Naming your dolls

Naming anything(dolls, pets, babies etc) is just hard in general. I usually come up with names and decide if the name fits, if it doesn’t keep searching. Just go off of whatever the doll reminds you of.

 

i started of by comming up with a list of names for my first doll and and trying them out while sitting down with her and looking at her face. it took a while to find one that suited her but i found speaking the name out loud to the doll helped me figure out who she was.

 

How I come up with my dolls name is it take a while for me since I want to feel like the name is right for them. I try to think "naturally" and just let it come to mind of a name for my dolls. Sometime I google for names if I can't think of any at all. But it usually take a long while until I find a name for my dolls.

 

For me, it is pretty hard to find a name for my dolls. I just think that the name is something very important, so I stay hours try to find a name that suit. And I'm still struggling I don't know what to do anymore

 

I was very enthusiastic for naming before. I would think about the doll's character and choose name for him/her. I also borrow names from movie or comic characters somtimes haha. Now I'm tired to do so. I just change their official names a little bit and call them, like Williams->W, Lance->Lancelot.

 

For my first one, I had a tough time, because I had no actual OC planned for her when I got her, and even years later I still haven't decided on a character for her. I did eventually come up with a name, and I'll probably go from there. When I do work on deciding on a name, i go through several of those name lists, real names, fantasy names, whatever I can find and usually end up deciding on one I either like the look/sound of or I like the meaning of and go from there.

 

I like names that are unusual or not common.

 

Mine will be named for the character I'm shelling, but I feel like I can't quite confer the name onto her before she's "done" (ie has eyes, hair, and looks like her head belongs on her body). Until then, she's "the doll-in-progress" or "the impl-fee-enstein".

 

Sometimes the doll just tells me his or her name, other times I really have to think about it. When I'm stuck I look up Celtic baby names online. But even then the name has to jump out at me; it has to really fit the doll.

 

I was planning a character of my doll before I got her. I had a name, personality, background story, I knew how I wanted her to look when she'd be done. I sent her to a faceup artist who did a wonderful job with executing what I had in mind. The doll in the pictures was perfectly fitting all I came up with.

And then I got the head out of the package, looked at it and got a weird feeling in my gut. I ignored it and went on with switching her eyes to what I ordered in the meantime (perfect eyes for the character I invented, of course.) Aaaand... this doll that was looking back at me was a completely different person from what I designed her to be. Her real name was Ingrid, she was a 22-year-old daughter of a Scot and Norwegian and she studied to become a theatre actress. Nowhere near what I planned for her.

So, yeah, my dolls definitely name themselves on the top of having their own stories to tell xD

 

Two of my dolls were OCs who have been floating in my head for years. Once I had a doll in hand, it would feel right linking an OC to a doll sculpt. Otherwise, (strangely enough) I wait for the doll to name themselves. I figure its something like how a doll's theme ends up being chosen, like how my Angel Fantasy Alice naturally gravitated to baby blue which reminded me of the Disney character Alice. But for my Atelier Momoni, she "chose" a name before I even had her in hand.

 

I'm terrible when it comes to thinking up names! Usually, I'll just use "them" as a placeholder at first (which can last anywhere from a few days to numerous weeks) until I come up with something else. And even then, there's a good chance that I'll change my doll's name a few times before settling on something I'm absolutely sure suits them. Generally, I tend to lean towards building a name with meaning behind it that suits my doll's characteristics. But sometimes, the sound of a name just "clicks" to a sculpt for me and I throw any meaning out the window, haha!

 

I like unusual names for my dolls, but I have many with just the names I like, even if they are fairly common. What I love the most is when dolls "name themselves". Like, when you are thinking of a name and suddenly one pops into your mind that you least expected and wouldn't let go until you agree to name the doll that name. Sounds crazy to some people, but I hear most doll owners have experienced it.

 

I like to choose names that match the personality or theme of the doll.

My cat girl, Merope, is the "little sister" to two other (off-topic) cat girl dolls I have, who are also named after the Pleiades sisters (all three have sparkly, glittery, "star" eyes as a common feature). My inbound MiniFee will be Daphne when she arrives, and my plans for future MSDs are all named after flowers as well (Rosalind, Poppy, and Iris are three that I've started making plans for).

