Character Names - anyone ever hated what you chose?

[jen.nifer]

I have come up with a name that is original. People that I have revealed the name to have immediately opposed it - which I can understand - it's quite unusual. I have said that I will change it because I'm not only writing this book for myself of course.

But...

I don't want to.

I like it. It's a strange name and I have grown to like it.

Anyone else had this/having this happen to them?

[ted_curtis]

I have come up with a name that is original. People that I have revealed the name to have immediately opposed it - which I can understand - it's quite unusual. I have said that I will change it because I'm not only writing this book for myself of course.

But...

I don't want to.

I like it. It's a strange name and I have grown to like it.

Anyone else had this/having this happen to them?

I usually have the opposite problem of too many common names. I guess some people get tired of Tony, Sarah, and Allyson.

What exactly is it that turns people off from your character's name? I'd be careful of any name that's difficult or impossible to pronounce or has funny punctuation, but most other problems are fixable.

Ted

Ted

[Jamesaritchie]

I have come up with a name that is original. People that I have revealed the name to have immediately opposed it - which I can understand - it's quite unusual. I have said that I will change it because I'm not only writing this book for myself of course.

But...

I don't want to.

I like it. It's a strange name and I have grown to like it.

Anyone else had this/having this happen to them?



I think it's your story and your decision, but if enough people dislike it, there may be good reason.

My own choice is to use common names, or at least no name that isn't in the typical character naming book. In fact, most of my characters bear the names of people I know, and the rest usually come from a phone book. But there can be times when an unusual name works well. It depends, I guess, on how unusual it is, and on how it sounds to the average reader.

[mdin]

What's your character's name?

I try to use unique but not bizarre names. You do it too much, people are going to start to notice and make comments about it.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when books and TV shows overuse names that are currently trendy for characters that're in their twenties and thirties.

[paprikapink]

When I'm reading, I have trouble keeping track of characters who have a lot of the same letters in their names. Especially those first letters. Especially if it's a name I don't already have "stored." My eyes do not want to waste their energy parsing each letter. They just grap the most pertinent bits and rush on. Eyes aren't really that smart about what's pertinent.

[jen.nifer]

I shall reveal his first name, and prepare myself for the "um, lose it now!" response hehe.











Rusky.
(nickname for Rusk. He's Argentinean. Apparently it's an Argentinean name).

[paprikapink]

Works for me.

[jen.nifer]

Thanks Paprika! Everyone else out there - please be honest! I can take it...

[Sarita]

I think it's fine. You might be getting a negative response though, if the name doesn't fit the character. Is he playful? Young? Those are the images I'm getting with the name Rusky. But I like it.

[jen.nifer]

My own choice is to use common names, or at least no name that isn't in the typical character naming book. In fact, most of my characters bear the names of people I know, and the rest usually come from a phone book. But there can be times when an unusual name works well. It depends, I guess, on how unusual it is, and on how it sounds to the average reader.

Do you prefer to use common names because readers may find they can relate to them more? (Based on first impressions that is...)

[jen.nifer]

I think it's fine. You might be getting a negative response though, if the name doesn't fit the character. Is he playful? Young? Those are the images I'm getting with the name Rusky. But I like it.

That's the thing! They're opposing it based on the sound of it; no-one's read anything yet. He's youngish; 22-23.

[jackie106]

Did your friends read the manuscript or did you just tell them the name? Sometimes an unusual, but appropriate name sounds silly when it's out of context.

If they have read the story, ask your friends why they hate the name. Listen to their comments, but only change them if you agree with their reasons.

If you still believe in the name, keep it.

Jackie

PS--If the name is a pun, ignore everything I said in the post and change the name. There should be a federal law against punny character names. (Diana Mott Davidson named her heroine Goldie Baer. Yuck!)

[jackie106]

Rusky.
(nickname for Rusk. He's Argentinian. Apparently it's an Argentinian name).

As long as his last name isn't Gates, keep it.

Jackie

[jen.nifer]

Um?

Is that because you thought I wrote Rusty? Or does Bill Gates have an evil relation by the name of Rusky that has scarred the face of America?

