Why is everyone so obsessed with character names?

I wish I knew... it probably has something to do with the fact that most of the writers around here are beginners. They might be trying to avoid writing, but I think it would be more accurate to say they're trying to avoid having to change anything later. You've probably heard of the "internal editor" - that nagging voice in your head that won't let you start a new sentence or paragraph until the one you're working on now is perfect - or perfect in your eyes, anyway. If you haven't decided on a character's name, then by definition, you can't write about them without changing the text later.

Many beginning writers are horrified at the thought that their work might need editing afterwards. (I certainly was.) But an important part of becoming a good writer is persuading your internal editor to shut up long enough to let you finish a first draft. Then you can take an axe, or a chisel, or a scalpel to it (the draft, not the voice...).

I wonder if it's (also) because beginning writers, often being young, haven't grown out of hating their own names yet. I don't know how common that is, but when I was a child, I often wished I had a different first name and/or surname. Bullies would use my name as an insult, and I probably thought that if I was called something else, they wouldn't be able to do that. (Of course, now I know that if I changed my name, that would just reinforce their belief that I was a pretentious know-all...)

Nowadays, I accept that names are just strings of symbols that distinguish one character from another. They need to be appropriate for the time and place the story is set, and fit with whatever culture the character is from, but other than that, they don't matter. The teachers in my book A Wizard's Daughter were known as W1 to W5 for several chapters until I thought of names for them (W for wizard, because that's what they are). The narrator of the story I'm writing at the moment didn't have a name until a fortnight after I started it.

I've seen a few people ask for names for an evil overlord type of character. My answer was that one of the most evil men of the 20th century (measured by the number of deaths attributable to him) was called Joseph, as in Stalin. That was also the name of one of the most holy men in history, if you believe the New Testament - the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus. If that doesn't prove that the character makes the name, not the other way round, I don't know what does.

I like how you think Hayden. Your right, its absolutely a tick off when you see these questions posted anywhere on the enternet "I need a name" or "Whats a good name for...". When I brainstormed my book the names came naturally to me. I would choose a name from a favorite book , and choose from another to make an entirely original name (Like "Josseir". I got "Joss" from Gaurdians of Ga'hoole, and mixed it with a name from Prosperoe's Children. Most young writers today spend hours trying to find the perfect name, and half of them know that all they're doing is destracting themselfs from writing. Its rubbish! Almost all young writers have no clue how to even publish a book (I myself spent an entire summer writing details down, asking famouse writers how they did it. and I am a young writer) They dont know how to start or where it ends.

I'm a character based writer. My stories center around the character and though they can have any name there is always one that suits them best. One that screams at me 'HEY! That's what I want to be called!' and it usually sticks. The characters usually develop very nicely once their name, history and personae are in place and then the story blossoms from around them. They are in essence the center of my universe.

I do however keep a list of my favorite names, but they don't have a form as of yet and plenty of my characters reject them. I tried changing a characters name halfway into a manuscript but the reality was that 'she' didn't want the change. The character (just like a real person) is sort of stuck with a name from inception for me. I can't seem to make the change even though it is as simple as a few keystrokes. I've tried and always end up changing them back. They are who they are. (exception to this rule listed below.)

But for a new writer, naming a character can be grounding. It gives them a place to start and be able to return to. It may even help them recognize a theme and continue it without too many problems. Each writer has there own thing, some focus or habit when they write. Outlines, index cards, funny names, non-descript names, local pub, unknown big city or main street usa. In the end the editor may very well say 'I hate the name'. And then I go eenie, meenie, minie, moe and put a different one in the document because I refuse to let that be the reason I get black balled. Change whatever you want. For me the story is over and done. I can make any re-writes I have to and changing names at the request of the publisher at the point of getting paid is the least of my worries.

wow hayden! For a top contributor I would have thought you would know hard generalities like all or never or always are, scientifically impossible to fathom. We are not that gifted . Now if you meant to ask "Why are some people obsessed with....' it is generally agreed the causation for inclusion into a mental health population may often be organic in nature. So the correct response to this folly is drug induced. Keep up the good work Hayden old boy.

Good question! I think they're unimaginative gits! Those types of questions irk me, and coming in a close second are the uncreative people who want people to give them story and plot ideas! I mean c'mon, if you're going to write a story, at least be creative about it and come up with your own names and ideas!

I agree with you. Names don't matter. All my secondary characters have "normal" names. I do try to give one of my main character a unique name, but not because I want to be different, but because I like unique names, but I dont' spend a lot of time on the names because it's the story that matters.

Stephen King says he does the example you gave (bad guy, nitwit, etc) when he drafts and then comes up with names later. I choose the first name that comes to me. I have, however, done research to pick a last name for my character and that's because his family hails from another country and I needed a last name from that country, and that's also important because his background is meaningful to the storyline. So, picking out surnames, when it matters, is something I'm willing to research - not come here and ask others.

I asked this question myself a few months back, and I had a lot of people tell me that names matter to them because it describes the character. If their character is dark and mysterious, they want a name that's also dark and mysterious. I think it's rubbish, but it's not me who's wasting my time with names.

They seem to think that spending weeks thinking of names somehow constitutes 'character development'.

I bracket the name obsession with writing laundry lists of 'traits' that bear no relation to one another - it's what bad writers do instead of you know, actual writing.

When it comes to teen girl writers, you can generally tell which ones are only really writing because they want to make up stories with dolls, but consider themselves too old to do so. They're essentially just writing down the stories they told with their Bratz dolls three years previously, and so they're naming their characters in the same way that they used to name their dolls. All the names they choose are names they like and would like to be called themselves, or imagine their children being called in the future. It's pure wish fulfilment.

On here, there's also a 'look at me! I'm writing a book! Help me! Give me attention!' element to the pleas for assistance with names.

I have a question. If you really are who you claim to be, why don't you capitalise your name the same way here you do everywhere else? If you really are you, it's confusing.

I'm with you on the name thing. I'm totally bemused by the "I'm writing a novel, please help me find perfect names for all 15 of my characters, this is what they look like" posts. I just use the alphabet. Anna, Bill, Charlie, David, Emma, Fritz...

I do always give them names, though. Badguy's Chauffeur is just too annoying to type :)

I think I love you. :D Seriously.

The names are important for the story. You don't want some random person coming up with a name that you don't even like, do you? It's supposed to be creative. And on your own. Not someone else's mind. That's called cheating. And laziness.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

That's what I respond to most "character names plz" questions!

I really don't get it either. When I want to name my characters, I just type the first one that comes to my mind. The other day someone asked a question, "Character name for a girl who suicides?"

Um, when parents are naming their children, they don't KNOW that the child is going to suicide. That was a WTF moment.

Most of them come up with fancy names before they even have a plot. I think it's just to delay the actual writing process. I mean, I can understand that you want your characters to be unique, to have a unique name but give them a personality which makes them stand out even if their name is Joe!!

I don't get it either. I mean names can be nice to have, but in the end, they aren't really needed.