I working on a modern apocalypse/dystopian novel. Without offering any info on the characters, what are your thoughts, feelings, and first impressions on the following names? What do you vision looks wise for each character name?
I find these sorts of questions redundant. To me, they could be anyone as names don’t harbour personalities, it’s the people behind them who do that. I can tell you however,that as a group they go together really well.
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] (nn. [name_f]Vicky[/name_f]) Redrow – [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] makes me think of an expressive teenager with a light dusting of freckles and vivid red curls. She can be feisty or poised with equal ease. Her eyes are pale, either sea green or soft grey, but they sparkle and snap when she’s fired up about something. I also picture her as tall and lean, not very curvy…so not your typical short bouncy redhaired sprite. The nickname [name_f]Vicky[/name_f] gives me a different image though, more middle-aged and tired.
[name_u]Julie[/name_u] Distler – I get similar vibes from this as I do from [name_f]Vicky[/name_f], someone from my mother’s generation. But as a teenage friend to [name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_u]Julie[/name_u] would be more of a wallflower, with ash brown hair and striking blue eyes in an otherwise unremarkable face. I get the feeling that she’s used to being in [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]'s shadow, but whether or not she resents it, I couldn’t say.
[name_m]Gordon[/name_m] (nn. [name_m]Gordy[/name_m]) [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] – The only [name_m]Gordon[/name_m] I ever knew had very pale blond hair, light blue eyes, doughy skin, and a stutter, so I really struggle to get past that image to find my real impression of the name. [name_m]Gordon[/name_m] seems more the British sort, witty and wry with a shock of dark hair; he could be middle-aged, elderly or a boy, but I can’t picture a young adult with the name. [name_m]Gordy[/name_m] unfortunately makes me think of the Spanish word for “fat.”
[name_m]Lucas[/name_m] (nn. [name_m]Luke[/name_m]) MacLeod – [name_m]Luke[/name_m] is trustworthy and bookish, and [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] is sophisticated and dashing. I think of a man in his 20s or 30s who is equally at home in a coffee shop, bookstore, or boardroom. He could pull off ripped jeans, scarves, and three-piece suits with equal ease. He has warm rich brown eyes that make you think of caramel and chocolate; they add a layer of sensuality to his reliable vibe.
I know I didn’t put any of these really in the postapocalyptic context…I was more focused on picturing a person with each name.
Thanks. Usually, I’m not good at matching names, so when I hear that I’ve actually made a good match that makes me happy. I’m in the very early stages of planning so changes are likely.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] looks-wise, here’s what I see -
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Vicky[/name_f]’ Redrow - [name_m]Long[/name_m], straight red hair, brown or green eyes. Tall and tanned.
[name_u]Julie[/name_u] Distler - small, brown eyes, short dark blond hair, light skin.
[name_m]Gordon[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Gordy[/name_m]’ [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] - Tall again, well-built, fair hair, blue eyes, light skin.
[name_m]Lucas[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Luke[/name_m]’ Macleod - average height, kind of skinny, brown hair, brown eyes, a little pale.
What you vision for the two girls, I vision too. What I’m picturing for [name_m]Lucas[/name_m], is pretty much the same only I see him as blonde, blue-eyed.
Now, for [name_m]Gordy[/name_m]…I’m totally seeing is a black man around 40-years-old.
Handsome , royal , brave .