Why do some writers ask others for character names on Books and Authors?

A posh name is an aristocratic-sounding name (upper class/elitist).

People who ask these types of questions are those who still haven't recognized that writing is a solitary endeavor (at least at this point in the process). They all share one similarity: they're beginning writers. And because of this, they haven't learned to differentiate the trivial writing matters from the more important things. It's similar to how people ask for plot lines.

On the other hand, some people (one of my contacts, as a matter of fact), likes to play around with character names the same way some authors like to play around with word choice. So they ask these sort of questions to pass time while they're musing over their own stories.

edit: Also, I suspect a certain degree of distrust in their decision making plays a roll. They're asking for a general consensus on what other people like so that they choose a name that will be liked by their readers. Again...they will eventually learn that this is trivial and they'll move on.

I agree with you, but if you tell any of the Askers that physical description doesn't matter -- that they should name the character based upon what the character's parents would decide or names which were common to the time period/location -- the Asker gets p*ssed and says something like if you're not going to really answer their question, **** off.

Honestly, I believe it's younger, more inexperienced writers who do this. I don't recall ever using YA! to look for names, but I do remember in middle school often surfing the web, looking for names which related to my character's purpose, personality, etc. Naming a character is kind of like naming a child, and you'll notice younger parents (and movie stars) are more prone to giving their kids ridiculous names. When inexperienced writers think of names, they think, "What is original? What sounds cool and different? What fits this character?" while more experienced writers think, "What makes the most sense? What would this character's parents name their child?"

Just as inexperienced writers are going to ask you for character's names or opinions on character names, inexperienced writers are going to answer those sort of questions seriously. No one knows the right name, but everyone has an opinion. You, understanding the pointlessness of such questions, of course find it ridiculous, but the people who ask and answer still believe that it is very important. Also, they could just want a best answer.

*Adds you as a contact*

THANK YOU. I never understood this, I asked a question about it myself a while back. Firstly, I don't understand why you would even want someone else to come up with your characters names-I wouldn't be comfortable writing something knowing that the name(s) I keep writing were not of my own decision, it would make me feel like my characters aren't actually mine. Then there's what you said, which is my main issue with those questions; "'I want a strong name for my main character.' What's a weak name? Did the character's fictional parents pick the name, because they knew their baby would grow up to be 'a strong character?'" Try as I might, I've never been able to understand that logic. Why does your character need a name pertaining to their personality traits, when their parents obviously wouldn't have known anything about their personality when they were born? I go on random name generators and pick which ones I like (and possibly tweak them a bit), I feel like some people on this site over-think things like names. As for your last sentence, that's yet another thing I will never understand. Those questions get by far the most answers, and that's always bugged me because it's just random people thinking that they know so much about what a 'strong name' is.

Thank you oh lord :) That is my biggest pet peeve of all the pet peevish questions that tend to get asked on this forum. A name is the easiest thing in the world to come up with. Especially for a main character. I know what the main characters are going to be called (first and last name) before I even begin writing the story. They are basically whatever name I happen to be fond of at any given time. As for the minor characters, I tack an inconsequential name on them. Something basic or simple: Bob, Phil, Larry, George. It doesn't matter. That character will probably only be mentioned a couple times tops anyway and their name is the least of their signifcance to the story. If you pick a name for a character, main character or minor, and decide you don't care for it, then change it. It's just there to identify them until you come up with something better. I pick names out of phone books, CD liner notes, they're inspired by book characters I've read about; sometimes, strangely enough, they kind of come to me out of thin air. I needed a last name for a character that sounded kind of "British." Inspired by a musician, I had something in mind for the type of name I was looking for. My British character's last name is similar to this musician. The net is full of all sorts of baby name sites and even surname sites. You can find Irish names and Italian names and Hindu names and Indian names, etc. Anything you could possibly want in a name. Have the patience to look around and see what's there. Something will jump out at you. And if you are spending hours on such a pursuit and still can't decide on a name for a character then you're overthinking it. Pick the one that even vaguely jumps out at you and I guarantee it will either grow on you as you develop the character or you will have come up with something better by the time you've decided to change it. But please, please, please. Just pick something. It won't matter. I have a plain Jane and the all too common John and Michael as characters :) But the characters themselves have become much bigger than their names. They outshine them.

I've been through this so many times in my head, and you just summed up exactly how I feel about it. Like you said, the most annoying thing about asking for character names (AND PLOTS - ARGH!) is the lack of effort put in. It's their story, *they* have to live it and make it real for us, not the other way around.

