Whoa! A discussion post on a Wednesday?! What is this sorcery? [Shameless plug] I'm revealing a THRONE OF GLASS inspired song on Friday which is why the dates are switched. After this week, Out of Time resumes with its regularly scheduled programming.
In another discussion post, I mentioned that a lot of characters I know have really odd names. For example, I don't think I've ever met a Celaena. Nor have I ever met a Penryn. Okay fine, these books aren't set in our time/world but in that post, I questioned whether in the future, our names would change into those.
Today, I wanted to talk about the idea of character names as a whole. Do they matter?
If I say, her name was Cassie. She had a bright smile and eyes that weren't quite focused like she was still wandering in a dreamland, do you picture someone in specific? What color are her eyes? What color is her hair?
Would it differ then, if I gave the exact same description but said that her name was Natasha?
For me? I would picture Cassie as the character from the tv show Skins [whose name IS Cassie] because that's who the description is based on. But if you haven't watched Skins, who would you imagine? If her name was Natasha, I would picture a girl that I know in real life who looks nothing like Cassie from Skins.
I was thinking that maybe we put people we know in real life of the same name in the place of characters because I certainly do that when I can. It makes for a very interesting experience most of the time. It's like my friends are part of the novel. But sometimes, that method can go really wrong and unfortunately, it changes my feel of the book.
If the main's character name was Nova [or Amelia], I probably wouldn't want to read the book. It just feels weird seeing your name in a book but it isn't you. I can't describe it. I think it goes either way - you either love it or you think it's weird. The weirdest part would be if "Nova" had a love interest. I would be like... am I supposed to ship... myself? I don't think I would be able to appreciate the romance at all and would just be like... okay then.
Recently, I just saw the movie, PROM, and the good girl x bad boy storyline happened with the girl being Nova and I kind of just sat through it. I felt nothing even though I probably should. Good girl x bad boy is one of those tropes that are annoying but I love. Unfortunately, because of the name, I just sat there. Awkward.
But the thing is that this is a personal problem. I'm sure some of you don't think of anything when you hear the name Peter. So what names do you have a problem with, if you have any?
While character names don't affect the personality [necessarily], I think that they're very important. Even with a description of a character, the way we see them is always based on the person reading and that's what I think is really cool.
Character names are so we don't have to go, "that one" or "this one." Without them, how would anyone be able to keep track of anyone? But what's the process that goes into naming a character? Is it the same process as naming a child? I'd like to think that character names take a lot of thought but really, when I started my novel, I just picked names that I liked. [For last names, I googled last names that fit with the character's nationality.]
So yes, to me, character names do matter. They change the experience if they're the wrong name for me or if they're the name of one of my favorite actors. Either way, reading is an experience that's different for everyone so these names matter different depending on the reader.
Now it's your turn! What character names make you feel weird? Are there any hot guys that you can't call swoony because of personal experiences? Or do you just not care? I wanna know!
AHHHHH THIS POST IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!! I think names are so so so important and I definitely agree with everything you said here. Luckily I haven't had too many instances (if any) where the names were those of my family, friends or myself, but I can imagine the horror/dread/confusion/difficulty/etc. Absolutely wonderful post, Nova!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOH IT IS SO AWKWARD OMG but so glad it never happened to you (:
DeleteI don't really have this problem, but I get you! Most of the time, I find it easy to separate the character from the person I know IRL, so it's not so much of a problem for me. Also, most books I read are American/British, and not a lot of people i know have Western names, so I have yet to come across this awkwardness! :)
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean but i guess it's just how my brain is because i see people i know. I don't have the MOST common name but the people I know, do, so it's awkward on that sense.
DeleteOh yes, I have hardly ever come across a Clare in a book.... especially spelled that way, but I can think of twice and it was weird, I did not like it. And I struggle to like a character if there is someone I know and don't like in real life with that name. I prefer odd names for characters so I can take them as they are having not ever know anyone by that name before.
ReplyDeleteI feel like there's a line between oddness and just plain weird where no one can pronounce it. "Clare" reminds me of Cassandra Clare [even though it isn't even her real name] but lol
DeleteI actually don't mind when characters have the same name as me, because it feels like they're such a different person it's...not the same name? Like if you wear the same dress as someone but you can't even tell because of how differently you wear it.
