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What’s in a name?

February 27, 2006 by shilohwalker

I have a great book called “45,000 Baby Names”. My daughter borrowed it when they were looking for just the right name for the new baby-to-be.

Today’s question – what’s in a name? Or perhaps – “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ” I don’t think so! Would you fall in love with a hero named “Dudley”? Would the book sell?? Maybe Nora could pull it off, or Lori. But I’m 99% sure no editor would ever let that name go into production.

So here’s my question for today – Please tell me your three favorite names for heroes… and the same for heroines. Then give me three of your “yuck” names for heroes. And the same for heroines.

I’ll take a look at all the lists and pick one entry to keep in my mental rolodex. I’ll send that person a small prize.

But remember – to be considered for the prize, you have to come up with 12 solid choices. Put your thinking cap on and have at it!

Janice

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Posted in Uncategorized | 24 Comments

24 Responses

  1. on February 27, 2006 at 4:47 pm Dannyfiredragon

    Favorie Hero names:

    Colin, Duncan, Finn

    Favorite Heroine names:

    Brianna, Deirdre, Morrigan

    I really like Celtic names

    Yuck hero names:

    Albert, Eddie, Edgar

    Yuck heroine names:

    Iloanthe, Isolde, Pansy


  2. on February 27, 2006 at 4:59 pm LuAnn McLane

    Janice I think names are very important. Guy names have to be strong and masculine and I don’t like girl names that are too frilly or heaven forbid difficult to pronounce.

    Last names are even more difficult 😉


  3. on February 27, 2006 at 5:07 pm Dannyfiredragon

    LuAnn,

    it’s true that guy names have to be strong and masculine. Just imagine he is an Alpha and has a softie name. That wouldn’t fit.


  4. on February 27, 2006 at 5:15 pm Jana

    Fav. hero names:
    Jared, Matthew, Zachary

    Fav. heroine names:
    Brenna, Shandi (Alison Kent used this on & it is my daughter’s name!) Grace

    Least fav. Male names:
    Everett, Antonio, Jerry

    Least Fav. female names:
    Beulah, Candice, Evelyn

    Jana


  5. on February 27, 2006 at 5:17 pm Judy F

    Fav Hero Names:

    Jack, Travis,Gideon

    Fav Heroine Names:

    Claire, Grace, Annabell

    Yuck Hero names:

    Tommy, Art, Lawrence

    Yuck Heroine names:

    Brittany, Precious, Winifred


  6. on February 27, 2006 at 5:19 pm Amy S.

    Favorite hero names

    Jack
    Clint
    Dylan
    Luke

    Favorite heroine names

    Samantha
    Alexa
    Sarah

    Least favorite hero names

    Colby
    Felix
    Edmund

    Least favorite heroine names

    Agatha
    Abagail
    Beatrice


  7. on February 27, 2006 at 5:31 pm Jennifer Y.

    I love this topic and I always ask authors how they come up with names! I have many favorite names, but I’ll try to narrow it down. I think that I have more favorites than Yuck.

    Favorite Hero Names:
    Will, Connor, Riley

    Favorite Heroine Names:
    Grace, Callie, Caitlyn

    Yuck Hero Names:
    Vern, Augustus (or Gus), Cecil

    Yuck Heroine Names:
    Daphne, Bessie, Fern


  8. on February 27, 2006 at 5:54 pm Barbara-PF

    Favorite female names:

    Grace
    Anna
    Maggie

    Favorite Male names:

    Camden
    Connor
    Jake
    Drew
    Jackson

    Yuck Female names:

    Yvette
    Maxine
    Shirley

    Yuck male names:

    Burel
    Grizzley
    Gator

    Yes I know of people who are named the male names above.


  9. on February 27, 2006 at 8:24 pm Cryna

    Okay going to give this a shot:

    Favorite Hero Names:
    William (Bill), Alex, Charles

    Favorite Heroine Names:
    Sara, Elizabeth, Susan

    Yuck Hero Names:
    Severn, Ford, Jacob

    Yuck Heroine Names:
    Brittney, Cassandra, Maxine


  10. on February 27, 2006 at 9:28 pm Anonymous

    Favorite Hero names:
    Evan, Lars, Clint

    Favorite Heroine names:
    Maeve, Linda, Phoebe

    Yuck Hero Names:
    Wilbur, Fred, Gilbert

    Yuck Heroine Names:
    Bertha, Mildred, Jasmine


  11. on February 27, 2006 at 9:29 pm snowflake

    Fav Hero Names: Nicholas, Logan, Scott
    Fav Heroine Names: Samantha, Grace, Erin
    Yuck Hero Names: Donald, Gilbert, Farquhar
    Yuck Heroine Names: Agatha, Mildred, Dolly


