Creative Writing 101

Lesson 8: Lucky Dip.

Names - Characters.

CHARACTER NAMES.

There are a great many reasons for using specific names for specific characters, some practical and some personal

Some people name a character after a friend or relative. This is a charming compliment (mostly), but there are a few things to consider before you go ahead.

(1) Is the name appropriate? Maybe you'd love to honour your cousin, Kylie, but if your heroine is a 19th Century convict or a singer or a writer, don't. Kylie is too modern a name for a historical heroine, and there are already two famous women named "Kylie"; a singer/actor and an author.

(2) Will the recipient be upset if it doesn't work out? Sometimes editors reject character names (I had to rename "Merimbula Raven" as "Pirimba Raven" in one book).

(3) Is the name a very popular one? Recently five books in the same short publishing series ended up with heroines who shared the same name.

SUITABILITY.

If naming a modern-day or historical character, you need to pick a name that suits the character's ethnic and social background. Not only that, but you need to pick a name readers will respond to. Try to avoid names that are too firmly attached to any famous character, and names that seem too modern or too old fashioned. Sometimes a name that doesn't sound "young" to modern ears can be modified.

For example; a character named "Agnes Campbell" was known as "Ness" and a "Beryl" might be called "Berry". "Agatha Alleyn", Ngaio Marsh's heroine, was known as "Troy", her maiden name.

A few names, such as John, James and Thomas, Elizabeth, Rose and Anna, seem to fit just about any age.

Then there's the other form of suitability. A few authors still give punning or role-names. For example, a baker might be Anita Roll, a librarian Mary Page, a thief Devious Swiper and a jockey Jackie Gallop. This naming fashion does seem to be dying out, and in any case would be used only for a satire or comedy.

NAMES AND CONNOTATIONS.

Remember that some names have odd connotations for readers. If you were told that one book had two men called "Pete Gibbons" and "Flynn O'Connor" in it, you would probably be able to identify the hero by his name. "Matthias Gilchrist" and "Henry Boatwright" also give name-cues, as do "Hubert Sutton" and "Jack Kelly".

Genre expectation plays a big part in the names you can give your protagonists; most authors find a balance between the appropriate, the pleasant and the striking.

STRIKING NAMES.

Choosing a striking name can be fun. Sometimes the name is unusual, sometimes it has a fictional "explanation" which is worked into the plot.

Here are a few examples;

Phryne Fisher. It is explained that her father was supposed to register her as "Psyche" but that she doesn't mind the error since she prefers "courtesan to nymph".

Vicky (Victoria) Bliss. Maybe an in-joke, but striking because of the echoing vowels.

Amelia Peabody. A redoubtable name for a redoubtable character.

Kinsey Millhone. Unusual first name, which derives from a family name.

Grania Kirk. An Irish/American, whose Irish granny provided the name. The character explains how to pronounce it.

Lawrence Marlow. A girl whose parents used a (male) family name. Her twin is Nicola, named after the family name "Nicholas".

Sherlock Holmes. Is any explanation ever given?

Hydrangea Lillycrop. Her mother is said to favour unusual names. Hydrangea has a sister called Gypsophila and a brother called Ur.

Using names like these can add a flavour of realism to a story, but any odd pronunciations should be factored into any explanation, otherwise readers might go through the novel without engaging with an unpronounceable character.

FANTASY NAMES.

If naming fantasy characters, try to choose something a bit unusual but still pronounceable and appropriate. For example; a unicorn might be "Moonlight", "Fairheels" or "Carrilon", but should not be "Hrxenng'a"!

Names from classical sources and from nature do well for fantasy. Or you could choose names for their meaning, as I did for 'Translations in Celadon'.

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