[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone, so now that I’m officially on my summer break and baby [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] has been wonderful at taking naps I decided to slowly wedge my way back into Nameberry…
Well, I have been a Potterhead since I was little and am also an avid HP fanfiction writer and reader and have come to participate in HP forums and online groups, but I haven’t yet come across HP fans who are also Namenerds to discuss the glorious names from that universe.
I would particularly like to ask namenerds’ favorite and least favorite character names and I would also love to know what you guys think of the 2nd Generation’s names (The [name_u]Golden[/name_u] Trio and other schoolmates’ kids): [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m], [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], Scorpius etcetera.
I sometimes get the feeling that [name_m]Harry[/name_m] named his kids singlehandedly after the people his parents and deceased mentors and I don’t see any of these names besides [name_f]Luna[/name_f] as something [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] would have wanted for her kids. I was also hoping that maybe [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] would be a little more adventurous naming her children, but that’s my opinion and I’m hoping to discuss.
Also, if you could name the children of other characters based on their personalities, hobbies and personal taste, what do you think those would be?
I will admit I don’t like any name JK chose for new generation and have versions of myself when I write ffs because I just don’t want to name a child after a s*xual predator and teen murderer also I think Slytherins claim Slytherin heroes.
I think we can all agree that [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m] is a horribly chosen name and that Rubeus, [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] or anything from the [name_m]Black[/name_m] family would have been a better choice. Although I do accept JKR’s argument that [name_m]Fred[/name_m] and [name_m]Remus[/name_m] weren’t chosen so [name_m]George[/name_m] and [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] could use them for their own kids.
With the next generation [name_m]Potter[/name_m] kids, [name_f]Luna[/name_f] seems the odd name out, because she’s the only namesake still alive at this point. Nymphadora would have been the logical choice.
The impression that [name_m]Harry[/name_m] named the kids on his own is there, yes. But then again, family honour names are aparently very important, and [name_m]Harry[/name_m] is the only one left in the [name_m]Potter[/name_m] family to do so, while the Weasley family has lots of other potential parents who might want to honour someone if that makes sense.
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] picking uncomplicated names seems perfectly logical to me, since she literally had to explain to the readers how to say hers.
I totally approve of [name_m]Draco[/name_m] keeping up the astrological theme with [name_m]Scorpio[/name_m]'s name.
Apart from the new generation, Xenophilius seems a little too on-the-nose as a name. “Lover of the strange” is literally his characterization.
Many people have complained about too many main characters having the H initial, but I never really had a problem with that. In fact, it took me years to even notice.
[name_f]Luna[/name_f] is named for Lupin–full moon + werewolf + Moony = [name_f]Luna[/name_f].
I’m a name-nerd and I love HP. I’m currently reading HP fanfiction. They’re a non-canon couple but they make a lot of sense together and they have unusual names. I’ve read some stories where their kids have names similar in style to theirs and stories where the reasoning for their names are funny or situational, but still make sense in a way.
Another huge HP fan here. I’ve been writing HP fanfiction for years, always for myself, but I’ll confess I’ve never read a word of others’ work. After 15 years, I’m hopelessly devoted to my own head canons and don’t care to know of anyone else’s.
Huh, I didn’t know that. I guess honouring Lupin makes more sense, but by using the name of a mutual friend…? That, at the same time, makes less sense.
I focus on my OCs. I enjoy exploring what life at Hogwarts and the wider wizarding world was like for the “normal” witches and wizards during the events of the series.
I saw someone else comment that [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f] was used for Lupin, but I don’t personally think this is the case. While it might be a nice connection, I think that [name_f]Luna[/name_f] was from Lovegood, and it’s the only name used where I can see [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]’s input, considering she and [name_f]Luna[/name_f] were good friends ([name_m]Harry[/name_m] also).
For the next generation, I think all of [name_m]Harry[/name_m]’s kids names are a bit on the meh side for me. I understand that honouring people is really nice to do, but every single name for every single kid? It’s a little much for me. For me, because we don’t really know these characters, it strips away their own identity and now I think of them as “named for [name_u]James[/name_u]” etc. If those names really hadn’t to be used, I would have preferred that they were given their own first name, and I really wish that if someone had to be honoured, it was [name_m]Hagrid[/name_m].
