I was workshopping my story around on a [name_f]Beta[/name_f] [name_m]Reading[/name_m] forum and everyone kept harping on about one single issue - my lead’s name, [name_f]Judith[/name_f]. They said it was “gag-worthy” and the fact that I was using that name made my whole story unreadable. Admittedly I got kinda offended by this. [name_f]Judith[/name_f] is a perfectly fine name, and I think their responses were out of line (especially when I calmly told them to stop dismissing the whole story just because they didn’t like the lead’s name and they refused to back off the name issue). That said I don’t have strong attachments to the name (I probably named her after [name_f]Judy[/name_f] from Animal Crossing, come to think of it), so if it makes them all so pissy, should I just bend to their wills and change it?
No, [name_f]Judith[/name_f] is a perfectly good name to to use. I don’t see a problem with it. They are out of line, you went there to get objective opinions on your story not rude opinions on your main characters name. If you want to change it to something more meaningful to you, you should but you shouldn’t change it just because they don’t like it. Besides, I find in most of the stories I’ve read, I remember the main characters name because of their impact on the story and not because I loved or hated it, anyways. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps! Rant over.
…that’s so weird to me! When I clicked on this thread, I expected some wild name. But [name_f]Judith[/name_f]? What the heck is wrong with that name? I say don’t change it.
I think [name_f]Judith[/name_f] is classic, strong, and distinct! That’s so silly that they didn’t like it. I say keep it!
I went and searched it up - [name_f]Judith[/name_f] ranks #903 in the USA top 1000 baby names of 2020. 287 little baby girls were named [name_f]Judith[/name_f] last year. Sure, it reached its peak in 1940 at #4, but it has not left the top 1000 names EVER. It is by no means popular nowadays, but it is definitely not a weird or “gag-worthy” name.
That being said, if it bothers you that no one on the forum is willing to read your story because of a name, change it - find & replace is an easy function to use either on Microsoft Word or Google Docs. I’ve changed character names like that before. And the best part is after you’ve received feedback, you can find & replace the name back to [name_f]Judith[/name_f] if you want to.
Alternatively, you can do nothing at all and remind the people on the forum that people have their own preferences when it comes to naming not only characters, but actual people as well. There are thousands upon thousands of Judiths out there in the world. There are also plenty of characters named [name_f]Judith[/name_f], or [name_f]Judy[/name_f], as well.
Are these beta readers 12?
[name_f]Judith[/name_f] is a good name with nice nn potential. In addition to [name_f]Judy[/name_f] she could also be called [name_u]Jude[/name_u] (like the heroin of Cruel Prince).
But like why? [name_f]Judith[/name_f] is a beautiful name and I love the nickname [name_f]Judy[/name_f], although [name_f]Judy[/name_f] dying in [name_u]Seven[/name_u] [name_m]Little[/name_m] Australians is the reason I avoid old books now. I don’t see why it wouldn’t make a good main character name. Is there some joke I’m missing here?