Planning a new play

I’m in the beginning planning stage of working on a new play script, and names are always what I like to figure out first, because they end up informing my characterization choices. Plus they’re so much fun to figure out :slight_smile: Since it’s a play, the phonetics are important.

So far there are about 5 characters, the first 4 of which are family (I’m thinking [name_m]Mayhew[/name_m] for the last name, but I’m not deadset on it) I only need first names, but for those of you who love MNs, I might find an excuse to use one for the sons
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There may be more characters appearing or named by the others, but for now that’s it. Please let me know thought/ideas, and thanks for helping out! :smile:

For the MC, you could always do [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] nn [name_u]Alex[/name_u] could work or [name_m]Xander[/name_m] as a nn. For the bro, I think [name_m]Kristoff[/name_m] could work, and maybe you could do [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f] nn [name_u]Jackie[/name_u] as that’s the name of my mom or [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] nn [name_f]Jen[/name_f]/[name_f]Jenny[/name_f] for the mom. For the girlfriend, you could do [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] or [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] nn [name_f]Gwen[/name_f].

Thanks for the suggestions! Although [name_u]Alex[/name_u]/[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is a name I really like, I’m not sure about it for this character. I like the direction you’re going in, though. [name_f]Jenny[/name_f] is definitely a possbility for the mom. I’ll keep that in mind. I’ve also thought of maybe something like [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] for her. I’ve given them all some more thought, and now I’m gravitating towards something like [name_f]Marnie[/name_f]/[name_f]Marlie[/name_f] or [name_f]Cassie[/name_f] for the gf. Something ending in -ie. Maybe something a bit flowier like [name_f]Marianna[/name_f]. Opinions?

I like the name [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] for the MC. Some other names that gave me a similar vibe were [name_m]Nolan[/name_m], [name_m]Holden[/name_m] and [name_u]Blake[/name_u].

For the brother and the dad: [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u] work really, really well. [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] is a name that popped into mind for the brother but I don’t know what it’s diminutive of, if it is a diminutive.

Mother: [name_f]Angela[/name_f], [name_u]Julie[/name_u].

Girlfriend: [name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_f]Hallie[/name_f], [name_u]Sascha[/name_u], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_u]Temple[/name_u], [name_f]Miah[/name_f], [name_f]Riya[/name_f]

Thanks! Oddly enough, [name_m]Holden[/name_m] was on my short list! I just wondered if a hypothetical audience could get over the Catcher in the [name_m]Rye[/name_m] link.

Yeah, I might have to go with [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u], despite using the name [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] in my other thing (it probably won’t trip me up, since the 2 are very different and the other is called [name_u]Chris[/name_u] and not [name_m]Christopher[/name_m]). Before I saw your response, I was thinking of some other old money type names. But I think if I use [name_u]Kit[/name_u], I ought to use [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], and despite trying to go with [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] in my mind, I usually automatically think of him as [name_u]Kit[/name_u].

J names seem to be a theme for the mom.

You guys have given me good suggestions for the gf too. star_girl’s suggestion of [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] was very cool, except I know a [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and I don’t think I can get over the association. [name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_f]Hallie[/name_f], and [name_f]Miah[/name_f] are all pretty cool too.

(PS, love the names in your sig.)

Alright, I’m so close. Out of the characters I’m 100% sure will appear, all I have left to name is the dad and brother. Now I’m thinking maybe I compromise by naming the brother [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] and making [name_m]Kitt[/name_m] the last name. The dad and bro will either be [name_u]Kit[/name_u] and [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] [name_m]Mayhew[/name_m], or [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] and (not sure yet) [name_m]Kitt[/name_m]. Alternatively, I could go [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] [name_m]Mayhew[/name_m] and save [name_u]Kit[/name_u] in case I do throw in a friend for [name_u]Spencer[/name_u]. I don’t know why I’m so hung up on this name.

I think [name_u]Kit[/name_u] could work, and I do like the name [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and you could always use the nn [name_u]Chris[/name_u], as it’s often a nn for boys.