Whether you are writing a fantasy novel, drafting a creative paper for school, or developing a new game, you would need to think of interesting ways to present your characters. One way of making sure that they have an impact is by giving them fantasy last names that are meaningful and unique.
There are tons of fantasy last names that you can choose for your characters. The best ones always mean something really worth noting. For instance, the surname Griffin which means fierce or Luna which means moon.
In this article, I have listed some of the top fantasy surnames you can use in naming your characters. I have also included reasons as to why you need to carefully choose what you call your characters, and some tips on how you can think of one. Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
Importance of choosing fantasy surnames that stand out
People can easily recall Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Daenerys Targaryen, and other iconic characters not only for how they are portrayed, but also through their fantasy surname. They make people intrigued about who they are so all the books and movies which include them as characters are top-grossing.
You see now how important it is to choose a fantasy surname that stands out not only for a novel but for writing prompts?
Sure, some characters that have ordinary names are also making news such as Clark Kent or Peter Parker, but remember that they have been created by some big names in the publishing industry such as Marvel and DC.
As ordinary individuals who want our fictional stories to be heard, we must start with presenting our characters well through great fantasy names. This, alongside developing a great plot through using literary devices will make our work recognizable.
How do you pick a fantasy name? (Easy Tips)
I know choosing a fantasy surname for your character can be a bit daunting since it should resonate to your readers so I have listed some of the top tips on how to think of one. Here they are:
- Tip #1: Consider when your character was born. The period when the character was supposed to be born should be taken into account in choosing their surname. You must research what last names exist during that time to make your character believable.
- Tip #2: Keep the location of your story in mind. Your character’s last name should respect the ethnic background and cultural conventions of the place where the story happens. Surely, you don’t want your readers to feel like you don’t care about these things since this is also a reflection of what kind of writer you are.
- Tip #3: Make sure the surname reflects your character’s personality. One of the most common mistakes that some writers make is choosing a fantasy surname for their character just because they want to. They do not base the surname on what the character is capable of or how they behave.
- Tip #4: Ensure that no two characters have the same surname especially if they aren’t related. This is to avoid confusing your readers because they may have used it interchangeably.
- Tip #5: Write down as many options as you can. Write at least 20 options to choose from especially if you are thinking of a surname for a protagonist.
- Tip #6: Unusual surnames should have good reasons. Unusual or hard to pronounce last names should be justified. You must include a little bit of a background about their surname in your story so the readers aren’t left wondering.
- Tip #7: Remember the idea that the character got his parents surname. As is with real humans, fictional characters inherit their surname from their parents. Ensure that the last name you thought of is something that also represents the parent of your character.
- Tip #8: Avoid surnames ending in “s.” The reason behind this is simple. It would create an awkward possessive form which your readers might not be a fan of.
- Tip #9: The surname should fit the first name. Here’s a trick: if your character’s first name is ordinary, go for a fantasy last name that is unique. This helps balance out their full name. Similarly, the surname should also fit your character’s nickname if they have any.
- Tip #10: Don’t name your character after a celebrity or a fictional character that is already well known. Never think of using surnames of famous celebrities like the Kardashians, the Smiths, the Hadids, etc. This will make your readers feel like you are too lazy in thinking of a name and you didn’t put much effort into your writing. Also, skip repeating famous character names since this may confuse your reader.
What are some fantasy last names that sound interesting?
Here goes the top fantasy last names I promised! Make sure you have considered the tips I discussed above before choosing one.