 

I take awhile to name my dolls. I just look for something unique that fits the characteristics I gave my dolls. Other times I have names I’ve liked and try to fit it to them. I started writing a doll profile and one dolls story leaf to my other girls name and I was making it up as I went along so the story wasn’t preplanned.

 

It's super hard to name my dolls. I had some ideas about the name before they arrive but after I get them and then decide on the final name after they arrive.

Since I knew I was getting twin dolls, I wanted their names to match a little.
I came up with Sakumochi as the pairing name (which kind of symbolizes cycle of moon) and separated to have one named Saku and the other named Mochi.
It was easy to pick who's who since one is normal skin and the other is brown skin.
The hard part is deciding if it was going to be just Mochi or something-Mochi or Mochi-something...
I ended up naming Mochi as Kannazuki Mochi since Kannazuki is month of October in traditional Japanese calendar.
I don't know what's going to happen to Saku yet since he's not here. Hopefully I can decide on his name when he arrives.

 

Honestly, I find trying to name my dolls as an exercise in futility. They tend to fight me on names I pick for them, except for on rare occasions.
For me, I wait until they arrive, and then they tell me who they are and what their name is.

 

Names are freaking weird.

Sometimes, the name seems to exist, along with a fully-formed personality concept, before you even find the doll. That's really rare in my personal experience, but pretty satisfying.

More often, the name is an elusive, shadowy thing that resists capture. Sometimes, I have a sound that I know the name will contain, and I roll it around in my mouth in different ways until the full name forms. On other occasions, I recognize that there's a flavor or theme to the name that I want to acknowledge. Those names usually require a lot of research, because I often don't have enough background knowledge of the theme to get it right on the first attempts.

All of this methodology breaks down pretty regularly though. Then you'll find me staring into the face of a new (to me) doll, mumbling "who the hell ARE you???" over and over.

 

I am amazed and fascinated reading this thread about how all of you name your dolls.

My first doll was named Anthony because I dreamt he was a real person and in the dream he introduced himself as Anthony. So, he is Anthony Isao Nanjou. I always keep the sculpt name as family name. He cosplays many characters including Anthony Brown from Candy Candy and Amuro Ray from MS Gundam.

Yukinojou Sawaragi Joe is simply Joseph Sawaragi. I have yet to give him a middle name which is usually a cosplay character name. I thought of Charles, Char or Casval but I won’t give those names to just any doll that easily, they are highly reserved names in my list of favourite anime characters.

F38 is Christian Himura because he looks like Christian and he cosplays Kenshin Himura, so his name is easy to figure out. He is sometimes known as Christian Kenshin Himura. Strange right?

Reisner SD 17 is Henry Victor Reisner. Don’t know why except that it suits him. He is a very humble personality, warm hearted, contented easy going type but he is also very formal and serious. The name is right.

Ryoma Sakamoto SD17 is Setsuna Ryoma Sakamoto because he cosplays Setsuna F Seiei from Gundam 00. I am considering changing his name to Setsuna Tatsuma Sakamoto after Tatsuma Sakamoto in Gintama.

Date Masamune sdgr is named Daniel Ashta Date. Daniel as in the biblical character Daniel. This is in line with the historical records of him as a patronage of Christianity in a time when Christians were martyered. Ashta as in Judau Ashta from the anime series Gundam Double Zeta ZZ which Date cosplays. Date Masamune also cosplays himself in Sengoku Basara. Daniel Ashta Date has a romantic ring to it. ☺️

I have not named the girl Olivia Morgan and the 2 Yo-SD boys.

 

I love naming things! I name basically everything important to me or used a lot, from dolls, to consoles/computers, to journals! I will start thinking of names with two ideas: sounds I like together and a background story of the doll. Sometimes I name the doll before I create the story, usually that has to do with the sound of the name. Other times I will just use the story to tell me what kind of name the doll should have. I mostly use fantasy or Asian-based names when I focus on sounds, that does not work well for a daughter of a aristocrat raised in England. . . . so I would then look through baby-name sites to find a name that suits the story.

