How Can I Name Minor Characters Who All Appear the Same?

Welcome to “Ask the Coach.” As a writing coach, I answer questions from writers about making the work of writing happen, tackling craft, business, and personal questions along the way. (Have a question you’d like answered? Check the details at the end of the article about how to submit one.)

Today I’m responding to a writer from Twitter/X about naming minor characters who all dress the same way and are essentially anonymous as a result:

If I have many characters of a certain group, Ninjas for example, too many to name individually in the story, though they have some dialogue, what do I call them? I’m using (Ninja) for all of them, even though there are many. Their faces are covered so can’t see each 1 anyway.

— I Will Wander (@iWillWander) November 9, 2024

Thank you so much for submitting a question.

When it comes to naming characters, it helps keep your readers and potential actors in mind. 

It’s easier to track characters in a script when they have clear and distinct names, particularly speaking characters. Minor characters, even while they play a lesser role in a story, can play a role in setting the tone and energy of a story. Their names can even be a place to have some fun, though you obviously don’t want to go too far in the other direction and thus create distractions for the reader.

Here’s the way I handle it — and this isn’t to say this is the right or only way. (See the end of today's article for more resources on the subject.)

As a general rule, if I have a speaking character, particularly if they’re speaking more than once, I give them a recognizable name, even if it’s still not a proper name.

Here’s what I mean.

While Ninja 1, Ninja 2, and Ninja 3 can be fine to use, it’s more interesting for everyone, including readers and potential actors, to create names that distinguish the characters from each other. In your case, with their faces covered (or partially covered), you could do this by leaning on things like clothing variations, glasses or other accessories, visible facial features (if any), weapons, vocal tone, personality, and more.

While you probably don’t want them to read like the Seven Dwarfs, e.g. Sleepy Ninja, Grumpy Ninja, etc. (unless you’re writing comedy, maybe!) there’s likely something you can find to differentiate them and match your story tone and events. For example, Scarred Ninja for a ninja with a visible scar, or Torn Jacket Ninja for a ninja who’s ripped their clothing early in the story, perhaps. Maybe even Sweaty Ninja for one who is, well, you know... a little enthusiastic in their fighting efforts. Alternatively, assuming your ninjas have their eyes uncovered, perhaps you could name them for what is visible on their faces, e.g. Eyebrows, Icy Blue Eyes, or Scarface.

Doing this gives a little personality to the otherwise “background” vibe you’ll create just using Ninja 1, 2, 3, etc. If you have any ninjas speaking and appearing in multiple scenes who play a larger role in the story, I’d give them proper character names, and based on your question it seems likely you’re already doing that where needed.

For non-speaking, truly background ninjas, the numbering system you're already using works well enough. That signals to the reader that these characters are less important. John August, in one of his ScriptNotes podcast episodes says, “…often it’s best to not name your day players. So, if a character only appears in one scene and that character’s function is clear, you might be much better off with Hotel Clerk than giving that person a name. Save names for people who actually need names.”

One other opportunity to keep in mind here is that by naming them creatively, rather than keeping your characters in the background and/or generic, they may begin to differentiate themselves in your writing and storytelling too, stepping forward into the story a little more than they otherwise might.

And who knows where that might lead!

Resources

For more on this subject, check out these articles and links:

• The Name Game - Why Are Character Names Important? Part 1 covers the importance of naming characters to make them memorable and read well on the page.
• The Name Game - Why Are Character Names Important? Part 2 covers the risks of giving proper names to minor characters (and thereby accidentally creating subplots).
• The Name Game - Why Are Character Names Important? Part 3, includes tips about how to keep character names from getting confused.
• In Choosing Character Names, John August gives more tips about choosing character names in terms of first or last names, then expanding from there.
• In Scriptnotes, Ep 151: Secrets and Lies — Transcript, John August shares 7 tips for naming characters that are quite good.

That’s a Wrap

Character naming is a fun and powerful aspect of scriptwriting, even with minor characters. Help your reader stay oriented in your story by using names they can track, and help inspire actors to take on these smaller parts by giving them some personality and character, when appropriate to the character’s importance in the story.

Thank you for reading, and happy writing.

Warmly,

Jenna

Screenwriters, what challenges do you run into that you'd love to see addressed in this column? Take our short survey here, submit your question to be answered anonymously via my online form here, or email me directly at askthecoach@calledtowrite.com. Look for answers to selected questions in my monthly “Ask the Coach” column on the third Thursday of the month.

Find me on X/Twitter @JennaAvery and Bluesky @jennaavery.bsky.social.