MASTER LISTS FOR WRITERS: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More (14 page)

MEN

Aaron

Abraham*

Adam

Adolphus

Albinus

Albion

Alexander*

Algernon

Allan

Ambrose

Americus

Andrew

Anthony

Archibald

Arthur

Augustus

Aylmer

Baldwin

Barnard

Benedict

Benjamin*

Brook

Carew

Cecil

Charles*

Christmas

Christopher*

Coape

Colin

Cornelius

Daniel*

David*

Donald

Dudley

Duncan

Edmund*

Edward*

Edwin

Eli

Elias

Emanuel

Ephraim

Erasmus

Ernest

Evan

Ewan

Ezra

Felton

Francis*

Frederick

George*

Gerard

Gibbs

Giles

Gilbert

Graham

Guy

Harcourt

Harry

Henry*

Herbert

Honor

Horace

Hudson

Hugh*

Isaac*

Jacob

Jahleel

James*

Jasper

Jeffrey

Jeremy

Jerome

John*

Jonathan*

Joseph*

Joshua

Josiah

Josias

Kenneth

Laurence

Leonard

Levi

Lewis

Lodge

Loftus

Ludlow

Luke

Mark

Martin

Matthew*

Meshach

Michael

Miles

Morgan

Moses

Nash

Nathaniel

Neil

Nicholas

Noah

Norman

Obadiah

Oliver

Owen

Patrick

Percy

Percival

Peregrine

Peter*

Philip*

Phineas

Ralph

Reginald

Reuben

Richard*

Robert*

Roger

Rollo

Sampson

Samuel*

Seth

Shadrack

Sherborne

Silas

Simon

Solomon

Stephen

Theophile

Thomas*

Timothy

Walter

William*

200 NAMES FROM THE WILD WEST

The list of Regency names will actually give you plenty of good ideas for naming characters in an American Western, and you’ll be able to tell which ones are too high-faluting to import into your Wild West town (although even those might be good for one of your city slicker characters.) Here are some first names of real people in the 19
th
-century Western United States. They are outlaws, lawmen, buffalo soldiers, rodeo performers, soldiers who fought at the Alamo, railroad laborers, gold prospectors, prostitutes, business owners, entertainers, and more.

Several names on the list are unusual, and some sound like nicknames. They may still be given names, or in some cases, a person’s nickname may have become so common that his Christian name was forgotten, even for official documents.

Many of these names are English or German in origin, and some of them seem to be American inventions. Names with an asterisk belonged to Mexicans or Mexican Americans. Two asterisks indicate a Chinese name, spelled as it was on the census records. There were far fewer Chinese women than Chinese men in the Wild West, and I was unable to find any on census records, so I don’t have any listed here.

This list does not include names of Native Americans, as far as I know, because I don’t want to contribute to any errors. You’ll need to look into a Native American character’s particular background and history and consider factors of cultural assimilation in order to find an appropriate name.