:)

[mdin]

I think it's a fine name. It makes me think of the Russian slur, (Russky) but I wouldn't let that stop you.

[jen.nifer]

I think it's the surname that is causing the grief actually. I won't bother posting it here though. I shall invent a new surname and keep the first name.

[sunandshadow]

People often hate my names, lol. Some people just hate made-up names, names that don't immediately tell them what gender the person is, meaningful names with rather blunt symbolism, names with apostrophes, names which are too normal, names which aren't normal enough... people have such a huge and ridiculous range of prejudices toward names that you can't please everyone, so I don't bother trying. If I like the name, it's good enough unless and until a publisher says "Change the name or we won't publish your book." ;)

[scarletpeaches]

Does that mean it's a mistake to call my latest heroine Paige Turner? ;)

[KTC]

Paige turner! That's a good one!

Name your character whatever you want to name him. I had a character in a novel I wrote last year...and quickly filed...named Trig. My wife complained for a month that the name was stupid. I knew it was a nickname, but hadn't decided where I would reveal how it was a nickname. Couldn't even decide the story behind the nick. I just kept writing the story with Trig as one of the main characters. My wife practically begged me to change it. I workshopped the novel in a critique group and the first time I received critiques everyone said they liked the name. Go figure. So, go with your gut...it's your character. Do you ask your friends to name your child?

[Tippy]

That has happened to me before. Sometimes, by the end of the story - I am sick and tired of the original name I gave a character in the begining. Usually because I chose the name with a specific kind of person in mind but throughout the course of the writing - my character warped into something totally different. The name no longer is representative (in my opinion) of the character.

That's what I like about Microsoft Word. I can pull up the find/replace function - and little "Annie" becomes "Mercedes" everywhere the name is found. Presto - chango.

[Jamesaritchie]

I shall reveal his first name, and prepare myself for the "um, lose it now!" response hehe.


Rusky.
(nickname for Rusk. He's Argentinian. Apparently it's an Argentinian name).

My problem with "Rusky" is that it's also what we call Russians. "Rusky" or Russky" both spellings, means "Russian." As in "Are you a Rusky?" Or, "Hey you, Rusky." Same as you'd say, "Are you an American?" Or, "Hey you, American. Not as nice a word as American, it's actually offensive, but used often.

They say "A Russian/Rusky at home is named Vladimir, and a Russian/Rusky away from home is named Rusky."

But I'm not really sure they're the same word. "Russky is offensive, but "Rusky" is used by a great many Russians on their websites.

BUt the sound is the sound is the same, and I couldn;t separate the two.

If you Google the word "Rusky," you'll get almost three million hits, nearly all of them about Russia or Russians. I'm afraid I couldn't separate this from the character's name.

I didn't know "Rusk" was Argentinian. It's a pretty common last name in the United States, and I have a sister in law that lives next door to Rusk County, Texas. "Rusk" is also a twice-baked bread, but I don;t think that's a problem.

And I haven't slept all night, so I'm not at all sure I'm making sense here. But Google the word "Rusky."

[Jamesaritchie]

Do you prefer to use common names because readers may find they can relate to them more? (Based on first impressions that is...)

I prefer common names primarily because I find stories extremely unrealistic that don't have a bunch of common names. Common names are common because darned near everyone we know has one of them.

[Maryn]

I have to agree with the people who think the first name Rusky may be a mistake. Any name that makes a reader think of a slur against Russians, or of Russians in general, or of the Cold War, is a name that distracts. Why stack the deck against yourself?

Maryn, who intends to take every advantage

[Mike Martyn]

Paige turner! That's a good one!

Name your character whatever you want to name him. I had a character in a novel I wrote last year...and quickly filed...named Trig. My wife complained for a month that the name was stupid. I knew it was a nickname, but hadn't decided where I would reveal how it was a nickname. Couldn't even decide the story behind the nick. I just kept writing the story with Trig as one of the main characters. My wife practically begged me to change it. I workshopped the novel in a critique group and the first time I received critiques everyone said they liked the name. Go figure. So, go with your gut...it's your character. Do you ask your friends to name your child?