Finally, when I have created a small list of names I think might work for the doll, I spend a day or two calling the doll by the different names to see which one 'sticks' the best.

 

I always name my dolls what I love. Artists, gods and angels of mythology, animation characters, etc.

 

Meh, it just came to me naturally when I named my doll. He had a grumpy, uptight, and strict expression to him and I took that into consideration. I also took his sculpt name into consideration (Ellis). I liked his sculpt name, but it wasn't quite what suited him. I gave him a very simple, yet elegant name since that's the way I envisioned he would carry himself. Low and behold, he arrived on my doorstep and he was very grumpy. So that's why his name is Elliot

 

I’m struggling super hard with naming my boy I just got, I appreciate reading all of yalls methods of madness when it comes to names!

 

With some of my dolls I know their names before they arrive and it’s the perfect name. Others, as soon as they are out of their box for the first time their name pops out at me. Then there are the dolls that It either takes me a very long time, or I never find a name.

I do keep lists of names, names that either just come to me out of nowhere, or a foreign name or location that sounds interesting. If one of these names sound like a possibility I write it down on a post it note, and put it near the doll while saying the name out loud, and that way I can tell if it’s right or wrong for that doll.

I have 3 dolls now, all Fairyland of various sizes that have been nameless for months, nothing is right for them even though they do have somewhat fleshed out characters. I’m hoping reading through this thread will help me find inspiration.

 

I referred to my first doll I ever bought as "Dim Sum". Her sculpt name was something I couldn't pronounce even if I tried to and she was a small (26cm) doll so I thought it fit. When I first opened her up (after a very long, stressful car ride from my parents house because I shipped her there) in my half lit apartment at 10:30 at night while a friend was yelling at me to get my butt in the car so he could go back to Akon, I found out her name was Minoru.

I typically refer to my dolls as their sculpt names until a name subconsciously comes up, 9/10 it's the perfect name.

 

I keep a Google doc of potential doll names, and I pick when the doll arrives.

 

As odd as it sounds I usually let the dolls pick their own names once they get home! I’ll be playing around with a new doll, dressing it, putting on wig and eyes, then suddenly a name just pops into my head. Like the Dollie told me their name via telekinesis!

 

I have ocs that I want to shell, so I always have names on hand, but when choosing names I always kinda figure out the aesthetic /feel I want and then search “(whatever aesthetic I want) names” I’ve spent a lot of time on baby naming websites lol.

 

I name them... and then rename them. I’m really terrible at it. If I could make real life chat bubbles with their pictures in it, that would make my life so much easier.

 

I do find this hard, harder still when I have a name picked out and it just isn't for them. Sometimes it takes a few weeks but I find their name. This morning I've just found one of my newest guys names, he's had another name for a month which fit somewhat but I just didn't feel it was 100% right so a couple of days ago I started rethinking. Funnily enough part of the change was instigated because his story fell into place, he's the younger brother of my very first girl who I'm currently waiting for. I know her name and his needed to pair with hers so it made the search slightly easier.

 

I just pick names relevant to their character, but sometimes I pick names just because I like them. In rarer occasions they have both.. My Minifee Celine named Sigrid is named after both a singer I like and an NPC from Skyrim. Sigrid is a warrior/huntress character, so thats why I chose that name. As for my Minifee Chloe named Calypso, she's a mermaid and the name is based on a greek water nymph, as well as the character in Pirates of the Caribbean, haha. I have another doll coming that I've named Hylia, just as an ode to Goddess Hylia from Zelda.

 

The names I have for my dolls just come to me. I wouldn't stress about a name right away. I mean, one of my dolls is named Mello (clearly inspired by Death Note), in which I just looked at him and thought, he looks like someone that could be named Mello. Also, I don't have last names for my dolls (yet) because I suck at trying to find a last name that goes with their heritage. One last thing, I also pick up names from books or short stories I read. I may not have a set character for that name, but I always keep it in mind.

Sorry if this was long or going "off subject" a bit! I hope you still find this info useful!