ReplyDeleteI'm rambling. But I definitely think character names can change how you think of a person (especially if it's an unusual name)
LOL if someone is wearing the same dress as someone else, for me, i's always glaringly obvious because I guess I'm just like that but it's great you don't get bothered. I think life would be a lot easier for me that way :P
DeleteToG inspired song?? OMGGGG can't wait.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway--names. Yeah. They matter a lot to me. Like, if I know someone in real life named the same as a character in a book... then I find it really hard haha. Especially if I DON'T like that character, you know?
Yes! All my friends have typical names so it's even weirder!
DeleteWhen I pick character names for .y characters, I usually go with what fits best with the story world and time frame. I also like picking names that are out of the ordinary, because those are always fun.
ReplyDeleteI also don't really mind reading about a character that has the same name as someone I know in real life, mainly because I don't associate characters with real people, but that's just me.
That's a really smart thing. Some names don't fit the time frame for sure. I think picking names out of the ordinary can be fun but also be an eye roll if the author goes too far off.
DeleteI think character names are important. I mean, it's impossible to predict readers' individual reactions to names, but sometimes names just don't mesh with the image. Or having nicknames, surnames, etc. Those really add to my reading experience in subtle but important ways, because the name is around for the entire book!
ReplyDeleteI feel like some nicknames add youth, you know? Like calling a Samuel, Sammy? I think of a little kid. Maybe that's just me? But a very interesting point!!
DeleteI let my imagination create what I think a character will look like. I don't think I've ever really made a character into someone I know IRL or TV. Maybe my brain works differently? But I will say character names are interesting to me. I always try to learn the right way to say it.... like Hermione from Harry Potter. I never did pronounce her name right until the movies came out. LOL
ReplyDeleteI actually had a list going of names I like based on characters in books. I wonder where that got to? Must find it.
Anyway... love this post. I didn't realize others thought of characters I that way. Perhaps that is why I have such a hard time doing posts where you cast the characters as actors/actors tresses.
When it comes to casting, it can be really weird because of the book. Some books feature this hot, bad boy and i've associated ALL of them with the male model, sean o'pry, which also isn't fair because that lacks diversity but then again, all of the guys i've read, are caucasian. sometimes, i feel like it's very harmful because i'm trying to see things in every single mindframe and it's starting to get better (:
DeleteHmm, I never thought about this before, but I agree with you. I don't come across a lot of books with characters who share the name with someone I know in real life, because being a Sri Lankan, we don't get people with western names here. There is a frequent Sara and Amanda, but most often, our names are unique. Like, take mine for example. I don't think I'll ever come across a character with my name.
ReplyDeleteFew instances that has happened is quite funny though. Best example is Tariq from Wrath. I actually know a guy - who's quite sweet and charming - and because of that I couldn't even hate Tariq when I read the book!
unique names are the best, though? i like going to different countries and seeing how things change, especially the name. ooh what does your name mean? i've always meant to ask :P
Deletei haven't read wrath but i want to! and lol i can completely understand
It means "the calm before the storm". Terrific, right? :D
DeleteYou should read Wrath! It's amazing!!!
It used to bother me so much when characters had the same name as family or friends, but somehow I think I've gotten used to it. I can even read about Kats and ship them with people comfortably :)
ReplyDeleteI take forever to find the right character names for my characters. I look up every baby name site on the web, narrow it down one by one is a giant list, and needless to say it is a huge process every time a new character comes in. It really does change the feel of the book.
A discussion post on Wednesday?! *gasps dramatically* Dare I say this is very "Out of Time"?! (Get it? Not funny? Okay.)
I write in my spare time too and I have NO IDEA how I came up with my character's names. I did go on the baby name site but the names i got were totally chance. like one girl's name is "Red" because i thought it would be funny if a blonde girl's name was Red. also, i was planning on naming a girl venice so i wrote venice, italy but switched the "t" for a z and that girl's name is Izaly (:
DeleteCelaena, Selena, Celyna?? I still don't know how to pronounce it the correct way omg.
ReplyDeleteI think character's names are important because they can hint at an ethnicity or maybe the character's namer has a special reason for it. Although it's true that similar names can lead to confusing the images of the characters :/ So I guess unique names never hurt, after all.
And I never thought of how awkard it must be for people who read about horrible characters or awakward situations that share their name? Probably because my name will never make it into media (9 letters aren't popular) hohoho.
It's Se-lay-na, i think. Like Selena but with a little accent or something.
