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“You can have a very intense relationship with fictional characters because they are in your own head.” ~ J. K. Rowling<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is your imagination running wild? Are you ready with a story to author your novel or short story? If yes, there is something you need to do first. You need to think of names for your fictional characters. Your novel or piece of fiction is your own creation, your own brainchild. So, you must think of creative ways to write names for your characters, main protagonist, antagonist and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “A writer often wants to change a reader\u2019s perception about the world, which is a political act. But we have to work through character, so helping the reader to feel close to fictional characters is the gate through which we have to usher the reader.” ~ Caryl Phillips<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Character development is a craft on its own, and its quest begins with a suitable name. You may think what is in a name? But you will be surprised to know that giving suitable names to fictional characters has an impact on the popularity of the work of fiction. It is your character\u2019s personality, depth and the capacity to motivate readers throughout the story, which eventually determines the success of an author.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Characters should be three-dimensional, unique and believable, for the readers to relate to them. The real attributes of a good fictional character are its personality, appearance and a backstory attached to them which creates a narrative about them, thus creating an interest in the minds of readers. Giving suitable names to characters is just the beginning for any writer. This is the writer\u2019s biggest test. Your character should have a name which suits the personality he\/she is representing. If your character is a strong one, make sure you choose a strong sounding name. So start thinking of creative ways to name your characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I talk about fictional characters, aren\u2019t you reminded of the following names from all times? The popularity of these characters speaks for themselves. The names listed below are iconic and in total agreement with the personalities they represent, which is why the authors became a sensation. They could think of creative ways to write the names of their characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sherlock Holmes<\/strong>, a detective character created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n James Bond<\/strong>, a character who is a British Secret Service agent created by author Ian Fleming in 1953. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Harry Potter<\/strong>, a fictional character (larger than life), also the titular protagonist in JK Rowling\u2019s series of eponymous novels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scarlett O’Hara<\/strong>, the fictional character and the protagonist in the novel, \u2018Gone with the Wind\u2019, written by Margaret Mitchell in 1936.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone who doesn\u2019t know Mickey Mouse<\/strong>? Mickey is one of the world’s most recognizable fictional characters, a cartoon character created in 1928 at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Kids recognise this mouse as the one who typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another very popular character is Superman<\/strong>, a fictional superhero, who first appeared in American comic books published by DC Comics. Writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster created this character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Elizabeth Bennet<\/strong>, who is another famous fictional character created by Jane Austen in her novel, \u2018Pride and Prejudice\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Who can forget the popular fictional character Atticus Finch<\/strong>, remembered as the most humble character and father figure, in the novel, \u2018To Kill A Mockingbird\u2019 by Harper Lee <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jane Eyre<\/strong>, the famous classic and Victorian age novel by Charlotte Bront\u00eb, is truly an inspirational character who has left a mark in the minds reade<\/p>\n\n\n\n All authors and novelists devise a lot of creative ways to write names for their characters. They often fret and fume over getting the right names for their main characters. These names give the characters their identity and hence have the potential to become iconic. Most authors don\u2019t begin writing till they have coined a name for every character in their novel. George Martin in one of his interviews has admitted to this fact. So let us gain some insight into how these authors came up with such impressionable names for their characters. All of them found a variety of creative ways to name their main characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hermione Granger<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hermione as we all know is J.K.Rowling\u2019s witch heroine. Her name was coined from the famous Shakespearean play \u201cThe Winter\u2019s Tale,\u201d Granger is a common surname to use which is simple for the readers to pronounce. Most authors choose names which are metaphors for their character, however, the name Hermione was just the type of name Rowling thought Dentist parents would give their offspring. Now Hermione\u2019s original surname was Puckle but Rowling had the view that it did not suit the character. So she chose the surname Granger, which became a hit with the readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sherlock Holmes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We all know that the name Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with the most famous detective and symbolises intelligence and wit. A lot of theories are doing rounds on how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created this iconic name. The original name which was to be given was Sherrinford Hope, which Doyle\u2019s first wife disapproved strongly of and told her husband to change it. Doyle then changed it to Holmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is another theory floating about the name Sherlock, which is thought to be named after the famous violinist Alfred Sherlock. Yet others think that the name originated from a combination of two names which belonged to cricketers Frank Shacklock and Mordecai Sherwin. Doyle was a huge fan of these two players. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bran Stark<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We all know that Brandon Stark is a fictional character in the \u2018A Song of Ice and Fire\u2019 series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin and its television adaptation \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019. George Martin has said in an interview that he can\u2019t write about a character until it is named. Bran Stark is a strong character and hence named such, as his name fits the character. The word Stark means strong or sharp. So the name Bran Stark was most suitable, as in the story he was destined for greatness. He becomes the king of Westeros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n James Bond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Who doesn\u2019t know agent 007, James Bond in his sharp tuxedos, who was responsible for influencing pop culture? Ian Fleming was the creator of this larger than life character in 1952. It is said that he was hunting for a simple and plain-sounding name for this character. So how did he come up with James Bond? Well, you will find it interesting to know how it happened. Fleming was an avid bird watcher and was inspired by the ornithologist James Bond. He even met with the ornithologist and his wife and found the name \u2018James Bond\u2019 most suitable for his character who was going to be portrayed as \u2018brief, unromantic, Anglo-Saxon and yet very masculine\u2019. So that is how Fleming came up with the perfect name he was envisioning for his character. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The success stories of such fictional characters do not end here. This is just to show how important it is to think of creative ways to write the names of your fictional characters. If you build your character successfully and can create an image in the minds of the readers, your characters also will be remembered as the iconic names above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So how to go about it? Well, keep reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch this Video, hear it straight from the horse’s mouth! Listen to what the American novelist and short-story writer, screenwriter, and television producer, George Raymond Richard Martin say, about how he comes up with creative ways to write the names for his characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy is it so important to develop characters?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Iconic characters from the world of fiction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did famous authors name their characters?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n