Well, some authors might think about the characteristics of the city first. If it's a dark and gloomy place, they'll come up with a name that reflects that, like 'Blackstone'. They may also consider the history or culture of the fictional world. If there's a race of magic - using people, their city might have a name related to magic, such as 'Mystralis'. They also might use alliteration or assonance to make the name more memorable, like 'Lunar Lake' or 'Sunnyvale'.
Authors draw inspiration from mythology. They might take the name of a god or goddess and modify it to create a city name. They could also use geographical features as a starting point. If the city is on a mountaintop, the name could be something like 'Peakside'. They also might play with words that have a certain mood or feel. For a city that's supposed to be a center of learning, they could use a name like 'Scholarium'.
Authors often draw inspiration from various sources. They might use historical names and tweak them a bit. For example, they could take an old Celtic name and add a magical - sounding suffix. Sometimes, they create names based on the meaning they want to convey. If they want a character to seem noble, they might come up with a name that means 'honor' or 'valor' in an invented language.
You can start by looking at different languages. For example, in Gaelic, 'Fionn' means fair - haired and could be a great name for a character. Or combine words that have a magical or otherworldly feel. 'Star' and 'Glimmer' could be combined to 'Starglimmer'. Another way is to use nature - related words and add a twist. 'Willow' could become 'Willowthorn'.
One simple method is to use alliteration. So you might create a name like 'Sunny Springs'. Also, think about the culture or theme of your story. If it's a fantasy story about elves, a made - up city name could be 'Elvenholm'. You can also mash - up two different words that seem interesting together, like 'Glimmerstone' which combines the idea of something shiny and a hard material.
Authors may also use last names to make a statement or play with language. They could create a name that is a pun or has a double meaning. For example, a character who is always late could be named 'Belated'. Or they might use a name that sounds archaic to give a sense of a bygone era. And in some cases, they simply come up with a name that sounds cool and fits the overall vibe of the character without any deep - seated reason.
Authors might get horse names from various sources. Sometimes they use names that sound strong or elegant like 'Storm' or 'Aria'. They could also base the names on the horse's appearance, for example, if it's white, they might name it 'Snowflake'.
One simple method is to make up words that sound like city names. For instance, 'Glowston' or 'Mistville'. You can also take inspiration from nature. If there's a beautiful flower like 'Lily', you could create 'Lilytown'. Additionally, using old - fashioned or archaic words can be interesting. For example, 'Thornbury' which gives an old - world charm to the story's setting.
You can look at the geography and environment of the city in your story. If it's a city on a cliff, you could call it 'Cliffside'. If it's a city in a forest, 'Forestholm' might work. Also, think about the culture of the city. If it has a warrior - like culture, 'Valorgrad' could be a name. Or if it's a very religious city, 'Sanctumville' could be an option. You can also play with sounds. Make up words that sound good together like 'Sylverbane'.
Authors get creative in different ways. They could start with a feeling they want to convey, say loneliness. Then they might think of words associated with that, like 'Desolate'. They could then combine it with something that gives the impression of a spirit, like 'Wind' to get 'Desolatewind'. Another way is to think about the ghost's backstory. If the ghost was a drowned sailor, the name could be something like 'Drowned - Jack' or 'Wave - Grave'. It's all about creating a name that fits the overall atmosphere and plot of the scary story.
Some authors get ideas by reading a lot of other books, watching movies or TV shows, and then imagining what could happen next or in a different way. They might also combine elements from different sources to create something new.
You can start by combining words that have a certain theme or mood. Like, if you want a magical city, use words like 'Enchanted' or 'Arcane'. Or think about elements of nature like 'Misty Falls' or 'Sunlit Vale'.