tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post4509754497231594009..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Five issues to consider when naming characters Laurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-12038478449506691202015-06-12T16:01:09.118-04:002015-06-12T16:01:09.118-04:00I wonder if the British Museum has a database that...I wonder if the British Museum has a database that might help with historic names. I had to take a peek at my family genealogy for some fun name options for you (ancestors born in the 1770s): Ozias, Truman, Stephen, Rosswell, Orange (lol, a dude!); Sarah, Anna, Honor, Rachel, Diana, Dianthe, Clara, Olive, Rebecca. Here are some ancestors born in the 18-teens: Phineas, George, Harvey, Kilborne, Daniel; Hannah, Rosa, Ellen, Osea. <br /><br />I bet going through old birth/marriage records would give you a good idea what trends were in a particular area at the time. Some parishes in the UK have those as searchable databases.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-6677948819162932862015-06-12T15:48:33.648-04:002015-06-12T15:48:33.648-04:00That's funny. I think every writer is naturall...That's funny. I think every writer is naturally drawn to particular names. I have a problem with picking too many alliterative names (same initial letter). I had to make changes at the 11th hour in my first novel when my editor pointed it out to me. Thank goodness for find/replace! Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-32899510362166049892015-06-12T09:39:47.302-04:002015-06-12T09:39:47.302-04:00In writing Regency romance, I wanted to go with th...In writing Regency romance, I wanted to go with the more staid names, and most men from that time were named after kings -- George, William, Richard. So I stuck with those. Thomas, Robert, John, Daniel, Edward. Although, for some reason, most of my women had names that ended in a vowel -- Ophelia, Olivia, Rowena, Amanda,.<br /><br />In my contemporaries, I generally use the names of my high school friends (1980's). That gives me a perspective on the times I'm writing about. And the Soc. Sec. database is fantastic. I've used that a couple of times. <br /><br />And yes, ethnicity plays a major role as well. Most of my family is Italian, (most of my contemporaries are based around that) so I have a plethora of names to choose from. Antonio, Armando, Lucia, Francesca.<br /><br />And when I'm stuck for something out of the ordinary, I usually go to the Greek list of gods and goddesses. Those are always fun. (But mostly I use those if I have to name an animal. All my horses in the Regencies have Greek names.)<br /><br />Great post.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-5761412551464762892015-06-11T08:34:30.614-04:002015-06-11T08:34:30.614-04:00I use the SSA database for names as well. It's...I use the SSA database for names as well. It's a great resource.<br /><br />But I have a strong tendency to reuse names. In my current WIP, a beta said to me, "You realize your MC has the same name as one of your MCs in a previous novel, right?" I had no idea. Gulp.Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-59969830532165010812015-06-10T17:12:57.665-04:002015-06-10T17:12:57.665-04:00Or it could be that your intuition is telling you ...Or it could be that your intuition is telling you to ponder longer. Take a hiatus and come back and see if the doubts remain, then you'll know if it's overthinking or just bad fit.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-5061652866860632322015-06-10T14:55:39.978-04:002015-06-10T14:55:39.978-04:00I've been thinking about naming a lot lately. ...I've been thinking about naming a lot lately. Until recently, I've really enjoyed naming characters, but two of them are really bugging me. I think, personally, it's because I'm overthinking it, which really can kill anything-- good or bad. This is a super helpful post, though, so thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102112870911606839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-70008289211232142762015-06-10T14:50:54.399-04:002015-06-10T14:50:54.399-04:00I find the Social Security site helpful in narrowi...I find the Social Security site helpful in narrowing down to a pool of good candidates. When there are infinite possibilities, it can be really overwhelming (and waste a lot of time). Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-22920320609588902432015-06-10T14:48:58.483-04:002015-06-10T14:48:58.483-04:00Generational fit is one that can make or break a c...Generational fit is one that can make or break a character for readers. A bad fit can have them picturing someone far too old or far too young, and then the story sort of unravels.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-37895522008170118452015-06-10T13:28:52.318-04:002015-06-10T13:28:52.318-04:00I do enjoy naming characters! Often a character go...I do enjoy naming characters! Often a character goes through the entire process with one name until the right one comes to me. Sometimes it's like they name themselves!Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-60427541483210696092015-06-10T13:19:29.164-04:002015-06-10T13:19:29.164-04:00Thank you for these tips. I have chosen instinctiv...Thank you for these tips. I have chosen instinctively my character names for my very new WIP, however will be now measuring against your tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com