tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6987634903377032798..comments2024-03-19T04:31:58.308-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Barbara Hambly on Naming NamesJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17446157334300024222012-11-26T08:56:49.178-05:002012-11-26T08:56:49.178-05:00I do prefer an short easy to pronounce name. I hav...I do prefer an short easy to pronounce name. I have passed over books at the store when I can get past the character names on the back cover.<br /><br />BobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48093393878650176602012-11-22T09:38:26.973-05:002012-11-22T09:38:26.973-05:00Great topic, Barbara.I particularly agree on those...Great topic, Barbara.I particularly agree on those names only the weirdest parents would give their baby.<br /><br />Savage Blackthorn. Winter Lascelles. Come on now!At least make it's clear it's a nickname.<br /><br />I waste -- spend -- far too much time on names. I can be stuck until I find the right one. Give a character the wrong one and they sulk.<br /><br />JoJo Beverleyhttp://www.jobev.com/recent.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90381538887409917752012-11-21T20:05:28.942-05:002012-11-21T20:05:28.942-05:00This has been a fun blog post today! My mom was a ...This has been a fun blog post today! My mom was a great fan of Dickens and the names he chose for his characters. I like them, too: just reading the names instantly brings the characters to life in my mind. I wonder what criteria he used when choosing names?<br /><br />Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35186599414476940292012-11-21T19:27:23.261-05:002012-11-21T19:27:23.261-05:00Go on a genealogy website and have fun. My family ...Go on a genealogy website and have fun. My family tree goes back to the 500-600s so far, mostly English, Celt, Scot, and a ton of French who became Anglicized, Danes and Norskes who became Angus-ized (Scots), and some German, Italian, Dutch, and even a Portugese. It's like the motherlode of names. I always felt the odd one out that I was the only one in my immediate family who didn't have an Irish name. Was I adopted from a Jewish clan? A few years ago I discovered I am the last of five or sixl generations of Scotswomen who passed on the Biblical name Rebecca from grandmother to granddaughter! Rebecca was a popular name in Scotland from about the late 1600s or early 1700s on. I love that!Rebecca Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71971850893450347242012-11-21T18:07:44.695-05:002012-11-21T18:07:44.695-05:00I do also have a mental file of actual peoples'...I do also have a mental file of actual peoples' names which I've run across which are just totally phenomenally weird... and which I can't publish here on the blog, obviously. Things husband George found in the New Orleans telephone directory, or which another friend encountered on arrest forms while a probation officer.<br /><br />Things that made me think, You're kidding, right?Barbara Hamblynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61197431767164778712012-11-21T16:32:58.683-05:002012-11-21T16:32:58.683-05:00Names are extremely important to me, too. They mus...Names are extremely important to me, too. They must be appropriate for the place and time, and yet wherever possible not ring wrong to a modern Anglophone ear.<br /><br />For my only fantasy setting, I came up with a few names that felt right for each culture, then used those phonemes as inspiration for big lists of names and thoughts on naming practices. When I used a name, I crossed it off the list. (I allowed overlap for very minor characters, since a world where no two people have the same name is no less odd than one where everybody shares one.)Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11248105744263116792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7741441855186923752012-11-21T15:55:04.630-05:002012-11-21T15:55:04.630-05:00Hi Barbara! Names are such fun. I'm with Hank...Hi Barbara! Names are such fun. I'm with Hank and Rhys. Sometimes they just appear out of nowhere, perfect from the start. That character could never have been called anything else. And sometimes I change them all the way through the book, and am still not sure I got it right.<br /><br />Love everyone's ideas for name finding. My little trick is to watch film and TV credits, especially British shows, and jot down names that I like. But I never use anyone's first and last names together.<br /><br />Hank, I'm very glad you didn't change your name:-)Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519514786198185277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61000742339244453672012-11-21T13:48:43.336-05:002012-11-21T13:48:43.336-05:00Yeah, names that are too made up...I recently inte...Yeah, names that are too made up...I recently interviewed a police detective--this is real life--whose name is Nick Fortunato.<br /><br />I mean--that's too good to e true, right? We could never use it in a book! <br /><br />And remember when all TV anchors names were made up? I once was offered a job in Louisville, and was told I'd have to change my name. I was THRILLED with the idea. I chose Amanda Armstrong. And then Tyler Cameron. Luckily, I didn't take the job.<br /><br />And I agree, some names just--poof. Appear, and are perfect. Others--I struggle with. <br />And so funny--SO often when I think, ok, PERfect...it turn out to be just like someone else's name. <br /><br />Why is real life not like that?<br /><br />Welcome, Barbara! xooxHank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68823689036574824482012-11-21T13:01:33.967-05:002012-11-21T13:01:33.967-05:00In real life, I would never trust a man named Crai...In real life, I would never trust a man named Craig. If my daughter brought home someone with that name, I would worry that she'd gotten herself into an abusive relationship. At the very least, he'd probably rip her heart out and stomp on it, and then show up again a few months later, expecting to be welcomed back with open arms. Because he's Craig, and can do anything he wants.<br /><br />And my son should really avoid girls named Jo Ann or Joanne or JoAnn. Unless he wants to be stuck with a spiteful slut. <br /><br />I would really like to read a book with a hero named Hubert or Arnold or a heroine named Gladys or Caroline. Don't you think people with those names get tired of reading about victims or villains with those names? And somebody please make your heroine short and dumpy, as well as smart and witty!<br /><br />Anonymous (not my real name:-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11736541659532521072012-11-21T12:13:01.670-05:002012-11-21T12:13:01.670-05:00*waves back at Elizabeth*
