I’ve just started a new story (shame on me, because I have enough that I am in the middle of already) and I think the idea has a lot of potential, but I am having a lot of trouble with one of the character’s name.
The main character is [name]Avery[/name] Blackwood and she has two best friends: the strong, concerned, lovable [name]Jasper[/name] [name]Tate[/name] and… that is just it. I thought I had a name for her other friend, but now as I am reading what I have so far I stumble every time I read it… [name]Gloria[/name].
And it isn’t that [name]Gloria[/name] is an awful name. My first instinct was to name her [name]Glory[/name], but for some reason that conjures up the wrong image in my mind of a preppy, over-the-top, Southern debutante with big hair and a fake smile… which is not the character at all. So I switched to [name]Gloria[/name] - traditional and strong. Something that isn’t very popular but not wholly unique either. The character is a little flighty, a little girly, but still strong in her way. She was an only child until her parents had a baby a few years ago ([name]Benji[/name] is the little bro’s name) and because the parents were more using the new baby as a way to recapture their youth, former-[name]Gloria[/name] has taken on a lot of the responsibility of raising her little brother. She is a loyal friend and is going to stick by [name]Avery[/name] through thick and thin, so I don’t want to give her a name that is weak, but I also don’t want it to be a strange name in any way.
So, fellow berries, I ask you, what name can I give her that is strong, slightly traditional, and can be shortened to a peppy nickname?
The first name that popped into my mind was [name]Whitney[/name], for some reason. Here are some other suggestions.
I picture this character as being a bit tomboyish, but girly at the same time, so my names are very soft and girlish with more boyish, strong nicknames.
I really don’t think [name]Glory[/name] is bad. I think of [name]Nike[/name] (the goddess) or an Olympian, or an American hero. I love [name]Avery[/name] Blackwood and [name]Jasper[/name] [name]Tate[/name]. Here are my ideas:
[name]Maureen[/name] nn [name]Mo[/name]
[name]Miranda[/name] nn [name]Randi[/name]
[name]Maryjane[/name] nn [name]Jay[/name]
[name]Magdalena[/name] nn [name]Maggie[/name]
[name]Magnolia[/name] nn [name]Maggie[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name] nn [name]Kat[/name]
[name]Cassandra[/name] nn [name]Cass[/name] or [name]Casey[/name]
[name]Indiana[/name] nn [name]Indy[/name]
[name]Jacquelyn[/name] nn [name]Jack[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]/[name]Josephina[/name] nn [name]Joe[/name] or [name]Josie[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name] nn [name]Gen[/name] or [name]Genna[/name]
[name]Jessamine[/name] nn [name]Jess[/name]
[name]Juliana[/name] nn [name]Jules[/name]
Hannalore nn [name]Hanna[/name]
[name]Gabrielle[/name] nn [name]Gabby[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name] nn [name]Gwen[/name]
[name]Ginevra[/name] nn [name]Ginny[/name]
[name]Evelina[/name] nn [name]Eve[/name]
[name]Ellery[/name] nn [name]Elle[/name]
[name]Evangeline[/name] nn [name]Eva[/name]
[name]Daniella[/name] nn [name]Danni[/name]
[name]Clarabelle[/name] nn [name]Clare[/name] or [name]Belle[/name]
[name]Cameron[/name] nn [name]Cammy[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name] nn [name]Milla[/name]
[name]Calista[/name] nn [name]Callie[/name]
[name]Cordelia[/name] nn [name]Cordy[/name]
[name]Coraline[/name] nn [name]Cora[/name]
[name]Christabel[/name] nn [name]Chris[/name]
[name]Bellamy[/name] nn [name]Bell[/name]
[name]Artemisia[/name]/[name]Artemis[/name] nn [name]Missy[/name]
[name]Araminta[/name] nn Mint or [name]Minta[/name]
[name]Alexia[/name] nn [name]Lexi[/name]
[name]Andrea[/name] nn [name]Andie[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name] nn [name]Penny[/name]
[name]Rozlyn[/name] nn [name]Roz[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name] nn [name]Tabby[/name]
[name]Tallulah[/name] nn [name]Tally[/name]
[name]Wilhelmina[/name] nn [name]Mina[/name]
For some reason I thought [name]Talullah[/name]. It’s pretty and feminie, but it has the semi Tomboy nickname [name]Tally[/name]. I can’t really think of anything else off the top of my head, but [name]Talullah[/name] [name]Evangeline[/name] could be a good name.
Good luck with your naming!
What about the pretty [name]Amity[/name]? It means friendship, and has nicknames like Amsie, Am, and Shmamity. [name]Dakota[/name] means the friendly one, and you could nickname her D, [name]Deedee[/name], or Kota. Best of luck!