What's In A Name?

There’s much to be said (and many jokes to be made) about character names in fiction, especially in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. Authors seem to fall along a spectrum—on one end, you have the letter salads like Draexejornal, names so complex they make readers' eyes glaze over as they desperately search for a manageable nickname. On the other, you find the overly simple, almost jarring choices—like Bob or Tom—names that feel out of place in a world filled with magic, alien landscapes, or ancient prophecies.

As a writer myself, I understand the struggle. There’s a common belief that a name can make or break a character, and in many ways, it’s true. Names carry weight. They become part of a story’s legacy—we remember Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker long after we’ve forgotten the full titles of every Star Wars movie. A well-chosen name lingers in the mind, shaping a reader’s perception before the character even utters a word.

Oftentimes, names don’t come from careful planning or linguistic deep dives. Sometimes, they burrow into our thoughts, entrenching themselves until the ‘right’ character arrives to claim them. A name might linger in the back of our minds for months or even years, waiting patiently until, suddenly, it clicks into place—like it was always meant to belong to that particular person, creature, or being.

When it came to naming my own characters, I found myself taking a middle path. Instead of diving headfirst into unpronounceable letter combinations or using names that felt too modern, I turned to something closer to home—my own family tree. Names from generations past carry a certain weight, a quiet history woven into their syllables. By drawing from a variety of ancestral branches, I was able to craft names that feel familiar yet uncommon, grounded yet unique.
My main character, Isolda, inherited her name from a distant great-grandmother, but it wasn't a grandmotherly feeling that resonated with me. Instead, my mind immediately connected it to the story of Tristan and Iseult, intertwining the name with the idea of a beautiful princess.

While many names take their time settling into place, others arrive fully formed, refusing to be altered. That was the case with Isolda. From the very first outline, her name was never in question. While her younger sisters’ names shifted and evolved as the story took shape, Isolda remained constant—unyielding, as if she had always existed, simply waiting for her story to be told.

In fact, Isolda’s character quickly asserted herself. She didn’t just keep her name—she changed the very way her story was told. As I delved deeper into her story, her strength and will became so clear to me that the narrative naturally shifted to a first-person perspective. It was no longer a story about Isolda; it became her story, in her voice, demanding to be heard.
And perhaps that’s the magic of naming characters. Some names are carefully chosen, others sneak in unexpectedly, and a rare few refuse to be anything but what they are. Either way, they shape the stories we tell just as much as the stories shape them.

Now I’d love to hear from you—what’s the story behind your favorite character names? Did they come to you in a flash of inspiration, or did they sneak up on you over time, demanding to be heard? Whether you’ve carefully crafted them or let them take shape on their own, share your thoughts and stories in the comments!