I don't mind Rusky but I hate Trig! When I was 13 this older kid named Trig beat the crap out of me! On the plus side, thanks to Trig's less than gentle ministrations, I can now write school yard fight scenes in vivid detail icluding the snuffling of blood up one's nose.

[henriette]

hm...in my opinion, rusky could work if it was a running gag that he's NOT russian; kind of like the whole "dr. frankenSTINE/dr. frankenSTEEN" thing.

but i have a weird sense of humour :)

[Jaycinth]

I had a name for one of my Main Characters that I really liked. The name stuck with me through 14 years of notes, re-writing outlines etc. Then, when I finally got down to writing a good draft of the story I realized that a 'friend' who had made a mess of her life (through ditziness frosted with sublime stupidity) -any way- her name was so similar to the character that I have to change the name out of self-respect.

Praise the goddess of word-processors for the invention of global search and replace!

But I still have to find a good name.

[KTC]

I don't mind Rusky but I hate Trig! When I was 13 this older kid named Trig beat the crap out of me! On the plus side, thanks to Trig's less than gentle ministrations, I can now write school yard fight scenes in vivid detail icluding the snuffling of blood up one's nose.

Well, my Trig was a punk rocker with a huge heart and a quirky sense of humour. He killed himself in the novel. Jumped off a highway overpass. I hated to see him go...but I couldn't stop him!

[RubyRoo]

The names I came up with were colours of paint in a craft shop but I love them so much I kept them!

Romaine
Terose
Nordic
Tilk
Seaoman
Oreganoe
Celadon
:)

[paprikapink]

I'm having the "I love my placeholder names" problem too. But I can't really have two totally shallow, self-involved, committed conformist, modern young ladies named Thistle and Slime, now can I?

[Danger Jane]

Somebody's going to notice Celadon :P lol. Interesting way to find names.

Rusky's not a bad name. If it fits the character...it's a good name...plus even though it obviously carries connotations (all names do...IMO...), people aren't too likely to have MET a Rusky who did whatever. That's a good thing.

Common names don't bug me. Names don't usually. Sometimes, though, I really, really hate the character's name, usually because of something personal with some jerk. Or some loser. Whatever. Or if it's a really complicated name...I'm not a lazy reader, but I'm unlikely to bother with more than like the emphasized syllable and maybe a consonant to wrap it up until halfway through the book, when I stop and sound it out.

[Niesta]

At risk of being very very annoying... are you SURE "Rusk" is Argentinian? Because it's not Hispanic, that's for sure. There is no "k" in native Spanish words.

There are Germans in Argentina who still have Germanic surnames after many generations. Or were you just telling where you FOUND the name (somehow connected to Argentina?), and your character isn't actually FROM Argentina?

This is only bugging me because I am a nerd. Sorry!

[jules]

I had a character in a novel I wrote last year...and quickly filed...named Trig.

I would struggle to get into a novel with a character with that name: it's an extremely unusual name that happens to be the name (as an abbreviation of "Trigger") of an extremely stupid character in a very popular British sitcom, and for anyone familiar with it is likely to invoke perceptions about that character.

[jules]

At risk of being very very annoying... are you SURE "Rusk" is Argentinian? Because it's not Hispanic, that's for sure. There is no "k" in native Spanish words.

Good point. A google search for "rusk argentina" excluding certain very common results (references to Rusk, Texas or to a person called Dean Rusk) gives less than 900 results. This suggests if it is used as a name in Argentina it is very rare...

[Jamesaritchie]

I would struggle to get into a novel with a character with that name: it's an extremely unusual name that happens to be the name (as an abbreviation of "Trigger") of an extremely stupid character in a very popular British sitcom, and for anyone familiar with it is likely to invoke perceptions about that character.

Guess it's my college years, but for me "Trig" makes me think of math. "Trig" is what everyone calls trigonometry. "Trig" is even in most dictionaries now.

