(re)naming more side characters

Writers' Corner
1

In my current WIP (still the YA [name_u]Urban[/name_u] [name_f]Fantasy[/name_f] with the magic school) I have a number of people referred to as “firstname lastname” at the moment, and I’d like to change that :smiley: Style so far has been ancient greek, latin, mythology and old english.

need new names:

  1. [name_m]Ethan[/name_m], a 12yo classmate who bullies one of the main characters for having non-magical parents. Thought about [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] but already have a [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. Needs to be changed because [name_m]Ethan[/name_m] feels too nice for him
  2. Tammany and [name_f]Imala[/name_f], sisters that I’d like to have Native American names. Doesn’t matter which language but should be the same for both. Need to be changed because too close to [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] and I don’t want the ‘mal’ syllable.
  3. [name_u]Kyle[/name_u] [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], a minor non-magical teenager. Needs to be changed because someone pointed out the YA character [name_u]Kyle[/name_u] [name_u]Keely[/name_u]. I’d like to keep it equally repetitive, maybe [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Johnson[/name_m] or [name_m]Carl[/name_m] [name_m]Clark[/name_m]?

need names:
4. A Zookeeper/Biologist who cares for magical creatures at a rich family’s place. Grumpy old dude with a heart of gold.
5. Another 12yo classmate. Asks if he can copy someone’s homework, I have nothing else on him
6. An 18-ish very conservative wizard. I’m torn between the very different [name_m]Justus[/name_m] and [name_u]Neptune[/name_u]
7. The new girlfriend of a divorced single dad called [name_m]Philip[/name_m]. [name_f]Non[/name_f]-magical, [name_u]London[/name_u].
8. A conservative politician. No plans for him, just need a name for the list.
9. A teacher for latin at the magic school, female. Lastname would probably be sufficient.

Like always [name_f]TIA[/name_f] and any input welcome!

2

  1. I’ve never met a nice guy named: [name_u]Mason[/name_u], [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m], [name_u]Bryce[/name_u], or [name_u]Brady[/name_u]

  2. [name_f]Nayeli[/name_f] and Zyanya (Zapotec)
    Jacira and [name_f]Yara[/name_f] (Tupi)
    [name_f]Nita[/name_f] and [name_m]Isi[/name_m] (Choctaw)
    Kimimela and Zitkala ([name_f]Sioux[/name_f])
    (I’m not well-versed in Native American names and traditions, these are all from Behind the Name so I can’t 100% verify their origins)

  3. [name_m]Carl[/name_m] [name_m]Clark[/name_m] is good. I’ve actually known a couple of [name_m]Jack[/name_m] Johnsons, so apparently it doesn’t seem as repetitive as it is to the normal ear. [name_u]Shane[/name_u] [name_m]Sherwood[/name_m], [name_m]Adler[/name_m] Addams, [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] [name_m]McCormack[/name_m], [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] [name_u]Allison[/name_u], [name_u]Hayden[/name_u] [name_m]Hayes[/name_m].

  4. [name_m]Irwin[/name_m], [name_m]Edwin[/name_m], [name_m]Forrest[/name_m], [name_m]Torrence[/name_m], [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_m]Uriah[/name_m], [name_m]Dennis[/name_m], [name_m]Fyodor[/name_m]

  5. [name_m]Piers[/name_m] [name_u]Riley[/name_u]

  6. [name_m]Justus[/name_m]

  7. [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f], [name_f]Jessica[/name_f], [name_u]Haley[/name_u], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Kendra[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

  8. Marianus [name_m]Rickard[/name_m]

  9. Abrams, Alvarado, Mandelbaum, Segers, Hutson

Lots of these names came from the Behind the Name name generator…

3

Thanks! Somehow it’s always you who answers :smiley:

  1. I’ll write [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] down for now
  2. Can’t decide. Maybe I’ll just dig into behind the name myself some more
  3. Guess I’ll keep [name_m]Carl[/name_m] [name_m]Clark[/name_m] then
  4. I’ll write [name_m]Terrence[/name_m] down. [name_m]Irwin[/name_m] and [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] feel to stereotypical for old people, and [name_m]Forrest[/name_m] a little on-the-nose for a biologist.
  5. I like [name_m]Piers[/name_m], or [name_m]Pierce[/name_m] or [name_m]Piet[/name_m], but does it work when one of my mains is [name_m]Peter[/name_m]?
  6. You’re right, [name_m]Justus[/name_m] is better. I should try to keep the names I use more normal
  7. I’ll write [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] and [name_f]Erin[/name_f] down. For some reason [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] and [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f] sound like someone the children wouldn’t like
  8. why not
  9. I’ll write Alvarado down, but will consult my clever list of cool names some more :wink:
4

need new names:

  1. [name_m]Soren[/name_m], [name_m]Zade[/name_m], [name_m]Asher[/name_m], [name_m]Silas[/name_m], [name_m]Pierce[/name_m], [name_m]Ralph[/name_m]
  2. Maiara, [name_f]Peta[/name_f], [name_u]Sequoia[/name_u], [name_f]Arizona[/name_f], Naira, [name_f]Winona[/name_f]. My favorite combinations for sisters would be:
    Maiara & [name_f]Arizona[/name_f]
    [name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] & [name_f]Winona[/name_f]
    [name_f]Peta[/name_f] & Naira
  3. [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Johnson[/name_m] works perfectly!

