Jedi Council Forums - How do you choose characters' names?

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Author	Topic: How do you choose characters' names?
Xaara Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 12/21/03 9:55am Subject: How do you choose characters' names?
	I usually try to pick a name that has some sort of meaning in the context of the story. For example, one of my OCs from a vignette I wrote a long time ago is named Aleta, which means "little winged one." It just seemed appropriate within the plot of the story. In this regard, I tend to draw heavily on Indian (yes, like from India ), old English, and Arabic names. On the other hand, I often choose a name purely because I like the way it sounds. In this case, I generally try to pick a name that doesn't sound a lot like the names of the other people in the story. (When I have a Jaina, a Jag, and a Jacen, I'm not going to add a Jarek.) Anyone else? -----signature----- My Ramblings: http://www.livejournal.com/users/xaara/ My lil bro/sis: Flyboy_7/Wyn_Fel Wyomé, Handmaiden of the Crest
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DarthIshtar Title: Former CR Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 12/21/03 11:53am Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	like you, i often rely on names with certain meanings. sometimes, it's completely arbitrary. -----signature----- "I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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Calandria Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 12/21/03 12:33pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I try to find names that fit the context of the story. But sometimes I just lack inspiration. What I do then is to pick a random letter on my key board (I have preference of s, c or n) and then blindly add several more letters. With a little bit of switching around I end up with half way decent names -----signature----- Empress of Coruscant Story Links in Bio
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DarthBreezy Title: Retired Mos Everett Cantina Founder & JMPR Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 12/21/03 12:39pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names? - Date Edited: 12/21/03 12:40pm (1 edits total) Edited By: DarthBreezy
	I use bablefish to create names. Schurke Canaille is German and French for Scoundrel -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/29640754/p1 Dear Tam - an AU post ROTJ story told through the eyes of a child "It's hard, being a Jedi..." - Pem Skywalker Anywhere Is Possible
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Jaina_and_Jag Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 12/21/03 12:46pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I go to those name sites and pick out names I like, then spell them differently.
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AlrikFassbauer Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 12/21/03 2:16pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names? - Date Edited: 12/21/03 2:17pm (1 edits total) Edited By: AlrikFassbauer
	DarthBreezy, you're right ! Schurke is indeed Scoundrel ! A note on spell : The sch in most German words sounds like the English sh . The french Canaille is also a German swearword or curse, especially for a non-trustable person, a criminal especially (I hope I used the right words.) It isn't used very often within newer generations. How do I make up names ? Mostly I don't wanmt names to have some sort of meaning. Then I use a mixture of letters, feelings and inspiration, put all them into a big cauldron, stir, and eventually look at the results. If I want a name that sounds beautiful for my ears, I put additional vowels into the cauldron. If I want have names containing some sort of meaning, I usually use names for "reading between the lines" or rather hinting at the desired meaning instead of being straight. The reader should have something to reveal for him- / herself ! -----signature----- "May the Enya equivalent of the Force be with you." (Uncle Darthvyd)
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CmdrMitthrawnuruodo Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 12/21/03 4:19pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	Usually when I cant think of names off the top of my head, I just look around my room at all the words I see. I take part of several words and combine them together or take a word and alter it. For example Maison Fiegers comes from a "Folgers La Maison du Cafe coffee" can next to me. I liked "Maison" alot so I kept it as is for a first name. I then took "Folgers" and altered some lettering and got "Fiegers" for a last name. The hard part is remembering the spelling. -----signature----- "Dyin' be the day worth livin' for!" --Captain Hector Barbossa PotC: Amuletum Angiti http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3635826/1/ http://s12.gladiatus.com/game/c.php?uid=48046
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InyriForge Registered: Jan '02	Date Posted: 12/21/03 6:47pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I usually use regular names. I'm just not that creative. If the name isn't super common, I leave it as it is. (After all, Luke, Gavin, and Lara are all Earth names). If it's a commonly used name, I switch some of the letters to make it more Star Wars. For example, instead of Sarah, I spelled it Cera, and I used Aric for Eric. shrugs As I said, I'm not super creative. ~Inyri -----signature----- Good things can come from Kessel. "Impossible is what Rogue Squadron does best." Yrie, Handmaiden of the Crest. 99% of the time, I'm just playin' Twin to Lucid_Lady
