I tend to use obscure/rare/etc names in my novels. I took a look at my NaNo novel names and decided I’d post seeing what others though and if they would use them [name_m]IRL[/name_m]. I posted here because it’s a “would any of these actually work [name_m]IRL[/name_m]” question instead of “what do you think of my book names”
Real name:
Arvan – boy --horse, friend of the people
Crisipo – boy --golden horse
Okan – boy --resembling a horse
[name_m]Delano[/name_m] – boy – dark, of the night, from the alder grove
Zosio – boy --One who is wise
Atoc – boy – [name_m]Sly[/name_m] as a fox (also known as [name_m]Sly[/name_m])
[name_m]Savian[/name_m] – boy – soap maker (also known as Bodkin)
Chernobog – boy – Chernobog was the Slavic god of darkness, evil and grief.
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] – on a boy but typically a girl – Irish woman
[name_u]Averil[/name_u] – girl – boar-like in battle, [name_f]April[/name_f] (also known as [name_f]Honey[/name_f])
Fiametta – girl --fire, flame
Catima – girl --one who is innocent
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f] – girl --light, diety
Word names I’m using as firsts. Would you use any (first or middle)?
[name_f]Glory[/name_f] – girl
Puzzle – boy
[name_f]Honey[/name_f] – girl
[name_m]Sly[/name_m] – boy
Bodkin – boy
[name_u]Gentry[/name_u] – girl
[name_u]Silver[/name_u] – boy
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] – boy
Darken – boy
[name_m]Talon[/name_m] – boy
Solace – girl
Not necessarily ones I would use [name_m]IRL[/name_m] personally but I could see these being used:
Arvan
Okan
[name_m]Delano[/name_m]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] - My fiance’s little brother’s middle name is actually [name_f]Erin[/name_f].
[name_u]Averil[/name_u]
Fiametta
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f]
I like:
[name_m]Sly[/name_m] - [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] SO MUCH
[name_u]Gentry[/name_u] - love it!
[name_u]Silver[/name_u]
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] - [name_f]LOVE[/name_f]
Solace
Arvan - very close to my nephew’s name, so I wouldn’t use it for that reason, but it’s a lovely name
Crisipo - sounds like an Italian brand for crisps, so no
Okan - Nothing wrong with it, but wouldn’t use it
[name_m]Delano[/name_m] -
Zosio - very cool.
Atoc – boy – [name_m]Sly[/name_m] as a fox (also known as [name_m]Sly[/name_m])
[name_m]Savian[/name_m] - it does sound like a soap
Chernobog - no I wouldn’t use it because he was truly a terrible and horrific and super evil God. He makes me shudder the same way Morgoth does, or almost.
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] - on a girl it’s cute
[name_u]Averil[/name_u] - cute
Fiametta - I would, yes. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f], prefer it with two m’s though, but Fiametta reminds me of The [name_u]Flame[/name_u] of [name_f]Love[/name_f].
Catima - [name_f]Cat[/name_f] ad [name_f]Ima[/name_f], what’s not to love?
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f] - quite pretty
Word names I’m using as firsts. Would you use any (first or middle)?
[name_f]Glory[/name_f] - no
Puzzle - haha, this is cute, but no
[name_f]Honey[/name_f] - yes, because honey and bees are special to me
[name_m]Sly[/name_m] - nope
Bodkin - no no no
[name_u]Gentry[/name_u] - no
[name_u]Silver[/name_u] - yes, on either gender
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] - yes
Darken - no
[name_m]Talon[/name_m] - I like birds of prey, so maybe?
Solace - yes
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f], your reaction to Bodkin was funny. I’d never use that one either [name_m]IRL[/name_m]. They get names based on their jobs (and if you’re reading my blog, you’ll have met Bodkin by now) so he teaches fighting and he fights with a Bodkin. She has a misericorde so maybe I should code name her misericorde
And Chernobog is the evil king who sold his daughter into slavery and his children are [name_f]Glory[/name_f], Solace, [name_m]Talon[/name_m], [name_m]Wilder[/name_m], and Darken. It fits.
Puzzle has the wolf ears and he’s missing one so it makes him look puzzled all the time
I suppose I should put which I’d actually use or like to see used:
Arvan – no but [name_u]Van[/name_u] is a nice nn
Crisipo – it does sound like a cracker
Okan – no but there’s nothing wrong with it
[name_m]Delano[/name_m] – [name_f]Love[/name_f] to see it used
Zosio – Yes. [name_m]Zo[/name_m] is a cool nn
Atoc – no
[name_m]Savian[/name_m] – no but there’s nothing wrong with it
Chernobog – No! [name_m]Even[/name_m] though [name_u]Neil[/name_u] Gaiman uses it
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] – I wouldn’t use it but it’s fine on either gender to me
[name_u]Averil[/name_u] – I wouldn’t use it but it’s pretty
Fiametta – yes
Catima – I’d love to see this used with [name_f]Cat[/name_f] or [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] as a nn
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f] – yes
Word names I’m using as firsts. Would you use any (first or middle)?
