Solutions to Ten Common Name Mistakes

When developing characters to populate a story, there's a lot for a writer to remember: appearance, age, job, background, family, habits, likes, dislikes… Whew! Not to mention names. Here are ten common mistakes that writers may make when naming their characters, and suggested solutions.

1) Two or more names begin with the same letter.
Problem: Names that appear or sound similar, like Harris and Hollis, may confuse the reader and cause them to disengage from the story to recall who is who.
Solution: Change the characters' names so that each has a different first letter.
Exception: Sometimes a plot requires two characters to bear similar names. To guard against confusion, sharpen the contrasts between the characters to make them individually memorable and distinct. Perhaps one is a man, and the other is a woman. Or one is dark, the other fair. Or one is boisterous, the other shy.

2) Two or more names end with the same letter.
Problem: Names that appear or sound similar, like Jed and Ted, may confuse the reader and cause them to disengage from the story to recall who is who.
Solution: Change the characters' names so that each has a different last letter.
Exception: Sometimes a plot requires two characters to bear similar names. To guard against confusion, sharpen the contrasts between the characters to make them individually memorable and distinct. Perhaps one is an adult, and the other is a child. Or one is tall, the other short. Or one is extroverted, the other introverted.

3) Too many names share the same vowel sounds.
Problem: Too many names sharing the same vowel sounds--like Sue, Lou, Stuart, and Truman--may sound repetitious to readers, and flatten the overall reading experience.
Solution: Look for names with different vowel sounds to create texture. Perhaps instead choose Sue, Larry, Scott, and Taylor.

4) Too many names have the same number of syllables.
Problem: If most of the names in a story tap out the same ponderous rhythm--like Anna, Harry, Jennie, and Patty--readers may grow desensitized to the prose.
Solution: Vary the number of syllables in names to create melody in the prose. Perhaps instead choose Ann, Harry, Jen, and Patricia.

5) A character has an unusual name without meaningful cause or effect in the story.
Problem: Unusual names--like Xaviera or Nemuel--draw attention, and should exist in a story for a reason. Otherwise, the characterization may feel shallow.
Solution: Choose a different name for the character, one that doesn't unfairly raise reader expectations. Perhaps instead of Xaviera choose Sara.
Exception: Sometimes a story requires a character to have an unusual name. Make sure a reason exists in the character's backstory for the name, and create a matching attitude/plot effect in the now of the story.

6) A character's name is incongruous with his/her personality.
Problem: Names that defy the characters' personalities without credible reason--like a girl with a sunny disposition named Elvira, or a dark, brooding hero named Billy--will snap readers' necessary suspension of disbelief.
Solution: Choose a different name that fits the character's personality. Baby name books giving the meaning of names are helpful.
Exception: Sometimes a story requires that a character bear a certain name. If the name clashes with the character's personality, make it matter in the now of the story. Or, the character may go by a nickname that better suits his/her disposition. Perhaps Elvira, named after her grandmother, chooses to go by the more cheerful sounding Ellie instead.

7) A character's name is incongruous with their social position.
Problem: Names that defy the characters' social position--like a Wall Street banker named Jimmy Joe or a cowboy named Geoffrey--will snap readers' necessary suspension of disbelief.
Solution: Give the character a different name that fits their social position.
Exception: Sometimes a story requires that a character be a fish out of water. Create backstory to explain the incongruity, and exploit the fish out-of-water conflict in the now of the story.

8) A character's name did not exist during the story's time period.
Problem: Readers may be unforgiving of factual inaccuracies--like a 16th Century Englishwoman named LaToya--and lose their trust in the author.
Solution: Obtain a reliable name book that tells when certain names came into use, and choose a name that's appropriate to the setting of the story.

9) A character's name is incongruous with his/her ethnicity.
Problem: Inaccuracies like naming a German man Keanu may telegraph to readers a certain amount of ethnic insensitivity on the author's part, or at least an alarming disregard for factual accuracy.
Solution: Obtain a baby name book that lists the origins of names, and choose a name that accurately reflects the character's ethnic heritage and background.
Exception: If a character's ethnic ancestry is mixed, this may be reflected in his/her name, like an Irish-Mexican man named Jose O'Hara. Create backstory to explain the incongruity, and make it matter in the attitudes/plot of the story.

10) The same character is referred to by several different names.
Problem: Even if there is only one person in the scene, if that character is referred to by several names--like John, Johnny, Dad, and Mr. Doe--it may confuse the reader.
Solution: Confine each name to a single viewpoint. Perhaps John in his own viewpoint is referred to outside dialogue as John. In his wife's viewpoint, he's Johnny. In his son's viewpoint, he's Dad. In his neighbor's viewpoint, he's Mr. Doe.