Flip through a technical manual for something unrelated. Botany, astronomy, old medicine. Latin terms for plant parts or archaic instrument names are goldmines. 'Albedo,' 'Stamen,' 'Culverin.' They sound like they belong in a grimoire. Just change a letter or two—'Albedo' becomes 'Albedor'—and you've got a sorcerer's name that carries a whisper of its original meaning, light reflection, which could be a neat subtle clue about his magic.
The trick for me is looking past the dictionary of fantasy names. I stare at a map, pick geographical features, and mess with the syllables. A mountain range called the Vael Tor? That's a person now—Vaeltor, maybe Torvael. Place names carry instant history, like they've got soil under their nails. I stole a side character's name from a mispronounced street sign, 'Elmhurst,' which became 'Elmhur,' and suddenly he was a woodsman.
Another angle is to borrow from obscure mythologies everyone else overlooks. Instead of Norse or Greek, dig into Basque folklore or Sumerian creation myths. You get sounds that feel ancient but fresh, like 'Irkalla' or 'Ekhi.' Just say them out loud. If it trips your tongue three times, it's probably good; it forces the reader to slow down and taste the word, which adds weight to the character.
Honestly, I think a lot of fantasy names are over-engineered. They pile on apostrophes and weird consonants until it reads like a keyboard smash. I prefer simpler names that fit the setting without being a chore to remember. Look at 'Ged' from 'A Wizard of Earthsea' or 'Lyra' from 'His Dark Materials.' Two syllables, easy to say, but they stick because of who the characters are.
Sometimes the best name isn't a name at all. A title or a descriptor can be more defining. A character known only as 'the Clay-Smith' or 'the Lockpick' immediately tells you something vital about them. You build the lore around the function, and the real name becomes a mystery, which can be more intriguing than any concoction of vowels.
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This is a brochure containing a collection of PROMPT IDEAS from our one and only GOOD NOVEL WORKSHOP. Every PROMPT is a thrilling idea that might inspire you and can be the foundation of your next book! If interested, Please send your summary to: workshop@goodnovel.com, and note which prompt is based on. Our editors will get back to you as soon as possible.
"Custom demanded that Prince Urban get a love mark tattooed to the side of his left eye as an infant, just like the rest of his people, but to him, the stupid things have only brought on the scorn of his father, the misery of his siblings, and caused his entire kingdom to go broke from fighting so many wars over the irritating ink stains.
When Urban’s sister must travel to Donnelly, the kingdom within the sand, for her arranged marriage to align two realms, he goes with her. But he no sooner steps foot inside their castle than his mark starts itching like a son of a bitch, telling him his one true love is near.
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Her name was Cathedra. Leave her last name blank, if you will.
Where normal people would read, "And they lived happily ever after," at the end of every fairy tale story, she could see something else. Three different things.
Three words: Lies, lies, lies.
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No one believed her. No one ever did.
She was branded as a liar, a freak with too much imagination, and an orphan who only told tall tales to get attention. She was shunned away by society. Loveless. Friendless.
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Instead of dying, she found herself blessed with a second life inside the fairy tale novels she wrote, and living the life she wished she had with the characters she considered as the only friends she had in the world she left behind.
Cathedra was happy until she realized that an ominous presence lurks within her stories. One that wanted to kill her to silence the only one who knew the truth.
The first book in a series about Gods, Godesses, treachery and betrayal. Follow the main character as she learns her strengths and fights to restore the balance of light and dark.
Naming fantasy characters is one of my favorite creative exercises! I love blending sounds from different languages or mythologies to create something fresh. For example, 'Elysvar' combines 'Elysium' (Greek paradise) with the Nordic '-var' suffix, suggesting a warrior with a divine touch. Another approach is twisting nature words—'Vireth' could come from 'vireo' (a green bird) + 'breath,' evoking a forest spirit.
Sometimes, I borrow from obscure historical names for authenticity. 'Theodran' sounds elven but actually adapts an ancient Gothic name meaning 'people’s raven.' For darker characters, I mash up ominous syllables like 'Krovaxis' ('krov' means blood in Slavic, and 'axis' adds a cosmic edge). The key is balancing uniqueness with pronounceability—nothing pulls me out of a story faster than a name that feels like a keyboard smash!
Naming characters is one of my favorite parts of writing! For a fantasy novel, I'd go for something melodic but with weight, like 'Elysara Veyth' or 'Kaelthor the Sundered.' Those names feel ancient yet fresh, like they belong to a world of magic and forgotten lore. For sci-fi, sharp, futuristic names work—maybe 'Zyr-9' or 'Nexis Vail,' which sound like they could pilot a starship or outsmart an AI overlord.
Contemporary stories need names with personality quirks—'Dashiell Finch' for a witty detective, or 'Luna Reeves' for a free-spirited artist. I love digging into etymology or mashing up syllables until something clicks. Once, I combined 'serene' and 'aster' to get 'Seraster,' which became a queen in one of my drafts. The key is balancing uniqueness with readability—no one wants to stumble over a name every page!
Naming characters in a fantasy novel is an art I take seriously. I love diving into mythology, history, and different languages for inspiration. For strong warriors, I might pick names like 'Kaelthor' or 'Brynhildr,' which echo Norse legends. For mystical beings, names like 'Elindra' or 'Sylvaris' sound ethereal. I avoid overly complex names that readers might stumble over. Sometimes, I tweak real names—like turning 'Alexander' into 'Xandrius'—to add a fantasy twist. I also consider the character’s backstory; a peasant might have a simpler name like 'Tomkin,' while a noble could be 'Lord Varethian.' Consistency in naming conventions within the same culture is key to world-building.