 

How I come up with names depends on the character. Usually I would buy a doll that I think it’s really attractive and I like to give my dolls gothic clothing. So I chose a very mysterious vampireish name. Something that would fit a dark character. I have a ring doll Hui and Alfanso coming on the way. Alfanso is a vampire so I’ll give him a very mysterious name. For Hui same thing...Ringdoll is coming out with a grown hui and you can see his outfit is very gothic looking so I’m thinking of a mysterious vampire name for him because of it lol (even tho he’s not a vampire). I was thinking of getting a female dollfie dream doll and those have a very cute look to them. For cute characters I would chose a fantasy name. Sort of like a name from final fantasy or something lolol. I don’t really like to chose the typical cute names you hear in America. Yeah really depends on how I look at their personalities

 

What I like doing is finding the meaning behind names that can relate to whatever aesthetic or personality I have given for a doll. I do this a lot with my OCs where I first figure out whatever aesthetic I am going for or personality and then search up name listings ASAP! I learned Japanese in uni so I go more towards Japanese names because they're so beautiful anyways. One of my Japanese themed OCs had the words "demon" (literally デーモン) on his shirt, so I decided to name him Tamashii (soul in Japanese). Soon after I figured out his story based off of his name!

 

I design and name dolls after my existing characters, mostly. Except when I buy a sculpt which I really like and try to name it... it's pain! It wasn't easy name my OCs in the first place...
I usually end up with a demon name for my villain characters, or some name of an old OC which wasn't used in my later stories.

 

I always name my dolls after foods.

 

My dolls are my characters, so the names come organically through development/exposure. I would rather not 'force' a name on them unless it sounds right because it just doesn't work that way. There has to be agreement character-wise, it's just a feeling I get. I believe that the right name will arrive at the right time. Holland got his name which I imagined as neutral-toned and yet rather special, quite like himself (at least this is how others see him, he is quite unconscious of that). His character originally did not come with a surname for a few reasons - due to his occupation, surnames are not important (and just having a first name makes it sound like he has a stage name, which is fun), and because he is an orphan - but it's becoming clear that this isn't tenable so we are both looking for a surname for him.

 

I try to come up with names for dolls but I have a hard time overriding the company’s sculpt name if they have one since. This is how I ended up with three volks Nono Sculpts who are all named Nono...

 

There are so much beautiful names, that i would like to hear more often in real life! I give them to my dolls.

 

For me, it depends on their faces and how they appear. Sometimes their 'given' name by the company suits them. I named my BJD doll Carina, Jenny. Her beautiful brown eyes and soft features looked more like the name Jenny to me. I named my Soom Dia - Lord of Jotunheim BJD doll, Legolas Greenleaf. Let's face it. With those Elf-like features, he truly does look more like the J.R.R. Tolkien mythical character in Lord Of The Rings. As for my Hujoo, Jake. I am still looking for a name for that little guy.

 

Hmm..six of my dolls were inspired by people so they used their names. Past that, I have naming structures. All of Mao and Kyou's children are named after Catholic saints. All of Tsuru's children have Japanese names. For my dolls that sit outside the main story/family structure..I have a much harder time coming up with names for XD I'm still trying to find names on some.

 

I don't have much experience naming dolls, but when naming characters I like to use the behind the name website. I think up a meaning or trait that suits the character and search for names with that meaning. The site also has a name generator tool which can be useful if you cant think of anything.

 

I still need to name my two bjd’s. Sometimes I just wait for a name to ‘fit’ when I’m styling them/photographing them. In the past, I have been known to search baby name sites for names inspired by something. For example, I had a galaxy themed custom, so wanted a galaxy themed name.

 

I come up with a doll character first before I even get the doll, and I just have to think a lot about the character and what would suit them

 

I usually just go on baby name websites and scroll through lists until something clicks.

 

I am an animator and my dolls are literally themselves, their eyes say their names ... Louisa, Tessa, Anni, Stephan, Pavel, Herman...

 

All of my dolls, both present and future, are just shelling characters of mine so my response probably won't quite be what was intended, but I'll try anyway.