Names come naturally for me, and I understand that they don't for everyone. But there I things that I get stuck on as well obviously, like plot holes. When I reach one I seem to fall in for a day or two before climbing back up. But I don't ask other people to do it for me!

Oh! And you know what else annoys me? If you answer saying that they should come up with it themselves, some get really defensive about their novel. A lot of people in B&A are writers. Learn to take criticism, dude.

Some lessons just come with practice. Character names do not define the character.

So, in conclusion, I agree with you.

:)

*Goes back to doing coursework that I should have finished days ago.*

EDIT - @Writah - There is nothing wrong with seeing what's out there, but can't you go on baby name sites for that? What bugs me is people just asking for names (AND PLOTS - see a pattern here?) and expecting them to be handed to them on a plate.

I totally get this! It's so annoying when people say what's an evil name? What's a servant's name? For crying out loud if you are a slave and you have a child your not gonna think oh i better call them a slaves name and if you give birth to a daughter who turns evil in 20 years your not gonna purposely think of a name that sounds evil when theyre not even born!

I did just post a question about names but that was only because I'd already given all my characters names and I wanted to see just for fun how people imagined them to be without a description. It was quite funny cos they all pictured this one character as a blonde girly girl when she is a black haired tomboy but the name still fits her so names aren't everything.

I agree with most of what the other users are saying, but I have a little more to add as an answer to your actual question.

There's no denying that certain names draw certain associations. And that a lot of people think of these associations when they think of these names. And there’s always a chance that if you ask what to name a specific type of character, someone will give you a name which you share a specific association with the answerer. Example – you watch Teen Titans and you’ve read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe – Raven is suddenly a good name for a dark personality character. But you forget all about that name, ask on yahoo what a good name for a dark character could be, someone says Raven, and , “Ah - yes! That fits my character.”

I think some writers have a general need to define their characters with something. Make the character fit to something. Make the character feel more real to them. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing that a lot of beginner writers do this. They realize it *is* important for characters to be realistic or unique. But they don’t realize there is no “perfect name” that will do this. A “beautiful hero name” for a beautiful hero character and an “ugly villain name” for an ugly villain tends to point toward under-developed characters. Not developed characters. So – all in all – they don’t realize names aren’t beneficial to the characters themselves.

However, just because someone wants a name to fit a character doesn’t mean it’s for a bad reason. Take The Scarlet Letter for example. Hester named her daughter Pearl. Hester *treasures* Pearl. A pearl can be a treasure. That’s fair “fitting”. It’s part of Hester’s characterization, for she named Pearl herself.

Lastly, I might as well mention it – I asked a couple of name questions for my characters when I was 13 :P Truth be told! I don’t ask them anymore. I’ve never tried to match a name’s meaning to a character though (unless it mattered to the plot). Now I could less for others’ name opinions. I don’t need to find a “perfect name”. I actually grow to like the names because I simply like my characters. But I still do like finding names I like. I don’t care who finds that a pet peeve – I like names I like XD

*whooping cheers and round of applause*

You've just basically summed up what I think nearly every time I come on to this section. I know each author works differently, but it baffles me when people feel the need to put a very formal police-style report of their character in their novel. I don't give a flying *beep* what height they are, how their hair lies, their exact bust size, shoe size and so on! To me, just saying the hair colour, eye colour and, at a stretch, face shape is just enough.

As for the name... I give up. I used to answer them, saying how no person knows how their kid will grow up and so with that in mind the name doesn't have to mean "strong", "beautiful" or whatever. But as you might well know, you might as well be talking to a stuffed bear. For my character, I just named her. I didn't even know the meaning, and as for all of the other characters they just had random names slapped on them - looks, personality and so on has zero to do with names in my opinion.

I've seen the same user post "name this character" questions for days on end, and I just think "Why??". Just pick a name, and have done with it. If you come to hate it, just use "find and replace" on the story to change it - as I have done in the past with my MC's name - but don't, for the love of all that is sane, spend hours waiting for someone to hand you the perfect name!

*takes a deep breath* Rant over.

I agree but i REALLY think a name is very important. I try my best to think of it on my own but sometimes I draw a real blank especially on last names. I want them to be captivating and fit the image of my character. Obviously I would know my character the best but I've found some GREAT names from yahoo answerers that really helped make my character. Full names are intriguing, Katniss's name is fantastic it just makes you want to read more.

I don't understand the whole "my character's name must describe some aspect of him/her" either. I admit I've asked for occasional name help, but mostly due to being unable to decide between a few names.

What baffles me beyond everything though is "I want to write a book, give me a plot idea." If you want to write, come up with your own plot.