NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

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Friday, November 16, 2012

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

    

     Photo by Maximus 117 www.stockfreeimages.com
     Dickens had a way with names. Who can possibly forget Scrooge? His name is one of the most memorable in fiction. Then there’s Wilkins Micawber and Nicolas Nickleby and what about Pecksniff, Bumble and Sweedlepipe? Who can resist characters with names that conjure up irresistible stories?

     “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

     Juliet told Romeo that a name is meaningless, and she loves the person who is named, “Montague,” not the name itself and not the family. But the names Romeo and Juliet live—reflections of romance and love through generation after generation. Then there is Shakespeare’s Richard III—disagreements have raged for years about this unforgettable king.
     The names given to characters in novels, stories and plays reside in the minds of readers and are borne by generations of children named after fictional characters. Think of the Bible—a perennial best seller—and names like Mary, Joseph, Ruth, John, James, David, Daniel and Matthew. How about Margaret Mitchell’s Ashley in Gone with the Wind and Lyman Frank Baum’s Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and we look back on childhood’s Christopher Robin and Benjamin Bunny? I will never forget the first book I read as a little girl titled Wags, Tags, Rags and Obadiah—the names of dogs.
     I often use the first names of people I like or on my villain (revenge can be sweet and non-lethal,) names that history preserves or a name that fits their personalities. If a name comes with ease usually the writing does to.
     What influences the names you give to your characters?

Bests,

Elise

5 comments:

Clare London said...

Great post Elise! I like to match the names to the character, either through the name's source meaning or its sound. But I write m/m and it's twice as difficult to find new male names every time LOL.

Rita said...

Names are really important for me when I write and read. I give wonky names to my heroines. Drives my agent wonky. I like names that end in A for my heroines. Short names for the heroes. Seems stronger to me.

Elise Warner said...

Clare: Love the idea of your using the name's source meaning.

Rita: A would have that special lilt.

J Wachowski said...

I totally get this! I am name obsessed. My favorite villain in the story I just finished is named Cabot. He's the kind of guy who wears 3 piece suits and owns a walking cane? All Boston-upper crust snoot. And his name comes from that Henry James quote "and the Cabots speak only to God." Knowing his name--I KNEW the guy.

Elise Warner said...

Perfect, JW. three piece suits and a walking cane. Irrestible.

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