Message: "Need help naming a character"

[Opinions] Need help naming a character

by nublada

3/27/2025, 8:55 AM

My character is a Congolese woman in her mid 20s. Her personality is kind and outspoken.

I have other characters with names that start with the letters A, F, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, and Y that I'm avoiding to make each name easier for people to remember.

Names with a similar feeling to what I'm looking for:

- Zelda
- Aliyah
- Esther
- Kimiya
- Mayela
- Zolani
- Ingrid
- Athena
- Zahina

#Help #suggestions

Replies

- Amoret +1

3/27/2025, 10:49 AM

Here is a list of common Congolese names

https://studentsoftheworld.info/penpals/stats.php?Pays=COG

Names I like from that list:
Exaucée, Messie, Rosy, Lifeway, Prudence, France, Rose de Marie, Herverence, Merline, Prospère, Patrique, Nhobble, Noble, Kéké, Emmanuela, Bonheur, Gaëlle, Perside, Lourdes

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 10:52 AM

- (Is-rah-el) Israelle (Rejtblat)

3/30/2025, 7:00 AM

There are two other lists for Congolese names

https://forebears.io/dr-congo/forenames
https://forebears.io/congo/forenames

- RoxStar +1

3/27/2025, 9:35 AM

I think you should do some research and find out what Congolese people typicaly use for names. My limited understanding is that the Congo was once Belgian-controlled and that French is still spoken there, so I would expect a French name. Is the character Muslim or Christian or what, because that would play a role too.
I wouldn't worry about avoiding letters; readers can keep multiple people with the same letter beginning their names straight very easily.

- nublada

3/27/2025, 9:53 AM

Yes, French is widely used there. Many English names like Happiness, Promise, and Desire are popular names too.

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