- Atwater
- Agassi
- Apatow
- Akagawa
- Averescu
- Arrington
- Agrippa
- Aiken
- Albertson
- Alexander
- Amado
- Anders
- Ashsorrow
- Humblecut
- Ashbluff
- Marblemaw
- Armas
- Akka
- Aoki
- Aldrich
- Apak
- Alinsky
- Desai
- Darby
- Draper
- Dwyer
- Dixon
- Danton
- Desmith
- Ditka
- Dominguez
- Decker
- Dobermann
- Dunlop
- Dumont
- Dandridge
- Diamond
- Dobra (Romanian)
- Dukas
- Agnello
- Alterio
- Bidbury
- Botkin
- Benoit
- Biddercombe
- Baldwin
- Bennett
- Bourland
- Boadle
- Bender
- Best
- Bobshaw
- Bersa
- Belt
- Bourn
- Barke
- Beebe
- Banu
- Bozzelli
- Bogaerts
- Blanks
- Evert
- Eastwood
- Elway
- Eslinger
- Ellerbrock
- Eno
- Endo
- Etter
- Ebersol
- Everson
- Esapa
- Ekker
- Escobar
- Eggleston
- Ermine
- Erickson
- Keller
- Kessler
- Kobayashi
- Klecko
- Kicklighter
- Kidder
- Kershaw
- Kaminsky
- Kirby
- Keene
- Kenny
- Keogh
- Kipps
- Kendrick
- Kuang
- Fairchild
- October
- Vespertine
- Fellowes
- Omen
- Willow
- Gannon
- Presto
- Windward
- Grell
- Powers
- Wixx
- Halliwell
- Quellings
- Xanthos
- Hightower
- Quill
- Xenides
- Idlewind
- Rast
- Chamillet
- Bougaitelet
- Hallowswift
- Coldsprinter
- Winddane
- Yarrow
- Illfate
- Riddle
- Yew
- Jacaranda
- Yearwood
- Yellen
- Yaeger
- Yankovich
- Yamaguchi
- Yarborough
- Youngblood
- Yanetta
- Yadao
- Winchell
- Winters
- Walsh
- Whalen
- Watson
- Wooster
- Woodson
- Winthrop
- Wall
- Sacredpelt
- Rapidclaw
- Hazerider
- Shadegrove
- Wight
- Webb
- Woodard
- Wixx
- Wong
- Whesker
- Yale
- Yasumoto
- Yates
- Younger
- Yoakum
- York
- Rigby
- Zaba
- Surrett
- Swiatek
- Sloane
- Stapleton
- Seibert
- Stroud
- Strode
- Stockton
- Scardino
- Spacek
- Spieth
- Stitchen
- Stiner
- Soria
- Saxon
- Shields
- Stelly
- Steele
- Chanassard
- Ronchessac
- Boneflare
- Monsterbelly
- Truthbelly
- Sacredmore
- Malfoy
- Moses
- Moody
- Morozov
- Mason
- Metcalf
- McGillicutty
- Montero
- Molinari
- Marsh
- Moffett
- McCabe
- Manus
- Malenko
- Mullinax
- Morrissey
- Mantooth
- Mintz
Hyphenated fantasy last names
There are also some cool hyphenated fantasy last names that you can choose from if you feel like this will fit your character better. Here they are:
- Groves-Chestnut
- Cheever-Waters
- Bartleby-Everson
- Acoff-Sereno
- Sloane-Hooper
- Coffey-Macklin
- Sisko-Sinclair
- Lichter-Seibert
- Zubarry-Devlin
- Dabney-Aparo
- Glick-Wilcox
- Winchell-Ojeda
Top fantasy surname generator
If after reading all the suggestions I have given, you still haven’t come across a last name that suits your characters, you may want to seek the help of fantasy surname generator websites. Below are your top options:
Final Thoughts
Thinking of a name for your character should take time and effort. They can make or break your novel or creative paper since they make a great impact in your reader’s perception of the characters as well as how you write. If you really want to publish a bestseller, or raise your GPA in high school thru your creative work, start paying attention to your character’s names.
In case you are having difficulties thinking of one, this guide is always available for you to check out. You can use the fantasy last names as is or you can also tweak them to your liking. Again, your imagination and creativity is your only limit.
For more writing related articles from Student-Tutor, check out the following:
- How to Write a Scholarship Essay in 10 Easy Steps
- How to Write a Research Paper in 11 Easy Steps
- How to Write an Informative Essay
- How to Write an Argumentative Essay
- Compare and Contrast Essay | The Definitive Guide
Todd VanDuzer
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