How can I come up with the best character names for stories?

You can start by making a list of qualities or traits you want the character to have. Then, find words that represent those qualities and turn them into names. For example, if your character is wise, you could use 'Sage'. Look at different cultures and their naming traditions too. For a story with a Celtic influence, you might choose names like 'Finn' or 'Bridget'. Don't be afraid to be creative and make up completely new names, but make sure they are easy to pronounce.

You can start with a character's trait. If your character is really clumsy, you could call them 'Bumble Bumpkin'. For a very smart character, 'Brainy Blazer' could work. Also, think about different cultures and languages. Borrow a word from another language, like 'Amor' (love in Spanish) and combine it with an English word, say 'Amor Ace'. And don't be afraid to make up completely new words, like 'Glimmerglorp' for a magical, other - worldly character.

You can use puns. For example, if your story is about a clumsy detective, you could name him 'Sherlock Stumble'. Or combine two random words like 'Bubblegum Ninja'. Another way is to play with alliteration, such as 'Peter the Prankster' or 'Silly Sally'. You can also take inspiration from things around you, like if you see a funny - looking object, name a character after it, say 'The Lamp - Legs Larry' if there's a character with long, lanky legs.

You can look around your environment for inspiration. For example, the name of a street, a flower in your garden or a pet you see. You can also combine different words that you like, like 'Sun' and 'Shine' to make 'Sunshine'. Another way is to use different languages. Maybe a French word like 'Bleu' which means blue can be a part of a character's name.

You can start by looking at the main theme or idea of your story. If it's about a journey, use words related to travel like 'Pathways' or 'Odyssey'.

You can start by looking at the main theme of your story. If it's about friendship, something like 'The Bond of Friends' could work. Also, think about the setting. A story set in a small town might have a name like 'Small - Town Secrets'.

You can draw inspiration from nature. For example, names like 'Amberleaf' or 'Stormwind' are great. Amber is a beautiful natural material, and leaf gives a sense of connection to the forest. Stormwind can represent a character with a wild and powerful nature. Another way is to use old languages. Latin or Old English words can be modified to form unique names. For instance, 'Veritas' which means truth in Latin can be a name for a wise character in your fantasy story.

One way is to look at different cultures. Each culture has unique and interesting names. For instance, in Irish culture, names like 'Finn' or 'Siobhan' can add a touch of mystery or charm to your short story characters. You can also combine words to create new names. Say your character is a bit of a dreamer, you could combine 'Star' and 'Gaze' to get 'Stargaze' as a name.

You can use names that have a certain mystery or ambiguity to them. For example, names like 'Shadow' or 'Mystique' can immediately give a sense of mystery. Another option is to use old - fashioned or archaic names that are not commonly used today, such as 'Eldridge' or 'Ophelia'. Also, you can create compound names by combining two words that evoke mystery, like 'Nightshade' or 'Fogwalker'.

You can look to nature for inspiration. For example, 'Aster' which is a type of flower, gives a sense of delicacy and beauty. Another way is to use words from different languages. 'Kaida' which means 'little dragon' in Japanese can be a really cool name for a strong or mysterious character.