How important are character names in fictional works?

I was able to have lunch with a best-selling author a few months ago and I asked him the same question. He told me that it depends upon the writer. He chose his characters' names simply because he liked the names. Other authors try and create names that are easy to remember; others pick a name based on its meaning, translation, symbolism, or cultural references.

Here's my thought process: if you're going to create a character, the name doesn't mean much. I mean, yes, the name is a word we'll read over and over again (so naming a character Xenoforkbft, or some random pile of crap that no one can pronounce, would not be a good idea). At the same time, I personally believe that the character itself is going to be what makes himself/herself memorable. A well written character doesn't need a bizarre name to stand out.

Take Harry Potter for instance. Like, the actual name, "Harry Potter." That's a pretty normal name and, before the book came out, the name "Harry Potter" would be considered pretty average Joe. Yet, we remember Harry. We remember his name because the author created Harry and the universe he lived in, in a way that makes it hard to forget who he is.

Oftentimes, you come across these books where the characters' names are bizarre and completely unrealistic (especially in terms of last names).

"Samantha Parsnikity!" "Penelope Muggins!" "April Biddlemop!" "Sawyer Saskatchewan!"

Personally, I hate when authors do this. To me it comes off as a desperate plea of, "Please remember their names! They're so unique and weird! How could you forget them! Right? RIGHT?"

This goes for first names as well. I cringe when I read a book and a character's first name is "Spider," "Eclipse," "Nickle," or "Mirror."

*cough* "Katniss"

You know, something that sounds like a celebrity baby name. Again, it's a desperate plea for their character to stand out. Celebrities and authors--not much different.

When it comes to first names, there seems to be a trend in choosing "normal" names that are more obscure and probably towards the end of the "Most Popular Baby Names" lists. Percy & Holden for example.

The examples I've given are from Percy Jackson and Catcher. (I apologize to Salinger for juxtaposing Percy Jackson next to his protagonist). However, I actually like these name choices. They aren't completely strange. Percys exist. I've never met a Holden, but it's a believable name (and I'm sure there are Holdens out there).

These names are unique so the character stands out amongst the other characters in the book, but they're not so bizarre that they become unrealistic.

Then there are authors who choose names because the name has meaning attached to it. For instance, if you name an inspirational female character Charlotte or Jane. That could be a reference to Charlotte Bronte or Jane Eyre.

I like names with meanings. JK Rowling comes up with some strange names, but they all reference something; whether it be Greek mythology, pop-culture, philosophy, classic literature, etc. That's a nice way to infuse the past, and the works of the past that you respect, into your writing. Not to mention, it helps with character development.

Overall, a character is what's going to make the character stand out. Charlotte Bronte named her character, Jane Eyre. Not, by any means, a really impressionable name. Yet, it's considered one of the greatest books of all time (mostly because Jane's considered one of the greatest characters of all time).

Names are important, but not super important. Yes, a name can say a lot about a person in terms of their background. Naming someone Pedro would probably cause the reader to think that the character was Hispanic of some sort. Then again, Toni Morrison wrote a story where she purposely made two of her characters black and white, though you don't know which is white and which is black. The names seem to be "giveaways" at first, but then you find yourself stumped and in the dark because there are so many other things that argue your initial thoughts on who's black and who's white.

This is a long post, so I'll summarize.

Names: important, but not super important. Make the name readable. Reading is like singing in a way--we read melodically and with rhythm. If the character's name is something reminiscent of someone pounding their fist on the keyboard until random letters glaze the screen, then you're best avoiding said name.

If you don't like names with meaning, then just be sure to develop your characters well enough.

And, please don't name your character something like "Toenail Clipper" or "Peeta."

Best of luck!

I often use neighbours names from when I was a child or my school friends although I do mix first and last names. A name has to be easy to say and remember for the reader and it usually conveys a sense of character too. Some names sound like heroic figures and others sound creepy and mysterious and even villainous. Some names sound the high end of society and others the working class end. Names can be important and I often wonder if the James Bond stories would have worked if the hero was called Fred Jones or Arbuthnot Carmichael or would Oliver Twist have worked with Peter Smith instead? Names can convey a lot and although they are not the be all and end all of a story they should fit in.

It's not required. Names only need to be appropriate to the setting of the novel.

When I choose characters' names, there are some names that "click" and others that don't. If the name "clicks", it's probably the right name for that character. But you don't need to worry about inserting special meanings into the names you choose.

It can be useful to use a name to denote family history, national ancestory or the like, but in all honesty did your parents pick your name because it was DEEP, cool, flirty, strong, unique etc etc, or did they pick it because it was sounded nice/was a parent/grandparents name?

Many, many, many aspiring writers get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too hung up on names they want to fit a random list of character traits....

I also tend to go with realistic names for my characters. I've found the richest source of first and sur-names to be movie credits, one of my favorite side-characters is named after a key-grip in a movie.

I am the same way in that I do not care if there is a special meaning to my characters' names. I am a horror writer, and I like to make my novels seem as realistic as possible, and giving a character a name such as 'Raven Madison' will not convey that realism, and, well...sounds pretty ridiculous. I sometimes get my characters' names from friends of mine.:)

I was taught that a "good" writer creates the characters including names once the story and plot lines are completed. I was also taught that a name can establish the background of a character so a detailed descriptive paragraph of their ancestry is not needed.

it is the character which gives an identity to an author.. people may forget even writer of the book but they never forget the strongest character of his book. characters cross the readers mind every now and then.