I’m writing an urban fantasy book for 8-12 year olds. I’d love to get your opinions on the name of the main character. She’s a fairly ordinary 12 year old girl who has frizzy brown hair, has just had a growth spurt and found her first pimple. She has a sharp tongue and fiery temper, is quirky and can be easily intimidated. By an unexpected turn of events she finds herself saving the world.
I originally named her [name]Daisy[/name] but have had such negative feedback about it. The general consensus seems to be that a girl named [name]Daisy[/name] can’t save the world! The name is apparently too cutesy, lacks strength etc etc. So I have tried out [name]Freya[/name] but it didn’t quite fit, and [name]Tessa[/name] and [name]Thea[/name] have also been considered. [name]Eliza[/name] seems to fit the bill and I do like it. BUT I think my heart is still with [name]Daisy[/name]. Is [name]Daisy[/name] usable? Suggestions would also be much appreciated.
I think that if you write a character who saves the world and she happens to be named [name]Daisy[/name], then it sounds like a [name]Daisy[/name] can save the world! If you want, you could give her a “real” name for which [name]Daisy[/name] is frequently a nickname (like [name]Margaret[/name] or [name]Margot[/name]; I think [name]Margot[/name] has [name]Eliza[/name]'s spunk) and at some point have her explain that she thinks her given name is stuffy or boring.
I find that people’s experience makes them think of names in certain ways: they know older people named [name]Diane[/name] or [name]Barbara[/name], so those seem dated; they met a ditzy girl named [name]Claire[/name] once, so anyone named [name]Claire[/name] makes them think of a ditz… If people meet a [name]Daisy[/name] who is kick-butt, then that’ll be their [name]Daisy[/name]. I think she will shape the name, rather than the name shaping her.
Why can’t [name]Daisy[/name] save the world? I definitely think it could work, after all what message is it giving to girls named [name]Daisy[/name] if they only read books where characters with their name are weak or ditzy? You define your name, a name doesn’t define you.
Hmmm fiery names for a girl who ends up saving the world, thats a hard one what do you think of [name]Arabella[/name] or [name]Lola[/name]. I do like [name]Eliza[/name] though thats nice.
[name]Eliza[/name] no doubt. [name]Daisy[/name] sounds childish, and patronizing on a main character for a book aimed at 8-12 year olds, if I’m honest.
I think names that they’d actually see among their peer group would be a better choice.
[name]Lux[/name]! [name]Lux[/name]! [name]Lux[/name]! Better than [name]Daisy[/name], less grown up than [name]Eliza[/name], kind of fiery ( means light, why not ), awesome name! [name]Hope[/name] you like it, maybe I’m just obsessed with it.
[name]Hope[/name] you like it, maybe I’m just obsessed with it.