What's In A Name?

One of the most common questions I get asked—right after “Is this character based on a real person?” (answer: mostly no, and I’m not telling who)—is: How do you choose your character names?

It’s a fair question. Names carry a lot of weight. They help define a character’s personality, place in the world, and how readers imagine them. And in a town like Claryce Falls, where everyone’s got quirks and opinions and at least one dog, the wrong name can throw things off fast.

So how do I go about it?

1. Does it Fit the Era and Region?

Would this name have actually been used when the character was born? If my character is 35 and named something wildly out of step with the late '80s or early '90s, I better have a good backstory for it. (Unless it's a nickname. Nicknames are where chaos reigns, and I love that for us.)

I also try to reflect names you might actually hear in a small Pacific Northwest town—whether it's a rugged forest ranger, a kindergarten teacher, or someone who once barrel-raced and still wears cowboy boots to the grocery store.

2. Vibe Check

Before anything else, the name has to feel right. If I’m writing about a laid-back, BMX-in-his-past, flannel-and-flat-bill-hat kind of guy (looking at you, Zeke), I’m probably not naming him Bartholomew. The name has to match the energy of the character. Bonus points if it makes me smile when I type it.

3. The Alphabet Soup Test

Too many characters with names that start with the same letter? Recipe for reader confusion. If I accidentally name three side characters Linda, Lana, and Larry, someone’s getting forgotten—or worse, misidentified as the killer. I try to spread the letters around (though somehow I still end up with a lot of L’s...).

4. Do I Know Someone with That Name?

This is a landmine. If I use a name and realize too late that I know someone with that exact name who might assume I based a character on them… awkward. Especially if the character is a dead body or the town crank.

(Side note: If you’re reading this and recognize your name, it’s a coincidence. Probably. Maybe. Don’t ask.)

5. The Reader Wildcard

Sometimes I throw it to the readers. Recently, I let my newsletter crew vote on the name for a new character, the owner of Beans & Vinyl. I had a personal favorite (Dek), but the people spoke… and now we have Zeke. I'm ready to hang out with him already.

And you know what? I loved the write-ins, too. Tyler made a strong showing, and Vincent deVan swept in with style. Every single suggestion was a delight. (If you suggested one of those, thank you. I’m definitely keeping a list.)

So yes, naming a character is part instinct, part strategy, and part dodging potential family drama. But when the name clicks, it’s like the character finally stands up and walks onto the page fully formed.

And that’s when the fun really begins.