Hi all!! Summer’s here–yay! While I’m not a fan of the heat, I sure do like the warm feeling on my skin-sunshine is awesome and addicting. (Can you tell I spend way too much time in air conditioning?)
But, on to the topic of the day.
Names.
I’ve always picked my names carefully when writing my novels. But I am going to share with you a secret of extremes here. When I first started writing I was of this opinion: “My character’s names are very important. If a publisher offered me a contract on my story but told me I had to change my heroine’s name I wouldn’t do it.” Then time moved on and I was of this opinion: “You want me to change her name to Susan? Done. Where do I sign?”
Okay, so I know they are both extremes and thankfully I’ve landed somewhere in the middle of those scenarios.
I’ve always loved naming my characters in my novels. The names have to “sound” right in my head. I’m not sure if that makes sense. Sometimes my names have a great significance in the book. In my novel, Rich in Love, my heroine’s name is Ann Thomas. She thinks her name is boring and dreams of having an exotic sounding name. (Like that will change her, right?) When she meets a gal named Anastasia, who goes by Stace, Ann is convinced that if she had a name like Anastasia, she would never shorten it. Not to give away spoilers, Ann learns something about her name that is a thread throughout the book. In this case, it would have been very hard to change her name.
Other books I’ve written I’ve just like the sound of the name. I’m always thinking of funny scenarios with names. I’ve always wanted to write a book where a gal named Tuesday meets a guy named Joe Friday for instance. When married her name would be Tuesday Friday. Fun stuff!
In my novel The Little Black Wedding Dress the heroine’s name was Kayla or something that began with a K. I can’t remember. My husband and I were listening to the 60’s station while we were driving and the Bobby Goldsboro song, Honey, came on. It’s really a sad song, but I loved the name. So the K girl became Honey. Her name is part of her personality because it’s a bit unusual. Anyway, once I changed her name the book took on a new life. Funny how that happens. I paired her with a guy named Porter. One of my very best friends that I’ve known my whole life, (literally we met when we were less than a year old) her last name was Porter. So there is the history of those names. And I loved how the story played out.
I like names that are quirky, but not too quirky as to take the readers attention off of the story because the name is so different. So here’s my poll. If I wrote a book with a heroine named Loxley, would that be too different for you?
I’d also like to hear your ideas on names. Common? Different? What are your favs?
USA Today featured author Lindi Peterson lives in north Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and a lively array of cats, dogs and birds. She loves sharing life with her family and friends. Her passion for reading led her to writing, and then God spoke words of love into her heart and changed her life forever.
I love naming my characters too, Lindi. Hum…Loxley…that is a little different. I love Kayla. I used that name in a short story. Unusual names are my preference, but not too out there. :)
Don’t mind unusual names, so long as they make sense. My husband and I had fun deciding on our kids names, we wanted names that had a strong meaning, one boy has a Bible name, the other a name from our favourite CS Lewis book. Loxley…can only think of Robin of Loxley/Robin Hood…not sure about that one!! but if the story was good then I would read it:)
I don’t mind unusual names (actually like names like Anastasia, Kayla, or Loxley because they are usually unique), though sometimes when they are really complicated–it is not only hard to remember them but also to guess how to pronounce them (Loxley is short and cute, not in this category for me, though it helps the Robin Hood analogy), which makes reading the story a bit complicated.
I recall once giving up trying to understand a heroin’s name and just thought of her by the first letter of her name every time the name showed up. I know the author would have hated that, but after having to stop to read to think through the name the first few times, I just gave up and decided to enjoy the story despite the name. Those are time I think creativity could be a bit too much.
I admit it, I am a bit picky when it comes to names. I really don’t care for boring, common names, like my name (Lori) I tend to like names that are different, but not too unusual. I like names like Ariana and Aria, Briana,and Brenna for girls. For guys I like the names Connor, Tyler and Riley. When it comes to books, I don’t like it when a characters name doesn’t fit the character…Like in a contemporary story where the heroine is named “Susan” just doesn’t work for me, so I would have said “no” to that name too!!
When I was a girl I decided to write a story about a horse (I was a little horse crazy back then). In my story the name of the horse was, “Satin”. One day I was reading my story to my Dad and Uncle while sitting in a truck. My Uncle looked over and told me that my horse’s name was “Satan” as that is how I spelled it. After realizing he was right, I never could bring myself to finish that story, even though I had written over 8 chapters, and for a young girl that was a lot! I could never go back to thinking about the horse in my story the same way after that.
Unusual names aren’t a deterrent for me at all. I do agree with Lori’s comment about names fitting though…especially with time period. I mainly notice when all the characters have names that are trendy right now (or the last ten years). If one character has an out of time period name that’s fine, but if they all do it seems strange.