I love [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and [name_m]Ron[/name_m]’s kids names because I think they’re nice and simple, and don’t scream honour names. I can see [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as [name_m]Ron[/name_m]’s choice, and [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] as [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]’s.
I’ve been reading a fic, part 3 still going, which is set with Cursed Child as canon (which isn’t something I’m usually on board with) it’s called Put Your Guns Away It’s Time for [name_f]Tea[/name_f] (or something similar) and that has the 3rd generation names which I think are excellent - [name_m]Albus[/name_m] and [name_m]Scorpio[/name_m] have a little girl called [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] for example, [name_u]James[/name_u] names his first child [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f] nn Evra. It’s all very sweet and I recommend it!
[name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m], I understand, I even quite like it - although I do agree that two honour names is a bit much. [name_f]Lily[/name_f] as a first name, again, I understand. [name_f]Luna[/name_f], and [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m] I will never really get. I understand why [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m] is that - [name_m]Harry[/name_m] has always seen things in black and white, so for him the fact these men were ‘good’ in the long run is enough. As for [name_f]Ginny[/name_f], well, she named Pigwidgeon so I’m not sure how much she is to be trusted.
I think I’d have wanted/named them: [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m], [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. They don’t flow well, and I think [name_m]Harry[/name_m] would always want to name a kid after Dumbledore, but [name_m]Hagrid[/name_m] and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] definitely deserved to be in there!
I think [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] are pretty perfect names for [name_m]Ron[/name_m] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s kids - not quite common in the muggle world, but still slightly unusual, so slightly more normal than [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s, but with lots of history and a classic feel, like the names in [name_m]Ron[/name_m]'s family.
I am loving the discussions in this thread already, so glad I started it!
I don’t have an issue with [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] because they are very nice, simple and timeless names, but I was slightly hoping for a little more literary inspiration from [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s end. I think [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] is very literary because of the author [name_m]Victor[/name_m] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], but [name_f]Rose[/name_f] comes across a bit plain to me. I was hoping she’d go with something Shakespearean because her own name is Shakespearean. I’m not talking about [name_f]Desdemona[/name_f] or [name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f], but something along the lines of [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f] or [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]. In fact, [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] with nickname [name_f]Rose[/name_f] would have been all sorts of awesome.
As for [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]'s kids I think it would be a lot nicer if they had honored [name_m]Hagrid[/name_m]. [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] as suggested would be perfect because [name_m]Hagrid[/name_m]'s first name is Rubeus, but also because it could be a nod to the Gryffindor red and the Weasley red hair as well. Would be very clever! [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] is lovely, but I would have prefered [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Orion[/name_u]. It still honors [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] because of his middle name, but also allows for [name_u]James[/name_u] II to have a bit more of his own identity. [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m] is my least favorite hands down. I just don’t like [name_m]Severus[/name_m] as a name at all and think it’s overkill with the double ‘us’ endings. [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] would have been lovely, to honor Dumbledore who was important to both [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] and [name_m]Harry[/name_m] but also is a wonderful nod to the Weasley family and to the English tale of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], after all, they constantly reference [name_m]Merlin[/name_m] in the Potterverse. As for [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f], it never occured to me that [name_f]Luna[/name_f] honored [name_m]Remus[/name_m] Lupin, I always figured it was for [name_f]Luna[/name_f] Lovegood who becomes practically [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]'s best friend towards the last books. Although I would have tried to incorporate [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] as well. It’s not fair to honor one living best friend and not the other living best friend who was so crucial and important in [name_m]Harry[/name_m]'s life. I would have been happy with a little girl named [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f]. It would even help with the flow and avoiding so many ‘L’ sounds from running together.
@Wandsworth, I’m currently working on a [name_m]Harry[/name_m]/[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] love story since that’s my OTP. It follows canon for the most part but not the entire 19 years. In my story [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] passes away and [name_m]Ron[/name_m] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] divorce and with time [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] develop feelings that go beyond just friendship. If you’re interested PM me and I’ll send you a link. That goes for everybody
Personally, I’ve chosen to regard the epilogue of Deathly Hallows and the Cursed Child as fanfiction. No qualms with those who accept them as canon, but I just don’t. The epilogue never sat right with me. The Cursed Child just didn’t feel authentic to the series, and I don’t think JKR had much to do with its writing. The Delphini and time travel plot lines were beyond absurd. I loved Scorpius and the potential Scorpius/[name_m]Albus[/name_m] romance… but that’s all I loved about it. My list of complaints is lengthy, lol.