[Danger Jane]

Oooh, about find/replace...I've got Word Office 2003...when I experimented with replacing words (I didn't notice it until two weeks ago...)...it made everything all caps, no matter what I typed in. Luckily the word only appeared like thirty times...ONLY...so I was able to fix everything within a couple of minutes.

Is there a setting I'm supposed to change so this doesn't happen? It happened again when I figured I must've typed it in caps lock the first time, hah.

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack...just seems like a waste of thread space...

Trig makes me think of math, too, because that's what my book says on it. But I like it--the name, not the class...

[TLHines]

Just name him "Jack." That seems to work for a lot of people. :)

[thewritingbug]

I only stumble in reading stories if the name is hard to pronounce. It takes me away from the actual story. And like a pp said, if there are a lot of names with the same letters. That can be confusing. Otherwise, it's your story, pick what you like:tongue


Lisa

[jen.nifer]

My problem with "Rusky" is that it's also what we call Russians. "Rusky" or Russky" both spellings, means "Russian." As in "Are you a Rusky?" Or, "Hey you, Rusky." Same as you'd say, "Are you an American?" Or, "Hey you, American. Not as nice a word as American, it's actually offensive, but used often.


I didn't know this. Thanks for the info cause it's enough to dissuade me; am definitely not comfortable with that name now.

If one of my stories calls for a cute Russian in future - I may use it then. Heh.

[jen.nifer]

At risk of being very very annoying... are you SURE "Rusk" is Argentinian?



Hi Niesta,

You're not being annoying at all. No, I wasn't sure - I found a reference on the net and got that impression though...


There are Germans in Argentina who still have Germanic surnames after many generations.



I would say this is probably what happened with the reference I pulled up! Damn! Must be more careful next time. Thanks for the nerdy advice :p

Well, it looks like the search for a not-so-Argentinean-sounding first name and surname is required. Hehe.

[RubyRoo]

Trig makes me think of 'Only Fools and Horses'! I'll have this mental image of Trigger whenever the name is mentioned. :D

[Linda Adams]

I have come up with a name that is original. People that I have revealed the name to have immediately opposed it - which I can understand - it's quite unusual. I have said that I will change it because I'm not only writing this book for myself of course.

But...

I don't want to.

I like it. It's a strange name and I have grown to like it.

Anyone else had this/having this happen to them?

I'm having the same problem with mine--only it's very much gender based. None of the male beta readers like the name of the main character. Women readers have been fine with it.

[LieselGarmach]

I try to come up with 'uncommon' common names. Then I send my stories to my beta reader, who invariably comes back with, "I had to change the names because you again picked names of people I know and I want to read about the characters, not think of people". We've checked, and I've done it over 20 times now.

I figure eventually I will pick names of folks he doesn't know...right?

But that does bring up a good point. How many books are put down simply because the reader doesn't like the characters' names? Part of the reason I don't read SciFi and Fantasy very often is that I find the names bothersome. The few books I have read for the most part have been fine, but if I pick up a book and I can't easily figure out how to pronounce the characters' names, I won't read the book. I want to read something that will flow, if I'm picking up fiction. Fiction is mainly an escape for me.

Rusky wouldn't make me put the book down, but I'd envision someone with russian characteristics physically, even if the behavior and description didn't match.

[Irysangel]

I don't mind the name Rusky, or even Trig. Normally what throws me out of a book is when they're named something with a lot of consonants and apostrophes.

That's pretty common in some fantasy, unfortunately, and if I can't even imagine how to pronounce it, I'm not going to spend the next 500 pages stopping at that word every time it's used.

I tend to go for the 'slightly outside of common' names. Common enough that no one would bat an eye if you heard the name, but rare enough or out of use enough that I can still get an individual 'feel' for the name. That's why I have a Bridget, a Jackie and a Zane, and not a Jane, a Sue or a Tom.

As for me, the only name someone's ever quibbled with in one of my books is my fantasy character named Migra. Someone told me her name reminded them of viagra.

Sheesh. :)

[scfirenice]

I wanted to name my MC one thing but then found that a MC of a novel in the same genre had the same name, I ended up liking my second choice though.