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

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!