[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! I am new here. I just joined a day or two ago. I have loved names since before my age hit the double digits, and I spend hours and hours naming each new character I write. I even look at names for no particular reason. It’s like a hobby.
I tend to ask friends for suggestions when I’m stuck, but I am notorious for my nitpickiness, and their suggestions almost never appeal to me. Sigh! I love them dearly for trying, at least.
I thought I might ask a few fellow name-nerds this go ‘round.
I have two characters. Both of them are children. [name_f]Melody[/name_f] is 12, and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is 10. Originally dolls imbued with life, they were granted a wish to be flesh-and-blood humans, along with their surrogate father, a man whose soul was imprisoned in a doll. ([name_f]Melody[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] were created via a process similar to animating a sentient golem, but to their creator’s surprise, they had free will and unique personalities, if childlike ones.) I want middle names for both of them. These would be names they chose for themselves, though their father would have tried to help with suggestions.
The setting is modern day, urban fantasy. Their father is British, though [name_f]Melody[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] were “born” in [name_u]America[/name_u] and lived there for the first six months (approximately) of their lives.
Their father is named [name_m]Octavious[/name_m] [name_u]Blair[/name_u] Yeagle. His name is intentionally pompous and his surname especially ridiculous-sounding to add humor; [name_m]Octavious[/name_m] is a levelheaded, pragmatic and serious man, ex-military with a love of classical literature, but his situation is largely played for comedy, with the absurdity of an antique porcelain Victorian doll, in a frumpy, frilly, floral-print dress and floppy hat, speaking with a gruff masculine voice. Not to mention the contrast of his appearance with his personality. [name_m]Octavious[/name_m]’ suggestions would likely be from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] or ancient [name_m]Roman[/name_m] history, about both of which he is particularly passionate.
[name_f]Melody[/name_f] has a big heart, boundless enthusiasm, and an unfailing optimism. She loves being alive, and she wants to help make the world a better place, as thanks for being able to exist in it. She has the sort of wisdom that can only come from a child’s innocence — she believes that there is good in every person and that even the most despicable of villains has the capacity to be redeemed; she believes that everyone deserves kindness and mercy, because even the cruelest of people was once someone who only desired to be loved, and showing kindness is a way of honoring who they used to be even if the person they are now is not worth honor. She loves names that sound bright and cheerful, and have uplifting meanings. (Her first name was chosen by [name_m]Octavious[/name_m], though she agreed that she adored it.) Aside from helping people, [name_f]Melody[/name_f]’s dearest wish is to fly — she daydreams of soaring among the birds and the clouds. She grows up to become a military pilot and is honored with several medals for several different daring rescues of wounded soldiers or civilians stranded in hostile territory.
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] chose her own name. She has five pets of varying species of highly intelligent magical creatures; their names are [name_f]Cerise[/name_f] (who is pink), [name_f]Amity[/name_f] (who was a lonely stray that followed her home, wanting to be loved), [name_f]Buttercup[/name_f] (who is a yellow bird who sings sweetly), [name_u]Puck[/name_u] (who is mischievous), and Velius (who is aloof and secretive). [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is more serious than [name_f]Melody[/name_f], as a product of crippling anxiety problems. She has low self-esteem and is very self-conscious. She fears a lot of things, most notably the dark since she is a child. She and [name_f]Melody[/name_f] are inseparable, and [name_f]Melody[/name_f] helps [name_f]Grace[/name_f] work on her courage and learn to believe in herself. [name_f]Grace[/name_f], being thoughtful, quiet, and relatively mature for her age, balances out [name_f]Melody[/name_f]’s sometimes-excessive enthusiasm. [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is the voice of reason and the realist, when it’s needed. She is a bit of a name-nerd herself. She spent a long time choosing the perfect names for her pets. Although the pets’ names are relatively simple, her taste is more akin to her father’s, favoring more serious-sounding literary names and the like. She would choose a middle name that is gentle and classically feminine. As a child, she dreams of being a ballerina — wishing she could be someone admired for her beauty, grace, gentleness and femininity, and inspiring the first name she chose, though a bit of [name_m]Christian[/name_m] religious influence (the song “Amazing [name_f]Grace[/name_f]”) was also a major factor. As an adult, however, she struggles with indecision about her career through much of college, settles on being a paramedic but eventually ends up becoming a police officer. She becomes very respected and a superb member of the police force.
Sorry if that was way too much information! My brain is in overdrive mode. Not all of it has to be relevant, either. I just wanted to give plenty of details that might help inspire people.
P.S. I know that Yeagle sounds horrific with every first name-middle name combo ever. [name_m]Don[/name_m]’t sweat it. The last name kind of floats in its own dimension. It is its own beast.