Character Naming

As an Author naming your Character is an important step right after coming up with the plot. I am here to help you choose the right character name for you and your story.

Make sure your character name is Genre Appropriate. Make sure if it's a Historical Fiction novel or takes place in a real time period that the name was used then. Or if it's a fictionalized place then you can be as creative as you wish.

Just have fun with naming your character. It is after all your story.



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Sorry for Delayed Posts

I had some car problems and health issues so I was unable to get to a wifi spot to put in January and February’s posts, which is the first and second month I have missed posting on since I started this blog back in June 2011. It kind of sucks but couldn’t be helped. The below posts are the ones I didn’t add for January and February. I will most likely add some more for March before the end of the month.

Remington

Meaning: (From the Raven City, From the elements ‘hremm’ meaning Raven; ‘tun’ meaning Town, Settlement, Homestead. The first name is derived from the place name of the meaning ‘Raven City’. Raven Family Town, Settlement on the Boundary Stream, From the Ridge Town, “Remington Steele,” TV show and character played by Pierce Brosnan.)

Origin: (Old English)

Pronunciation: (REHM-ih-NGTahn, REM-ing-tun)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was researching the name Remy *see on list of posts* I saw Remy was a contraction of Remington. So I decided to add Remington on its own because it is unique, rare and I love the meanings. I love names that have to do with Raven because Ravens seem a mysteries bird to me and it has an aura of horror always surrounding that bird in film and books. It also has other meanings which I like a lot as well.

Remy

Meaning: (Oarsman, Remedy, From either the name Remigius “Oarsman” or the name Remedius “Remedy”, From Rheims, Champagne and Brandies are the main products of Rheims, a town in central France. Remy is a contraction of the name Remington (English), Saint Remi (Fifth Century) was a French Saint. Author Remy Charlip.)

Origin: (French, Old English, Latin)

Pronuncaition: (Rim-e, REHMiy, REM-ee, REHM-ee)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was watching something the other day and I heard this name. I had first heard it on the Disney Pixar movie Ratatouille. The rat who cooks is named Remy. I like the meanings and the name is short and rare.

Aceline

Meaning: (Noble, High Birth, Noble at Birth, Female form of Acelin)

Origin: (French, English)

Pronuncaition: (AH-seh-leen, AA-Seh-LiyiyN)

Gender: Female, Uni-Sex

I was looking up the name Remy *See on list of posts* and I came across this name. It is unique and has very beautiful and strong meanings. I love names that have a noble meaning and so I was glad to have come across this name.

Leisel / Liesl

Meaning: (God is My Oath, My God is a Vow, God’s Promise, German diminutive form of Elizabeth, Variant of Elisa, Mostly found in Germany.)

Origin: (German, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (LEES-ul, LEE-zul, LEE-zel, Lee-zil)

Gender: Female

I have heard and seen this name before but most famously in The Sound of Music. Captain Van Trapp’s oldest daughter is named Leisel. I was watching something the other day and a girl no more than sixteen or seventeen was named Leisel so I saw it was still a name that is used even today and even in places other than Germany.  The meanings are good and it is a nice looking name. I am still not sure how I feel about the name because of the pronunciation but it is a good name and I am sure some writer will find this the right name for one of there characters.

Aeryn

Meaning: (Is an Americanized Celtic name meaning “Daughter of Ireland”, Ireland, Mountain of Strength, American spelling of Erin, Derived from the Gaelic Erinn, the dative case of Erie, which is the Irish name for Ireland. Though Erin is popular in England and the U.S, it is not normally bestowed as a given name in Ireland. Berry. Aeryn Sun is a character on Farscape a Sci-fi T.V Series.)

Origin: (Irish, Celtic, Gaelic, English, Welsh, American, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (Air-un, AIR-en, AIR-in, AIR-ihn, EHRIHN)

Gender: Female

I was watching the Syfy Channels 20th Anniversary Special a few weeks ago. They were talking about toward the beginning the show called Farscape. I had never heard of it and so I did some research. It ran from March 1999 to March 2003 so it was explained why I had never heard of it because when it ran I was young and wasn’t into Sci-fi yet. One of the main characters was named Aeryn Sun (Played by Claudia Black). They were interviewing Claudia Black on Syfy Channel 20th Anniversary Special and below her name had the name of the character she played which was Aeryn. I think it is a super cute name. I have never been a fan of Aaron / Erin because it is so common but this is a super cute spelling. I would love to see and hear this name more often. It does seem very Sci-fi / Fantasy like but I think that’s why I love it. Some I have read have mispronounced this and I think that is ridiculous, how could you mispronounce this name.

