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.



Monday, February 24, 2014

E-Publishing Route?

I once said for my material in my manuscripts I would most likely not try the self-publishing or e-publishing route. Not because it is wrong but because I was unfamiliar with it and to be honest a bit scared of it. Well that was until I read a few success stories. One in particular has led me to do much more research on this. Though I think going the traditional route is all good and well, unless you are a celebrity or have been published before it is so hard to break into print.

I feel as the one author in one of the articles I read, I am tired of rejections and I am willing to work hard to push my work to be the best and see it put in the hands of readers. I will have to do much more work and research but I want to say that if and when I make a decision and move forward I will post about it.
 
I am thinking maybe e-publishing will open up a way for me to someday go the traditional book publisher route as I have read has happened.
 
If it falls through and I can’t succeed that way then maybe I will think that writing is just to be my hobby and nothing else. But for now I AM NOT GIVING UP! I hope no other writers out there give up either. Stay strong and write on, brothers and sisters! :~)

Yuval

Meaning: (Spring, Brook, Creek, Tributary, Ram’s Horn, Hebrew form of JUBAL. Son of Lamech and Adah; descendant of Cain. As “founder of all those who handle the harp and the pipe,” Jubal may have invented both stringed and wind instruments, or perhaps he ‘founded’ a profession, which gave considerable impetus to the progress of music.—Ge 4:17-21.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (Yuw-Vaa-L)

Gender: Male

I heard this name on the show What Would You Do? I have also used this name as a characters name but he goes by an alias as he is supposed to be dead. It is a Hebrew form of Jubal. It is most commonly Jubal if you look for it in the Bible but I like the spelling Yuval. It reminds me of a really hot foreign (Exotic) guy’s name, LOL! :~) So I like it and the meanings are really nice too. It would be a nice way to incorporate a musical character or child’s name without being obvious, because the name has associations to musical instruments and music in general. 

Maisa

Meaning: (Table, Variant of Mesa, Variant spelling of Majsa)

Origin: (Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian)

Pronunciation: (MAY-sah)

Gender: Female

I forget where I saw this but I think it was on a TV show. It is pretty but reminds me of a mess hall because of the variant Mesa and the meaning table, LOL. I think this is another really pretty exotic name that has a good look and is easily pronounceable.

Kitra

Meaning: (Crown, Crowned One)

Origin: (Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (KIT-trah, KIY-TRah)

Gender:  Female

I was looking up a name a few weeks ago and Kitra was a sibling name suggestion. This name reminds me of a fiery no-nonsense fantasy heroine. I like the meanings as I love all royal names and royal association names. It has a unique look and the pronunciation is pretty. All around I love the name.

Riva

Meaning: (Enchantingly Beautiful, From the Shore, To Bind, To Tie, short form of Rebecca, Also possibly from the French word for “Shore, River, Riverbank.” Topographic name for someone who lived by a wharf in a port or on the bank of a river, riva (Latin ripa). Cattle Stall)

Origin: (Latin, Hebrew, Italian, French, English)

Pronunciation: (REE-vah, RIY-Vaa)

Gender: Female

I was looking up a name a few weeks ago and Riva was a sibling name suggestion on one of the sites I visited. I think Riva is really pretty and kind of has a link to my favorite name River *see on list of post and Favorite Female Names column*. I love the meaning “Enchantingly Beautiful.” I found it interesting that it was a short form of Rebecca. Riva is pretty and something that although having a long history it is fresh and unique.

Shaw

Meaning: (From the Shady Grove, Wood, Woodland, Hawk-like, Wolf, Place Name.
Origins of the clan- The Shaw family found themselves constantly beset by their larger neighbor the Clan Cumming. They sought support by becoming allies with the powerful Clan Donald through marriage. Later they also became part of the Chattan Confederation as a sept of the Clan Mackintosh and then later they became a clan of their own.

14th century- Farquhart Shaw, Shaw ‘Mor’, was leader of a sept of the Mackintosh from the Rothiemurchus area. It is believed that the lands and stronghold of Rothiemurchus were bestowed upon Shaw ‘Mor’ in 1396 for leading the Chattan Confederation to battle on the North Inch Perth. It is possible, however, that these lands were received as early as 1226
The Shaws are an ancient Scottish clan, which played a considerable role in Highland history, and which traces its ancestry to the old Earls of Fife and thus the royal line of the Scottish kings. Initially, prior to the general adoption of surnames and, specifically, the use of the name Shaw for that purpose, the Shaws were the first Chiefs of Clan Mackintosh. The Clan name derives from Shaw “Mor” “Coriaclich”, great-grandson of Angus (6th Chief of Mackintosh) and Eva (heiress of Clan Chattan (a large confederation of Highland clans)). By tradition, he led the Clan Chattan contingent to victory at the famed Clan Battle of the North Inch at Perth in 1396 and was, as a reward, given the lands of Rothiemurchus, which became the first “seat” of the Clan. He is numbered as the third Chief of Clan Shaw. The lands of Rothiemurchus (site of the well-known castle Loch-an-Eilean), were sold and lost to the Clan in 1539.
Jacobite Uprisings- By the time of the 1715 Jacobite Rising, the Shaws had lost Rothiemurchus to Clan Grant. Shortly after, the lands were forfeit by the Crown following the murder of the Chief’s stepfather, at the hands of the Chief. Shaw and the Chattan Confederation tried to have the lands restored, but were unsuccessful.
This interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and may be either a topographical or a locational surname. As a topographical name, Shaw was used for someone who lived by a copse, wood, or thicket, derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "sceaga", copse, small wood. As a locational surname, Shaw is derived from any one of the numerous small places names Shaw, from the Old English "sceaga", such as those in Berkshire, Lancashire, and Wiltshire. Shaw in Berkshire is recorded as "Essages" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and in Lancashire as "Shaghe" in 1555, and a place in Wiltshire as "schaga" in the 1167 Pipe Rolls of the county. The development of the surname includes Richard de la Schawe (1275, Worcestershire), John ate Shaw (1295, Essex), and William Bithe Shaghe (1333, Somerset), and the modern forms of the surname range from Shaw(e), Shay and Shay(e)s to Shave(s) and Shafe. One of the most notable bearers of the name was George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), who was born in Dublin into a Protestant family established in Ireland by William Shaw a captain in William lll's army, who went there in circa 1689. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon de Schage, which was dated 1191, in the Berkshire Pipe Rolls, during the reign of King Richard l, 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.
Shaw is most commonly a surname and rarely a given name. The name is of English and Scottish origin. In some cases the surname is an Americanization of a similar sounding Ashkenazic Jewish surname. In England and Scotland the name is a topographic name for someone who lived by a copse or thicket.)
Origin: (Old English, Scottish, Irish, Gaelic)
Pronunciation: (Shaw)
Gender: Uni-Sex
The meanings are good and the name would do well as a surname or given name. The history of the clan name is very interesting. A bit about is above but anyone wishing to use this name should do more research as it is very interesting. Another clan name of interesting that I see fitting with this one is Cameron *see on list of posts*. I think together as surnames or given names it would be a cool way for an author to bring history of the Scottish clan names to their characters and story.

