A Not-Quite-Random Poll

[rj_anderson]

I need to change the name of a minor character in Knife, because her present name is depressingly common in fantasy literature, and it really isn't giving me any idea of what she's like. Since she's going to become a major character if I write a sequel, this is a potentially serious problem. And yet... since I don't really know what she's like at this point, I'm having difficulty choosing a new name for her.

Therefore I have decided to -- you guessed it -- take a poll.

Before you vote, here's all I know about this character:

- she's got medium brown, curly hair, and brown or hazel eyes;
- she is not particularly tall;
- she's a faery, of the small and winged variety;
- she's intelligent, thoughtful, and somewhat quiet (I think); and
- she's going to have to leave her home (reluctantly, I think) and strike out on a long, dangerous journey, to look for something her people need.

I won't tell you her present name, because those who've read Knife probably know it already, and those who haven't won't find it helpful, I'm sure.

[Poll #874744]

Comments

[sreya.livejournal.com]

I like Rowan, but I think that one is, again, extremely common in fantasy and sci-fi. Celandine, on the other hand, is pretty, pronouncable, and pretty unique! (Pronouncablity is very important for major characters, as it makes it easier for the reader to remember the name!)

[kerravonsen]

I considered voting for Rush, but I thought it would be too confusing, since that's also a verb, and also, not really suited for someone who is thoughtful and quiet.

[ljrags.livejournal.com]

I liked Ivy. Ivy is a beautiful plant, yet people often don't really notice it at first.

[honorh.livejournal.com]

This is the only advice I'll give you: if she's going to be the main character, give her a simple name that everyone knows how to pronounce. Save the exotic names for sidekicks.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

That I certainly agree with.

[labellerose.livejournal.com]

how about Bryony? If herbal names are your thing..:)

[kerravonsen]

She can't use Bryony because it's already been used... -- so good call!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

That's the original name of my heroine in Knife, actually! Good thinking!

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I love Celandine, but Steve Augarde already has a YA fantasy trilogy with fairies and a young heroine named Celandine. ('Tis also the title of the second book, and I highly recommend it.)

I think I like Bracken, because it doesn't really sound like a name -- certainly not a feminine name -- but it seems to fit.

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

I voted for Bracken too. It seemed to be... the most obviously plantish without being very often used already, and seemed like it fit with the type of faery we were dealing with.

[psychic-serpent.livejournal.com]

I did pick Rowan, which also happens to be the name that a good friend of mine gave her elder daughter, but I'm also fond of the name Beryl, which is a green stone and a British name more common around 50 years ago than it is today. As others have noted, Rowan is used a good bit in fantasy works, but I think Beryl is relatively rare and still has a reference point in the natural world, as it is a mineral. (I think it's Be on the periodic table of elements, but my memory probably shouldn't be trusted on that part.) It also makes me think of the names Meryl and Merle, as in Merle Oberon, whose surname reminds me of fairies because of Midsummer Night's Dream. :D (Those also wouldn't be bad names, and they're not overused.) FWIW, Bracken sounds awful for a name of anything that isn't evil and twisted. (Unless Bracken IS evil and twisted, in which case go for it.)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the comments -- and I agree about Bracken, although everybody here seems to like it a lot. Go figure.

Beryl is indeed a nice name, but I'm sticking with plant-based names specifically, so alas, it is not eligible.

And Merle Oberon always makes me think of fairies too. :)

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

I chose the four I liked best. It was tough, though, and I'm not well-read enough in the genre to know what names are over-used or have negative connotations.

[ozratbag2.livejournal.com]

I picked Rowan because it's a name that rolls off the tongue very easily, but I also thought something like, Elspeth or Clover are pretty name as well.

Or, how about looking at names and the attributes for you character? Lavender for calming, Rosemary and/or Sage for memory, and Sage particularly as a plant that enlivens the senses.

Just thoughts.

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

I like Rosemary, myself.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I agree, but alas, james_bow has used it for his YA fantasy trilogy, so I can't think of the name as anything but derivative. Likewise "Clary", which others have suggested but which is the name of the heroine of epicyclical's upcoming YA fantasy.

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

What's the easiest to type?

