On a scale of one to no, how bad does it make you crying when you see children obviously named after characters? ( think Tolkien, like legolas or thranduil)
My opinion on this is hard to describe. I think it depends on the name. Some of, say, Tolkien’s names are swoonworthy (I’m looking at you [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]) or at least fine to use [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. I wouldn’t advocate for Gollum. For me at least, it also sometimes (not always - [name_f]Renesmee[/name_f] is dreadful. Eilonwy is gorgeous) depends on if the name is legitimate or not prior to the book/movie. And also, it comes down to can you separate the name from the character. I feel some names are so deep seated on fictional characters that it is hard to imagine them on anyone else (I’m looking at you [name_f]Katniss[/name_f] - which I think is lovely, but I associate it with the character. I think your 2 examples fall here as well). It is usually easier to separate a name from a character for minor characters than major characters. I think the current pop culture status also has some bearing. [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] and [name_u]Scout[/name_u] are no longer as shocking as they may have been 30 years ago because To Kill A Mockingbird is not a huge deal right now whereas [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] is pretty much an erotica name right now because of 50 Shades of [name_u]Grey[/name_u]. Overall though, it doesn’t bother me usually. I’d love to see little Coralines, Yvaines, Cedrics, Hermiones, etc. instead of the god awful numbers of Jacobs and Isabellas (I see you Twihard moms) and Sophias.
I am much more annoyed with people naming after celebrities (examples: [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f], [name_u]Monroe[/name_u], [name_f]Bardot[/name_f], [name_f]Garbo[/name_f], [name_f]Madonna[/name_f]) when it is obvious they are doing it.
I have such a love hate relationship with this type of thing.
I don’t like when people say they don’t like a name because it reminds them of a celebrity or character. For example, I posed a question about the name [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] and a few people said it reminds them of [name_u]Channing[/name_u] [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] or [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] O’[name_u]Neil[/name_u]. So what? I totally don’t care about that. I don’t think just because someone got famous or wrote a character that got famous means the name is not usable for the rest of us.
Of course, that being said, I would (personally) never name my kid Kardashian, [name_f]Madonna[/name_f] or Han Solo; something totally iconic or celebrity/character based.
I don’t mind people using celebrity or character inspiration tho. Someone mentioned the names [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f], [name_u]Monroe[/name_u] and [name_f]Bardot[/name_f]. None of these names are really my style, but I think other people using them would be great. Why not?
[name_m]Even[/name_m] characters and celebrities have to have a name! But it doesn’t mean other people can’t have it too.
Nymphalis antiopa-- just re-read your post more thoroughly and I saw we both mentioned [name_f]Madonna[/name_f]. I tend to think of that as more of a “stage name”
Or nickname, not as a real name for some reason. And I agree with you about [name_f]Madonna[/name_f] in particular, I would be annoyed if someone named their kid that just blatantly because they liked the singer.
It doesn’t bother me in the least. In fact, I have a friend named after an elf in LotR, and part of her son’s name comes from a famous sci-fi novel. If you fall in love with a name, what difference does it make that you found it on a TV show or in a book?
I very much agree with @frustratedauthor.
I have a friend named E.l.a.n.o.r and her sister is named G.a.l.a.d.r.i.e.l. I didn’t know that she was named after a Tolkien character before a couple of months ago when she told me her sister’s name (and then the spelling made sense, lol). I was completely blown away by their parents’ radness and I think it’s such a beautiful and lovely set of names for siblings. I love a lot of literate names and some film names as well (being the cinephile that I am), and I see no problem in it whatsoever.
If the character name was made up for the film or novel, then I think it’s a bit tacky. But if it’s already an established name, then why not?
What frustratedauthor and Elja said. I’m planning on using a made-up-by-Tolkien name for my baby. 
Well your question doesn’t make sense, but I assume you’re asking whether we like or dislike babies named after characters. I like. Obviously.
As long as it isn’t Voldemort or Sauron…
I like it and think naming a child after a beloved character is just as valid a reason as choosing a name because it honors an ancestor you admire. In fact, just last night I met an Anakin and a [name_f]Luna[/name_f] at karate.
I do agree that it’s more favorable if the character has positive traits and the reference won’t be a hindrance on your child (aka [name_m]Draco[/name_m] Malfoy has redeeming qualities but Voldemort has none). =]
I think naming a child after a beloved character is just as valid a reason as choosing a name because it honors an ancestor you admire. (Though, I do agree that it’s more favorable if the character has positive traits and the reference won’t be a hindrance on your child…)
My friend has a daughter named [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]. I love the name just like I love Tolkiens books and when she was pregnant with her son I kept asking her if she wanted to name him Aragorn.
But no matter how much I like this name it’s not one I would ever choose for my child. I’d prefer a lesser known name/word name. Some names are so tied to the characters they belong to they can be hard to carry of for a mere mortal.
For me, it’s great if the character is admirable and has character traits/does things a child should [reasonably] aspire to. And as long as one or both parents has actually read the book or watched the movie and loves the character. Many of my own favourites are names of favourite characters. But I’ve heard of some people who pick a random character’s name because it sounds cool (a bit silly to me) or it makes them “sound smart”- I’d call that pretentious.
