Choosing a Character's Name
Occasionally, a character's name appears on the page without my making a conscious decision. It just shows up while I am writing. This doesn't happen often. Once in a great while, I'll make up a name. Especially if my character is an alien or an elf, but I don't do that for most characters.
Most of the time, I research names and meanings to find the right name, or in the case of my were-characters, names. Except for werelions. (Lions are too arrogant to allow their beasts to have a separate name.)
The name not only has to look and sound right for the character, if there is a deeper meaning to it, it has to match the character, too.
Researching Names
There are a few web pages that I like to peruse, but when looking for a specific name, for instance, a character from a specific country and/or century, I will do a web search. Then my search string might be something like, "male names 17th century England" which returns the list below.
After selecting a link, I'll go to the site and hopefully find an appropriate name for my character.
Some of my favorite name sites include:
- http://www.namenerds.com/irish/trad.html
- http://www.thinkbabynames.com/names/1/18th
- https://nameberry.com/list/245/Colonial-Names-for-Girls
- https://www.babycenter.com/0_popular-baby-names-from-around-the-world_1429034.bc
If I can't find what I need at those sites, I do a search.
Characters of the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series
As you might think, writing a series with so many names can be confusing. For both the writer and the reader. To keep the names and their relationships in mind, I created a chart. Some of these characters were only mentioned in passing, or I took note of them for future reference.
When the clowder is adopted by Nate in book 2, I added the names of all 26 new characters, even if they weren't specifically mentioned in the text. If you look closely, you'll see some names you haven't used, yet.
Click here to download the PDF of the chart below.
Characters of the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series
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| W=Werewolf | WC=Changeling | P=Werepanther | B=Werebear | H=Human | V=Vampire | L=Lion |
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| BC=Werebear Changeling | T=Tiger | F=Fox | CL=Clouded Leopard | C=Cougar | J=Jaguar | PU=Puma |
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Character
|
Identity
|
Were Name
|
Books
|
MISC.
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| Nate Rollins (W) | Alpha | Koreth | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Brown hair, grey eyes |
| Janelle Hynson Rollins (W) | Alpha’s Mate and Wife | Nadrai | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Blonde hair, green eyes |
| Curtis Thomas (WC) | Alpha’s Adopted Father | Albern | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Cynthia Thomas (WC) | Alpha’s Adopted Mother | Hachi | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Dustin Mercer (Dusty) (W) | Alpha’s 2nd Adopted Father | Laethe | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Ophelia Linette Rollins (W) | Alpha's Daughter | Tuathla (princess of the people) | 4,5,6 | |
| Jonathan Dyers(W) | Pack Beta | Ezrath | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Ben Garrett (P) | Father of Clowder Queen | Marcel | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Flora Garret (P) | Clowder Queen | Leesha | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Will Feyen (P) | Clowder Beta | Eachann | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Peyton Marston (WC) | Former Huntsman Colonel | Krieges | 4,5,6 | |
| General Brighton (V) | Former CO of Nate/Eli | -- | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Donald Dunn (H) | Human Representative | -- | 3,4,5,6 | |
| Daryll Crane (B) | Alpha of the Werebears | Darcel | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Thorkell Erikson (Snarl) (W) | Alpha’s Bodyguard, Leif Eriksson's son | Snarl | 4,5,6 | Viking, Erik the Red's grandson |
| Lorena Garret | Former Panther Clowder Queen | Rodesai | 1,2 | Ben's sister/Flora's aunt |
| Martin | First Tom to Lorena | unknown | 1,2 | |
| Franklin | Lorena's Oldest Son | unknown | 1,2 | |
| Jeffrey | Lorena's Youngest Son | unknown | 2 | |
| Dottie Paddack (P) | Adrian’s Mom | Urlah | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Zoe Schneider (BC) | Former Huntsman | Merka | 4,5,6 | |
| Phillip Marston (H) | Former Huntsman | -- | 3,4,5,6 | 19 years old, dark hair, green eyes |
| Paige Marston (H) | Former Huntsman | -- | 4,5,6 | Blond, green eyes, 22 years old |
| Nettie Dietrich (W) | Widow of Trent Bradley | Sachin | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Trey Dietrich (W) | Nettie’s Teenage Son | Faelan | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Jim Feller (H) | Huntsman Major | -- | 5,6 | |
| Bess Crane (B) | Daryll's Oldest Sister | Vafara | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Stella Crane (B) | Daryll's Youngest Sister | Jadira | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Mason Langley (P) | Ophelia's Fated Mate (10) | Dace | 5,6 | Jace & BethAnn's Son |
| Ryan Neville (P) | Mason's Father | Padrig | 5,6 | |
| Taylor Neville (P) | Mason's Mother | Zarita | 5,6 | |
| Thorgunna (H) | Leif Eriksson's wife | -- | 5 | |
| Thorgils Leifsson (H) | Leif Eriksson's son | -- | 5 | |
| Mattie Dietrich (W) | Nettie's Daughter | Taith | 2,3,4,5,6 | Twin to Lettie |
