As part of my interest in New Age culture and metaphysics, I have always explored the meaning of numbers and names. Is it a coincidence that people with the same name can be drawn to each other in the same way as people with the same sun sign? It’s not to say that everyone born under the sign of Capricorn will get along any more than people with the same name will. In fact, I often butt heads with other Capricorns and my interaction with other people with the same first name is hit or miss.

As I name my characters, I think about how the name will represent them. For now, I rely on names that conjure certain strong positive feelings or carry a strong value within the spelling of the name. For instance, Jacob, the hero in my current work in progress, carries a strong Biblical name. Justin, the character from my published novel, carries the value or idea of being just in his name. I picked the name Kara for another character because she was an emotional person who deeply cares about those around her.

Finding the meaning of names is not hard given the fact that we are entrenched in the information age. The name’s meaning may not be enough in defining your character. You may also have to think about the name’s origin. For example, several sources list the name Laura as having Spanish and English origin. Some of the other associations are the laurel leaf and the laurel tree. According to meaning-of-names.com, Laura means in English culture, honor and victory which is symbolized by the sweet bay tree or the laurel tree.

When branding your character with a name, instead of pulling a name out of thin air or basing your choice on your favorite names, think about its origins and its meaning. How your audience perceives and ultimately connects with your book and its characters may depend on it.

Related Posts:

• Good Names
• Names: The Last isn’t the Least Important