Help me name my main character!

Writers' Corner
1

I am writing a new novel - the genre is plain and simply “chick-lit” - part romance/part drama/part weepy.

My main character is a woman in her early 30’s from the UK - she is originally from rural [name]Devon[/name] and grew up in a lower-working class family in a small country village. She now lives in [name]London[/name] and has re-invented herself as a successful career woman and all-round glamour puss, and has tried to leave behind her old persona.

I want her to have a longer, traditional name that only her mother uses which has two NN’s - one boyish and common NN which she was known by in her childhood in [name]Devon[/name], and one more glamorous and trendy NN which would suit her [name]London[/name] persona.

I have only been able to come up with [name]Alexandra[/name] - [name]Devon[/name] NN [name]Alex[/name] and [name]London[/name] NN [name]Lexi[/name], or [name]Margaret[/name] - [name]Devon[/name] NN [name]Peggy[/name] and [name]London[/name] NN [name]Meg[/name] or [name]Margo[/name].

Any other suggestions?

2

Ooh, sounds nice! Some suggestions:

[name]Charlotte[/name]; [name]Charlie[/name] & Lotts
[name]Samantha[/name]; [name]Sam[/name] & [name]Mandy[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name]; [name]Vic[/name] & [name]Tori[/name]/[name]Ria[/name]
[name]Michelle[/name]; [name]Mitch[/name]/[name]Mick[/name] & [name]Elle[/name]/[name]Mischa[/name]
[name]Alice[/name]: [name]Al[/name] & [name]Isa[/name]/[name]Liz[/name]/Liss
[name]Nicola[/name]: [name]Nick[/name] & [name]Lola[/name]
[name]Lorraine[/name]: [name]Lorrie[/name] & [name]Rain[/name]
[name]Melanie[/name]: [name]Mel[/name] & [name]Lanie[/name]
[name]Catherine[/name]: [name]Cat[/name] & [name]Kitty[/name]
[name]Natasha[/name]: [name]Nat[/name] & [name]Tash[/name]/[name]Tasha[/name]

3

I think [name]Elizabeth[/name] would work well, there are tons of nickname options but you could do [name]Beth[/name] or [name]Betty[/name] for [name]Devon[/name] and [name]Elle[/name] for [name]London[/name]. This isn’t quite what you asked for, but you could also do [name]Helen[/name] or [name]Helena[/name] called by [name]Nell[/name] or [name]Nellie[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] and just by her full name in the city. Oh, or that could work for [name]Eleanor[/name] – [name]Nell[/name] or [name]Nellie[/name] and [name]Nora[/name] or [name]Elle[/name] or [name]Ella[/name] for [name]London[/name].

4

[name]Genevieve[/name] - [name]Gen[/name], [name]Gennie[/name], or [name]Ginny[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Viva[/name], [name]Eve[/name], [name]Evie[/name] in [name]London[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name] - [name]George[/name] or [name]Georgie[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Gia[/name] in [name]London[/name]
[name]Olivia[/name] - Oli in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Liv[/name] or [name]Livia[/name] in [name]London[/name]
[name]Camille[/name] / [name]Camilla[/name] - [name]Cam[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Millie[/name] or [name]Milla[/name] in [name]London[/name]
[name]Theresa[/name] / [name]Teresa[/name] - [name]Terri[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Tess[/name] or [name]Tessa[/name] in [name]London[/name]
[name]Melissa[/name] - [name]Missy[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Lissa[/name] or [name]Millie[/name] in [name]London[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name] - [name]Nat[/name] in [name]Devon[/name] / [name]Tallie[/name] in [name]London[/name]

5

Ooh! This sounds like an interesting idea!

[name]Dorothea[/name]: [name]Dodo[/name] is her childhood nickname, [name]Thea[/name] is her [name]London[/name] nickname
[name]Georgiana[/name]: [name]Georgie[/name] is her chilhood nickname, [name]Giana[/name] is her [name]London[/name] nickname
[name]Lavinia[/name]: [name]Linny[/name] is her childhood nickname, [name]Liv[/name] or [name]Livia[/name] is her [name]London[/name] nickname
[name]Ottilie[/name]: [name]Ottie[/name] is her childhood nickname, [name]Tillie[/name] is her [name]London[/name] nickname.

[name]Dorothea[/name] is probably my favorite for your character.
[name]Hope[/name] that helps!

  • [name]Athena[/name]
6

Thank you all so much for your input! :slight_smile: I love all of the suggestions!

My favourite is [name]Georgiana[/name] - with [name]Georgie[/name] as her [name]Devon[/name] nn and I think [name]Gia[/name] as her [name]London[/name] nn.

Thank you all! :slight_smile:

xxx

7

i like [name]Georgiana[/name] nn [name]Georgie[/name] - [name]Devon[/name] & [name]Gia[/name] or [name]Giana[/name] - [name]London[/name]
maybe
[name]Henrietta[/name] nn [name]Henri[/name]/[name]Henry[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Ria[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Cordelia[/name] nn [name]Cordy[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Delia[/name]/[name]Lia[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Brianna[/name] nn [name]Bree[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Anna[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Bronwen[/name] nn Bronny/[name]Bron[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Wren[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Winifred[/name] nn [name]Fred[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Winn[/name]/[name]Winny[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Matilda[/name] nn [name]Matty[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Tildy[/name]/[name]Tilda[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Charlotte[/name] nn [name]Charlie[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Lottie[/name] ([name]London[/name])
[name]Bianca[/name] nn [name]Anchor[/name] ([name]Devon[/name]) & [name]Bee[/name] ([name]London[/name])

9

[name]Delainey[/name]

[name]Devon[/name] nn: [name]Del[/name]
[name]London[/name] nn: [name]Lainey[/name]

10

[name]Anastasia[/name]
[name]Devon[/name] nn: [name]Tasia[/name]
[name]London[/name] nn: [name]Anna[/name]

[name]Jocelyn[/name]
[name]Devon[/name] nn: [name]Lyn[/name]
[name]London[/name] nn: [name]Josie[/name]

I’m interested in knowing which name you decide on!