Name?

[Babar]

* Babar  promises not to quote Shakespeare

What's with a name? Does it help the story in any way? CAN it help the story in any way? Does it make the characters more memorable?

For example, no one who's read LotR/The Hobbit while paying any sort of attention to it would forget the name "Gandalf". No one who's seen the Indiana Jones movies would forget the name "Indiana Jones". Same with Guybrush Threepwood.

Is it the absurdity that makes the name memorable? For example, I cannot remember the names of the twins from "Two of a kind", or the name of the character from yodaman's game, or the names of the characters from "The Dig" or the names of the characters from the movies "AI" or "Pay it forward" or "Hearts in Atlantis" (sorry, I give these examples as they are movies I saw recently). From Ocean's Eleven/Twelve I can only remember the Ocean guy.

Another trend I noticed, is that in team games/movies/books the character names become less memorable. Like The Dig, Ocean's, Two of a kind, Maniac Mansion. However, this is not always true (In Lord of the Rings, despite there being such a large number of active characters, I remember them. Of course, I am interested in LotR, so that might be it).

Personally, when I'm writing a story or making a game, the main character names really do not play much part. I usually end up making the name a joke, or getting it by mixing random characters.

For example, in Alien Time Zone (shameless self promotion, I know. But I have a point!Ã,  ) the main character's name is Ejak U'laithe, this being a play on a certain #AGSer's name to make it sound like an action (which the character does many times during the game).

My point is that despite being an absurd name, I really doubt that anyone thought of the character as "Ejack". In fact, I can't believe anyone would think of the character as anything other than "The little green guy". Then again, the name of the character is only mentioned once.

That's another point. If the name is really complex, or fancy, there is also less of a chance of remembering it. Like the names of the main orcs in Lord of the Rings. Or some of those characters in Star Trek.

At least to me, it seems that the name of the character has no function other than something that it can be called by other characters. Am I wrong? I admit, there is something wrong with just choosing a name randomly as well. But what possible purpose can a name play in the story?

Again, Indiana Jones wouldn't be Indiana Jones unless he was Indiana JonesÃ,  , and the same with Guybrush etc.

I don't know, there seems something wrong to me to give the character a name that describes it's character (or describes the opposite of it, for humour). It becomes unreal, and somewhat silly.

How should I get a name, then? Would it make any difference? Can it improve the story?

[Vince Twelve]

I have the worst time thinking up names for my characters.  Everything just sounds to stupid.  Which is why the main character of Anna is just called "Hero."  Man, I suck.

[Kaelem Gaen]

I think the name does play a main part if it is Memorable, I mean, I remember Gandalf's name cause he played a big part.   I mean I'd remember his name if it was something like Tasianmianac (haha, that could be prounced T-Asian-Maniac... anyway sorry).  I mean I've wrote stories and at least Two of the Side characters in it have a Name that resembles something about them ... Tyr, and Jerawyn (Both being a name of a Rune or a combo.) 
I guess it doesn't really have much of a use, the name I mean, 'cept for something to identify them with... but I also Remember Bobbin Threadbarer and Hatchel (Hetchal?) from Loom. 

Personally though, I think a good name lends the character more believablity, I mean most people can name the Main Characters of all the Final Fantasy Games.  Though really the ones I remember off the bat are... a long list so lets not go into that.

So Names, Do they serve a Purpose? Honestly I don't know... Wow now I feel like I just wasted alot of Message space to come up with nuthin

[Nostradamus]

The name that doesn't make the story, the story makes the name.

If the story touched you enough, you will remember the names.

I myself read a lot of fnatasy literature and play PC RPG's and when names are hard to pronounce or remember it does upset me. But if the story is good enough they will sill be remembered.

So inconclusion when choosing names you should try to make them "reader friendly" but anyway the story makes you remember the name, not the other way around,

[ManicMatt]

Looking at Back to the future, you remember Marty McFly because of various reasons. His nemesis says it alot for example. "McFly!"

Or in the Matrix you have Agent Smith say "Mr. Anderson." all the time.

Yet there are films I love and still can't recall their names.

[Grundislav]

I named my character with the intent to have his initials be a sexual innuendo.

That probably says a lot about me as a person.

[magintz]

I just try to think of something that fits. If I'm naming some 7ft tall African guy i'm hardly going to call him 'Prudence', as the same if I were naming a girl in 17th century france 'Honey'.

I usually base things around stereotypes, or if a character resembles a friend in any way I give them my friends name. I think a name definatly has some affect on the story, but as long is it feels comfortable and believable.

In my suoer-hero game the lead character was known as Justice Man, mainly for the fact I wanted something as cliche as possible, the name still could change which is the great thing, I may go with Captain Justice. In Piratess it was near enough up until a month before finish that the lead character went by a different name altogether.

[Ali]

I think names can be extremely important. Though the accidental origins of 'guybrush' are well known, it's still a distinctive name. It's slightly awkward but likeable. Like all the best names, it gives you a little bit of the character.

I named my character with the intent to have his initials be a sexual innuendo.

Months of wondering... brought to an end.

[Steel Drummer]

Regarding the names in LotR: it doesn't matter how much the names stand out. Take one of my good buddies for example, a casual LotR fan. He forgot most of the names of the characters in the fellowship. I think the names are memorable if you are really into the thing. People that are HUGE LotR fans know all the characters names and will forever. And darn you for forgetting David Smith's name! Well, with a name as common as that, it is pretty easy to forget  .

[lo_res_man]

When I write sci-fi (that is when, it includes aliens) I like to make the names give hints of the aliens voice, a beak would make more sharp sounds, Kraac KreeTor or for a creature a fat jowley creature, with tentacles over his mouth, Mulph Phumbuf. Since accents are tricky to present with text, and tend to degrade into stereotypes, I use names.

