Fiction: naming your characters

If you're writing fiction, your bookshelf will include several baby-naming books to help you to name your characters.

You also need to be aware of the changes in fashions of baby names. For example, in 2005 the top names in the US for babies were Jacob and Emily. In 1950, the top names were James and Linda.

Character-naming is an art. Some writers are masters. Consider the character names in the Harry Potter books, for example.

Start a list of names that you like, and names that you find in telephone books. (Change these before you use them. Smith for example, could become Smithe, or Smythe, or Smyall.)

Your character names and the law
When you've named your characters, conduct some research to ensure that you haven't used a name that's in the phone book of the town or city in which you've located your short story or novel. People will sue over anything, and while the disclaimer that your work is fiction will help, check to make sure, and also, make a note to yourself on your manuscript that you checked, with the date.

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