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| Not-Alexandra, but Harriet? Really? |
My mother told me she had planned to name me Alexandra (which is funny, when you read this blog) but decided when I was born that I didn't look like an Alexandra. How that makes sense she could never explain.
But I bet it's kind of the same when authors name a character. We know what works, but we may not be able to explain exactly why.
Sandra Parshall (Sandy to some...) explains it all--and, fabulously, has special info about the Reds.
Naming a character in a novel
can take longer than finding the perfect moniker for newborn offspring. A kid
is a blank slate. You can pick out a name just because you like it, or you’re
expected to pass it down in the family, and hope your son or daughter grows
into it. Not many parents seem to consider whether their precious little Daisy
will one day be six feet tall and big-boned.
Characters, on the other
hand, are already fully formed (or should be). Unless you’re going for a funny
contrast, you have to fit the name to the person — the character’s age, social
status, region of birth as well as personality and values. I can’t write about
a character until I’ve named him or her, and if I make the wrong choice
initially, I will have trouble with that character until I change the
ill-fitting name.
I tried several names before
I settled on Rachel Goddard, and the writing on the first book in my series, The Heat of the Moon, didn’t proceed smoothly
until I knew exactly what to call her. This Biblical name, which is used in
different forms in many languages, appeals to me because it’s simple and
strong. It was in the top 20 baby names in the US during the 1980s, when Rachel
was born. Deciding what to call Rachel’s younger sister was easy: Michelle has
a light, pretty sound that suits the character. Their mother, Judith — well,
let’s just say nobody ever called this woman Judy.
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| Sandra Who? you know this. |
Naturally, I’ve kept track of
my own name’s popularity. Sandra started life as a nickname for Cassandra or
Alexandra but has assumed an independent identity over the last century. Throughout
the decade I was born, it was one of the five or six most popular names for
baby girls in the US, and it stayed in the top 20 until 1968. Every Sandra I’ve
ever met has been my age or a bit younger,
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but I know younger ones are out there, like Sandra Bullock, age 49, who was born in 1964. Alas, in 2012, the last year for which figures are available, our name had fallen to number 679. The reigning five were Sophia, Emma, Isabella, Olivia, and Ava.
but I know younger ones are out there, like Sandra Bullock, age 49, who was born in 1964. Alas, in 2012, the last year for which figures are available, our name had fallen to number 679. The reigning five were Sophia, Emma, Isabella, Olivia, and Ava.
And how have the Jungle Red
Writers’ names scored down through the years?
Julia is the one with the
most staying power. This Biblical name is found, in different forms, in many
cultures, and it has been consistently popular in the US since the SS database
was established, falling out of the top 100 in only a few years. It was number
26 in 1880 and 27 in 2001. In 2012, it was down to number 65, but if its past
pattern repeats, it will rise again.
Hank doesn’t
show up as a girl’s name, although it’s made the top 1,000 boys’ names list for
the past three years. Harriet (Hank’s real name), however, was in the top 1,000
until 1970, and the top 200 through 1946.
Lucy, comfortably within the
top 100 baby names from 1880 to 1924, has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity
recently, rising from number 203 in 2004 to 66 in 2012.
Hallie was popular in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries, fell out of favor for
a long stretch, but has been back in the top 1,000 since 1983. In 2012, it was number
525.
Rhys — sorry, but it’s never
been among the top 1,000 girls’ names in the US, but in 2012 it was number 476
on the boys’ list.
Deborah and Susan are classic
names that have usually been in the most popular 100. Deborah was in the top 10
from 1950 to 1962, rising to number two in 1955. Susan had an even longer ride
in the top 10, from 1945 to 1968. Both have dropped in the last few years,
though, and in 2012 Deborah was down to 797 and Susan was number 839. Perhaps a
little campaigning among enceinte fans
and family could bring them back up in the rankings?
Have you looked up your own
name on the Social Security site? http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
How has it fared in popularity over the years?
Do you think it suits you, or
have you always wished your parents had chosen something else?
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Bio:
Sandra Parshall’s new novel, Poisoned Ground, is the sixth mystery
featuring Rachel Goddard, a young Virginia veterinarian. Sandra lives in
Northern Virginia with her husband, a veteran Washington journalist, and their
cats Emma and Gabriel. Visit her website at http://www.sandraparshall.com.
POISONED GROUND
When a powerful development
company sets its sights on Mason Country, Virginia, as the location for a
sprawling resort for the rich, the locals begin taking sides. Many residents
see the resort as economic salvation for the small Blue Ridge Mountains
community, while others fear the county will become financially dependent on a
predatory company. Few oppose the development more vocally than veterinarian
Rachel Goddard. She sides with locals reluctant to sell their land and, in the
process, complicates the life of her new husband, Sheriff Tom Bridger. When a
beloved couple are gunned down on the farm they refused to sell, it seems
supporters will stop at nothing to ensure the success of the resort. As the
violence escalates, Rachel discovers the attacks are more sinister than they
appear. Can she bring the truth to light before her community tears itself
apart?
