Real names or made up names in fantasy and sci-fi?

[Knight]

This a question that arose in my mind while writing. Plenty of fantasy stories, like The Lord of the Rings, use made up names for the characters, often with some linguistic inspiration. Other fantasy stories, such as Fire Emblem, use mostly real names, but often old, archaic or referential names. Sci-Fi can go either way too. Sometimes you can end up with a mix. So I was wondering what people's opinions were. Do you think made-up names adds something to the story, or do you like familiar, real-world names?

[eclipse]

You'll get a better response in the Creative subforum. Off this topic goes~!

[Naughx]

Lots of common names have mythological references.

Edited December 12, 2015 by Naughx

[Jedi]

I always liked fantasy that mixed both fantastical names with the mundane, even games do it from time to time, with Sci-Fi its typical imo to stick with normal human like names, and then create names for your Alien creatures.

Terry Brooks likes the former quite a bit.

Edited December 12, 2015 by Jedi

[FdRstar]

For fantasy, I like using real-life names and using already existing impressions.

What I mean is using names of the same origins for such and such nations so that when the player meet a new name he can guess what is its origin just like we do in real life.

And making up names is hard.

[Czar_Yoshi]

As long as there's enough consistency/plausibility to avoid breaking the suspension of disbelief, I'm happy with anything. Situations where there's a notable difference in name types based on geography/culture (different names for humans/aliens being the most straightforward example of this, it's more interesting/harder to do when the name differences aren't separated by a species divide) tend to be the best at this.

Also, the names have to actually sound like names. That makes or breaks whether made-up names work. Dalinar? Works great. Numuhukumakiaki'aialunamor? Don't try saying that in public.

[wafffo]

i'm too used to weird guys like Yoshiyuki Tomino and Mamoru Nagano to care if a name is real or not, as long as it's fun anything goes. if i wanna name a character Seabook Arno, i'll name a character Seabook Arno. if i wanna name a character Maximum HOLTFORS Ballance Kaien, i WILL name a character Maximum HOLTFORS Ballance Kaien.

(although i DO want to know what the hell those guys are smoking when they make these names, like just look at this)

[Dwlr]

You can name somebody whatever you want in "real life". Beezow Doo-doo Zopittybop-bop-bop is a real person.

[Jotari]

I vote a mix for Sci Fi too.

You can name somebody whatever you want in "real life". Beezow Doo-doo Zopittybop-bop-bop is a real person.

On that note I feel like bringing up the fact that I legally changed my middle name to Boulian (pronounced like Boolean).

Edited January 13, 2016 by Jotari