Other than my day job, I write on the side, and thus it was likely inevitable that I’d run across this conundrum sometime. Can I get some honest opinions on this problem - whether it is kosher to utilize a name that I have named a character already.
Notes
[name]Story[/name] is currently unfinished, but I am serious about doing so in future.
Would it matter if the name were “recycled” as a first or middle name for a son?
In case curious minds wanted to know, the name I am having this issue with is [name]Harlan[/name], and he is my main protagonist in the novel.
I, too, have had this issue - I also have it with the fact that I named my axolotl [name]Archibald[/name] "[name]Archie[/name] because I thought the name was totally cool but that I would never want to use it on a future son. [name]Little[/name] did I know, I know would love to use it as either a first or middle, but anyway, that’s a tad off topic, sorry about that.
I think that it would be okay to use the name on a future son. Apart from your own feelings about the issue, I don’t think other people will find it inappropriate. Unless, of course, you decide to send your book to a publisher and it gets published.
If your book gets published then it’s a little weird but if not I think it’s perfectly fine! Eg. if J.K. Rowling had a child named [name]Harry[/name] or [name]Hermione[/name] people would find it really weird but if I named my baby [name]June[/name] or [name]Patrick[/name] no-one would find it strange because they have never read my book
I think the main consideration isn’t what other people think, but what might your future child think? e.g. if the character is really positive, then I think the child would find it perfectly acceptable. On the other hand if he is a flawed hero (e.g. alcoholic, divorced, difficult relationship with his child, even though he’s still the protagonist), I think that might send an awkward message to your son.
I have a friend whose parents wanted to name their store after her when she was five and she felt like they had “given it away” so she started asking people to call her by a completely different name. (Luckily the store wasn’t open yet so the renamed it but she still hated it).
Not all children are going to react that way but I still wouldn’t give my child a name I had used in a short-story, novella, screenplay etc. (Except if the character is a very minor side character and even then only as a mn).
You could always see it as the chance to se GP names for characters or to find new names you love.
That’s a good point. I would say he is slightly flawed in his personality, so, maybe, it would be better to take it out of consideration for that reason. Darn.
Well, thanks for all the opinions, berries, I appreciate it. Back to the boy name drawing board!
