There are those who call me... Tim?

[rj_anderson]

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.

Comments

[infiniteviking]

(Um, I accidentally voted on the first question too, but for "will tell you in the comments", so I hope that doesn't mess you up too much!)

As to 'Timothy' v. 'Tim', I'd think that would depend on who was speaking to him and whether he thinks of himself with the long version or the short one. Personally, I'd take to the full name first, but more readily for a non-human character; for me, it's inextricably linked with little Timothy Mouse from the Rats of Nimh stories, so when I hear it my immediate reaction is "faithful and brave, but unusually small and frail... a heart too stout for such a slight body". So my quibble is very, very specific.

Thomas I see as stronger for some obscure reason; it brings up an impression of wary defiance and a restless mind, one at home in many worlds and free to move among them, but not yet fully grown into his own powers or desires. A Timothy I could imagine on his knees before his foes, but not because of fear; a Thomas, taking them out with a few quick strikes and then second-guessing the rightness of it. Amazing how years of subtle usages shape our impressions of names.

And tybault_quin's comments below mentioned Jeremy and Nigel: both names I'd read for.