6 Original Fantasy Character Ideas for Your Next Novel
Coming up with original fantasy character ideas can feel like an impossible task.
You want someone unforgettable—not another silver-haired assassin with a tragic past. Nor a reluctant chosen one with daddy issues (unless you’re twisting it somehow—then I’m listening).
Whether you’re outlining your first epic or elbow-deep in your 12th draft, finding truly original fantasy characters is a pain point for every fantasy writer.
In this post, I’m sharing a ton of original fantasy character ideas, plus the brainstorming tricks I use in my own writing to make sure my characters aren’t just copy-pasted from someone else’s story.
Oh, and if you want a plug-and-play system to keep track of all your fantasy characters?
Download my Free Notion fantasy character template and make your life a thousand times easier.
• Start with contradictions, not clichés
• Ask sharp questions (what ruins them? what do they fear?)
• Make backstory hurt (and matter)
• Don’t name them too soon
• Use relationships to sharpen personalities
• Avoid building characters around powers alone
• When in doubt, twist a trope and make it weird
Why original characters matter in fantasy
There are no completely new ideas under the sun. But originality isn’t about reinventing the fantasy genre. It’s about taking the bones of something familiar and giving it flesh and blood no one else could have imagined but you.
Your readers have seen fae and assassins before. What they haven’t seen is a fae who runs an illegal gambling ring beneath a desert village, or an assassin who fakes her kills and funnels her pay to fund a network of orphanages.
Unique characters spark curiosity. They make the story.
If your plot is a road trip, your characters are the ones behind the wheel, blaring music, ignoring the GPS, and making the whole thing worth writing in the first place.
Questions to spark fantasy character ideas that don’t suck
These are the prompts I turn to when I feel like I’ve met my character before (usually in someone else’s book).
What’s one belief they’d die for, and one they’re starting to question?
What would ruin them? (Emotionally, morally, politically—whatever hits hardest.)
What’s their reputation, and what’s the truth?
Who do they lie to the most and why?
What’s the one thing they swore they’d never do?
How do they change the people around them? (For better or worse.)
What part of them would they never want someone to see?
Answer even just three of these, and you’ve got a better start than 90% of the “cool fantasy characters” floating around out there.
6 original fantasy character ideas
Here’s the good stuff: a list of fantasy character ideas you can steal, twist, or use as writing prompts.
The cursed historian
They’re the last living expert on a forbidden war, because they were there. But the curse that kept them alive also wiped their memory of what actually happened. Now they’re piecing together their own war crimes through the documents they spent a lifetime collecting.
Twist: They begin to suspect their entire career is a coverup, written by them.
The beast whisperer who’s allergic to fur
She was born with the ability to control animals… which is great, except her allergies turn deadly whenever she does. She’s tired of being revered and miserable. She wants out, but her power may be the only thing keeping her village alive.
Conflict: Her apprentice shows signs of having the gift too, and no allergy.
P.S. This one is more suited for a cozy fantasy story.
The moonborn seer who lost her vision
She used to see the future through moonlight. Now she’s blind and adrift, haunted by all the visions she didn’t stop. Everyone still treats her like a prophet. But her only real gift now is deception.
Pain point: She’s addicted to the tea that used to amplify her visions, even though it does nothing now, except help her sleep.
The deathless knight who wants to stay dead
He’s been resurrected 19 times for the kingdom’s battles. Each time, he remembers a little less. Each time, he’s a little more numb. He’s not scared of death, he wants it. But his queen won’t let him go.
Moral dilemma: The only way to break the resurrection spell is to kill her.
The retired assassin with a toddler and a bounty on her head
She faked her death six years ago, burned her weapons, and gave birth to a daughter she never thought she’d have. But someone just put a bounty on her, not to kill her, but to bring her back alive. She has no idea who wants her… or why.
Conflict: She can’t use magic without being tracked, but her daughter is starting to manifest dangerous abilities—and fast.
The oath-bound mercenary with no memory of their past lives
Each time they die, they're reborn into the same body with the same skills—but no memories. Only their scars remain. This time, a stranger claims to have known them for centuries, and says they were the one who cursed them.
Moral dilemma: If they break the curse, they lose all the skills that keep them alive.
Tips for turning a character concept into someone unforgettable
It’s one thing to have cool fantasy characters on paper. It’s another to make them feel real.
