Stumbling Blocks

[Culhwch]

Exactly. Thanks for perfectly illustrating my point. Jones has to be an outsider, because his name doesn't fit.

(The pedantic amongst us might point out you had Garutssun agreeing to Garutssun's assertion. Not me, though. I'm not like that.)

[Peter Graham]

Absolutely right, Cul!

Not only that, but The End is Nigh has also (inadvertently, I suspect) made a more general point about the whole suspension of disbelief thing, of which consistent naming is just one part. We are presented with a little vignette in which Jones goes into a low down inn or bar which is full of hard looking, drunk men who are quaffing strong ale and being rude to strangers. Men in pubs? Fights in pubs? Drinking beer? They all crop up time and again in virtually every western/soap opera/fantasy or sci fi (just swap "gold pieces" for "imperial credits" and "foaming tankards of ale" for something like "Holo-Synthi Lager").

But this is, in many ways, quite a good thing. The creation of a familiar universe in which unfamiliar or fantastical things happen is vital if the reader is going to believe in the world. Which is presumably why most fantasy worlds have pubs, beer, blue seas, green grass, wolves, bears, thatched houses, castles, horses, swords and suspicious villagers with pitchforks. And which is also why Overread and Culhwch are spot on in suggesting consistent naming. Why make it any more difficult for yourself?

Regards,

Peter

[TheEndIsNigh]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

Exactly. Thanks for perfectly illustrating my point. Jones has to be an outsider, because his name doesn't fit.

(The pedantic amongst us might point out you had Garutssun agreeing to Garutssun's assertion. Not me, though. I'm not like that.)

Ah but Jones settles down, starts a dynasty lasting 12 generations all named Jones....

But fair enough I'll conceed the point.

Padantic. No not at all. Bloody stupid mistake. Only an idiot....

For the contining tales of Jones the 'Ripper of Nordblurgon' see further posts by Tein.

[Leisha]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

I think Overread's point is that if you want your world to be realistic and believable, you should make an effort to have your names be as fitting and organic as possible. If you have a society where everyone is called Olafssun or Magnussun or Garutssun (for example) and then you throw in a Jones, it's going to stand out like a sore thumb. Consistency is the key. Go on your flights of fancy, just make sure all the dots join up...

Hear hear!


Anyway, I'm surprised no one's listed baby names. I use that as a source of inspiration when I want name to mean something other than a collection of letters. You'll find a lot of sites give you the meaning's of names, so if you have a male character who's strong, naming him Nero is a great idea (Nero translates as "strong/vigorous" in Ancient Roman). Once find a suitable name, you can even play about with it, so it fits into your fantasy/sf novel.

Nero could become Nera, Nersha, Neron, Nerin, Naro, Nimo, Nemo(!), Nena, etc.


Here's one site that allows you to search for names by meaning: 27,000 Baby Names, Meanings and Origins at Baby Names World

[RcGrant]

I browse naming websites for fun, but I get my names from a lot of different places. Atlases are a good source, as are books of facts.

My favourite site is www dot behindthenname dot com - it lists names from various countries, as well as from the bible, literature, mythology etc.

If I'm really stuck, I go there and type in names that remind me of the character (sky, green, brave, fun...) and see what it spits out.

[Leisha]

Yes, that's the site I always use! Behind the Name - the Etymology and History of First Names It's great!

[RcGrant]

Originally Posted by Leisha

Yes, that's the site I always use!

Thanks for posting the link - my post count isn't high enough yet.

[Precise Calibre]

Additional link for use. Certain features require a membership, but the free features can still be useful. Kabalarian beliefs are those that state that a person's name will affect their entire life including even their health and problems that may arise later.


Making a Name Change or Choosing a Baby Name - What you need to know about name meanings

[Zubi-Ondo]

"So your Jones, Ive heard a lot about you Jones, Ive heard your a no good yellow son of a 'pig washer',"echoed the matalic device.

Point well taken. Rules are made to be broken - especially in writing. Ross - you might try this link in the workshop Character Creation Chain


- Z.

[TheEndIsNigh]

Originally Posted by Zubi-Ondo

Point well taken. Rules are made to be broken - especially in writing. Ross - you might try this link in the workshop Character Creation Chain


- Z.

Obviously the astute amongst you will have recognised a certain similarity to a fairly well known western, although not a direct quote.

[Lith]

To the not-quite-astute- which western?

Placeholder names. The best one I've seen was Mike Hemical Romance (Gah! Groan!) And as for the problem of the name becoming too attached to a character too early, I found giving them additional names (that magically don't make it into later versions) works rather well. That is, the name I started with becomes a nickname, to which is added a formal name (or vice versa), and the two live together a while until I am comfortable with both of them and can drop the earlier name.

There's also the indirect reference way- referring to them by their looks or job until a suitable name comes along.

Name lists can also be useful- just keep a file with all the cool-sounding names that have no characters attached to them yet. A baby-name book is extremely handy and can often be bought for cheap (and written in, unlike a bookmark to a website). Just ignore the looks of the people around you. And read the etymologies- you can accumulate a lot of knowledge that way.

Another trick, like the alternate spellings, is to alternate/substitute/scramble syllables of names and countries, and see what happens.

[TheEndIsNigh]

Tut! Tut! SHANE on you for not knowing.

[Valhalla]

If I have trouble I will just get a sort of basic idea behind what I want

For Instance,
one of my main characters started her life as Em, this was because she came from a place known as Emirrian (based on the word mirror) and she was a princess. Her family always has names beginning with Em. After that it was a matter of finding something that matched the language and the flow, so she became Embar.

It can take a while to think of a good name but like Overread said, if it isn't important don't worry about it.

[Zubi-Ondo]

Originally Posted by TheEndIsNigh

Tut! Tut! SHANE on you for not knowing.

Hey!! What a great idea! If you can't think of a name for a character - just call them "Shane" until you think of something! I like it, I like it!

Also, you wouldn't even have to decide whether it was a male or female. Like the names: Alex, Cassidy, Dale, Frankie, Jamie, Montana, Dakota, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and of course, Stevie!

- Z.

[Lith]

Tut! Tut! SHANE on you for not knowing.

Doubly so; as I've read the book TWICE.

Must've gotten muddled by all the similar lines in Zane Grey's novels...