So I'm a writer and have written a few stories but I'm having trouble with my really big one or longer one. You see, I don't know how to come up with names for characters. The other stories I've written have been short enough with only a couple of main characters but the one I really want to write has atleast 8 main characters so it will only work if I give them names, which I have no idea how to do. I'm not sure what it is but I feel like I won't like any name that they would be given and seem to want everyone to be nameless. To be honest I don't even like my own name irl. I seem to have an attachment to the name said as Sigh but apart from that name I've given me I just don't think names. It's probably normal though right?

It really annoys me because I can't even write my story yet because it looks really bad without names. This means that I'm stuck with the whole story in my head so I'm really worried that I will forget some of it. For some reason I feel like my thoughts are continuously adding to it slowly over time filling in all the gaps as I go which I find really interesting. Sadly, I know that I have forgotten small bits and pieces of it though so I really think I should start writing it soon.

The other part of it is that my story feels like I'm only seeing a part of it because it's not just the names I can't picture but the characters themselves and the setting. It really makes me wonder if there's a random manga artist out there who has character designs and the setting all set but is just missing the overall story and plot. Like we'd fill each others gaps. That would be amazing but I doubt something so perfect and convenient would happen. I really want to write stories for manga though and I think my current one will work really well.

I suppose that you could say that when I write I have a vague view of it like seeing the big picture (if that's what that expression means). But anyway, if anyone read this far down then I would love advice on how to pick names for characters and suggestions. The thing is that I can't properly explain my story yet the way I picture it in my head but I think it will all come together. I'm pretty new to writing but the main thing about me would be that I find books boring so long descriptions and fancy ways of adding fluff to a story doesn't interest me. I like interesting ideas and stories, not writing styles. That doesn't mean that my writing style is boring or simple, but rather, the best word I can think of is pure. I'm not saying I'm perfect but I think that it accurately gets the impression I'm hoping for.

If you have questions or discussions then feel free to reply as well. Thanks again if you actually read this far ^^

By the way, I forgot to mention this but I've had this story on my mind for at least a year, maybe even a year and a half. I can't remember when I first got it but I figured I should let you guys know that's it's not just some whim and is actually really important to me.

After reading this for the third time over, I'm starting to see the main problem. You have a hard time thinking of names for you characters, so my advice would be to look at a list of names on the internet for each character, then pick the right one out.

Remember this though, "The story should write itself, let the characters act their own way, this type of writing will always work out for the author".

So I did get a reply after all :D
Maybe I just talk weirdly and am bad at explaning things.

Yeah I don't think I'll be able to find names that I'll like because the idea to look up different names isn't exactly new to me. So sorry but that wasn't really that helpful.
I get what you mean at the end though and can probably make the characters and all fine but just can't write my story to begin with without names. It will probably all come together in the end though.

Thanks for replying and reading my long post though :D

yah, anytime. sorry for not being too helpful in your case, but if you really think about the people in the story, like what they wear, and their personality, then names should just start popping up in your head. Well, that's the way it was for me, now I have to work on the story some more before I start to write the actual story.

>>5 Yeah but that's the thing, I can't actually picture the clothes or faces of anyone so Il've pretty much got the story without the characters. I know their personalities and all but I just can't picture any of it. I seem to have a pretty vague view of it but have pretty much all the story figured out. It's really weird. Maybe it will randomly fill in the rest of the gaps over time in my head. But it's because I can't picture anything and have a vague view of it that it feels incomplete.Thanks for replying XD

Well this is just my opinion... maybe you can, for the moment when you are writing this story down, use titles for the characters names. Like 'male lead', 'female lead', 'sidekick', 'antagonist', etc- and you can switch them out for real names later. The reason is that you will probably eventually think of names when you see your characters actions in the story and how they affect the other characters. Like a character who is a florist may have a name relating to a flower, and a character who has fire powers may have a name relating to how he frequently scares the florist by using them all the time in her shop. (Sorry I'm taking ideas off the top of my head here) But I did the same thing when I was making my own story, and a name I just started randomly using for the main character when I typed the words 'male lead' down suddenly fit well in with the rest of the story when I did start using it, the meaning included. This is just my personal experience though (and I'm not experienced either) so for now at least write the main plot points down of your story so you don't forget.

http://www.behindthename.com/random/

That's a name generator that you might find helpful!

>>8 I used that too!! On this site you can also search names related to certain words and from different languages.