I've been thinking about giving last names to some of my characters, ones that have rather fantasy names (Tesmir, Mordir, Rune, etc.). I don't know if there's a good way to come up with one, or if I should just stick together letters like I did the first names.

So, do your characters have last names? If they do, how did you decide what they would be?

Elanhil's last name is Nijevu, or son of Nije. Mostly in the book though, to retain the Fantasy feel I just say 'son of Nije.'

If I have last names in my culture, they are usually "normal" last names. I often pick them based on nationality (what feel do I want for this character or the place that he comes from). If not, just what flows nicely with his first name.

In one of my novels, however, my co-author and I designed "Ranks," which are social divisions like the tribe of Israel. Everyone uses their Rank name in place of a last name.

You could look at how last names develop in the real-world. Some people get a last name based on their profession (Baker, Harper), their nationality (French, Irish, Hamburger), their appearance (coming up blank on examples!), or their family lineage (Hansen, Anderson). If you look in a baby name book, you can find the meaning of many surnames. They mean things like "dweller of the valley" or "house by the forest," IIRC. Many fantasy writers like to put together last names based on achievements, folklore, and history (the Great, the Conqueror, Bonesword). Just some ideas!

I use last names. No rhyme or reason. Valenshia is the last name of my MC and his sister. I choose names that flow well and sound good. No other reason.

And now I'm wondering why I posted that, since it wasn't really helpful

Depending on the age your story is based on, I usually search for names on the net. For example, a couple of medieval names I've come up with came from a medieval tax log I found on the net!

Sometimes I just make up last names that sound good with the first name. Sometimes I use a real last name. It kind of depends on whether or not I think it sounds good.

Most of my characters have last names. The exceptions are my lorvald (one of my races) and another set of characters fairly early on in my timeline. For the lorvald, it's more of a cultural thing. For the other group, I simply decided to not give them any because I wanted the first names of one family to have developed into last names for their descendants.

Rather few of my characters have last names. Usually I use the 'son of' method. *tries to give example but can't remember Aarin's father's name* head/desk
Kai's last name is DiAterina, which I'd like to say means 'son of Aterina' but it really doesn't. I just made it up as I went. Wait... *idea hits* *squeals and runs off to write it down*

Hmm. I don't know if I'll go with the 'son of' process. Maybe, if I've completely wiped out all other options. But then again, Most of my characters, like Tesmir, don't have a father, at least one who's not living.

How do you know if a name flows right?

It should roll off your tongue.

What are some examples of names that roll off your tongue, and some that don't?

At least for the characters whose names I've made up, I'd like to have made up last names too. But for ones like Cory, they can have the last names you may (or may not) usually find.

A very good example of a name that rolls off the tongue is "Inigo Montoya" The two just go together. And all the fantasy authors I know must be good ones because I can't think of any bad-sounding names.

Oh, so it should sound more or less like it goes together to roll off the tongue?

Basically, yes

In my world, Zoriah, they don't use last names. They have first and middle though. (IE- my character Crissa's middle name is Eran, a spin-off spelling of Erin.)

Elly - Couldn't middle names be last names too?

Lady Eruwaedhiel - Who decides which family name to use? The one marrying into the family, or someone else? How would they decide a new name, if they had to?

Great ideas, everyone. Thanks!

Does Isondor sound too Lord of the Rings-ish? Random question, but if it doesn't, then it's gonna be a last name. If it does, I'll think up something else.

I usually make up my character's last names. When you come up with a name you know whether it has that "last name" feel to it.

I made up Charlotte "Wilkons" and Lucius "Harlington". I was watching a lot of Austen movies and those names had the Victorian feel to it. I didn't look up any names because it's sort of a historis/possibly fantasy-ish story.

Those have a very nice ring to them, Calenmiriel.

Another option is to invent your own naming system. For example, the last name could be your father's first name with alternating suffixes depending on your gender. And then the middle name could be the actual sir name.

Example: Claira Smith Jacoba. Or Sander Smith Jacobson. If Claira were to marry, she would change her middle name, but not her last, because her father's name is still Jacob. If that makes sense.

I'd like to use this at some point.

- Terra

That's a cool idea. So, a girl would change her middle name?

Thing is, most of my characters have a nameless father, who usually isn't around, or is no longer living. *Should probably find a name anyway*

Same here. But, I still need to find a name for their father. But first names are easier than last names.

Last names do seem to be more elusive than first names, don't they?