Names have meaning because of the individual. Yet it’s so hard to pick one out of hundreds in order to describe a character. Believe me, I know. I spent a day sifting through my Pinterest inspiration board and am overwhelmed by the number of names that can be given to a princess, murderess, and everything in between. To make life a little easier, I compiled the most fascinating names I found and know below.
Think there’s a name that should be added? Leave a comment and I’ll update the list.
Traditional
- Abigail
- Addison
- Adeline
- Agatha
- Alexandra
- Amanda
- Amelia
- Annabelle
- Ariana
- Ariel
- Astrid
- Audrey
- Ava
- Avery
- Bailey
- Beatrice
- Beth
- Bianca
- Bonnie
- Brianna
- Bridgette
- Brooke
- Cassie
- Celeste
- Charlene
- Charlotte
- Claire
- Clarabelle
- Clarissa
- Colette
- Constance
- Crystal
- Daisy
- Dana
- Danielle
- Dahlia
- Delilah
- Dolly
- Dorothy
- Edith
- Edna
- Eleanor
- Elizabeth
- Ella
- Ember
- Emma
- Esther
- Ethel
- Evangeline
- Faith
- Fern
- Florence
- Gail
- Georgia
- Gertrude
- Gladys
- Grace
- Gwen
- Hannah
- Harriet
- Hazel
- Henrietta
- Hilda
- Holly
- Iris
- Ivy
- Jane
- Janis
- Jean
- Jennie
- Jennifer
- Jill
- Joan
- Josephine
- June
- Juniper
- Kacey
- Kaila
- Kaira
- Katie
- Kennedy
- Lacey
- Lainy
- Laura
- Leia
- Lily
- Lilac
- Lori
- Louisa
- Lynn
- Mabel
- Maddie
- Madeline
- Madison
- Margaret
- Martha
- Mary
- Matilda
- Maxine
- McKenna
- Mia
- Molly
- Morgan
- Nancy
- Naomi
- Nova
- Octavia
- Odette
- Olga
- Patricia
- Patty
- Polly
- Poppy
- Reagan
- Renee
- Riley
- Rhonda
- Rosa
- Rosie
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Samantha
- Sara
- Savannah
- Selene
- Shayna
- Stella
- Stephanie
- Susan
- Taylor
- Tessa
- Teresa
- Tiara
- Val
- Valerie
- Vanessa
- Vera
- Victoria
- Vivienne
- Wendy
- Wilma
Inventive
- Agnes
- Alondra
- Amaryllis
- Amberleigh
- Andi
- Aramina
- Aurora
- Avena
- Bertha
- Blake
- Blossom
- Blythe
- Bria
- Brooklyn
- Cassandra
- Celestine
- Charis
- Clementine
- Cleo
- Cordelia
- Dakota
- Delphine
- Dulcie
- Dylan
- Elora
- Emerald
- Emery
- Eridesce
- Eris
- Estella
- Eveline
- Fern
- Fernanda
- Freda
- Haven
- Hyacinth
- Imogene
- India
- Ivana
- Jade
- Jahzara
- Kailani
- Kamila
- Karylis
- Kinsley
- Laina
- Leonora
- Lyra
- Maedrian
- Maeve
- Magnolia
- Marigold
- Marilyn
- Marisol
- Marlene
- Miara
- Miko
- Monroe
- Myriel
- Myrtle
- Nicholette
- Nix
- Norette
- Nym
- Penelope
- Primrose
- Prudence
- Prunella
- Quinn
- Raelynn
- Raine
- Rayla
- Roivette
- Rosalie
- Ryth
- Salem
- Sapphire
- Shaelyn
- Skye
- Sloane
- Tali
- Terra
- Twyla
- Velma
- Verbena
- Winifred
- Winika
- Wisteria
- Yazzy
- Yolanda
Fantasy
- Adelaide
- Aeris
- Alora
- Amara
- Amarantha
- Ambrosia
- Andromeda
- Annalise
- Anora
- Aradia
- Aralia
- Artemis
- Astara
- Aurelia
- Azaria
- Belladonna
- Bellatrix
- Briette
- Celeste
- Chrysanthemum
- Clover
- Danica
- Delaney
- Electra
- Elveryn
- Emilia
- Endora
- Fable
- Farren
- Faye
- Fenrin
- Flora
- Freya
- Genevieve
- Glenda
- Greta
- Guinevere
- Gwendolyn
- Gwinifer
- Henna
- Hensley
- Honora
- Iridessa
- Isley
- Kaia
- Katara
- Keitha
- Kyra
- Lanai
- Lucella
- Luna
- Lydia
- Mayla
- Mercedes
- Meva
- Minerva
- Mira
- Morgana
- Nia
- Nica
- Nyx
- Ollina
- Omega
- Ophelia
- Orie
- Pandora
- Pearlie
- Persephone
- Pixie
- Priscilla
- Rosalina
- Rosalind
- Runa
- Sarie
- Sybil
- Sylvie
- Tauriel
- Ursula
- Valeraine
- Vanadey
- Vixen
- Wilhelmina
- Willow
- Xylia
- Xylina
- Zephyr
Wanna Craft Your Own Names?
My editor dislikes the fact that I craft bizarre names basically for a living. It’s fun to create your own, and I highly suggest you try every now and then.
Your primary problem will be pronunciation. You could make a joke about getting the name wrong or have a pronunciation chart in the back, but the suggestion my editor gave me is to spell the name in a way that people are forced to say it correctly.
For example, my fantasy novel stars Maquilla. Most likely when you read that, you thought “muh-quill-uh.” We’re taught in elementary school to sound out letters in certain ways; writers can use this to their advantage. Spell based on pronunciation, test it on other people, and you’ll have your own unique name.
31 Responses
I,M STILL CONFUSED
I love your writing so much! It’s almost like a comfort project for me to start writing! Love Sophia xxx
this is so helpful for the book I’m writing, thanks
i think that adriana should be added, its a beautiful name
Your editor should LOVE that you get to create names–it takes a lot of effort, you know! Also the name Maquilla is SO COOL–I would totes read a book with Maquilla in the title!
I feel like McKenna isn’t a first name… but that’s just my opinion.
Your editor should LOVE that you get to create names–it takes a lot of effort, you know! I can’t do it.
It is actually! I have a friend named McKenna!
hi the great meme resatest is open us writers
nice
Hey Martha, what’s your question?
hi, im writing for GSCE and i have no idea
Hey Martha, what’s your question?
Hi alice
hi goody
Hi alice
I was thinking the name ‘Hetty’. Especially the tie into the drama, “Hetty Feather”! Isabel Clifton is SOOO good!
I just wanna see the Avatar.
I’m Alice!
My book ‘Hometown Whispers,’ is so much better with your names ‘Pandora’ and ‘Nica’ (only I put a ‘y’ in between the c and the a,) and I’m so thankful!
Thanks Alice xx
i am going to stop osting for over a yera bye! xxxxxxxx
osting?
yera?
I assume they meant posting for over a year but im still confused
Yeah, I meant that.
Wait you osted in less than a yera!
My book ‘Hometown Whispers,’ is so much better with your names ‘Pandora’ and ‘Nica’ (only I put a ‘y’ in between the c and the a,) and I’m so thankful!
Thanks Alice xx
Well done! My book ‘A Kind of Spark’ has 400000 views because of your name ‘Adeline’!
Thanks Elle McNicoll x x
you’re not elle mcnicoll
you cant bwe
coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool