Does anyone else have a REALLY hard time naming their characters?

I'm writing a story, and although I have one of the main characters names I can't bring myself to pick one that I like for the other. Does anyone know of any good websites? I've been looking through baby name stuff. I'm looking for more old fashioned names.

Does anyone else have a REALLY hard time naming their characters?
It depends on what kind of Character you are making. When you run out of all other options use a name dictionary for a name to match the character's personality.
Reply:It's very hard to me because I am a little picky with the names; but seeking the meaning or nationality of names in this website:





http://www.behindthename.com/





Hope it helps!
Reply:Learn more about your character's background - are they from another country? Did their parents particularly like another language?





For names in various languages, try the link below.
Reply:I do have problems too, sometimes i think i need names more differents than normal but at the end i prefer to let them the name that i began because i think the personality is in them.





Greetings :D
Reply:I don't have problems with names because I get the idea of a storyline and first I find a setting for it. This setting is let's say Medieval Europe (say in Italy) I google Medieval Europe and I take names of important guys. But name finding is not important. It's sticking to them that causes much problem. Make sure that once it's there, it's stuck! No comin' off! And that's an order.


Because changing names can change your view of that character and in turn can affect the emotional attachment you have to it.
Reply:I used to have this problem. My solution was to purchase a baby name book. Even an outdated one from a few years ago works. Now that the name databases are online, I go there instead %26amp; save my money.





Choose names you like or unique names that aren't too hard to pronounce. Nothing turns me off more in a book than coming across a name I can neither pronounce or find a meaning for. You can also choose your least favorite names for charcters that aren't really important to the story or for the villian, if your story goes that way.





I've sourced my favorite site below for you.
Reply:I have a list of names that I like, so the first name is never hard. The last names are probably a bit tougher since my method of closing my eyes and picking a random name in the phonebook doesn't see to be good matching haha.





What I did, I went to this site here:


http://20000-names.com/





And I started going through the lists and writing down all the names I liked.
Reply:I'm not sure about websites for that, but when I am doing my characters I try to think of the situations they are goign to be in and think of a name that may go with taht scenerio. For example if I am having a girl be a waitress I think of other waitresses I've seen or one I have had personally and the name usually falls into my lap.
Reply:One of the best books you can get is the Character Naming Sourcebook published by Writer's Digest. The book is broken down by nationality and gender, with notes and advice on how to construct realistic sounding names. If also provides you with brief meanings of the names. It's my go to book when it's time to name characters.
Reply:I have a lot of trouble picking last names, but i'm lucky and the first names all jump out oat me.





You might find it helpful to look through the baby names pages. There are lots of old time-ie names. Or maybe read through Jane Austin and the classics to see what types of names were popular.
Reply:Yes, it can be difficult. Two strategies that I often use are naming the character symbolically according to their personalities, (Rose would be a sweet, kind, gentle person)


And you could also do as Charles Dickens did and grossly exaggerate the names of your characters (like scrooge). These techniques have always worked for me and I truly recommend them. Also, be original!
Reply:Lots of writers have trouble with character names. John Irving writes about it (a little bit) in The World According to Garp. Garp goes through phone books and combines first and last names in different orders.


There is a random name generator available on the web. Just google "Random Name Generator." It may or may not help, but it will give you a lot of names.


Good luck. (Please don't use "artful." It's already been taken by a really great writer."
Reply:Well I just look at books I already have. I look at the author of the book's name and combine them..or to be unique I look in an atlas. Usually I'll just be watching TV and I'll hear a name that strikes me as right for my character
Reply:name them after yo friends or something