I need some help with character naming for a story.
The first character is a girl – either in her late teens or early twenties – who is basically a vagabond. She is strong-willed as well as intelligent, and a part of her is rebellious. She is insecure deep down but tries to make it seem like she is confident, and she is intensely private. She is quite feminine innately. She has lived a very bleak life, and unsurprisingly, she is very depressed. Physically, she is a pretty thing with a willowy, waifish figure – being malnourished – and hazel eyes and long ashy hair. I narrowed down some possibilities to:
The second character is a boy, around the same age as the girl, who is very moral and patient. He is thoughtful and educated, courteous and generous, as well as very passionate, but his passion also often causes him to lose control of his temper. He is also a gifted athlete. He had a religious ([name]Christian[/name]) upbringing in a rural setting and remembers his childhood fondly. He has had little angst up until now, for he has recently learned that he is terminally ill. He has a lanky but built figure and stringy brown hair. For him, I have toyed with:
[name]Jack[/name]
[name]Harry[/name]
[name]Lyle[/name]
[name]Nicholas[/name] nn [name]Nick[/name]
[name]Noah[/name]
[name]Robert[/name] nn [name]Rob[/name]
[name]Warren[/name]
[name]Lawson[/name]
[name]Reeve[/name]
[name]Leland[/name] nn [name]Lee[/name]?
I don’t want anything seemingly too “hipster” or exotic or outlandish. I do not want to make it seem like these characters are trying too hard, if you know what I mean!
[name]Peter[/name] (aka [name]Pete[/name]) and [name]Elise[/name] (aka [name]Ellie[/name]).
To me, [name]Elise[/name] sounds like a classic name but underused.
[name]Aurelia[/name] is too pretty princess for a vagabond.
[name]Aurora[/name] … eh.
[name]Diana[/name] (refer to [name]Aurelia[/name])
[name]Helen[/name]/[name]Helena[/name] is quite common in my book. And [name]Helen[/name] is reminiscent of [name]Helen[/name] of [name]Troy[/name]. And she wasn’t much of a hero. I can’t imagine her opposite of your second character.
[name]Lily[/name] is boring.
And I don’t think [name]Pearl[/name] is so relevant to our contemporaries, nowadays.
As for the boys’ names?
[name]Noah[/name] is the only one (listed) that seems appropriate for your character description.
But I also like [name]Peter[/name].
[name]Jack[/name] is so common. I usually imagine he’s the go-to name for heroes on tv shows, etc.
[name]Harry[/name]
[name]Lyle[/name] can lie down.
[name]Nicholas[/name] is a good name but try something else. We hear about Nicks all the time.
[name]Robert[/name] with a nickname - [name]Rob[/name]? [name]How[/name] about [name]Bobby[/name], instead?
[name]Warren[/name] is eh.
[name]Reeve[/name] is easy to forget.
[name]Lawson[/name] is easy to forget.
[name]Leland[/name]? Not a very distinguished name.
Personally, I have a bad image associated with [name]Peter[/name], so while I see where you’re coming from, scribe, I wouldn’t be able to use that one. I’m still not sure what to name that character… I’m hesitant about [name]Noah[/name] because I feel like that would be too close to [name]Noah[/name] from The Notebook. I’m also considering [name]Matthias[/name], [name]Aaron[/name], [name]Levi[/name], [name]Wyatt[/name], and [name]James[/name].
For the girl, I have been leaning towards [name]Elise[/name] more recently! But I’m still not convinced.
[name]Elise[/name] or even [name]Eliza[/name] sounds a little proper but rebellious - if you catch me.
With [name]Elise[/name], you have [name]Elle[/name]. Or you can go with [name]Eliza[/name] - with nickname: [name]Liz[/name]. Personally, I’m fond of it.
And [name]Peter[/name] is fine, but I much prefer [name]Devin[/name], [name]Zachary[/name], or [name]Samson[/name].
Maybe [name]Elise[/name] and [name]Zachary[/name]? [name]Elle[/name] and [name]Dev[/name]? [name]Elle[/name] and [name]Zach[/name]? [name]Elle[/name] and [name]Sam[/name]?
Maybe [name]Elizabeth[/name] with nicknames: [name]Eliza[/name], [name]Liz[/name], [name]Lizzie[/name], [name]Beth[/name]?
I think [name]Elise[/name] is better than [name]Eliza[/name] here. [name]Elise[/name] sounds more elegant and not as wild as [name]Eliza[/name]. I would like it if this character’s name were a bit ironic.
And I think you’re right. I like [name]Zachary[/name] and [name]Samson[/name]! Those might work. I think [name]Zach[/name] is a really good idea. Thank you so much!
Suggestions are welcome as well.