Naming characters that feel real
A name is the first piece of characterization a reader or player gets. A Dorothy born in 1925 and a Kayla born in 1990 carry different expectations before they say a word. This generator draws first names from the decades that match your setting, pairs them with common American surnames, and adds a class and a telling detail so you have somewhere to start.
Setting tips
- For historical fiction, pick names that were popular when the character was born, not when the story takes place.
- Old West names lean on frontier surnames and plain, sturdy first names.
- Sci-fi names mix invented first names with surnames from around the world.