Yes, actually, some of ...*waves back at Elizabeth*<br /><br />Yes, actually, some of those Captcha test-words wouldn't make bad names.<br /><br />I should have mentioned that I'm sufficiently OCD about this that I wallow around looking for the names of my characters' pets, if they have them: notably the three Pekes in Rat-God, and John Aversin's horses (Battlehammer and The Stupid Roan).Barbara Hamblynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27801116559441089152012-11-21T11:09:02.829-05:002012-11-21T11:09:02.829-05:00*waves from livejournal*
I use behindthename.com ...*waves from livejournal*<br /><br />I use behindthename.com and surnames.behindthename.com -- since it's usually for fantasy, I promptly tweak a few letters in what I find, and sometimes must come up with a different meaning derivation -- and http://seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=greeknamer, which coincidentally worked out as a lovely "origin" match for one important name I'd come up with originally.<br /><br />I may also have named a secondary character after an EverQuest summoned pet name. *attempts to look innocent*<br /><br />(Hello, Capcha! Uchissy? Not quite right for my world, I think...)Elizabeth McCoyhttp://elizabethmccoy.dreamwidth.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6210926882920389692012-11-21T10:49:19.134-05:002012-11-21T10:49:19.134-05:00Barbara, I go through this all the time. Sometimes...Barbara, I go through this all the time. Sometimes a character will present himself in my head, perfectly named. Other times I'm struggling with the story and the character will say to me, "Why do you keep calling me Alan when my name is really Richard." I change it and the story flows smoothly again.<br /><br />When I need a special name I go around muttering to myself and trying them out.Rhys Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663634889908752121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22187529621773368982012-11-21T10:16:51.802-05:002012-11-21T10:16:51.802-05:00Cindy, I'm not sure HOW I came up with names f...Cindy, I'm not sure HOW I came up with names for Ysidro and Antryg. They were both first-shots. I think I got the word "fumfer" from George Effinger (my late husband) - and yes, it would make an EXCELLENT name.Barbara Hamblynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90363572602495709932012-11-21T10:02:33.799-05:002012-11-21T10:02:33.799-05:00fumfer -- GREAT WORD! But could it be a name? Barn...fumfer -- GREAT WORD! But could it be a name? Barnabus Fumfer? Or Fumfer Woodcock. Defnitely a Brit.<br /><br />I keep a file of names -- picked up wherever whenever. One I've yet to use: Cecilia Spoon. From an obit.<br /><br />Welcome to Jungle Red, Jennifer!Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45014313296858988342012-11-21T10:02:11.446-05:002012-11-21T10:02:11.446-05:00I have to find a copy of that name book, it sounds...I have to find a copy of that name book, it sounds seriously helpful.<br /><br />I like making up names, but you have to be careful, you're right. I tend to live with them for awhile...like you, they have to sound just right, the character has to like them, they have to feel right in my head? <br /><br />May I ask, how did you come up with some of your names, like Ysidro or Anthryg? Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17831979625799634312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60977374437698291802012-11-21T09:17:22.803-05:002012-11-21T09:17:22.803-05:00Jennifer,
I'm with you. If the name is wrong, ...Jennifer,<br />I'm with you. If the name is wrong, it's a major stumbling block for me - especially if it seems ilke a soap opera name. <br /><br />I have a writing partner I work with and more than once I've made her change the name of a character because I just couldn't get into the story with that name in place. She knows what name nazi I am and indulges me!<br /><br />~jan Jungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35580763243067829942012-11-21T09:10:00.941-05:002012-11-21T09:10:00.941-05:00I love names. You can tell a lot about a person by...I love names. You can tell a lot about a person by their name:age, socioeconomic status at birth/etc. My main character names tend to be classics and English (Beatrice/Oliver/Mona/Adam/Vivian) but with secondary characters I usually rely on glancing around my surroundings. I wrote my book in part at the Barnes and Noble care so I looked up at their walls with book covers by Chandler/Conrad/Wolfe and there were my agents. And since I'm not a big romance fan if a character has a name like Shayla/Stone/Ridge I tend not to continue reading the blurb.Jennifer Harlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009596779867407758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89265842400283289302012-11-21T07:49:38.803-05:002012-11-21T07:49:38.803-05:00I think that the names of fictional characters nee...I think that the names of fictional characters need to have the right “feel,” a way of matching up with the characteristics that make the name fit together with the person . . . and that “feel” is true for the reader as well as for the author. I’m sure it can be a difficult process for a writer . . . or for anyone else intent of naming names, hence the popularity of baby name books and a gazillion “baby names” sites on the Internet. <br /><br />Of course, once a character in a book has a name, there suddenly exists a particular mindset for readers --- “Pansy” just doesn’t fit the Scarlett O’Hara we all know and love and it’s awfully hard to imagine our favorite spy saying anything other than, “Bond. James Bond.”<br /><br />[I'm afraid that I am not at all thankful for captcha this Thanksgiving . . . .]Joan Emersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13663757238242022492012-11-21T07:40:43.190-05:002012-11-21T07:40:43.190-05:00Welcome Barbara, what an interesting post! I admit...Welcome Barbara, what an interesting post! I admit I don't spend nearly as much time on names as you do--though clearly fantasy and historical novels require more attention.<br /><br />thank goodness Pansy was scotched. I wonder if her editor complained about that or she determined herself it didn't fit?<br /><br />Now off to bake Thanksgiving pies!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.com