Right now, I'm wishing I'd picked a different name for one of my characters just because I always type it wrong.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

I picked Rush 'cos it's not at all a typical name for such a character, and has potential for irony. Yus. [NODS]

It's also less "pretty" than the others, and it occurs to me that a fairy with an unfortunate name might well learn in her early years to be thoughtful and quiet and so forth, not drawing attention to herself until she's sure she's right... if fairy kids are anything like human kids when it comes to teasing, that is. =:o}

[jtree.livejournal.com]

Due to some limited internet time lately I'm not entirely familiar with the concept of this story on yours, but with the descriptions you've given I eventually settled for Dittany. It's seems a plain, nondescript, diminutive name that doesn't outright promise much flamboyance or even grace or virtue from the character, but rather gives the impression of a quiet person who would need to prove her value by her actions. Both Rowan and Bracken have some air of harshness in them, like a little bit of both ignorance and fool-hardiness, and, unfortunately, that's also common in fantasy.
Hope you enjoy your writing.

[maineac.livejournal.com]

How about Fern?

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

It's a possibility, but I've already used it for another character in the novel... I'll have to think about it.

A few ideas

[christianlady.livejournal.com]

Tatiana (russian for Fairy Queen)
Eleana (means light) pronounced E lain uh or El e ahn a
Eva Yocum ( a real name of a girl I thought was cute...maybe you could put two names together Evayochum).

Re: A few ideas

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Alas, the problem is, they have to be the names of plants native to, or at least known in, the UK. I forgot to specify that. Sorry.

Re: A few ideas

[christianlady.livejournal.com]

Eglantine is a rose used in Shakespear..

Re: A few ideas

[christianlady.livejournal.com]

cannot spell...sorry!

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

I like Rowan as well, but I also came across these plant names that sound nice:

Clary
Coriander ("Cori" for short?)
Myrtle (though 'Moaning Myrtle' might have taken over this one too much)
Cicely
Tansy

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Cicely is not bad. I like Clary even better, only epicyclical has used it for her heroine in her soon-to-be-published YA fantasy trilogy.

Coriander is lovely (I had it on my second list) but somehow too exotic, and "Cori", while inevitable, just doesn't seem to fit her at all.

THIS IS SO HARD!!! *facedesk*

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Naming characters is a huge bother, so I sympathesize. Perhaps you could pick up one of those "identify a plant" books at your local library?

Hmmm...

[diagnosticmad.livejournal.com]

I feel I would need to know a little bit more about the faery culture in your world you are creating before I would dare suggest a name based on description alone. As a writer, I find personally its important to identify the major values of culture of the creatures/people/things etc. you are naming.

All the earth or plant names clearly point to something earth like in nature...sort of druidic and celtic. I would start with names within that culture as a springboard...then maybe get creative from there. Asphodel was the only one that I thought was unique enough and at the same time left me personally curious about the character that was suggested in the poll.

Plus there is a regal ring in Asphodel but not too regal...I've always conceived faeries as guardians, but maybe in this case, in your story, they aren't guardians...they just exist and do their thing. If your character is going on a long journey I would be sure to emphasize this in the name.

So Odysseus, which is the origin of the word odyssey...a greek character from ancient literature...but then you can use the female counterpart, ergo Odessa.

Now Odessa may sound odd, but if the character's purpose is so central you may wish to emphasize this with a name choice. On the other hand, you may want to emphasize the character's vulnerability in the face of great odds or some such thing and then you would go ahead and choose something different...
I've never read Knife, so I wouldn't begin to assume...I can only throw out examples for your consideration, which really are unfortunately just shots in the dark so to speak.

But besides going through all the names associated with earth and nature...I would think of your heroine's parents or progenitors...I would think of what purpose or role she emotionally grew to embrace as she developed into what she is at the moment she goes onto to this journey.

Only ideas I can give you...hope it gave you something to click on about in the lightbulbs of the mind.

Re: Hmmm...

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can understand the difficulty in coming up with a name without more background. I was more concerned about people's immediate visual and auditory impressions of the potential name choices - which ones made them curious about the character and her story, and which ones (if any) seemed off-putting or had negative connotations for them.

All the faeries in my book (except Knife, but even she was originally named Bryony) have plant-based names -- just a naming convention they've adopted over the centuries, since their true names are known only to themselves. There's no mystical or religious aspect to the plant-names, but I have tried to choose names that seemed to fit the personality or occupation of the faeries involved (which is one of the reasons I'm about to change the name of the Chief Cook, for instance - "Valerian" is all wrong for who she is and what she does, but "Mallow" suits her physical appearance and self-indulgent personality much better).

Anyway, at present I'm using "Vervain" as a placeholder, until I get used to it or until I think of something better. Thanks for your input!

[kneesroverrated.livejournal.com]

I like Bracken, but the sound of it is just a little bit harsh. How about Bramble?