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Kit' Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Oct '99	Date Posted: 12/21/03 6:51pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I usually don't develop a character properly until I name them - and names come with time and thinking. To me, if the name isn't right then the character just isn't going to develop properly. Kithera -----signature----- Some people are like slinkies; Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile as you push them down the stairs * Writers wanted.... http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27996678
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Gandalf the Grey Registered: May '00	Date Posted: 12/21/03 8:10pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I like using the Bible. For example, Nahshon and Hezron both sound pretty exotic. Sometimes, I'll use different versions of names from the Bible – Peter becomes the feminine form Petra, and since there’s already a Luke in Star Wars, I used Lucius. The Rock and the Light. The other thing that I do is that I use anagrams. If I was doing a Star Wars version of Hamlet, Denmark could become Darknem. Or combine the Biblical names with anagrams: Mark becomes Karm, James becomes Semja (those two mostly used just because they were easy anagrams with the sounds I wanted, no real connection to the original disciples), and Thomas becomes Tam-sho. If anyone is reading my story, I’ll leave it to him or her to figure out what Djasu works out to be. -----signature----- I play far, far too much World of Warcraft. L70s on Staghelm: Hopefire (Paladin), Silverbow (Hunter), Shadowhope (Rogue), Silverfire (Mage)
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Keeper_of_Swords Registered: Sep '03	Date Posted: 12/21/03 8:22pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I open up a few history books, and choose names which I like best. -----signature----- The next day there came no dawn and the Grey Company passed on into the darkness of the storm of Mordor and were lost to mortal sight. But the Dead followed them.
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Cascadia Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/21/03 9:29pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names? - Date Edited: 12/21/03 9:32pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Cascadia
	I used to take syllabic sounds that I liked and thought applied to the character, and put them together. Now, with my original fiction, I'm taking it a step(or maybe several steps, LOL!) further and constructing a language whence I'm deriving original characters' names, as well as place names. It's an enormous task, but I'm learning alot more about grammer, phonics, and derivative stems, in the process, than I ever learned in English and German classes. -----signature----- It is only when we have risen from beholding the creature into beholding creation that our mortality catches for a moment the music of the turning spheres. --Owen Barfield
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Cascadia Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/21/03 9:31pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names? - Date Edited: 12/21/03 9:34pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Cascadia
	A double post! -----signature----- It is only when we have risen from beholding the creature into beholding creation that our mortality catches for a moment the music of the turning spheres. --Owen Barfield
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-Tenel-Ka- Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/21/03 10:19pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I make all my names up. I sound out random words that I make up in my head and fiddle around with them until their spelled out on paper. Yeah. O_o I'm weird. -----signature----- [ http://echuta.net/ - we're doomed! http://whatthefun.net/cosplay - my cosplay site! http://echuta.net/chivalry - my J/TK fanthings <3 http://echuta.net/oc - EU costuming http://tenel-ka.livejournal.com - the eljay ]
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NarundiJedi Title: FF Chapter Rep Albany, NY Registered: Oct '01	Date Posted: 12/21/03 11:27pm Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names?
	I like using last names or foreign words for names. Example: Brodey Narundi Brodey was a last name of some chick I knew in band during high school. Narundi . . . well, I don't know how I got this one, but I later found out it was Indian. I also found out that names like S'aahai are variations on Japanese. So I guess I just pick what sounds good and later find out it's from a different part of the world. Jae Angel -----signature----- Kill Brodey: Vol 1 - http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=17015774&replies=0 Helané, Handmaiden of the Crest Leli's Blonde Twin! I'm now Mrs. NJ! w00t!
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Bobbacca Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 12/22/03 7:35am Subject: RE: How do you choose characters' names? - Date Edited: 12/22/03 7:36am (1 edits total) Edited By: Bobbacca
	I tend to mess around with sounds until I come up with something I like. Then I mess around with spellings until I like the way it looks too. Sometimes I just go to my cd collection too. For instance, the names "Jeth" and "Tul" came from the band Jethro Tull, and "Levon" was the title of one of Elton John's early songs. -----signature----- It's not wise to upset a wookiee www.myspace.com/wizardrockda Evac: http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=14349100&start=14583586 Seeker of Constructive Critiscism
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