DeleteI do like unique names but IDK if I like names that are too far out there without hinting at ANYTHING. Like one time i read this story of a girl's name who was Normandy Pale. Like, what kind of a name???
This post is gold, because yes I think names do matter, but how much I cannot say. For example I could never ever fall in fictional crush with a character named Roman because the name itself makes me shudder.
ReplyDeleteHowever, sometimes with the purpose of making names unique things can just go out of control and end up badly, for everyone. On the matter of writing, at least for myself, sometimes it's so easy to find a name for a character because it fits and other times it's a struggle, so it's a hit and miss, but thought definitely goes into a character's name because it has to feel like them, you know?
So glad you liked the post <33
DeleteI read a book with a character of Roman and I loved it but I get what you mean because names can be personal. For me, I can read a Kevin because I have a cousin called Kevin XD
My characters' names are always by some weird story. Like I have this one guy whose name was supposed to be Mr. Torenne. Autocorrect changed it to Rene so that stuck with me XD
I definitely spent just as much time figuring out character names as my kid's name. (There was less arguing with the characters, though, cause i got total say in the matter.) :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah I could never enjoy the book Heidi because... well.
it's so good to get an author's perspective on this!!! LOL yes, i imagine there's less fighting with the characters. also Nix? [Or is it Nyx?] FAVE NAME. Also fave makeup brand SOOOO
DeleteI somehow feel like we're total opposites when it comes to our thoughts on character names, Nova!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I don't really picture people I know when I read about characters with their names. I'm a pretty weird reader, and when I imagine characters, I just picture these random body parts maybe from different celebrities or whatever and squish them together, even if they're COMPLETELY different from the way the character's being described. That is, unless there's something unique about them (like a guy with long hair or a girl with a huge face scar).
And I actually find it really hilarious and entertaining when I see characters with my name! Especially if they act really differently from the way I do. I'll probably even Tweet about it or post laughing GR status updates.
BUT I do think character names are important. When I hear a name, I get a feel of what I *assume* the characters will be like. Like if the name sounds old/mature, it'll be tough for me to picture him/her in high school. Maybe it's just me, though. >_<
Awesome discussion, lovely!
I've never read a character with my name before, but I would agree. It'd definitely be a little awkward (unless the character was nothing like me).
ReplyDeleteI read a book where one of the characters had the same name as a guy I grew up around. I didn't know him very well, so I didn't really think of him immediately. But it turns out this character with the same name, did have some general skills that this guy had. The character also had a personality that I had always perceived this guy to have also. It was a little weird, but mostly just amusing. Now if I had been close to that guy, it would've probably been a little strange.
I think character names are important. As a writer, I usually go with a name that I like or that I think might captures the character's personality by the way it sounds. Or I might go the complete opposite. Once I named one person Keth and the other Sid. Keth was rather gentle but doesn't first appear so, and the main character doesn't trust him. Sid on the other hand had a charming personality, but he's not to be trusted. "Keth" is a much gentler name than "Sid." "Sid" is kind of abrupt, almost harsh, while "Keth" has a soft "k"and "th." I wanted to give the wrong first impressions of these two characters, so I switched their names. (Which completely confused me. For the longest time, I had two Keths and I couldn't remember who was Sid!) I don't know if any of that even made sense. . . If it's a minor character though who's only around for like a scene or two, I just slap a name on them.
What an interesting discussion! I don't think I've thought about it much before, other than the fact that "Danielle" has never been used before as a MC (that I've read). I think I would quite enjoy that lol! I think some authors are really serious about picking their characters' names, whereas others just go with what they like. Some are symbolic (and will fit the description of their characters perfectly), while others are ironic. I think you could definitely write a paper about it haha. The ones I have trouble with are when I don't know how to pronounce them. So the whole time I'm reading I'm probably saying their name wrong in my head - that drives me nuts!
ReplyDeletei completely agree with you when you say CHARACTER NAMES MATTER. they seriously do! at least for me they do. i remember picking up this one book i heard so many people raving about but the main love interest's name was "xander" and i immediately shut the book. my nickname is "xandra" so that was like reading a boy version of myself..?? no thanks. if it was alexander, i wouldn't mind so much, but xander??? TOO WEIRD FOR ME.