WOMEN

Adaline

Aleda

Almira

Alpha

America

Antonia*

Artemicia

Aurora

Banica

Barbary

Belle

Beulah

Birdie

Blanche

Caldonia

Calsey

Candelaria*

Chastelle

Clementine

Comfort

Cordelia

Cory

Della

Dina

Dixie

Dolly

Donita

Drusilla

Edgarda

Effie

Elisa

Ernestine

Elnora

Etta

Eugenia

Eunice

Faustina

Faye

Freda

Fredricka

Guadelupe*

Gussie

Helentha

Helvina

Hepsibah

Iola

Isadora

Iva

Kittie

Jewell

Jovenita*

Lena

Lissie

Lola

Lotta

Lovina

Luella

Lulu

Malena

Malinda

Marietta

Mattie

Medina

Minerva

Missouri

Myra

Nannie

Narcissa

Nellie

Nesta

Nettie

Nicolasa*

Parthenia

Patsie

Pearl

Philena

Pleasant

Reta

Reva

Rosalia

Rosetta

Sadie

Salina

Sallie Jane

Sirena

Solana

Sura

Temperance

Thresia

Trinidad*

Una

Ursula

Versie Mae

Victoriana*

Vina

Wilhelmina

Zerelda

Zola

MEN

Adison

Alladin

Alvis

Antone

Axel

Bass

Bing

Boone

Bose

Bruno

Burrell

Buster

Camillus

Chambers

Chancy

Clinton

Cornelius

Dallas

Delton

Dewitt

Elfego*

Ellwood

Emil

Emmett

Ervine

Eulogio*

Fidelous

Fine

Fletcher

Floyd

Gregorio*

Grover

Gustavus

Ham

Hamilton

Hampton

Herman

Hilliard

Hiram

Holden

Hugo

Isham

Jin**

Judd

Lacon

Lafayette

Lamoyne

Larken

Launcelot

Leander

Leonidas

Lester

Levi

Lewellyn

Lin**

Lot

Loyal

Lucius

Lyman

Mack

Major

Marlin

Marquess

Maximino*

Melchior

Merritt

Millard

Milo

Monroe

Montford

Mose

Newton

Orlindo

Paden

Pious

Pliney

Preston

Prince

Prudencio*

Pryor

Quan**

Quincy

Ransom

Roscoe

Shelby

Simeon

Socorro*

Squire

Stillman

Temple

Tiburcio*

Tuck

Uriah

Ventura*

Volney

Warner

Washington

Wiley

Worth

Wright

NAMES FROM WORLD WAR II-ERA U.S. AND GREAT BRITIAN

If you need names for soldiers, pilots, nurses, Rosie the Riveters and Land Girls, look no further. This list can also be useful for any project set in the U.S. or the U.K. from the 1930s through the 1950s. You might even find the perfect name for an older character in your contemporary novel. Many of the names on this list are still popular today.

For the most part, names were pretty similar on both sides of the pond. The names marked with an asterisk, however, seem to be more typical in the U.K. than in the U.S. in this period.

WOMEN

Agnes

Alice

Alma

Anna

Annie

Barbara

Beatrice

Bernice

Bertha

Betty

Catherine

Clara

Dolores

Doris

Dorothy

Edith

Edna

Elaine

Eleanor

Elizabeth

Ella

Elsie

Emma

Esther

Ethel

Evelyn

Florence

Frances

Geraldine

Gertrude

Gladys

Gloria

Hazel

Helen

Irene

Jane

Jean

Josephine

Juanita

June

Leona

Lillian

Lois

Lorraine

Louise

Lucille

Mabel

Marie

Marion

Marjorie

Margaret

Martha

Mary

Maud*

Mildred

Minnie

Myrtle

Nancy

Norma

Opal

Patricia

Pearl

Phyllis

Rita

Rose

Ruby

Ruth

Sarah

Shirley

Thelma

Vera

Virginia

Wanda

Wilma

Yvonne*

MEN

Albert

Alvin

Anthony

Archibald*

Arthur

Benjamin

Bernard

Carl

Charles

Chester

Clarence

Clyde

Cyril*

Dale

Daniel

David

Donald

Douglas

Edgar

Edward

Edwin

Ernest

Eugene

Everett

Francis

Frank

Fred

Frederick

Geoffrey*

George

Gilbert

Glenn

Harold

Harry

Harvey

Henry

Herbert

Howard

Hugh*

Ian*

Jack

James

John

Joseph

Kenneth

Lawrence

Leo

Leonard

Louis

Marvin

Maurice

Milton

Nigel*

Oscar

Paul

Percy*

Peter

Ralph

Raymond

Richard

Robert

Roy

Russell

Samuel

Sidney*

Stanley

Thomas

Vernon

Victor

Virgil

Walter

Warren

Wayne

Willard

William

200 NAMES FOR CONTEMPORARY HEROINES

When you’re naming characters for a novel or script set in the present day, you can turn to a baby name book or website. However, that means wading through thousands of choices, many of them difficult to pronounce or hard to imagine using for an adult in a contemporary setting. This is my attempt to make it a little bit easier.

Many names on this list are popular for women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s in the United States. I have avoided some choices with negative connotations or baggage (although any one of them might carry baggage for you). I’ve curated some rarer names as well. I hope you can find the right moniker here for your quirky, brave, gorgeous, brainy, compassionate, and/or hilarious heroine!