Valkryie

Meaning: (Chooser of the Slain, In Norse mythology, the Valkyries would swoop down on the battlefield and carry away the souls of the fallen. Mythology: the attendants of Odin who guide the heroes slain in battle to the feasting hall on Valhalla. Frey’s Priestesses. Is one of a host of female figures who decide who will die in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field Fólkvangr), the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin. There, when the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens, and sometimes connected to swans.)

Origin: (Scandinavian, Norse Mythology, Norse)

Pronunciation: (Val-keer-ee, val-ker-ee, val-kuh-ree, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Valkyrie to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=valkyrie)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I never thought this would ever be used as a person’s name. I found evidence though that some people have named their daughters Valkryie. I found this name of interest as it has a close association to Odin *see on list of posts* which is one of my characters names. The Norse mythology just like Odin is very interesting. Also its association to Ragnarök as mention was particularly interesting as one of my characters is named Ragnar *see on list of posts* also Ravens play a key role in my novel so I think Valkyrie may have a use in my current novel.

I think as a name it is interesting and kind of pretty. The meanings are a bit scary but I would rather it be a characters name then a real live person’s name, but to each there own.

Odin

Meaning: (Inspiration, Frenzy, Devine Creative Inspiration, To Blow, To Inspire, Anglicized form of Old Norse Óðinn which was derived from óðr "inspiration, rage, frenzy". It ultimately developed from the early Germanic *Woðanaz. In Norse mythology Odin was the highest of the gods, presiding over art, war, wisdom and death. He resided in Valhalla, where warriors went after they were slain. Odin was the chief god of Norse mythology, identified with art and culture, war, and the dead. The Norse warriors known as Vikings fought without fear, believing Odin would receive them into Valhalla, the heroes' paradise, if they died in battle.)

Origin: (Norse Mythology, Old Norse, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (O-din, OH-din, OWDihN)

Gender: Male

I have used this as the name of a main characters son’s name. I really love this name. The Norse mythology is very interesting as well. I decided to use this name because the child’s father Havelock *see on list of posts* and uncle Ragnar *see on list of posts* have Viking or Nordic names so I found Odin fitting. It is a very strong name with good strong meanings. The pronunciations are super easy and the name looks interesting as well. 

Adelyn

Meaning: (Noble Kind, Of a Noble Kind, Noble, Honorable, Ornament, Brightness, Kind Hearted, Beautiful, Woman of Magdala, Variant of Adelaide, A diminutive of Adele, form of the name Madelyn, Adeline is also commonly bestowed as an independent name.)

Origin: (Old German, French, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (A-də-lin, AED-LIHN)

Gender: Female

This name looks a bit like Aderyn *see on list of post* I like the noble meanings and the unique prettiness of this name. I would like to see this name more often. It has a fairy tale(esque) look to it.

Taryn

Meaning: (Thunder, From a High Rocky Cliff, Of the Earth, Tender/Innocent, Rocky Hill, Thunder, Earth, Rock, The Reaper, Wild Goat, To Carry, Young, Queen, Little Princess, Combination of Tara and Erin or a form of Taran/Terran.)

Origin: (English, Welsh, American, Scottish, Gaelic, Irish, Norse, Celtic, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Sanskrit, Roman, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (TA-rin, TARE-en, TARE-in)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I like the look of this name. It has a great many meanings but they are all really good and interesting. I forget where I saw this name but I think I was looking up another name and I saw this one. I think it is easy, cute, pretty and seemingly pronounceable by many different people.

Eros

Meaning: (Love, Greek Mythology: Greek God of Love.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (air-os, eer-os, er-ows)

Gender: Male

Over the crazy holiday season they kept showing perfume and cologne ads. One was for a cologne named Eros, after the Greek God apparently. So I decided to add it here. I think is an attractive name with a good look. I would think it is a name that would not fit in the modern era but there are a lot of people with Greek Mythology names. In a novel I would like to see how an author takes to naming a character this.

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