I’ve finished my ms (I’m on re-write #3) and now I’m second guessing my main character’s name ([name]Taryn[/name]). [name]Will[/name] people know how to pronounce it? Is there some kind of hidden rule that you shouldn’t use hard to pronounce/unusual names for main characters? My other con with the name is that is doesn’t really have a good nickname for someone to call her in a loving way. In real life, a nickname would be Tar (except with a long “a” and not the short vowel of the black stuff like “tar and feathers”. It looks odd to me to do a re-spelling like “Tare” where I have to add a letter to make a nickname.
So, my question: Should I rename her? If so, I need ideas! She’s tall and skinny with pale skin, dark hair, and blue eyes (in my head, she looks like a tomboy-ish version of [name]Alexis[/name] Bledel–you can google that name for an image if you’ve never heard of her). The problem is that I don’t want to give her a feminine name because it doesn’t fit her personality, BUT… I’ve written it in first person, and in the beginning I don’t go right out and say that she’s a girl, but I want people to KNOW she’s a girl by her name (I had one person read it and she didn’t pay attention to when her name was first said. She read the first few pages thinking it was a boy, and then she was really confused when “he” turned into a girl).
Any tomboy-ish sounding names (that won’t have her mistaken for a boy) that fits her image?
My first thought was [name]Tamsin[/name]. It’s similar to [name]Taryn[/name], clearly feminine without being frilly, and can shorten to [name]Tam[/name] or even Taz. I don’t think [name]Taryn[/name] is that hard to pronounce (though I can see people pronouncing it ta-[name]RIN[/name]) but it’s a little bit dated, and not very distinctive. I think a character name should definitely give some sort of impression, so readers don’t just gloss over it (like what happened with [name]Taryn[/name]). Other suggestions, if you don’t like [name]Tamsin[/name]:
[name]Taryn[/name] is fine, but if you are concerned with nicknames maybe a middle name can come into play or perhaps just a nn that doesn’t have anything to do with her name. perhaps [name]Blue[/name] ir [name]Bluebell[/name] for her eyes, or even [name]Tommy[/name] because she’s a tomboy. If you want to change her name i suggest:
Torenne nn [name]Tory[/name], [name]Tora[/name]
Alliance nn [name]Ally[/name] or [name]Al[/name].
[name]Avery[/name]- [name]Joy[/name] nn A.J or [name]Avy[/name].
[name]Natalie[/name] nn [name]Nat[/name].
I just commented on another post how much I hated the name “Hermoine” in the [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] books because I tripped up on how to pronounce the name every time I saw it! Then I saw the movies, and it was all like, “oh, THAT’S how it’s pronounced.” If you don’t mind having your readers stop and think every time they see a name, then make it as oddly-spelled and exotic as possible!
Pronunciation was my first qualm when I read your post. First glance, I pronounced it “TARE-n”, like [name]Karen[/name]. But then I thought “TAR-en” and thought of [name]Tia[/name] and [name]Tamara[/name] from “[name]Sister[/name] [name]Sister[/name]”. I loved that show. It was a guilty pleasure of mine.
A common boy-girl mix-up is [name]Sam[/name]. What about [name]Samantha[/name]? I also suggest [name]Shannon[/name].
If you like [name]Alexis[/name], use it! For a tomboy character, I can see the name being ambiguous or highly feminine/exotic.
Somebody brought up initials, and I also think that’s a great idea! AJ or PJ or EV would be great nn’s for an [name]Allison[/name] [name]Jane[/name], [name]Priscilla[/name] [name]Jo[/name] or [name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Victoria[/name]. Try that route!
Hello there. I’m probably too late for this post, but I’m going to write my advice here anyway:
I think [name]Taryn[/name] is an excellent name choice for a main character! Of course, I’m biased because [name]Taryn[/name] is my name
Ahem. That said, there is not a lot of literature out there with characters named [name]Taryn[/name]. It’s unique! Sure, you could go with a common name like [name]Mary[/name] or [name]Sam[/name] or [name]Elizabeth[/name], but don’t you want to be original? I think you do. Plus, [name]Taryn[/name] (in my opinion) is obviously a girl’s name. I’ve never met a boy named [name]Taryn[/name], but I know a few other girls with my name and they all spell it the same way. If you’re concerned with the whole pronunciation thing, just make sure to have her introduce herself to someone early on in the story. In real life, people always seem to hear “[name]Karen[/name]” when I tell them my name, and I have to correct them saying, “Close - it’s like [name]Karen[/name], but with a ‘T’.” Fun fact.
Since you’re looking for nick names, I’ll give you a few of mine. Here is a complete list:
[name]Tay[/name] [name]Tay[/name]
Tare [name]Bear[/name]
Ryn
T
T-Bone
Tare
“Tearin’ It Up” - Yes, I’ve actually been called this
T-time
Trizzle
Anyway, good look with revisions! I know how tough that process can be.
Yea, I’m probably a little late for this post too, but I just thought I’d put this little nugget of idea in your head.
I looked at the pronunciation that you affirmed, and that was how I was pronouncing [name]Taryn[/name]
Anyway, my first thought for a nickname was [name]Tara[/name]… I don’t know if that’s to feminine for you, I was kind of iffy on that point…but I just thought I’d suggest it!
Good luck on your novel, and happy, happy writing!
I must say, I’m rather fond of [name]Josephine[/name] or something similar nn [name]Jo[/name]. I like it. [name]Taryn[/name] is cool, maybe nn Tary, or Ryn? Or T? Good luck!
I had a childhood friend named [name]Taryn[/name] and she pronounced it tare-inn too.