1. Abigail
   
2. Aisha
   
3. Alexandra/Alexandria
   
4. Alice
   Alicia is one variation.
   
5. Allison
   Also spelled Allyson. Alyssa is another option. Most people think of Allison as blonde and
   friendly.
   
6. Amanda
   She might go by Mandy.
   
7. Amaya 
   A pretty Japanese name with a pretty meaning—“night rain.”
   
8. Amelia
   
9. Amy
   
10. Andrea
    

1. Angelina
   
2. Annika 
   Both a Russian and a Swedish name, and actually, I knew an Annika from Finland.
   
3. Antonia
   
4. April 
   Abril is the Spanish version.
   
5. Aria
   
6. Athena 
   The goddess of wisdom and war. Suitable for a brave, smart heroine.
   
7. Audrey 
   I’ve always loved this name, which has an elegant association with Audrey Hepburn. Audra is a variation.
   
8. Autumn
   
9. Bethany
   
10. Brandy
    
11. Bree
    Irish in origin, this name is derived from the name Brigid.
    
12. Bronwyn
    This is a classic Welsh name.
    
13. Brooke
    
14. Caitlin
    
15. Callista
    This Greek name can also be spelled with a “k.”
    
16. Camille
    
17. Caprice 
    This seems like the name of someone who might get you into trouble, and it might be worth it.
    

1. Carina
   Also spelled Karina. Corinne is a similar name.
   
2. Carissa
   
3. Caroline 
   Carrie is the most common nickname, and Carolina is a Spanish version. The Carolina I know has Colombian parents, and everyone calls her Caro.
   
4. Catalina
   
5. Cecilia
   Celia is a variation.
   
6. Celeste
   
7. Chandra
   
8. Chantal
   “Chantel” and “Shantell” are alternate spellings.
   
9. Charlotte 
   “Lottie” is one possible nickname.
   
10. Chaya
     
    This is a Hebrew name meaning “life.”
    
11. Cherie
    
12. Chloe
    
13. Clara
    
14. Clio
    This is the name of the muse of history—one of the nine muses in Greek mythology. Cleo is an alternate spelling.
    
15. Colleen
    
16. Courtney
    

1. Daisy
   
2. Dalia
   May also be spelled Dahlia, like the flower.
   
3. Dana
   Danae is a variation.
   
4. Daphne
   
5. Dawn This is kind of an optimistic hippie name.
   
6. Delphine
   
7. Diamond
   
8. Diana
   
9. Devi 
   A Hindu name that means “divine” or “goddess.”
   
10. Dominique 
    A glamorous name of French origin. Monique has a similar feel.
    
11. Eden
    
12. Elena
    This is an Italian, Spanish, and eastern European version of Helen.
    
13. Elise
    Elyse is an alternate spelling.
    
14. Elizabeth 
    All kinds of nicknames possible.
    
15. Emily
    
16. Erin
    
17. Estelle 
    Stella is a variation.
    
18. Eva 
    Could also be short for Evangeline.
    

1. Faith
   
2. Felicia
   Felicity is a variation.
   
3. Fern
   
4. Florence 
   Flora or Flory are nice nicknames.
   
5. Francesca
   
6. Gabriela
   This is a Spanish name, and Gabriella and Gabrielle are English versions.
   
7. Genevieve 
   Geneva is a similar choice.
   
8. Georgia
   
9. Giselle
   
10. Grace
    
11. Haley
    Can also be spelled Hayley.
    
12. Hannah
    
13. Heidi
    
14. Holly
    
15. Hope
    
16. Imogene
    This is an unusual but very classic name. It can also be spelled Imogen, but the “e” on the end helps with pronunciation.
    
17. Ingrid
    This Scandinavian name first got popular in the United States thanks to the actress Ingrid Bergman.
    

1. Iris 
   A pretty flower and the name of a famous writer, Iris Murdoch.
   
2. Ivy
   
3. Jacqueline* 
   Bound to have associations with elegance, thanks to Jackie Kennedy.
   
4. Jade 
   People imagine that Jade has a carefree personality. Jada is a variation.
   
5. Jamie.
   
6. Jamila
   An Arabic name that means “beautiful.” Can also be spelled Jamilla or Jamillah.
   
7. Jane 
   I think of this as a good name for a reserved person, probably because of
   Pride and Prejudice
   . Janelle, Janine, and Janae are variants.
   
8. Jasmine
   
9. Jennifer
   Jenna is a variation.
   
10. Jessamine 
    Jess or Jessie for short.
    
11. Jia
     
    A Chinese name that means “good” or “outstanding.”
    
