Kabalarian Philosophy: What's In a Name

When writers create characters, it's important to give them distinct, well-rounded personalities. Often, though, our characters have a great deal of our own personality, or they are based on someone we know.

Often, that's fine. But it's important too to write about characters who surprise us by the way they operate in the world. I've heard it said, "If in the writing of your story, your characters never surprise or delight you, they probably won't surprise or delight your readers, either."

Years ago, I came across the Kabalarian Philosophy. Put simply, the Kabalarians believe your name dictates your personality. For them, each letter in the alphabet has a numerical value. So, your name becomes a mathematical equation. When your first name is coupled with your last name, you get the full equation. For Kabalarians, if you have a good life, it's likely that you were given a name that has a positive numerical outcome when coupled with your last name. If your life isn't so great, Kabalarians suggest that you might have a poor first name/last name combination (numerically speaking). They will even do a full analysis of your first/last name to see if maybe you should change your first name! (Pretty wild). They also try to help people with naming their babies.

For us (fiction writers) whether the Kabalarians are onto something is neither here nor there.

On the Kabalarian Society website, they have a name analysis tool. Just click on the box entitled YOUR NAME (once you get to the site. This is just a picture of what their site looks like):

For instance, here's what they have when I type in the name Jeff:

"The name of Jeff gives you a very inquisitive, restless, seeking nature. You feel impelled by intense desires that you cannot comprehend or satisfy. You have had the desire to accomplish something outstanding and to do something very worthwhile for humanity, especially early in your life. This name gives you a versatile, clever, analytical mind, but unfortunately you cannot direct your interest toward an undertaking for long, as you do not have the patience and practicality for systematic hard work and attention to detail. You resent obstacles, delays, and restrictions. This name gives you ambition, high ideals, and much creative ability, but the intense dynamic nature is too often spent in feelings and in moods, rather than in constructive action."

Interestingly, most people call me Van. Let's see how my personality changes when I type in Van.

"Your name of Van creates individuality, independence, self-confidence, initiative, and an inclination to physical activity. You are not inclined to merge your opinions and viewpoints with others, to accept compromise, or to work in a subservient position against your will. Your expression is invariably quite direct and candid. Others find it difficult to accept your domineering and, at times, argumentative manner."

I won't get into which of these seems more accurate.

What I want to talk about is how the Kabalarian site can help you either flesh out the personality of your main character or help you get more well-rounded secondary characters. The best characters are not completely in our control (just like real people!) so discovering these aspects of personality can help lead you to motivation and unanticipated actions by your characters. Say for instance, your main character's name is Sheila. To you, her personality seems flat... not quite fleshed out enough. Well, put her name in the Kabalarian site, and see if it gives you more to work with:

Sheila:

"Your name of Sheila makes you very idealistic and generous, with the strong desire to uplift humanity leading you into situations where you can express your desire to serve others. You want to assume responsibilities and to look after people; however, you can become too involved in other people's problems and tend to worry. Your name gives you a natural desire to express along artistic and musical lines. You desire a settled home and family life, and are expressive and attentive to your loved ones."

See how doing that gives you an additional way to possibly understand your characters... and flesh them out? It helps you possibly understand your character's motivations. It can help you too from creating the same personality type over and over. It can be a leap board for more in-depth character development. Conflict often comes out of desire unfulfilled. This exercise can help you possibly understand where your characters' desires come from.

You can get started by visiting the Kabalarian website: HERE