[DragonRose]

lo_res_man: Actually, that is a really neat idea, one I hadn't particularly thought about before.

Thanks!

[Dave Gilbert]

I think, for lots of people, names are sometimes secondary to the characters themselves. I had the concept for the "Two of a Kind" twins for a year and never bothered giving them names.  When the time came, I decided to go with names that began with the same initials, because it was the sort of cutsey thing parents might do when naming their twin children.  I was like, "OK, Bob and Barbara?  Joe and Jackie? Dan and Danielle?  Tim and Tiffany?" Tim and Tiffany stuck, because the name Tiffany sounded right.  Their surname was a bit of a problem.  I'm still not fond of the name "Walters" but, as you said, what's with a name anyhow?

The name doesn't have to be distinctive in order to be remembered.  The guy's name from "Out of Order" was bizarre and certainly unique, but for the life of me I can't remember his name.  On the flip side, we all remember "April Ryan" and "Kate Walker" fairly easily, and their names are fairly mundane. 

The reason for this?  As ManiacMatt says, their names are repeated all the frigging time!  You can't talk to anyone in Syberia without someone saying "Hello, Kate Walker!" or "Thank you, Kate Walker!" or "Blah blah, Kate Walker!"  That name stuck in my head, but for the wrong reasons.

[BerserkerTails]

The reason for this?  As ManiacMatt says, their names are repeated all the frigging time!  You can't talk to anyone in Syberia without someone saying "Hello, Kate Walker!" or "Thank you, Kate Walker!" or "Blah blah, Kate Walker!"  That name stuck in my head, but for the wrong reasons.

Definitely agree with you there. I mean, sure we all remember Guybrush Threepwood, but how many times does he say "I'm Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate!" in the series? But what about other characters? Can you remember the name of the guy you free from jail in the first MI?

Repeating something makes you remember it. I've played through all the Sierra and Lucasarts adventures so many times that I can tell you that the blonde guy from the dig is named Brink, and the main character is Boston. Or that Erasmus is the name of the wizard in Quest for Glory 1.

However I can't tell you who the main character of Cirque de Zale is, despite having loved the game. It's because I've only played through it once. 10 years down the road, after I've played through it 3 more times, maybe then I'll be able to tell you.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I think it shows the dedication of the creator to his work when you encounter names that fit the character's role in a story.  When I am thinking up a new character I make a list of his/her motivations, demeanor and write a short bio about where they've been and why they are who they are.  An appropriate name almost always follows. 

[Radiant]

Definitely agree with you there. I mean, sure we all remember Guybrush Threepwood, but how many times does he say "I'm Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate!" in the series?

Presenting... Name: the Quizzening!

But what about other characters? Can you remember the name of the guy you free from jail in the first MI?

His name is Otis. But this is only mentioned once or twice in the game.

Or that Erasmus is the name of the wizard in Quest for Glory 1.

Interestingly, Sierra itself has problems remembering the name of his pet rat. At least, the rat has a different name in QFGV than it does in the earlier games 1, 2 and 4 (they don't appear in 3 afair).

However I can't tell you who the main character of Cirque de Zale is, despite having loved the game.

Er, his name is Zale That's why it's called Cirque de Zale.

[Babar]

I played Syberia through (only once though), but I'd forgotten the name of the main character until you mentioned it. And while I haven't played "The Longest Journey", I know that the main character's name is April Ryan. I remember the jail guy because his name is Otis! The elevator man. Unusual, and with other connections that make it easy to remember. Perhaps that is why I also remember "April Ryan", April being the name of a month. Ben Jordan is probably going to be like that now ¬¬

Progz, wouldn't that be unreal, though? Having a character's name fit so exactly to it's personality? I could believe it with a nickname, or a title, but having the brave warrior hero to be named Leo, or Thor or the word "ROCK" in some language, or having the magician with a name starting with "Mor.." or some arabiccy word would make it seem like the very shallow stereotypical character

[Ali]

The reason for this?Ã,  As ManiacMatt says, their names are repeated all the frigging time!Ã,  You can't talk to anyone in Syberia without someone saying "Hello, Kate Walker!" or "Thank you, Kate Walker!" or "Blah blah, Kate Walker!"Ã,  That name stuck in my head, but for the wrong reasons.

I loved all the "Hello, Kate Walker " business. The phrase drifts into my head from time to time and makes me feel like crying. But that's easy to do, I'm pretty wimpy.

[ManicMatt]

I just cannot remember the name of the voodoo lady in Monkey Island. Can anyone remember? Think people! THINK!

[Anym]

I don't think she had a name at all.

As for names, I don't think they can help the story, but they can certainly help the atmosphere. The name of Guybrush Threepwood at the very beginning of his game already sets the right mood. Similarly, I found it very appropriate that Ben and Maureen didn't exchange last names in Full Throttle. And of course names of aliens should both be alien enough (not too human) and not completely illogical (no random gibberish).

[Layabout]

I think names are important. I have a long list of names i may use in the future. Most of them have a very traditional english background. My favourite is Quintin. I like the surname Blythe quite a lot.

List of names,

Charlie Baker, derived from a certain prince and a street a famous detective lives on.

Martin Page, good strong name Martin is, met many, and Page is the surname of my old boss.

William Macarthur, I like William, Will and Bill. Macarthur is the name of one of my relatives (who is also related to Dame Ellen Macarthur)

Ian Knight, Ian is good. Knight is strong and memorable.

Samantha Wilmot, nice name Samantha. Wilmot is a very english name i like.

Zia Adams, Zia is a cool unique name. Adams is generic.

Lord Edward Blythe, very traditional. Blythe being very english sounding.

These names can be chopped and changed.