[name_f]Glory[/name_f] – yes or Gloriana nn [name_f]Glory[/name_f]
Puzzle – I find this adorable but I wouldn’t use it
[name_f]Honey[/name_f] – not as a first name
[name_m]Sly[/name_m] – I prefer [name_m]Todd[/name_m] as a fox name and [name_m]Sly[/name_m] would make a real name [name_m]IRL[/name_m]
Bodkin – NO
[name_u]Gentry[/name_u] – no because it’s sort of like princess, but if it were used, [name_f]Gen[/name_f]/[name_f]Jen[/name_f] is a good nickname
[name_u]Silver[/name_u] – no but I’d like to see it used
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] – yes
Darken – maybe as a middle
[name_m]Talon[/name_m] – no, but it’s cool enough
Solace – yes! She’s in a combo of ours
Solace is so beautiful. I’m glad you might use it! [name_u]Angel[/name_u], I did indeed start reading your novel but I’m suffering from pregnancy brain so it doesn’t get done as fast as I’d like. I’m also reading [name_u]Ren[/name_u]'s novel. At the moment these are the only books I read…
I also see I skipped a few up there but the answer to all three are no.
Arvan – boy --horse, friend of the people - similar to [name_u]Arlen[/name_u]
Okan – boy --resembling a horse - similar to [name_u]Oak[/name_u] and [name_u]Oakley[/name_u] so why not?
[name_m]Delano[/name_m] – boy – dark, of the night, from the alder grove - good in the middle or if you’re a [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m] admirer
[name_m]Savian[/name_m] – boy – soap maker - There was an African American dancer named [name_m]Savion[/name_m] [name_m]Glover[/name_m].
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] – on a boy but typically a girl – I would use the [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] spelling for a boy though
[name_u]Averil[/name_u] – girl – boar-like in battle, [name_f]April[/name_f] - this is pretty
Fiametta – girl --fire, flame - although I prefer [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] (two m’s and two t’s). [name_m]Little[/name_m] [name_u]Flame[/name_u] is cute!
Catima – girl --one who is innocent - somewhat exotic
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f] – girl --light, diety - this Native American name reminds me of [name_f]Kiana[/name_f] which is popular in the African American community.
Word names
[name_u]Silver[/name_u] – boy mn only
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] – boy mn only
Solace – girl. One of my favourite word names.
[name_m]IRL[/name_m], I would use [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] for a boy or [name_f]Glory[/name_f] for a girl, although [name_f]Glory[/name_f] would more than likely be put in the middle name slot.
I could see these names used in real life for first names - [name_m]Delano[/name_m], Atoc, [name_m]Savian[/name_m], [name_u]Averil[/name_u], Fiametta, Catima, [name_f]Kiona[/name_f], [name_f]Glory[/name_f], [name_f]Honey[/name_f], [name_m]Sly[/name_m], [name_u]Gentry[/name_u], [name_m]Wilder[/name_m], [name_m]Talon[/name_m], and Solace.
I personally would use - [name_u]Gentry[/name_u], [name_m]Wilder[/name_m], [name_m]Talon[/name_m], and Solace.
I love [name_f]Glory[/name_f]. I love [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m] Stallone, so therefore, I love [name_m]Sly[/name_m]. And I like the sound of [name_u]Gentry[/name_u] and would use it in real life if it weren’t the surname of someone I know.
Well [name_f]Erin[/name_f] is usable, but I wouldn’t use it on a boy. I think that’s the sort of thing people would call you a liar about.
Boy to teacher: “My name is [name_f]Erin[/name_f], E-R-I-N.”
Teacher to boy: “[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t be insubordinate. [name_f]Erin[/name_f] is the female spelling and [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] is the male spelling.”
[name_u]Averil[/name_u]/[name_f]Avril[/name_f] is very usable I think, if a bit pop culture.
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f] - I kinda like this one. It is made up sounding but it’s an interesting mix of [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] and the K name trend. I know a woman named Kyomi and she gets along all right.
[name_f]Glory[/name_f] - I really love this one. It’s been on my list for ages since I read [name_m]Gilead[/name_m].
[name_f]Honey[/name_f] - too sugary for me. It’s a cute nn for H names [name_f]Helen[/name_f]/a nn [name_f]Honey[/name_f] is adorable, but I wouldn’t use it on it’s own. It would feel like being named Sweetie or [name_f]Sugar[/name_f].
[name_m]Sly[/name_m] - common nn, rather too negative in meaning to feel like a solid choice on it’s own
[name_m]Talon[/name_m] - I know a boy named [name_m]Talon[/name_m]. Honestly, I think it’s a little dumb–akin to Claw, but hey.
