On Rear Admirals and Pastors’ Daughters

A Primer on Naming Characters

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One thing that I frequently hear from newer writers is how difficult it is to name characters. It happens so often, that I think it may just be a manifestation of writer’s block — they know their character so well, and yet they don’t have that label, that keystone, that would allow them to dive in and start writing.

You can’t write without knowing your character’s name, right?

While I am sympathetic to their plight, I don’t understand this, because names come so easily to me. Often times, it will be one of the first aspects of the character that falls into place. As soon as I know their position in the story and a couple of details about their personality, a name flashes in my brain. And usually, it’s a good one.

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I’ve been thinking a lot about character names lately. There’s a certain individual that’s been popping up in the news lately, and whenever I see his name, there’s a little itch of discomfort somewhere deep in the gray matter of my brain.

RDML Ronny Jackson, MD, USN. (Wikipedia)

His name is Ronny Jackson. He’s a medical doctor, a rear admiral (lower half) in the…