ReplyDeletethere are also those characters who have names that are impossible to pronounce and throughout the ENTIRE BOOK i'm reading it like, "aksudhfj,x did this and she didn't like how it made her feel." that's partially why i didn't like daughter of smoke and bone as much as i would've prefered. ://
great discussion, nova! :D xxx alexandra @ twirlingpages
Yes, names do matter. I know that I've seen people I know who's names are in books and it does affect my reasin experience a little. BUT, I have been having great book scenes in my mind, and I confess, I have names based on people I know, but different descriptions, I maybe that's why? You want the personality of someone you know.. In another way, I also understand that you're going to run out of names, otherwise you're going to start getting Adhegfkd Baduobfo's everywhere and that's not good! It's all personally, and it can affect you, it's just something you deal with.. Great post though Nova, interesting to read the responses! :)
ReplyDeleteOkay I am so glad I'm not the only one with this problem - my brother is called Adam, and do you know how many YA books have guys that you're supposed to love called Adam? I can't deal with it.
ReplyDeleteAs for if a character has the same name as me... it usually depends on what that character is like. There is one series that I started reading when I was a bit younger and the main character was called Sabrina. I didn't have a problem with it because I actually loved that character and really related to her at the time. But I have seen a few evil Sabrina's around, and that always makes me uncomfortable.
And I guess I should mention that I've never watched Sabrina the Teenage Witch because of my name.
Another thing that sometimes bothers me is if the name is really difficult to pronounce. It slows down my reading because every time I get to the name, I have to stop and think about how I'm going to say it in my head. Eg. Celaena.
So, the short answer to this: Character names matter a lot to me!
Man, it has been a long time since I have commented on your blog. I am deeply sorry, but I promise I will make up for it!
ReplyDeleteI agree that character names absolutely matter. Since I have a rather unpopular name, I rarely come across a book with myself as a character, so that is not really a problem for me. But, I tend to like characters with unique names better than those with generic, or overused names. Like I am more likely to remember a Katniss or Celaena than a Sam or Alex. But, I really have trouble with character names that I cannot figure out how to pronounce. If I do not know how to say a word, my mind just skips over it, and of course that is not good with a character's name.
I do not think that authors have to obsess over their character's names, but they should be some degree of unique and have some kind of meaning.
Great discussion!
I absolutely think they matter! It would be super weird for me to read about someone named Shannon (luckily, I think it is solidly back in the 80s where it belongs, so we're probably good). The dad thing would be weird too! My dad's name is Stan, and like, whose name is Stan anymore, so again, we're good. BUT. (And it's a biggie.) My son's name is Sam. And Sam IS kind of popular, so yeah, there are Sams. And it drives me nuts when it is the love interest because... ew, no, that's my baby's name! Though in the few books I've read where there's a Lena (my daughter's name), it doesn;t bother me at all.
ReplyDeleteAs for naming characters being like naming kids, I think it IS very similar! I mean, when I try to come up with character names, it is a similar process. Because you want a name to reflect certain traits that you hope your child will have, a name you think suits them, and the same goes for a character really. The fun part with characters is twofold: first, you can REname them if need be, and also, you can make asshole-ish characters have outlandish names for funsies ;) Love this topic!!
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight
To be honest, I feel like character names matter to me more than they should.
ReplyDeleteI can find reading a book EXTREMELY uncomfortable if the character name doesn't sit with me. It may come across as a somewhat shallow reason to not like a book, but they matter so much to me. When I pick character names for stories I have literally five different lists with character names and spreadsheets of the combinations available. I am THAT obsessed.
Going to your comment about the names of people you know in real life affecting the way you see characters in books, I 100% agree. I suppose it's because when you think of a name (especially the ones where you know a person with that name IRL) you automatically pull an image of them in your head whenever you read it, and in certain stories it just becomes disturbing. Like, there's this book that has the love interest with the name of a boy that I quite frankly dislike. He was strange, slightly creepy, and 100% not my type. I would never, EVER imagine him as a love interest, and seeing that book with his name as the guy we're supposed to swoon over... no thank you.
Names, I believe, carry a lot with them. Names have the ENTIRE identity of a person attached to them - how can they NOT be important? I know some people don't care, but for me personally, I care a LOT about names. How they sound, how well they fit a character, etc.
Great post, Nova! Loved it. ^.^
Claudia Victoria @ PenMarkings
I was talking to someone the other day who was complaining about all the bizarre names in YA. I guess in contemporary/realistic fiction you might want to give characters "normal" names that real people might have, but overall it seems to be that authors want to brand their books. If I say "Katniss" people know who I mean. If I say "Jane," not so much....
ReplyDelete