12. Jillian
    This could also be spelled Gillian.
    
13. Joelle
    This French name means “Jehovah is God.”
    
14. Jolene
    
15. Josephine
    She could go by Jo, Joey, or Josie.
    
16. Joy
    

1. Julia
   
2. June
   
3. Justine
   
4. Karen
   
5. Katherine
   Also spelled Catherine, of course. There are a few different choices for nicknames here.
   
6. Kelly
   
7. Kelsey
   Can also be spelled Kelsie.
   
8. Kendra
   
9. Kimberly
   Also spelled Kimberley.
   
10. Kristina
    
11. Lacey
    Also spelled Lacy and Lacie.
    
12. Lakeisha
    Can also be spelled Lakesha.
    
13. Laura
    Lara is a popular variation.
    
14. Lauren
    Laurel is a similar choice.
    
15. Leah
    
16. Leila
    Layla is a possible alternate spelling.
    
17. Lilly
    Can also be spelled Lily if it’s not short for Lillian.
    
18. Lindsey
    Can also be spelled Lindsay.
    
19. Linnea
    

1. Lisa
   
2. London
   
3. Lucia
   
4. Lucy
   Could be short for Lucille or Lucinda...or it might just be Lucy.
   
5. Macy
   Can also be spelled Macie or Macey.
   
6. Maggie
   
7. Mara
   
8. Maria 
   As classic as it gets, and many people think of it as a Hispanic name.
   
9. Marissa 
   Marisol is a similar option.
   
10. Maureen
    
11. May
    
12. Maya
    
13. Megan
    
14. Melissa
    
15. Melody
    
16. Mercy
    
17. Millicent
    I put this on here mostly because Millie is such a cute nickname.
    
18. Mina
    This name appears in a few different cultures, and in Bram Stroker’s
    Dracula.
    

1. Miranda
   
2. Molly 
   People think of Molly as really cute and maybe kind of innocent.
   
3. Nadia
   
4. Naomi
   
5. Natalia
   Or Natalie.
   
6. Nicole
   
7. Nina
   
8. Noel
   Also spelled Noelle.
   
9. Octavia 
   
10. Olivia
    
11. Oralie
    This is a French name meaning “golden.” Aurelia is a variation.
    
12. Paige
    
13. Pamela
    
14. Pauline
    
15. Penelope 
    Although Penelope in
    The Odyssey
    stayed home and waited for twenty years,
    people imagine Penelope as an adventurous type. Lots of nickname options here: Pen, Penny, Nell, and Nellie.
    

1. Phoebe
   
2. Piper
   
3. Poppy
   
4. Rae
   
5. Rachel
   Also spelled Rachael.
   
6. Rebecca
   Frequently spelled “Rebekah.”
   
7. Renée
   
8. Rhiannon 
   This is the name of the Celtic goddess of horses, inspiration, and the moon. It’s
   also a really old rock song.
   
9. River
   There are two terrific Rivers in science fiction: River Song in
   Dr. Who
   and River Tam in
   Firefly.
   
10. Robin
    An alternate spelling, Robyn, might seem more modern, but Robin Hood was often spelled “Robyn Hode.”
    
11. Rose
    
12. Rosemary
    
13. Rowan
    “Rowena” is a variation.
    
14. Roxanne
    Roxy/Roxie is a pretty fun nickname.
    
15. Ruby
    
16. Ruth
    
17. Samantha
    

1. Samara
   
2. Sarah
   Frequently spelled without the final “h.”
   
3. Savannah
   Sometimes spelled without the final “h.”
   
4. Selena 
   This is a version of Selene, the moon goddess of Greek mythology.
   Of course,the
   two big associations here are the late singer who went only by her first name, and Selena
   Gomez.
   
5. Sasha
   
6. Serenity
   
7. Shasta
   
8. Shayla
   
9. Shea
   Occasionally spelled Shay.
   
10. Sidney
    Might also be spelled Sydney.
    
11. Simone
    
12. Skye
    
13. Sonia
    Also spelled Sonya.
    
14. Sophia
    Sophronia is a similar but less common name. Sophie is short for either.
    
15. Sylvia
    Silvia is the Spanish and Italian version.
    
16. Talia
    
17. Tameka
    Aramaic in origin. Can also be spelled Tamika or Tamikah.
    

1. Tara
   People think of Tara as someone who likes to have fun.
   
2. Tasha
   Latasha is a variation.
   
3. Tegan
   Also spelled Teagan.
   
4. Tessa
   Or Tess. Either of these may be short for Theresa.
   
5. Tia
   
6. Trinity
   
7. Valencia
   
8. Vanessa
   
9. Victoria
   
10. Vida
    
11. Viola
    
12. Violet 
    
13. Virginia
    
14. Wendy
    
15. Winifred
    She could go by Win, Winnie, Fred, or Freddie.
    
16. Winter
    
17. Wren
    
18. Zara
    This can also be spelled Zahra.
    
19. Zephyr
    

1. Zoe