OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Character Name Generator
Realistic Character Names for Modern, 1980s, 1950s and Victorian Stories
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How the Character Name Generator works
This character name generator gives you realistic first and last names for novels, scripts, games and short stories, matched to when your story is set: modern names like Nadia and Kai, 1980s names like Tracy and Darren, 1950s names like Betty and Earl, and Victorian names like Ada and Bartholomew.
How the character name generator works
Pick a setting and a gender, or leave them on Any. Each result pairs a first name popular in that era with a surname chosen to be memorable but believable. Keep the names that fit, and generate again for the rest of your cast.
Why the era matters
First names date people. A detective called Tyler in 1890s London breaks the spell, and so does a teenager called Doris in 2020. Choose names that were common when your character was born, not when the story takes place: a 70-year-old in a modern story was born in the 1950s, so the 1950s list suits them better than Modern.
Tips for naming a cast
Give main characters names that start with different letters and have different lengths, so readers never mix up Jess and Jade. Keep the protagonist's name easy to say in your reader's head. Save the unusual names for minor characters, where a striking name helps a reader remember someone they meet once.
More name generators
For other settings, try the fantasy character name generator, the villain name generator or the full name generator for names from 12 countries.
FAQ
How do authors come up with character names?
Many use baby name lists from the year a character was born, phone books and graveyards for surnames, and the meaning of a name for a hidden hint. Most say the name in dialogue to check it sounds natural.
Can I use a real person's name for a character?
Common names are fine and impossible to avoid. Avoid naming a character after a specific, identifiable real person, particularly in an unflattering role, and search the full name before publishing.
How do I name a minor character?
Use a quick, ordinary name that suits the setting and doesn't compete with the main cast. A surname alone, like Mrs Holloway or Driscoll, is often enough.
See also: all People tools, Fantasy & RPG, Sci-fi, Culture & Language, Online & Social, Business & Brand, Places & Things.
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