Free Character Name Generators For Fiction Writers

How can you find a unique character name? Many writers use free character name generators for good fiction character names.

These tools can certainly help you find ideas.

But if you want to find the perfect name for a character in your book or short story, you need to be selective.

If J K Rowling had chosen Wymond Forde instead of Harry Potter, would her books have been so successful?

In This Article

Choosing the right character name

You have probably tried a random name generator.

They can be terrific tools for finding inspiration.

However, most of the suggestions won’t be a good match for your genre.

When you are writing a billionaire romance, the names of Nordic gods will not be a good fit.

Likewise, if you are writing science fiction, you don’t want common names like John, George, or Susan.

What’s a good character name? The key to selecting a character name is that it fits your genre.

It will help give extra depth to your character profile.

I’m sure William Shakespeare agonized for days before choosing Romeo and Juliet.

Perhaps he crossed out Albert and Vivian early on but considered Caesar and Eloise.

So, how do you choose a name for your characters?

Take your time and do your research

Choosing names for characters in fiction is one of the most important first steps when creating your story outline.

If you rush it and choose any random character name, you might fail to get your readers to connect with your story and characters.

When you are selecting possible names, always make a list of at least five or six possibilities. Think about how each name works in conjunction with the other names in your story.

Wade and Tyler might go together well as a detective team. But Algernon and Philip might not hit the mark.

Herman and Rosalind would be poor choices for a fantasy prince and princess. Melo and Galea could work, though.

You can use your imagination, try anagrams, or even Scrabble letters. But for many writers, it’s easier to use a free online tool and let it go to work for you.

Here are some choices for you to try.

The best free character name generators

Feel free to try any of the following tools to help you find new names to include in your next story.

1. Reedsy

You might not need to use any other tool. The Reedsy Name Generator is probably the best of them all.

You can choose by language, Medieval, Gods, Fantasy, and Archetypes.

The tool has a database of over a million names, so you are sure to find one that’s just right for you.

2. Fantasy Name Generators

There are lists and lists of names for fantasy and paranormal, and science fiction on Fantasy Name Generators.

If you are looking for a name for an alien, this could well be the site for you.

3. Name Generator

Yes, Name Generator gives you lots of fiction and fantasy character names.

But it also has some other great naming tools.

You can choose blog names, usernames, or nicknames.

Whatever names you are looking to generate, this site probably has you covered.

4. World Spinner

The World Spinner name generator takes a different approach.

All you need to do is click the red reload icon to get a new list of names, cities, and nations.

The simplicity makes it a handy little tool when you are looking for new fantasy names.

5. Random Name Generator

There’s nothing fancy at all on this site. But as the name says on the box, Random Name Generator does just that.

You can select to show a list of 100 full names to consider.

6. Behind the Name

Behind the Name has one great little feature.

You can choose “Generate Life Story,” and you will get a short character bio you can use to profile your new character.

Later, you might want to edit the information, but it is useful to get you started.

7. The Story Shack

There’s a long list of different free character name generators on The Story Shack.

You’ll find just about any topic you can imagine, from cats and dog names to Star Wars names and elves and dwarfs.

If you are looking for real name generators, there’s a huge listing by nationality.

The site is a bit slow, but if you are patient, you might find a gem of a name for your fiction project.

8. Masterpiece Name Generator

Masterpiece Name Generator lacks visual appeal and is covered in ads.

But it has been around for a long time and has some useful features. You can set a title, gender, nationality, and even date of birth.

There are many other options you can set to help you find the name that’s just right.

You have lots of choices

My list above includes the best and most popular free character name generators for fiction writers.

But hundreds of sites on the Internet offer random name databases.

It’s not necessarily about using the best tools but more about making the best decisions.

There are many factors to take into account.

Does the name fit?

You should consider your character’s age, the story’s time setting, and possibly Geneology or nationality.

If you are writing in the paranormal or dystopian genres, does the name suit the time, place, and perhaps even the story’s weirdness?

It is similar to choosing a pen name. You want it to grab attention but not be over the top.

Summary

Once you develop a story idea, which is the hard part, selecting your character names is your second most important task.

If you get it right, you will enhance your story and engage your readers more easily. But if you get it wrong, an ill-fitting name can become an annoyance.

Take your time and use all the tools at your fingertips to prepare a list of possibilities. Ask your friends what they think to get some feedback.

The more consideration you give, the better your choices will be.

8 Best Free Character Name Generators For Fiction Writers