I, personally, am a fan of puns so my two main boys (who have yet to arrive) are both named with that in mind. One has a questionable origin--Youji, where the first kanji is the same you as in youkai--and the other is a dog demon--Cuinn, pronounced as Quinn and referring to the word cú meaning hound. That being said, sometimes it can take ages to come up with the right name. The only one I currently have home at the moment, Seiya, was named to give my friend a positive association with the name after having only heard it tied to an OC belonging to an ex-friend and having a very negative view of it as a result.

Now if only I could come up with something decent for this dragon I've been working on...

 

I really love how you created a name that has significance meaning by taking names from your family members. Now that doll will always be special to you. With most of the dolls (non-BJD) I collect, I have already planned a name for them, however with BJDs I found the process to be quite different. For some reason, I couldn't commit to a name until they were home and completely outfitted. I have to spend time with him/her and see how their style pans out before I can officially select a name.

It took me at least a week to choose both of my dolls names. I often browse name websites and research the name meanings (I love a good name meaning!) Nameberry.com is my favorite for this.

I recently did a blog post on this very topic! 5 Tips For Naming Your Doll The Perfect Name

 

I don't have a certain naming system for my dolls. I'll literally have a name pop up in my head and if it sticks, I go with it. I just let the name come naturally.

 

I look at a lot of baby name sites and name generators. I change my dolls name a few times before I settle on one I really like. Right now I want to change Simone's name because I don't like the way it sounds when I say it out loud.

 

My dolls aren't really characters or anything. I think of them more as like little customizable works of art, so they either don't have names or have silly names. I originally named my DC Ant Celty after Cell, but changed my mind about making her purple and green and made her orange and black instead so now she's Cheeto lol. I guess I pick names that go with the aesthetic of the doll, if that makes sense.

 

I think that is a cute idea! If I had to go with that naming scheme my girls would probably be named Pinky and Marshmallow *giggles*

 

I have one family of dolls that are named after gemstones/semi-precious stones. The rest are just names I saw either in a book or from a baby name site.

 

That is such a cool ideal. It reminds me of the crew of villains in Sailor Moon =^_^= (Queen Beryl is always my fave; don't ask..).

 

My story is made up of gods/goddesses/spirits/angels from religions around the world, so I look to international baby naming websites. Ludovica Amorosi is Italian Catholic angel, and I just really liked the nickname Ludo. Healani Kahale is a Hawaiian name I chose for my incoming Hawaiian goddess of the ocean.

 

Okay.... All of the doll in my family are named (or nicknamed) after food lolz

Even tho from the profile it doesn't seems like it, but yeah the nickname I called them are all foods.

My general large size boy (SD17 not included) are named after fruits: Persimmon and Melon
the bigger boy with SD17 body is named after alcohol: Pinot
my two large size girl are named after sweets: mochi and ice pop
and the two medium size little one are named after beans: red and black bean

as of thier original name on the profile, I just give them whatever Kanji come in to my mind by the time lolz

 

well im Japanese and for the most part it's normal for japanese names to have meaning in the kanj so i always like to match my dolls personality with a name that can translate well to their personality traits. another thing i do sometimes for my little dolls that have no part in my stories if i cant come up with a name then i always just go to the baby names sites or just come up with cool sounding names my self

 

I started with names that began with K. After Katerina, Katya, Kar'yn, 6 more... to Kari I needed a different set of names, so they now get named after characters from stories, books or movies that I particularly like.

 

When I name a doll it does not always stick. Typically I will think of a name but, more often than not, I will forget the name after a few months. The few names that stick tend to be on the dolls with the most developed personalities and characters. I wait till I have the doll to see what personality tends to develop. The ones I usually remember are the Disney themed ones.

 

I make preexisting characters, OCs or characters from books etc. so their names are choosed in advence.

I've made one half inpulsive buy - the doll inspired me as soon as I have seen him, so his name just happened along with the rest. He just...looked like his name? Or the name was like him? I can't really describe it.
But my newest, truly impulsivly bought boy...That's a problem. I bought him just because I loved the sculpt. No preexisting character which would match, no impulsive inspiration. Nothing. I'll just wait and give it time