Alex Flinn: What’s in a Name?

Naming characters is one of the fun parts of being a writer! You know what the character is going to be like, so you can select a name that suits that character. Also, you don't have to worry that the character is going to be taunted about a weird name – unless, of course, that's your object. Sometimes, a character just names himself, but sometimes, I have to think about it more.

Some of the factors I consider in choosing a character's name are:

1. Meaning. When I named my main character, Kyle Kingsbury, the "Beast" in Beastly, I chose the name because it meant, "handsome." After handsome Kyle is transformed into a beast, he changes his own name to Adrian, which means, "dark."

2. Popularity. If I want to show that a character is the kind of person who fits in, I choose a popular name like Caitlin or Michael. If I want to show that a character is a loner who bucks the system, I choose a more unusual name, such as Julian or Binky.

3. Ethnicity. Because I live in Miami, I like my characters to be multicultural, so I try to choose a variety of names.

4. A story. In Fade to Black, the character of Clinton was named Clinton because his father liked a certain Clint Black song that was popular the year he was born.

Sometimes, when I'm struggling with a character, I find that the right name makes that character come alive in my mind.

How do you name your characters?

Alex Flinn
Author of Beastly, Diva, Fade to Black, Nothing to Lose, and more
www.alexflinn.com

Check back each day to hear from a new HarperTeen author!