I really liked how JK used all these ubscure ancient names like [name_m]Albus[/name_m] and Elphias together with modern classics like [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and [name_f]Susan[/name_f]. It shows how the wizarding world mixes with the muggle world. Also interesting names always make books and stories more fun to read.
My favorite named character is probably [name_m]Remus[/name_m] Lupin, mostly because to me the name is different but still very useble (except for the heavy association ofcourse). But most names get an extra shimmer on them when associated with the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] universe
I did think the names of [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and Ginnys children were a bit one-sided. [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] is supposed to be this headstrong woman, yet there is not even a middle name that has meaning for her. Why not name a child after [name_f]Molly[/name_f]?
Looked at my earlier suggestions and have changed my mind to:
[name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] (after both dads)
[name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] (he got the most out there names last time too, so why not? Also flows better)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] Rubia
Alternatively, so save [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m]/[name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] from getting all of the wild names:
[name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Albus[/name_m]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] Rubia
[name_u]Percy[/name_u] has a daughter [name_f]Molly[/name_f], [name_m]George[/name_m] has a daughter [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f], [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is too close imo - I think the problem is no Weasley kid named a child after [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] who didn’t marry and had children as an asexual.
And [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] is a bigger problem than [name_m]Albus[/name_m] [name_m]Severus[/name_m]. [name_u]James[/name_u] sexually assaulted a student and bullied others, [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] tried to murder one. They didn’t grow up one bit. I also wouldn’t name a child after [name_f]Molly[/name_f] or [name_f]Lily[/name_f] they are poor examples of mothers for me.
@Elifsu Ok, I can almost see why you don’t like [name_u]James[/name_u] and [name_m]Sirius[/name_m]. Although they were around 15 at the time and I’m pretty sure they can’t be necessarily held accountable forever for those things, that being said [name_m]Sirius[/name_m] never seemed sorry. But then again Snape was a terrible person, so maybe he shouldn’t be that sorry…
And [name_f]Molly[/name_f] did have some parenting flaws… but [name_f]Lily[/name_f] isn’t a good role model as a mother?! [name_m]How[/name_m] do you figure that one out? She had one child who she literally died trying to protect and she was a parent for just over a year (closer to two if you count pregnancy). On what basis is she not a good mother? Which characters [name_f]DO[/name_f] you like?
I wouldn’t have a child with a man like [name_u]James[/name_u] especially when there is a war and I am the target as a minority, I see [name_m]Harry[/name_m] as an accidental baby and wouldn’t romantise [name_f]Lily[/name_f] as I see her as a horrible person sorry. Being 15 doesn’t excuse [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_m]Sirius[/name_m]. Snape isn’t a terrible person, he wasn’t when I read the series as a child and as an adult. All Slytherins are my favorites with the exception of [name_m]Tom[/name_m] Riddle because he wasn’t a Slytherin but a Ravenclaw - if JK didn’t create a black and white narrative he would be. [name_f]Luna[/name_f] Lovegood, Filius, [name_u]Finch[/name_u] and [name_u]Percy[/name_u] Weasley, [name_m]Frank[/name_m] and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] Longbottom are my other favorites. I hate all Griffindors except the three I have listed, and I don’t care about Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw characters.
Right, well we’re definitely going to have to agree to disagree on a most of those points.
[name_m]Frank[/name_m] and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] were awesome though, so at least we definitely agree on that (though they were friends with [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_u]James[/name_u], so shouldn’t that make them bad people in your view?).
[name_m]How[/name_m] do you know they were friends ? None of [name_f]Lily[/name_f]'s friends are ever mentioned or interact with [name_m]Harry[/name_m] in any book, [name_u]James[/name_u]'s little group of bullies are not going to consider [name_m]Frank[/name_m] or [name_f]Alice[/name_f] friends sorry vice versa imo. They were on the same side yes but that’s not how I judge characters.
They’re a non-canon couple but they make a lot of sense together and they have unusual names. I’ve read some stories where their kids have names similar in style to theirs and stories where the reasoning for their names are funny or situational, but still make sense in a way.
