I’ve been working on a new book recently, and I can’t decide on the main character’s name. I know he has the nickname [name_f]Lux[/name_f], which I’ve been using for him exclusively so far, but I know he was a full name.
The four names I’ve been considering are:
[name_u]Luca[/name_u] - I really like this, but it’s still a bit nicknamey. I also worry that it has a slightly latino feel to it, but [name_f]Lux[/name_f] is white, from a northern european background.
[name_m]Lucas[/name_m] - fuller than [name_u]Luca[/name_u], and fits with [name_f]Lux[/name_f] really well, but I just don’t like it.
[name_m]Lucius[/name_m] - I really like this, pronounced Loo-shus, but I don’t like the Loo-cee-us pronunciation, or the Malfoy association.
[name_m]Lucian[/name_m] - Again, I really like it pronunced Loo-shun, but I’ve read the ‘A [name_m]Court[/name_m] of Thorns and Roses’ series, and it also has a red haired man, named [name_m]Lucien[/name_m], who is my favourite character, and I’m worried I’ll the spelling mixed up when I’m writing.
A quick description of [name_f]Lux[/name_f]: he’s tall, red haired with grey eyes, pale skin and lots of freckles over his nose and cheeks. He is a former pirate (it’s a high fantasy book) who is cursed by a mermaid for breaking her heart. He is very charismatic and charming, quite dramatic but very squeamish about blood.
Any opinions of the names I have and/or new suggestions would be amazing. The other characters I have named are [name_f]Lux[/name_f]'s ex boyfriend, [name_u]Ezri[/name_u], and the magicians who try and cure him of his curse, Tiziri and Saeid (who’s mainly called [name_m]Sy[/name_m]). Though now that I look at them written down, Ezri and Tiziri look kind of similar, so I might change Ezri’s name too.
Might not be helpful but I love [name_f]Lux[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], on a girl, because of the shared meaning “light”. Maybe look for names with a meaning related to light.
FWIW, I would say [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] “LOO-see-en” and [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] “LOO-shun” so I wouldn’t make the connection (granted, I only read the first half of the book A [name_m]Court[/name_m] of Thorns and Roses so my opinion probably isn’t the most helpful).
[name_m]Abner[/name_m] “my father is a light”
Elior “my God is my light”
[name_u]Lior[/name_u] “light for me”
[name_u]Neriah[/name_u] “light of Yahweh”
[name_u]Orion[/name_u] “light of the heavens”
[name_m]Uriah[/name_m] “Yahweh is my light”
Personally, I love [name_u]Luca[/name_u] “[name_f]Lux[/name_f]”. I don’t think [name_u]Luca[/name_u] is too Latino at all. I recently had a thread about [name_u]Luca[/name_u] where I expressed a concern like yours, but many posters shared instances of meeting a Caucasian [name_u]Luca[/name_u].
Maybe [name_u]Ezri[/name_u] could be replaced with Asri? I’m not sure if that’s a real name, but Asra is, and I’ve seen that given as an alternative to [name_m]Ezra[/name_m]. Or is it the I endings that trip you up?
I do love the name [name_u]Luca[/name_u], but my best bet for this situation would be [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m]. It doesn’t have that Latino feel you were worried about, and I think it would work well with [name_f]Lux[/name_f]. The others I suggest would be [name_m]Leviathan[/name_m] or [name_u]Lennox[/name_u]. Though if this is a fantasy world, you could always just make up your own name for it. I mean, it’s fantasy, why not?
@jaderain In theory I think [name_m]Luther[/name_m] could work, but it always makes me think of Uther Pendragon from the Arthurian legends. I really like the suggestion of [name_m]Ludovic[/name_m] though.
@sparkleninja18 I had A [name_m]Court[/name_m] of Thorns and Roses as an audio book and [name_m]Lucien[/name_m] was pronounced Loo-shun, which is why I think I’ll get confused. I really like the options of Elior and [name_u]Lior[/name_u] though, I think both would fit him well.
As for his ex-boyfriend, I think it’s the ‘ri’ endings that would get mixed up, so Asri wouldn’t fix it, even though I really like it.
@cato893 I actually really like [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] as a name, but I don’t think to devil association will ever go away, so I don’t think I could use it. I do like [name_m]Leviathan[/name_m] though.
@vloganwrites I do really like Loxley, but I do think it’s too modern. And unfortunately I already have characters named [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] and [name_m]Lachlann[/name_m].
Out of [name_m]Leviathan[/name_m], [name_m]Ludovic[/name_m], Elior and [name_u]Luca[/name_u], which one do you think might suit him best?
Personally, I still like [name_m]Luther[/name_m], but I understand your reservations. I don’t really feel like [name_m]Leviathan[/name_m] is a very human sounding name. Maybe [name_m]Levi[/name_m] can lend to [name_f]Lux[/name_f]? Out of your narrowed down options, I prefer [name_m]Ludovic[/name_m]. But then again, it was my suggestion, so perhaps I biased. So, there’s my two cents. What do you think of [name_m]Levi[/name_m]? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like it? The way you described the character, it seems like he could be a [name_m]Levi[/name_m].
Well, good luck writing and keep us posted on your decision.
As a latina, I have never met a latino or even hispanic [name_u]Luca[/name_u]. But I have met several white guys named [name_u]Luca[/name_u]. Also, [name_u]Luca[/name_u] is Italian, so not latino at all. I would say use it if you like it.
@jaderain I do like [name_m]Levi[/name_m], but I’ve always thought it sounded really modern, even though its not.
I’m leaning more towards [name_m]Ludovic[/name_m] I think than the other options. I feel like it’s almost all the sounds there for [name_f]Lux[/name_f], and it’s sufficiently extravagant that it would suit a much shorter nickname.
I like [name_m]Ludovic[/name_m] for [name_f]Lux[/name_f], out of all of them.
Strangely enough, I imagine ‘[name_m]Lucien[/name_m]’ as LOO-see-en and ‘[name_m]Lucian[/name_m]’ as LOO-see-ann, so I’m having a bit of a time imagining the suggestions for [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] and [name_m]Lucien[/name_m].