Writing Tip Wednesday – What’s In a Name?

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Katniss Everdeen. Luke Skywalker. Olivia Pope. Neo. Annalise Keating. Axl Foley.

All character names that immediately conjure the image in your mind.

Something I spend a lot of time on is naming my characters. Typically, a character comes to me fully formed physically, and I know their significant issues. What I don’t know is their name?

In my book, Moment of Truth, one of the main characters is named Logan Charles Rutherford, II. He is the son of a prominent local attorney, and I needed his name to reflect that sort of heritage.

When it comes to naming your character you must be cognizant of the time period, region of the country, and ethnicity. Think of the world your character inhibits and name them accordingly. A nineteen year old is present day would have a different name from a teenager born in the 60’s.

What are some of your favorite character names and why?