| Lettie Dietrich (W) | Nettie's Daughter | Talina | 2,3,4,5,6 | Twin to Mattie |
| Eli Marshal Rollins (WC) | Nate's Foster/Adopted Brother | Jabril | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Blonde hair |
| Renate Bianchi Rollins (W) | Eli's Wife | Salena | 3,4,5,6 | |
| Captain Fischer (W) | Head of Council Military Guard | Lache | 1,6 | |
| Secretary Bianchi (W) | Secretary of State U.S. | Celio | 3,4 | Renate's Father |
| Maria Schneider (H) | Zoe's Mother, Former Huntsman | -- | 5,6 | |
| Gisele Schneider (H) | Zoe's Aunt, Former Huntsman | -- | 5,6 | |
| Reese (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (17) | Ayden | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Ethan (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (16) | Baroi | 1 | |
| Wyatt (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (16) | Jaroth | 1 | |
| Owen (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (14) | Garyeth | 1 | |
| Asher (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (15) | Klaron | 1 | |
| Bobby (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (17) | Caslon | 1,5,6 | |
| Isabella (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (16) | Skylee | 1,6 | |
| Gayle (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (14) | Noreda | 1 | |
| Paisley (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (16) | Claralyn | 1,6 | |
| Lisa (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (15) | Kaylia | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Amelie Turner (W) | Surviving Teen Wolf (17) | Aaliyah | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Stan Rickert (P) | Zane & Mia's son (12) | Cathair | 2 | |
| Lucas Langley(P) | Jace & BethAnn's son (16) | Juris | 2 | |
| Adrian Paddock (P) | Dottie's Son (18) | Maaz | 2,3,4,5,6 | |
| Arthur Nevelle (P) | Ryan & Taylor's son (17) | Gaagi | 2 | |
| Paul Nevelle (P) | Ryan & Taylor's son (12) | Zabbai | 2 | |
| Bekka Rickert (P) | Zane & Mia's daughter (6) | Macyn | 2 | |
| Sissy Paddack (P) | Dottie's Daughter (10) | Kecela | 2 | |
| Lily Rickert (P) | Zane & Mia's daughter (13) | Kysa | 2 | |
| Alecia Langley (P) | Jace & BethAnn's Daughter (6) | Fritha | 2 | |
| Aspen Nevelle (P) (girl) | Ryan & Taylor's daughter (17) | Yamka | 2 | |
| Maggie Paddack (P) | Dottie's Daughter (16) | Aini | 2 | |
| Bella Nevelle (P) | Jace & BethAnn's Daughter (6) | Mausi | 2 | |
| Tammi Rickert (P) | Zane & Mia's daughter (3 mo) | Othili | 2 | Twin to Harry |
| Harry Rickert (P) | Zane & Mia's son (3 months) | Cacue | 2 | Twin to Tammi |
| Deb Langley (P) | Jace & BethAnn's Daughter (2) | Obilai | 2 | |
| Staci Wibert (P) | Trevor's Mate | Fola | 2 | |
| Trevor Wibert (P) | Staci's Mate | Zaccur | 2 | |
| BethAnn Langley (P) | Jace's Mate | Kordha | 2 | |
| Jace Langley (P) | BethAnn's Mate | Mabud | 2 | |
| Zane Rickert (P) | Mia's Mate | Ceard | 2 | |
| Mia Rickert (P) | Zane's Mate | Gali | 2 | |
| Seringi (L) | Serengeti Pride African man--brother to Ajoni--first heir to the throne until Ajoni has an heir | None | 6 | (Lions are too arrogant to allow their animals their own names) |
| Ajoni (L) | King of Serengeti Pride African man | none | 6 | (Lions are too arrogant to allow their animals their own names) |
| Kabarl (L) | Beta to Serengeti Pride King African man (Lions are too arrogant to allow their animals their own names) | none | 6 | (Lions are too arrogant to allow their animals their own names) |
| Hansh (L) | King of Gir Forest Pride India man | none | 6 | (Lions are too arrogant to allow their animals their own names) |
| Ranbir (L) | Beta to Gir Forest Pride India man | none | 6 | (Lions are too arrogant to allow their animals their own names) |
| Akarsh (T) | Alpha to Kanha Ambush India native | Ojas | 6 | |
| Chirag (T) | Beta to Kanha Ambush India native | Himmat | 6 | |
| Evgeni (T) | Alpha to the Siberia Ambush Queen | Fyodor | 6 | Dark hair, Russian |
| Gavriila (T) | Siberia Ambush Beta | Atlai | 6 | Dark haired Russian (female) |
| Izzat (CL) | Patriarch to the Borneo Leap | Raafi | 6 | Mocha skin, Eurasian eyes, brown hair |
| Basila (CL) | Matriarch to the Borneo Leap | Baysan | 6 | Mocha skin, Eurasian eyes, brown hair |
| Victoria (C ) | Queen to the Tennessee Highland Rim Pride | Gawonii | 6 | Cherokee heritage |
| Ray (C ) | Beta to the Tennessee Highland Rim Pride | Degataga | 6 | Cherokee heritage |
| Ji-ae (F) | Queen Vixen Daegu Skulk (South Korea) | Kyuri | 6 | |
| Keiji (F) | Beta Tod Daegu Skulk (South Korea) | Chul | 6 | |
| Everette (W) | Alpha Colorado Pack | Veolti | 6 | |
| Karena (W) | Beta Colorado Pack | Tareta | 6 | |
| John (W) | Alpha Oklahoma Pack | Wolcai | 6 | |
| Winston (W) | Beta Oklahoma Pack | Bliden | 6 | |
| Lee Hill (H) | Black Huntsman Colonel (24) | -- | 6 | Youngest colonel in Huntsman org., in love with Paige, though Paige thinks of him as a friend |
| Camila (J) | Queen of Amazon Basin Jaguars | Noa | 6 | |
| Matias (J) | Queens' Tom of Amazon Basin Jaguars | Axel | 6 | |
| Halyna (PU) | Queen of Alberta Pumas | Lera | 6 | Ukranian descent |
| Bohdan (PU) | Queen's Tom of Alberta Puma | Pylap | 6 | Ukranian descent |
| Dr. Timothy Travis | 1/2 wolf, 1/2 human | No wolf (yet?) | 7 | not able to shift |
| Blayze Arquero (B) | Daryll's beta | Rorex | P1 | Dark hair, dark eyes, heavy, but muscular build, former enforcer |
If you are a writer, how do you come up with names for your characters?
Later,
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