There are names I like that don’t meet one of the criteria- I think Willoughby sounds awesome but the character was a bit of a, um, sod. I discovered the name Lysander on Nameberry and love the sound of it but have no idea what the character’s like (can’t actually remember where it comes from right now)- what if he’s actually not all that great? I still like them, but I wouldn’t use them.
I’m planning on naming my daughter after a [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character. I love the books and the films, and even at the age of 25, I’m still in love with them. I personally don’t see anything wrong with it. You’re naming your child after something you love dearly, and something you treasure. The names symbolise something to you from the character, and even though most names have meanings, it’s your own special sentimental feeling. I wouldn’t name my child Voldemort, but names like [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f] and [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f] are lovely.
And ps, to whoever had seen [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] and wondered where from - it’s from HP, the name of one of [name_f]Luna[/name_f] Lovegood/[name_m]Rolf[/name_m] Scamander’s twins, the other being [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m].
I think it depends very much on the character and their traits. There are names on my list of characters from books, tv/film and video games that I love because of the character and want my future children have names linked with things their parents love and haved loved throughout their lives. Names on my lists include:
[name_m]Male[/name_m]:
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] (Circle of [name_u]Magic[/name_u]- [name_f]Tamora[/name_f] [name_m]Pierce[/name_m])
[name_m]Zachary[/name_m] (Ghost Adventures)
[name_m]Axel[/name_m] ([name_f]Journey[/name_f] to the Centre of the [name_f]Earth[/name_f]- [name_u]Jules[/name_u] [name_u]Verne[/name_u])
[name_m]Nemo[/name_m] (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea- [name_u]Jules[/name_u] [name_u]Verne[/name_u])
[name_u]Ash[/name_u] (Pokémon)
[name_u]Red[/name_u] (Pokémon)
Female:
[name_u]Kaye[/name_u] ([name_m]Darwin[/name_m]'s Radio- [name_m]Greg[/name_m] [name_m]Bear[/name_m])
[name_f]Nova[/name_f] ([name_m]Darwin[/name_m]'s Children- [name_m]Greg[/name_m] [name_m]Bear[/name_m])
[name_f]Kairi[/name_f] (Kingdom Hearts)
[name_u]Penny[/name_u] (Big Bang [name_m]Theory[/name_m])
[name_f]Leia[/name_f] ([name_f]Star[/name_f] Wars)
Ahhh, I absolutely love it. I would much prefer that parents chose a name for its meaning to them or the evocation of a beloved book, scene or character; than a name that they ‘like’ or naming, as said above, after a celebrity, movie or, for god’s sake, a car (looking at you, [name_u]Lexus[/name_u] and [name_u]Bentley[/name_u]).
Some of my personal favourites are my favourites because of the book character. For example: [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], [name_m]Atticus[/name_m], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Primrose[/name_f], [name_f]Arwen[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f], [name_u]Scout[/name_u].
We nearly named our daughter [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]. And this little boy I’m baking will be called [name_m]Cato[/name_m] - that is NOT a Hunger Games character reference although I’m sure some people will mistake it for one. All names come from somewhere - literary names seem just as good a source as any.
I recognize [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] right away from A Midsummer [name_m]Night[/name_m]'s [name_u]Dream[/name_u].
We named our daughter Azula, which we first heard on a cartoon character - because we loved the sound of the name. I think something that’s really obvious & that’s got a HUGE fan base (I’m thinking Anakin or something) might be difficult for a child to grow up with. But something that is less known or more subtle (Lorien, perhaps, for Tolkien fans) is maybe a better choice.
My husband keeps rooting for Ender for a boy & I keep trying to direct his enthusiasm elsewhere.
What better place to find inspiration than your favorite books? Or even your favorite movies, music and of course other forms of literature?
There are clear limits in my personal opinion, however. The type of persona the character possesses should (and often does) matter quite a bit. For example, I would loathe to see a baby Voldemort, [name_m]Manson[/name_m], or Cruella (I mean, really…what kind of person did those parents expect him to be?). But I see nothing wrong with [name_m]Sirius[/name_m], Han, or [name_u]Ariel[/name_u].
There’s also a fine line with obvious icons or pop culture references. [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is a great character to name your child after, and it’s also a beautiful name. But, at least here in the US, it’s completely tied into [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] and would be hard to separate. That’s not off limits like Voldemort, but it should definitely be considered. (Others I think fall into this are: [name_f]Topanga[/name_f], Atreyu, and [name_f]Katniss[/name_f] - which is a plant, and not made up). Renesme and Bilbo should probably be avoided though!
The celebrity trend is another fine line. So many have beautiful names, and inspiration can strike anywhere. One of the names on my list, [name_m]Stone[/name_m], comes from [name_m]Stone[/name_m] Gossard of [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_m]Jam[/name_m]. Not only do we both like the name on it’s own, but it’s made extra special because it’s music that we share a love for. Kardashian is a little different…and let’s hope no little Gagas are born. 