Coming up with a name for a sensitive, depressed male character. HELP!

So, my first attempt at a story is about a sensitive, depressed male (modern day) who is always pushed to the side, so i'm trying to come up with a name that follows suit.

I'm currently torn between the names Lucas and Nathan.

Lucas was inspiration taken from a character in my favourite TV Show who was bullied.

Nathan was just the first name that came to my head when coming up with the story.

 

Break the stereotype, name him Chad.

 

People don't name babies to suit their future personalities or future mental illnesses. Just pick a name you like. Nathan is fine. Lucas is fine. I don't associate either of those names with people who are sensitive or depressed, but your characterisation will do that for me.

 

I personally like the name Nathan more. And it's the first name you came up with.
But doet the name matter, really? You could give him any name, and he would become that sensitive, depressed male in your story, right?

 

As I said, i'm just starting out so maybe i'm just overthinking every little thing that I shouldn't! Plus it's very easy for me to read one persons opinion! I saw something about how the name needs to correspond with the personality or it won't work.

It's a first draft of my first ever story so I guess I don't need to think too deep about too much?

 

You're not alone, @PrettyLittleBryan, there's a whole thread on this topic at the moment!

Some people do indeed think names need to be meaningful. Personally, it makes me eye-roll.

 

@Tenderiser I think as a beginner, it's very easy to be manipulated into working in a way that's not true to yourself

 

I vote for Nathan cos it's the one that popped into your head, and you're the creator.

And speaking from experience (ahem) it's easy to get sidetracked by lots of little things (that can easily be changed later anyway) instead of getting on with writing the story. AKA procrastination. AKA my addiction.

 

What were his parents like, and what would they name a child?

 

What about Lenard or Leroy. Something with an "L" sound or just a plain sad tone, like Sully.

 

I pretty thoroughly disagree with that idea.

 

I'm leaning towards Nathan, but I need more info on the character.
Or, you could name him Jordan, which means sad in Hebrew apparently. It wouldn't be as obvious as naming your werewolf Remus Lupin.

 

I will often use the meanings of names to inspire me when naming my MCs. For example, one of the MC's in my next book is an assassin with a lithe build and expertise in social engineering. His name is Kelan Pratt:

A variant of Keelan (Irish, Gaelic) and Kellen (Gaelic). The meaning of Kelan is "small, slim; slender".
Pratt: a nickname for a clever trickster, from Old English prætt 'trick', 'tricky', 'cunning'

It's not so much about feeling like the name has to be meaningful, but for me I'm so unimaginative when it comes to names I use name meanings as a tool more than anything else. I started writing as a fanfic author, so coming up with original names for my MCs is a relatively new experience for me.

 

I like combining Laurin Kelly and ChickenFreak's strategy. Based on lineage, you can figure what language of names to pick from. Then you can narrow your search again by going for a name that represents your character well through its meaning. From there you just have to find one that you personally like the sound of, and you got a name with a lot of impact IMO.

 

Just gonna stick here what I do. You might find it suits you. As a whole, I usually stick within the cultural boundaries of my characters. I.e I don't call a Frenchmen "Gustav Adolfsson" or an Scotsman "Vladimir Pachenko". Other than that, I don't really 'plan' my characters Though sometimes I'll change or refuse a name simply because it may seem to much of this or that (as an [extreme] example, I wouldn't call a skinny little kid "Butch" unless I am going for the comical effect of it). I particularly like taking a 'normal' name and simply swapping one or two letters to make it just a bit more unique.

 

I love the name Nathan.

 

Of the two names you mentioned I'd advise steering away from Lucas. The association with another character you like seems like a bad idea to me. If Nathan was the first name to come to mind then I'd say take it as a sign that's it the right name!

I find it feels contrived when an author picks a name based on it's meaning or to match a personality type. I think it's better to simply pick a name that it feels right to you to call the character by.