Solace - I’ve heard worse, it’s not bad. I kinda like [name_f]Serene[/name_f] and Solemn (for a boy)
I think I’d maybe use [name_m]Delano[/name_m] or [name_u]Averil[/name_u] in real life. Some of these I’m more likely to use with a little twist, as in [name_f]Arwen[/name_f] instead of [name_m]Arven[/name_m], [name_m]Crispin[/name_m] instead of Crisipo…
Now, these word names are a different matter. I love [name_f]Glory[/name_f] (first or middle!) and [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] in particular. I’m iffy on [name_m]Sly[/name_m] - because of the [name_m]Sly[/name_m] Stallone thing, maybe? - and [name_u]Gentry[/name_u] - because of the class issue. I am intrigued by Puzzle (ha!), find [name_f]Honey[/name_f] to sweet for a first name, and think [name_m]Talon[/name_m] is a little aggressive - though I adore [name_m]Archer[/name_m]. I’m feeling inspired here to come up with names like Rave (B), Julip (G), [name_u]Carrol[/name_u] (B/G), [name_m]Quill[/name_m] (B), Plume (G), and [name_f]Velvet[/name_f] (G). [name_u]Yarrow[/name_u], perhaps? For a boy. And maybe also [name_f]Lune[/name_f] (G) and [name_u]Dune[/name_u] (B).
Yes I love really weird word names that can’t be used too well on real people so they get thrown in the book.
Puzzle is the one I’m proudest of. I love [name_u]Carrol[/name_u], [name_m]Quill[/name_m], [name_f]Lune[/name_f] (though I like Lunshea more “moon fairy”) and [name_u]Dune[/name_u] from your little list. ^^ Incidentally, we’re using [name_m]Quillon[/name_m] in one of our combos with the nn [name_m]Quill[/name_m]. ^^
Definitely Zosio! That’s fabulous! [name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce it? ZOS-io? Or would it sound a bit like [name_f]Zosia[/name_f] (ZOSH-io)? I believe [name_f]Zosia[/name_f] is a Polish nn for [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] - and I really love it.
I’d consider using…
Okan (Depending on the pronunciation, I would consider it if it is pronounced ‘oak-en’)
[name_m]Delano[/name_m]
[name_u]Averil[/name_u]
Fiametta
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Glory[/name_f]
[name_f]Honey[/name_f] (as a nn for [name_f]Honora[/name_f])
[name_u]Gentry[/name_u] (I actually know a girl named this)
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m]
Well I wouldn’t actually use any of these myself, but I think some of could be usable by others.
Arvan - usable and I actually quite like it
Crisipo - I think someone mentioned earlier that it sounded like a crisp brand and I must say I agree. I do like [name_m]Crispin[/name_m] though, which is pretty similar
Okan - usable, possibly as an elaboration on [name_u]Oak[/name_u]
[name_m]Delano[/name_m] - this was [name_m]Franklin[/name_m] [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m]'s middle name wasn’t it? So I guess it’s usable, but I’d assume it was after him
Zosio - I find this a bit awkward to say, so I’d say no, not usable
Atoc - I don’t know whether this is [name_m]AH[/name_m]-toc or AY-toc. I don’t mind AY-toc if it’s that
[name_m]Savian[/name_m] - it sounds like a nationality to me which is a bit odd
Chernobog - that utterly terrifying demonic thing from [name_f]Fantasia[/name_f]? Definitely not!
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] - I know several female Erins, though I suppose if you’re American you would pronounce [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] the same way, so it wouldn’t really matter
[name_u]Averil[/name_u] - yeah it’s usable, it reminds me of [name_f]Avril[/name_f] Lavigne. I do just prefer [name_f]April[/name_f] though, but it is nice
Fiametta - yes, this is usable and very sweet
Catima - I think this could be a nice alternative to [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Kiona[/name_f] - and this could do instead of [name_f]Chiara[/name_f] or [name_f]Ciara[/name_f]
[name_f]Glory[/name_f] - usable though I think I’d prefer it in the middle
Puzzle - not on a child, but I’m now loving it for a dog!
[name_f]Honey[/name_f] - usable as it is used and is relatively common. Not for me though, I find it quite saccharine, for obvious reasons
[name_m]Sly[/name_m] - I don’t really like it because of it’s literal meaning, but it’s not too bad as a [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m]/[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] nickname
Bodkin - um, no. This is actually really close to my dog’s nickname. He Bodie and I sometimes call him Bodikins.
[name_u]Gentry[/name_u] - this seems a really strange choice for a name, so I wouldn’t say it was usable. Especially for a girl as it is an inherently masculine word
[name_u]Silver[/name_u] - I would [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] this as a nn for [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m]/[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]. Much better than [name_m]Sly[/name_m]
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m] - no, although I see it on here quite often. I don’t know why you would want to convey to everyone that your child was, not just wild, but wilder than everyone else
Darken - quite literally too ‘dark’ for me
[name_m]Talon[/name_m] - no, it’s a body part. Of a bird, yes, but still
Solace - I don’t really like it myself, but I guess it could be usable
She has a misericorde so maybe I should code name her misericorde 
