Aurora’s 7 Tips for Naming Characters in
Science Fiction Stories.
These
tips are designed to make your writing more accessible to readers. Names can
also hint about characteristics instead of stating them bluntly, or add comic
effects or emotional implications.
Tip 1: The names of main characters must be easy to
pronounce in English. You want your stories to be easy for readers to follow.
Exception:
Names of aliens when you want to emphasize their differences from normal humans.
Tip 2: The main characters, especially a romantic
couple appearing in the same scenes, must have distinct names that do not look
or sound similar. Avoid using Pat and Pete, or Jenny and Jerry. Again, following
this tip will improve the readability of your story.
Exception:
You might have a set of clones with similar names, or twins where you want to
add confusion about their identity.
Tip 3: Alien names should look and sound unusual. When
the aliens have two sexes, I prefer to use names with feminine or masculine
sounds or endings, like Suzzaine (female) or Radekis (male). You may also want
to apply a specific convention to aliens from the same world or race. For
example, the giant crustaceans from the planet Brululia are called Gullish and
Gulpah (gender neutral since this species has five). The Zarnoths in my Secret
Supers Series have names beginning with Z or K, like the villain Rigel Zentor
and the ambassador Zharkor.
Tip 4: Names can be cues to important characteristics.
For example, the giant flower-like planetoid starring in the Grand Master’s
Trilogy is called Amarylla to suggest the shape and pink color of an amaryllis
flower. Note, Amarylla is also female.
Another
example is the Zarnoth assassin, Karockis or Croaker, in my Secret Supers
Series.
Tip 5: You can use names derived from different
countries or cultures to indicate diversity. There are lists of these types of
names on the internet. For example, Srinivasan and Lira Tong are two friends of
the heroine, Violet, in the Grand Master’s Trilogy. Lira is also a cat-like
humanoid from the planet Aman-el.
Tip 6: You can create unusual names by modifying
names of characters or places in real life or from other books. For example, I took
the name Athos from the Three Musketeers, and adapted it into Athanor for the
Griffin Grand Master.
Tip 7: Keep a list of names you like or you think
would make interesting characters.
