You've just ensured I henceforth get my face slapped by the three Cindy's I know (or I might get lucky, wahey!)every 'Cindy' I have met, has blonde/light-brown hair, tends to be well curved and somewhat promiscuous
Scrivener has a pretty comprehensive name generator with multiple customisable options
@The Bluestocking you're not alone. I've never had an issue naming my characters. Most of the time, they pop up in my mind because of the story. I mostly use common names, existing ones rather than inventing impossible to pronounce names. Using common names, helps the reader to focus on the story, rather than make an consciously effort to remember who's who. For example, I currently read The three-body problem and I need make an effort to remember some of the names, because they are very exotic to me.
Scrivener has a pretty comprehensive name generator with multiple customisable options - here's a screen cap.
A) Select the gender (option for either, too)
B) I like the touch of an alliteration option.
C) This is the most impressive option as cultural names can be specified. There're more regional/cultural options but this is screen cap of what was there when I took the screen.
D) It will generate between 1 - 500 names for you depending on where you set the slider.
View attachment 57029
I've not needed to use it, but as you can see it's pretty amazing.
pH
Scrivener has a pretty comprehensive name generator with multiple customisable options - here's a screen cap.
A) Select the gender (option for either, too)
B) I like the touch of an alliteration option.
C) This is the most impressive option as cultural names can be specified. There're more regional/cultural options but this is screen cap of what was there when I took the screen.
D) It will generate between 1 - 500 names for you depending on where you set the slider.
View attachment 57029
I've not needed to use it, but as you can see it's pretty amazing.
pH
There are some - not I! - who whisper that he has a poor taste in Scribes.And just what is wrong with the Dark Lord?
Can't disagree thereThere are some - not I! - who whisper that he has a poor taste in Scribes.
I agree. Taking exact notes is worth it.Agreed on the master list. I prefer web sites such as Behind the Name over name generators, especially because they give variant spellings.
Here's another source. Go to the library (that big building with books in it, remember?) and go to the stacks for history books. This will be arranged by region--Europe, Asia, etc.--then by chronology and sub-region. Pick any books that have an index and start thumbing. A book on Hittites or on the Wends or the Faroe Islands will give you a blizzard of names. Don't be selective, but do write down their region and era. After investing a few hours you'll have hundreds of names. Medieval Scandinavian names. Pre-Columbian South American names. Inuit names. You want them arranged so you can have name consistency across multiple charcters. If you're feeling especially ambitious, do the same for place names--they'll be in that index as well.
However you go about it, follow the advice given here: keep everything in one place. That way you can use your computer's search function to come up with something quickly. For those not annoyed by the clumsy UI, a spreadsheet is not a bad tool because of its sorting functions. Databases for the nerdly ambitious. Word processor for mere mortals.