Character Rename...Charlene? full name for Lindy? just use Stella?

Writers' Corner
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My latest project is revolves around a girl who’s been thrown back to the year 1947. Her name is [name]Charlene[/name] [name]Paige[/name]. Her nn, which is used just as much as her fn, is [name]Charley[/name] (like [name]Charlie[/name]). Now usually when naming my characters I have no problem whatsoever. I just fit it with their personality and it’s set in stone from there on. This time was different. See, the name [name]Charlene[/name] just popped in my head randomly when I began writing this a year ago. The reason why I want to change it now is because I just don’t like the way it looks anymore. It doesn’t quite flow for me. So I thought up a few names that I feel fit her. She’s a tap dancer with a bit of a lively personality, not in your face bold though. [name]Blue[/name]-eyed, lightly freckled brunette. Whenever I think of her [name]Ann[/name] [name]Miller[/name] comes to mind. Retro enthusiast. Loves old Hollywood. Nineteen. Anyway, these are the names.

[name]Lindy[/name]: I like it but not the names that it derives from. [name]Belinda[/name], [name]Melinda[/name], [name]Linda[/name]…yuck.

[name]Stella[/name]: I really like it. Makes me think of The Nutty Professor’s [name]Stella[/name] Stevens.

[name]Jeannie[/name]: I love that name, it’s just really retro to me.

[name]Betty[/name]: I love this one too but I’m not entirely sure that it fits her.

I don’t know. [name]Do[/name] you guys have any suggestions? Thanks.

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I work with a woman who is just [name]Lindy[/name] as her formal name, so it doesn’t have to be short for [name]Linda[/name]. Oh, maybe [name]Rosalind[/name]?

I totally adore [name]Jeannie[/name]. It’s retro in a good way. That or [name]Lindy[/name] would fit the character best, I feel. I like [name]Stella[/name], but for a 19-year-old I’d have a hard time believing it, just because it wasn’t a name that was really in fashion in the early 90’s. Kind of eh on [name]Betty[/name].

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I didn’t even think about [name]Rosalind[/name]. I really like that one. I agree with you about [name]Stella[/name]. Besides, I’d probably think of her blonde if I chose that one. Finding a name is, in a way, intricate for me because somtimes I end up associating it with someone of the same name. Like [name]Rosalind[/name] makes me think [name]Rosalind[/name] [name]Russell[/name]. But that’s okay since she’s in a couple of my favorite movies haha.