I'm going to start writing my second script, tentatively titled Abattoir, soon but before I do, I need to pick the names of my characters which IMO is the most irritating aspect of the screenwriting process. With my first script, it was easy; I just named the characters after the names of the directors who made my favorite zombie movies (except some of the names were shortened into nick-names so it wouldn't be blatantly obvious). However I've decided not to do anything like that for my second script. Kiss Of The Locust was a bit tongue-and-cheek so it was appropriate but this one is intended to be much darker with influences including The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Last House On The Left, and The Vanishing.

In short, how do you go about picking character names? Random mix-and-matching of names just hasn't been working for me.

I "cast" my stories with real people I have met.  People who have the traits I desire for my character.  I am not talking about close friends who would recognize themselves, but obscure people I have met during the course of my lifetime.

And if I think I can get away with it, I go ahead and use their real names.  If not, I use something close.

This technique helps tremendously with the action and dialogue.  When you have an honest-to-goodness person in mind, you can ask yourself, "What would [insert name here] actually do, or say, in this situation?"

This could be particularly fun for you since you are planning a story where (I assume) lots of people die.  Cast it with people you didn't like  

does it really matter?  Whats ina name?  A rose by any other would smell as sweet.  or something like that.  Just do it randomly.

I disagree with the random approach, for myself at least. I always consider the character's ethnicity, age and background to some extent. After I've narrowed that down, I pick a name that sounds good, and I mean literally sounds good. It has to have a nice ring to it when spoken. And the first and last names should work well together in all the above respects.

But that's just how I do it.

see, people arent going to go to a movie, and come out saying "My favorite part was his name, 'Phillip' see how it rolls off the tongue?  What a great movie, the plot sucked but that name, wow!"

Now your thinking:  "thats taking it to an extreme."  And it is, but the cold hard truth is, no one cares.  sure, I guess it matters, you can't name all the characters george, that would get confusing, or you cant have some random girl named like "Lasamasakakakamarat" because thats weird.  But no one is going to say, "that movie was good, but the fact that his name was Ricky made it just a littler better"

Which is why, names really dont matter much, dont spend more than five minutes tops on names, its uneeded

You don't think names matter because most professional screenwriters know the importance of a name that fits, so you don't ever think to question the names you hear when you see a movie. If you heard an Asian guy was named Trevor O'Shaunessy, or inversely, if a white guy was named Akira Takanawa - it would be weird.

See, names are important. Granted, not the most important thing, but not irrelevant.

To quote myself:

Quoted from Higgonaitor I guess it matters, you can't name all the characters george, that would get confusing, or you cant have some random girl named like "Lasamasakakakamarat" because thats weird.

honestly, what Im trying to say is its not gonna matteras long as you use common sense, as stated above, dont give them a weird name.  Like naming a kid lamp. naming a boy Jane.  Im trying to say it does not need to fit perfectly because no audience is really going to care all that much.  No ones gonna say: "Wow, I cant beleive they named him john, jake would have fitted so much better" or "Wow, his anem in ancient alantisian means peacekeeper, fancy that!"

"I need to pick the names of my characters which IMO is the most irritating aspect of the screenwriting process"
Im also trying to say that in a script, names are the least of your problems.  dont spend 10 minutes on names when you could be perfecting your plot, get it?

Quoted from Higgonaitor "I need to pick the names of my characters which IMO is the most irritating aspect of the screenwriting process"

That's the main difference between us, it's not a chore for me. In fact, I consider it a part of the process of creating an interesting character - and I enjoy it. I've actually been inspired to change plot elements because I came up with a cool name, and through that, a cool character. The more time you spend creating your characters, the easier it is to write  for them.

I used to find names a pain as well, but then I decided to use the names of people I know and sometimes base my characters off of their personalities.

Higgonaiter, when reading a screenplay names are crucial, it's alot different on screen.  Unless you're an award winning writer, chances are you don't want to name your main characters Mike, John, Joe, and Jim.  No offense to anyone, but Mike and John are very boring names since they're all over the place.

I mean make creative names.  Yeah, no one's gonna name their character Lamp or name a boy Jane, but use names that you don't hear often.  M. Night Shyamalan is a great example.  In all of his movies he uses names that you don't hear everyday: Malcolm, Elijah, Graham, Bo, Merrill...it's a hell of alot better than naming your main character Mike Williams because you can't think of anything else.

Oh, well I completely disagree.  I have never cared about names to much at all.  Pete, you quoted me quoting James, Im not sure if you meant to do that.

Greg, I disagree, its not just onscreen.  I am not going to read a screen play because the author named a character "Malcom"  Al Im trying to say is that it isnt "crucial"  its one of the least crucial things.

Ah, sorry about the misquote, I missed that. I stand behind the comment anyway.

Here's a correct quote:

Quoted Text Al Im trying to say is that it isnt "crucial"  its one of the least crucial things.

Personally, if I open a script and find bland, stock names I tend to think it may also have a bland, stock plot. If the writing is great, but the names are boring, then it's no big deal. But if the writing is just average to begin with and the names are boring, then that's just one more reason to stop reading. It's not the main thing I look for, or even in the top 5, but it does mean something to me.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.  

Names don't always make the plot, but they should at least fit the plot and the character. Some names have sterotypes attached to them, and it's often a good idea to stand by the sterotypes. Some plots are intended to happen in Anytown, USA (or wherever) and as a result, DESERVE common names. I do think ethnintricity should be factor into the choice of names based on race or origin for reasons previously noted, so there is a measure of believability within the plot that has to be considered. I don't think a script can be fully judged based on names, but I think they play a backend factor on what you thought of the film afterward.

The names I choose depend upon the nature of the character. I actually spend an inordinate amount of time on the names of the major characters to make sure the name they have will work for who they are. To figure out a name, I have three primary methods: I go through movies I like on imdb looking at the characters and the cast seeing which name would work for me; I come up with a random name off the top of my head either using a real name or, in the cae of The Fempiror Chronicles, coming up with a new word that sounds like it could be a name; and finally, sometimes whle writing a name just comes out and I leave it. I just feel it out until the right one sticks with me.

Now, I do have a strong tendency to go with patterns of names. While I'm not a Winona Ryder fan, because I used a lot of names from Beetejuice in The Soul Keeper, I named the wife in that story Lydia Deitz, Winona Ryder's character. I then named every subsequent victim after roles Winona Ryder has played (Abigail Williams, Susanna Kayson, Mina Murray, Kim Boggs). Why? Because a point of that story is that they all look alike, so I thought, "Why not?"

Lastly, for secondary characters who usually get the names of COP 1 and GUY BEHIND THE COUNTER WITH THE WIG, I give common names, so they have a name to hinge on, so instead of COPS 1-34, you have Tom, Dick, Harry, Steve, Bob, Bill, Fred...etc.

My thoughts.

Names can add to the characterspersonality. And a characters personality has a great effect on how the movie goes over. We as an audience like or dislike the characters. The name just helps add more of an image and more of a psychological factor. If anyone has seen American Beauty with Kevin Spacey... the name for his daughter... Jane was a perfect match. It helped to express her character more. She was seen as a plain girl... Like a "plain Jane". It's not that big of a deal but if her name was something more flamboyant it would divert attention away from the real theme of the movie. And that it sucks to be ordinary... anyways, I dont think I am making sense now. But names do matter.

-Andrew

I always have trouble with names, usually hero names.

I like using names as a suprise thing. Like, you think the bad guy is Baron Von Killsatan, but it's actually Bobby.

i bring out the old high school yearbook and find names...

i also make lists of names that i like... randomize it..and just take the top names on the list of the specified sex of the character i am looking for

wah-la