personal list of my top 25-50 names. Then I sit and sleep with it and let my intuition gravitate towards the right direction.

If I've narrowed it down to 5 or less but can't decide, I start writing some scenes with different names for the character and see how they play, and what sounds and feels right. Sometimes even acting them out. If I still cant decide, I pick one and use it until a better one comes to mind, which sometimes takes a draft or two.