Dara

Meaning: (Mother of Pearl, Pearl of Wisdom, Nugget of Wisdom, Star, Compassion, Leader, Wealthy, Gift, Gift of God, The Beautiful One, Girl, Young Woman, Virgin, Biblical: the name of a descendent of Judah, noted for his wisdom. Also, Dara and Darra are Gaelic names meaning “Oak Tree”.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Gaelic, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (DAR-ah, DAH-ra, DA-ra)

Gender: Female

I was looking up the name Daphne *See on list of posts.* I saw Dara on one other list of names similar in some way to Daphne. I really like Dara because it’s short and has very beautiful diverse meanings. It’s old fashioned as well but is one of those timeless names. I think this name would be cute on a character but paired with another name so a double barrel name like Dara Belle Smith or Dara Leigh Jones.

Daphne

Meaning: (Laurel Tree, Bay Tree, Greek Mythology: Virtuous Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to protect her from Apollo. Minor nature deity. The name was used under the Roman Empire, but disappeared until the 18th Century. It came to America as a slave name. Dafne is a Swedish form. Author Daphne Du Maurier.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (DAFF-nee, DAF-nee)

Gender: Female

This is another name I haven’t cared much for in recent years but now I have started looking at it more closely and I sort of like it. It’s a lovely beautiful old fashioned name that could fit well in the modern age as well. The meanings are lovely and the mythology behind the name is interesting. What got me more interested in this name is my sister was telling me about the novel Rebecca by author Daphne Du Maurier. I have tried finding it in used book stores but as of yet it is a hard find for me. I would borrow my sisters but she lives in another part of my state and I rarely get to see her. Anyway seeing the name Daphne on my book list has got me thinking about it more and more.

Shiloh

Meaning: (His Gift, Peace, Peaceful, Tranquil, He Whose It Is, He to Whom It Belongs, He Who is to be Sent, Biblical: A Prophetic name for the Messiah, Shiloh is also significant as the site of a crucial battle in the American Civil War.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (SHYE-loh)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was reading my bible the other day and I kept seeing this. I have obviously seen and heard this name before but I never really thought much about the name. I think it is a cute name and has lovely meanings. This could fit many different genres and character types.

Currer

Meaning: (Leather Worker, Currer Bell is the pseudonym used by Charlotte Brontë's, The three sisters chose masculine-sounding pseudonyms. This interesting surname, with variant spellings Currier and Curryer, derives from the Old French "conreeur" a currier, one who curries leather, from the Latin "coriarius", a tanner, from "corium", leather, and would have originated as an occupational surname for a "leather-dresser". The surname is first recorded in the mid 13th Century (see below), and other early recordings include: Henry le Coureer, who appears in the Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London (1281), and William le Coureour, who appeared there in 1314. Recordings of the surname from London Church Registers include: Johne Currer, who married Ruthe Rowsse on October 4th 1614, at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street; Marie Currer, who married Nathaniell Snelling on May 11th 1630, at St. Gregory by St. Paul's; and the marriage of Elizabeth Currer and Nicholas Bennett on May 1st 1649, at St. Peters, Paul's Wharf. A famous namebearer was Frances Mary Richardson Currer (1785 - 1861), a book-collector, who possessed a library of fifteen thousand volumes. She printed "Extracts from the Literary and Scientific Correspondence of Richard, M.D.", in 1835. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Curur, which was dated 1256, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/currer)

Origin: (Latin, Old French, English, Middle English)

Pronunciatiuon: (kur-er)

Gender: Male, Uni-Sex

Charlotte Bronte is one of my favorite classical novelists. She and her sisters were forced tow rite under masculine names. Hers was Currer Bell. Her sister Emily and Anne wrote under Ellis and Acton *See Ellis and Acton on the list of posts.* As I said under Acton I think women like them made it possible for woman to break into a male dominated career. There lives were short but I respect what they achieved and what they went through. As for the name Currer it’s rare and I like it. It has an old fashioned feel though obviously. It has a decent meaning and a good look and sort of easy pronunciation.

Acton

Meaning: (Oak Town, Settlement of Oak Trees, Surname used as a given name. Also the pseudonym used by Charlotte Brontë's sister Anne, who wrote as "Acton Bell". The three sisters chose masculine-sounding pseudonyms. This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from one of the many places thus called for example in Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Middlesex, Shropshire and Suffolk. The place names are recorded variously in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Actune, Aectune, Achetone, Achetune, Acton" and "Achetuna". Most of the places get their name from the Olde English pre 7th Century "ac", oak, and "tun", enclosure, settlement; hence, "settlement by the oak tree(s)". A few have the Olde English personal name "Acca" (a derivative of "ac", oak, and given with connotations of strength and reliability) as their first element, and would therefore mean "Acca's settlement". During the Middle Ages, when migration for the purpose of job-seeking was becoming more common, people often took their former village name as a means of identification, thus resulting in a wide dispersal of the name. Two of the families bearing this name are of considerable historical importance. The Worcestershire Actons, who held lands at Wolverton Hall near Pershore from the 16th Century onwards are descended from Sir Roger Acton, captain of Ludlow Castle, who was executed for treason in 1414. The historian, Lord Acton (1834 - 1902), came of a Shropshire family, first recorded in the county with William de Acton in the reign of Edward 111 (1327 - 1377). A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a red shield with an ermine fess within an ermine border. In Heraldry, red denotes Military Fortitude and Magnanimity, and ermine was an emblem of dignity. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh de Acton, which was dated 1194, in the "Pipe Rolls of Shropshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.  http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Acton)