I think it was when I was in 3rd grade that I didn’t like my name. I’m named after one of my great-grandmothers, and she was still alive at the time. She got me aside at some point and told me never to let anyone shorten my name to a nickname. She was called Maggie all her life and hated it! My parents tried various nicknames when I was real young, and none stuck, so I’ve always been Margaret. Well, in 3rd grade, I wished I was named after another great-grandmother, Crystal. In school that year, for some reason, I got sloppy about turning in assignments on time. I remember one instance where I wrote Crystal on the paper instead of Margaret, thinking I could fool the teacher :-) Funny thing, she knew it was me! Eventually I decided if I ever had a daughter, I’d name her Crystal. I never did, but I do have a step-cousin who is Crystal :-)
If you name your character Loxley, others will shorten it to Lox, and think she might go well with bagels. ;) At least that’s where my mind went.
When choosing a character’s name, I usually search for a list of names that was popular the year he or she was born. Although Eden (in my upcoming Secrets of Sunbeams) just popped into my head and wouldn’t leave.
There’s a town named Loxley, Alabama. We pass through it on the way to Gulf Shores.
My daughter named my granddaughter Aisley. She heard Brad Paisley on the radio while pregnant and thought Paisley without the “P” would make a great girl’s name. Took me a little while to get used to it but I like it emensley now.
Sorry, misspelling. Immensely
Loxley would be find with me. The only time names bother me is when I can’t figure out how to sound them out. Then I stumble over the name every time it comes up. usually in my mind I rename the character something that looks similar for ease of reading.
Hi Jill! I like the name Kayla, too. I have a sweet friend with that name. Do you find it hard to write characters with names of people you know? I have a hard time with that sometimes.
Wemble–My daughter named her son Caleb-from Caleb and Joshua in the old testament. I like Bible names, also. I bowled with a gal one year and her daughter was named Loxley. I instantly fell in love with the name. And I like thinking of Robin of Loxley–(The Kevin Costner version!)
Priscilla–This has happened to me as a reader before! I don’t want my readers trying to guess how the name is to sound out. The name needs to flow in the story.
Hi Lori—My daughter is named Brenna.. :) I love that name. I think you would get along with my heroine, Ann, very well. :) And for what it’s worth–I don’t think your name is boring at all. I like the way you spell it. We are the “I” girls…Lori—Lindi—:)
Tammy–Oh! Eight chapters is a lot. And that’s funny about the horse’s name. I like the name Satin. Your uncle should be ashamed of himself. JK–not really. He had no idea of the impact of his comment, though. Thanks for sharing. Are you still horse crazy?
I did read an historical novel where the heroine’s name hadn’t been used as a name until a later time period. And the only reason I looked it up was because her name seemed so current. I’m glad you like unusual names. :)
Margaret! What a fun story! I ALWAYS gave loved the name Crystal. It just has a magical sense about it, doesn’t it? And there was no fooling that teacher. :)
See, I don’t want the shortened name here. Loxley would have to be Loxley. :) One of the names I was considering for my daughter was Bettina. But I knew she would be called Bett–or Tina-and that wouldn’t have made me happy! I like the name Eden, too.
Gail—OM! A town named Loxley? In Alabama? I may have to do some research–how about that-to be named after a town? I think it would be a very good or very bad thing. I love the name Aisley—it flows well–it’s easy to pronounce—I have heard of girls named Paisley, too.
Diana—renaming the character? How fun! I don’t think I’ve done that, but I might in the future if I run across a name that’s giving me trouble.
I enjoy unique names, but, I want to know how to pronounce the names. :-) I have a hard time reading a story if the name is so unique that I have no idea how to pronounce the name. Loxley is a good name. :-)
Yes, it can be difficult, especially if you wonder what they might be thinking when they read the story. :)
Names in books don’t usually affect me one way or the other, especially is it’s a good book.
I know, right? And then do you have them look like them? But there are only so many names….:)
Hi Julie!!! That’s cool. I love reading good books as well. I don’t think I’ve ever stopped reading a book because of a name. Now I’ll be like Diana and just renamed them. :)
Hi Mimionlife–Thank you! it is easy to pronounce–and it’s a fun name I think. #loxley
I like Loxey, it’s definitely different. I also like Lexy. Of course, the best name for a heroine is ….. Mallory! ?
Loxley, hm… It’s pretty. Unique, but not weird or difficult to pronounce. I like it! ;)
As for what type of names I like? I like both common and unique names. Emma, James, Sarah, Michael, Levi…. Merrick, Rayleigh, Phoenix, Katriel, Graham… And I definitely love unique spellings of names! Though my brother used to have to remind me that not everyone can pronounce names when they’re “spelled weird”, as he puts it. :P
Hi Mallory!! I like Lexy, too. Nice name. :) I have an Alex and if I got pregnant again and had a girl I was thinking of naming her Mallory–but that was in the Alex P Keaton Days–Family Ties–loved that show. :)
Hi Aerykah—I like your range of names. I’m on your page for sure. My name Lindi is spelled a little wierd, I think, but I like it!! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks. I like your name too! It’s quite pretty, I think, and I like it spelled with an “I” on the end. :)
I watched Family Ties also. I had never heard my name before that but now I hear it a lot. I like having a unique name, though it gets misspelled a lot. Good luck with your new book!