Here’s how I do it:
1. Give them a real contradiction
Avoid clichés like “she’s deadly but kind.” Everyone is. Try something messier, like:
A priestess who secretly studies forbidden blood magic.
A ruthless war general who collects pressed flowers.
A spy who’s loyal to both sides and genuinely believes she’s doing the right thing.
Contradictions create tension, and tension is the heartbeat of character-driven stories.
2. Make their backstory matter now
Backstory should haunt them. Influence their choices. Make them flinch when a certain song plays or freeze when they smell smoke. If it doesn’t shape how they react, it’s just lore for lore’s sake.
Here’s what meaningful backstory in action looks like:
A former soldier refuses to sleep indoors because a roof makes him feel trapped like in the POW camp he escaped.
A character whose mother died in a house fire compulsively checks every room for candles before leaving.
A character who survived a famine secretly hoards food—even when there’s plenty—because the fear of going hungry never really left.
💡Check out my post on how to write fantasy characters for more ways to make backstories work harder.
3. Don’t pick a fantasy character name until you know their vibe
Seriously. Choosing a name too early can lock you into a character who doesn’t feel right.
I like to get to know their voice, choices, and flaws first, then I browse fantasy character name ideas that match.
When you’re ready, I recommend checking out this name generator from Reedsy. You can also use AI tools (like ChatGPT) to prompt specific styles.
Try something like:
“Give me 10 fantasy character names inspired by Persian mythology with soft-sounding syllables.”
Tweak, combine, or use them as a springboard.
How to test if your fantasy character ideas are actually original
Here’s the sniff test I use for my own work:
1. Have I seen this exact character somewhere else?
If yes, dig deeper. Combine two unexpected roles or give them a backstory that undercuts the trope.
2. Could only this character tell this story?
If you could swap them out and nothing changes, they’re not unique enough.
3. Would readers argue about them?
Good. That means they’re layered.
Common mistakes to avoid with fantasy character ideas
Even experienced writers fall into these traps. (Guilty.)
Mistake #1: Giving them powers before giving them purpose
Cool magic is fun, but what drives them? What are they afraid of? Build the person first, then the spells.
Mistake #2: Making trauma their only trait
Yes, fantasy often includes heavy pasts. But don’t stop there. What brings them joy? What’s their weird little hobby? Depth comes from contrast.
Mistake #3: Forgetting the supporting cast
Some of your strongest ideas will come when you build characters in relation to others. Enemies, lovers, rivals, siblings—those dynamics add friction.
Need help mapping those out? My Free Notion fantasy character template makes it easy to track relationships, backstory, and arcs in a neat database.
Free Notion Character Profile Template
Bonus: Fantasy character name ideas by vibe
Need something fast? Here’s a mini list of fantasy character name ideas that match different archetypes:
Dark and mysterious
Vareth
Nyra
Thorne
Regal or noble
Caelith
Sorella
Edric
Roguish or witty
Jex
Tali
Finnar
Otherworldly or ethereal
Elion
Virell
Myndra
Keep your cast organized
Got a character idea you’re excited about? Don’t let it get buried in random notes or lost in your brain fog. Grab my free Notion fantasy character template—it’s the exact system I use to keep track of personalities, arcs, backstories, relationships, and all the messy stuff in between.
Happy writing!
Frequently asked questions about fantasy character ideas
How detailed should my character profile be before I start writing?
You don’t need to fill out a 10-page dossier before chapter one. Just know the essentials: what drives them, what they fear, what they want, and what they’d never do. The rest can grow as you write—kind of like how your characters do.
What if all my characters start to sound the same?
It’s usually a sign they’re missing unique contradictions or lived experiences. Try putting two of your characters in conflict and seeing how each reacts. If their reactions are too similar, one of them probably needs rethinking.
Can I build my world and characters at the same time?
Absolutely. In fact, it often works better that way. The world shapes your characters, and your characters reveal things about the world. If you’re developing both together, the story will feel more integrated and lived-in. My Notion Worldbuilding & Story Planning Hub includes a character profile section built right into it, so you can flesh out both sides of your story without flipping between a million tabs.
Do I need to pay for Notion to use these templates?
Nope! All of my templates work with Notion’s free plan.