  12. on February 28, 2006 at 5:26 am Lori

    Favorite Hero names:
    Rafe, Michael, Andrew

    Favorite Heroine names:
    Grace, Madeline, Emily

    Yuck Hero Names:
    Edward, Franklin, Charles

    Yuck Heroine Names:
    Gwendolyn, Serena, Poppy


  13. on February 28, 2006 at 6:08 am Jodi

    Fave Hero Names: Lucas, Riley, Cole
    Fave Heroine Names: Peyton, Sidney, Emma
    Yuck Hero Names: Alfred, Bernie, Paul
    Yuck Heronie Names: Destiny, Autumn, Daisy


  14. on February 28, 2006 at 6:13 am Michelle B

    Hmmm…This is hard! I always have a hard time coming up with good (and even bad!) names. I’m not too good at this, but here goes anyway!

    Fave Hero Names:
    Sebastian, Drew, Ethan
    Fave Heroine names:
    Amber, Natasha, Sasha

    Least Fave Hero Names:
    Alex, Marcos, Oscar
    Least Fave Heroine Names:
    Judith, Edith, Jessica

    Note that my least favorite names don’t always make me go “Yuck!” but they are names I wouldn’t necessarily choose. And some are just because I associate bad memories with the names!

    On another note as to what’s in a name…When my best friend was in middle school, her mom was worried that she hadn’t given her a name that was “ethnic” enough so she started sending her to school with the name “La Aquanetta” on her lunch bag. As my friend preferred her original name (Summer), the new name didn’t stick lol. Sometimes I wonder about parents and the names they come up with!

    Michelle


  15. on February 28, 2006 at 12:48 pm Judy F

    I was thinking about this this morning. There are some names I don’t like but like Michelle the are associated with bad memories. I remember when my sister was having her youngest and for a girl she was thinking of Marsha and I couldn’t get the no out fast enough. Had an evil coworker by that name. So the younges became Megan. LOL


  16. on February 28, 2006 at 12:59 pm Dannyfiredragon

    I read yesterday a book where the hero was called Link. Is that really a name? Sounded somewhat strange.


  17. on February 28, 2006 at 8:38 pm Janice Maynard

    Wow – it was so much fun to read everyone’s comments! I had planned to simply pick the list with names I liked the best, but that didn’t work, ’cause I found names I really liked all over the place.

    So I’m going to choose at random by numbering the entries. I’ll pick a winner around lunch time on Wednesday.

    Janice


  18. on March 1, 2006 at 7:24 pm Janice Maynard

    Jennybrat is the winner! If you’ll e-mail me at JESM13@aol.com with your snail mail address, I’ll send you your prize. It’s a large (postcard size) refrigerator magnet book cover for “A Very Merry Christmas”.

    Congrats!

    Janice


  19. on March 1, 2006 at 8:37 pm Dannyfiredragon

    Big congrats Jenny!!!


  20. on March 2, 2006 at 1:07 am Trista Bane

    Oops! Too little too late for the contest, but I just wanted to share with you how I pick names. There is a website called Behind the Name. It lists names in alphabetical order along with the meaning of the name and possibly a brief history.

    You can search by name, popularity, or my favorite, meaning. For example, if I want a character whose name is related to love, I type in love and click the drop down and select meaning. There are 83 names that are related to love. There are 7 matches for “hunter”. It’s great if you want your character’s name to match them!

    Happy name hunting!


  21. on March 2, 2006 at 2:02 am Janice Maynard

    Trista – That is really cool – thanks for sharing!

    Janice


  22. on March 2, 2006 at 1:06 pm Judy F

    Congrats Jenny


  23. on March 3, 2006 at 4:43 am Cryna

    Congratulations, Jenny…….on the win…….


  24. on March 4, 2006 at 11:09 pm Shadowspun

    My favorites are all over the map.

    Good Male Names: Alexander, Darius, Ian (Jocelyn as an honorable mention, with Jace as its nickname – via an old Jude Deveraux book)

    Good Female Names: Aislynn, Kerry, Rosanne, Zilla

    Bad Male Names: Abner, Adam, Ezra

    Bad Female Names: Agatha, Agnes, Prudence



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