Hi everyone! So strange to be posting here, as I’ve been a lurker/observer on these forums for ages (I’m talking 10+ years, ever since I was a preteen!!) but never created a post of my own. However, I finally have a concrete character naming dilemma, and would love some advice. So, I have a major character in my WIP who I would really like to either have the full name Dolores or a form of it. Initially, I was going to call her Lola, but then I read The Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler (excellent books, by the way, although definite trigger warning for everything under the sun). In those books, there’s a minor character named Doe, and I became really intrigued by that name as a possible nickname for Dolores. So, I’d love to know people’s thoughts: Lola or Doe? Is Doe too unusual? What vibes do you get from each?
If it helps, character is a college freshman (age 18) and the story is set in roughly the present time in a version of our world with a few supernatural elements.
Thanks a million, everyone. Really appreciate you all
Generally I like [name_f]Lola[/name_f] more, but it depends on the character’s personality! [name_f]Doe[/name_f] feels artsy and alternative, [name_f]Lola[/name_f] feels bold and bubbly.
As a writer, I feel as if many in the community would recognize where [name_f]Doe[/name_f] came from. [name_f][/name_f] However, you could give her an origin story for the nickname that would fit her character and lessen the tie to [name_m]Butler[/name_m], which I would recommend.
[name_f][/name_f]
Another nn for [name_f]Dolores[/name_f] is [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], but that’s a completely different vibe from either [name_f]Lola[/name_f] or [name_f]Doe[/name_f].
Ooh, I didn’t even consider that because in my mind [name_f]Doe[/name_f] was such a minor character and [name_m]Butler[/name_m] overall used a lot of common names in those books; for example the names [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] or [name_m]Marco[/name_m] don’t immediately make me think of them because I know a handful irl. But I guess it’s different with [name_f]Doe[/name_f] since it’s more unusual. That’s a good thing to think about; thank you!!
I’ve settled on [name_f]Lola[/name_f]! Thank you all so much for your help!! [name_f][/name_f]Also, for everyone suggesting [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]: I love that nickname too, but for this particular project there’s already another main character with a two-syllable nickname ending in an “ee” sound, so unfortunately I don’t think [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] is right this time–maybe for another project! [name_f][/name_f]Thanks again, everyone!
