rj_anderson: (Wayfarer - Timothy)
rj_anderson ([personal profile] rj_anderson) wrote2009-05-12 07:32 am
Entry tags:

There are those who call me... Tim?

It has been suggested to me that I change the name of my young hero from book two of FAERY REBELS (a.k.a. REBEL in the UK). I am told that for most British people, especially of the younger generation, the name "Timothy" is considered fairly radically uncool.

I don't mind Timothy's name being unpopular, because he was born to missionary parents and raised in Uganda, and him not fitting in with the cool kids in England is kind of the point. However, if it's going to make all my young readers in the UK gag and put the book down hastily the moment they see it (as I'd be tempted to do if the hero's name was, say, "Leslie") then I suppose I would be foolish not to take that into account.

So I'm doing a poll. The first question is specifically for UK readers, but for the second I'd be glad to hear from anybody.

[Poll #1398565]

If you're not on LiveJournal, you can still participate by leaving a comment as "Anonymous". Thanks for helping me out on this.

[identity profile] yahtzee63.livejournal.com 2009-05-12 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Honestly, I've never liked the name Timothy -- I disliked it when I was a kid -- and I could never explain why. I don't know why. It's like my dislike for "Samuel" or "Ella," a very kneejerk thing. But I never try to impose this on other people, because I get that it's an irrational thing.

Long story short, I'd love him as Thomas.