Origin: (English, Old English, Danish, Anglo-Saxon)

Pronunciation: (AAKTahN, ACT-un)

Gender: Male, Uni-Sex
I was looking at an Anne Bronte novel on my bookshelf the other day. She had to write under a masculine pen name like her sisters. Her pen name was Acton Bell. Her sister Emily wrote under Ellis Bell *See Ellis on my list of posts*. I like the name and the meanings. The Bronte Sisters are some on my favorite classical writers. I think women like them made it possible for woman to break into a male dominated career. There lives were short but I respect what they achieved and what they went through. As for the name Acton it is unique and modern but obviously still old fashioned. It is easily pronounced and has a good look to it.

Villette

Meaning: (Small Town, Literary: the name of one of Charlotte Brontë's lesser-known novels)

Origin: (French)

Pronuncaition: (VahLEHT, VEE-yet)

Gender: Female

I was trying to decide which book I wanted to read and I saw I had Villette by Charlotte Bronte on my book shelf. I have that on my to read list for a while but I thought I might wait a while before I read it. But I like the name Villette. It has an alright meaning. It’s unique and I haven’t really seen this before. It could work as a character name I suppose. Though in the novel by Charlotte Bronte that is not a name of a character in the novel.

Virginie

Meaning: (Virgin, Maiden, Pure, Variant of Virginia, French form of Virginia)

Origin: (Latin, French)

Pronunciation: (veer-zhee-NEE, veer-juh-nee) 

Gender: Female

I was looking up something about Madame’s on the internet and I came across a lady whose real first name was Virginie. I thought instantly what a pretty name it was and how unique. Though a variant of Virginia I think the change of the ending A to an E make the name look even more sophisticated and pretty. I can’t wait to see it I am able to use this name in any of my novels.

Albany

Meaning: (Scotland, Derived from a former name for Northern Scotland, Variant of Alban, From Alba, Albany, New York)

Origin: (Latin)

Pronuncaition: (all-buhn-nee)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was watching something the other day and this ladies name was Albany. I have often thought of adding this name to my blog but I kept putting it off. Now I have added it. The name is pretty and has a good meaning. It’s a decent location name.

Britannia

Meaning: (From Great Britain, From Brittany or Great Britain)

Origin: (English, Latin)

Pronunciation: (brih-TAHN-yah)

Gender: Female

The Britannia Awards were on BBC America a few weeks ago. I thought about the name Britannia. I think it is actually pretty and I see no reason using this name would be weird. It’s unique looking but has quite a history.

Cherokee

Meaning: (People of a Different Speech, The name of one of the largest Native American tribes, used as a given name. The Cherokee originally lived in the southeastern America. They were farmers, and one of the first tribes to produce a written language.)

Origin: (Native American)

Pronunciation: (CHARE-oh-kee)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I remember seeing the movie True Women which was based off a novel a few years back and then again recently. In the movie Angelina Jolie’s character names one of her daughter’s Cherokee. I thought it was weird but she names her that after her own Native American heritage. Anyway a few days ago I was in Wal-Mart and there was a lady in the long line in front of me. She had a son about four or five and a daughter about two or three and then a baby who she told the cashier that it was almost three months old. The cashier said the cute two year old girl looked like a little girl she knew and then she asked the mom what the girls name was. The mom said the girls name was Cherokee and they named her that after the Indian Tribe.

Now seeing and hearing this a lot recently I decided to add this rare given name. I have heard of Cheyenne’s but no real life Cherokee’s until I was in the store. It’s a pretty name and there could be many reasons to use a Native American tribe name as a given name in a novel.  

I try to have the most accurate Meanings, Origin and Pronunciations for the names on this blog. It is best though to do research into the names you decide to use for your characters as there can be errors on my blog. Or meanings, origins, and pronunciations I have not seen thus not been able to add to this blog.





Try some of the leading Baby Name Sites and Baby Name or Character Naming books as well.


The baby name sites below are where I collect many of the Names, Origins, and Pronunciations I use on this blog.

Baby Names Sites:

http://www.thinkbabynames.com
http://www.babynamewizard.com
http://www.behindthename.com
http://www.babynamespedia.com