need names:
4. [name_u]Wallace[/name_u], [name_m]Martin[/name_m], [name_m]Leonard[/name_m], [name_m]Desmond[/name_m], [name_m]Timothy[/name_m]
5. [name_u]Toby[/name_u], [name_m]Simon[/name_m], [name_m]Lucas[/name_m], [name_m]Brock[/name_m], [name_m]Ethan[/name_m], [name_m]Louis[/name_m]
6. I would go for [name_m]Justus[/name_m]!
7. [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f]
8. [name_m]Otto[/name_m], [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_m]Duke[/name_m]
9. [name_f]Verena[/name_f], Montezuma, Freyer, Portwood

5
  1. [name_m]Gage[/name_m], [name_u]Rudy[/name_u]
  2. [name_f]Nayeli[/name_f] & Zyanya
  3. [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] [name_m]Allen[/name_m]
  4. [name_m]Zachary[/name_m], [name_m]Roger[/name_m], [name_m]Frank[/name_m], [name_u]Lionel[/name_u], [name_m]Marco[/name_m]/[name_m]Marcus[/name_m]
  5. [name_m]Luka[/name_m]
  6. [name_m]Justus[/name_m]
  7. [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_u]Jules[/name_u] ([name_f]Julia[/name_f]/[name_u]Julianne[/name_u])
  8. [name_u]Darren[/name_u], [name_m]Vincent[/name_m], [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
  9. [name_m]Armand[/name_m], Beneficio
6

  1. I like [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] for this character but if you’re still looking- [name_m]Lucas[/name_m], [name_m]Ian[/name_m], [name_m]Morris[/name_m]/[name_u]Maurice[/name_u], [name_u]Dorian[/name_u], [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] “[name_m]Leo[/name_m]”, [name_u]Auden[/name_u], [name_m]Elden[/name_m]/[name_m]Eldon[/name_m], [name_m]Elvin[/name_m], [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] “[name_u]Laurie[/name_u]”, [name_m]Marek[/name_m], [name_m]Warrick[/name_m]/Warwick, [name_m]Warren[/name_m]

  2. I don’t know enough about Native American names but I did find some you may find helpful: Amitola is [name_f]Sioux[/name_f] meaning “rainbow”, Maka “earth”; [name_f]Nova[/name_f]- I’ve seen it listed as meaning “chases butterflies” from Native American Hopi but I don’t know how accurate that is; Pamuya means “water moon” though it also seems to be an Inuit word (and the name of a band). I’ve listed the site I found them at if you want to look through it (https://americanindianshistory.blogspot.com/2012/01/native-american-baby-names-for-females.html)

  3. I prefer [name_m]Carl[/name_m] [name_m]Clark[/name_m] over [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Johnson[/name_m] which strikes me as being very common but maybe because [name_m]Jack[/name_m] is such a popular name. If you’re still looking for repetitive names: [name_u]Shane[/name_u] [name_u]Sheridan[/name_u], [name_m]Marcus[/name_m] [name_u]Marlow[/name_u] (or [name_u]Marlow[/name_u] [name_m]Marcus[/name_m])

  4. [name_m]Horace[/name_m], [name_u]Leland[/name_u], [name_m]Aran[/name_m]/[name_m]Arran[/name_m], [name_m]Allen[/name_m], Dannick, [name_u]Curtis[/name_u], [name_u]Brett[/name_u], [name_m]Brenton[/name_m], [name_m]Ross[/name_m], [name_m]Marek[/name_m], Yoren, [name_u]Macon[/name_u], [name_u]Ellis[/name_u]/[name_u]Ellison[/name_u], Corus, [name_u]Finn[/name_u], [name_m]Axel[/name_m], [name_m]Cordell[/name_m], [name_m]Seymour[/name_m], [name_u]Jericho[/name_u]

  5. [name_m]Trey[/name_m], [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_u]Grady[/name_u], [name_f]Ryo[/name_f]/Ryou, [name_m]Zachary[/name_m], [name_m]Taurus[/name_m], [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m], [name_m]Aaron[/name_m]/[name_m]Aron[/name_m], [name_m]Lino[/name_m], [name_m]Caden[/name_m], Grayden, [name_u]Sander[/name_u], Ashwin,

  6. I think [name_m]Justus[/name_m] works better than [name_u]Neptune[/name_u] although [name_u]Neptune[/name_u] is definitely unusual enough to be memorable.

  7. Nalini, [name_f]Augusta[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_f]Elin[/name_f], [name_f]Bria[/name_f], [name_f]Brianne[/name_f]/[name_f]Briana[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Hanna[/name_f], [name_f]Amabel[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f], [name_f]Mara[/name_f], [name_u]Shelby[/name_u], [name_u]Shelley[/name_u], [name_f]Lana[/name_f], [name_f]Della[/name_f], [name_f]Lucette[/name_f], [name_f]Lucida[/name_f], [name_f]Audra[/name_f], [name_f]Senna[/name_f], [name_f]Isabel/name_f, [name_u]Harper[/name_u], [name_f]Emilie[/name_f]

  8. [name_m]Eric[/name_m], [name_m]Mack[/name_m], [name_m]Harold[/name_m], Helden, [name_u]Tate[/name_u], [name_m]Byron[/name_m], [name_m]Brian[/name_m], [name_m]Adam[/name_m], [name_u]Perry[/name_u], [name_m]Wesley[/name_m], [name_m]Harvey[/name_m], [name_m]Anthony[/name_m]/[name_m]Antony[/name_m], Grandon

  9. Tulloch, Chalsen, Aronwald, Zaragoza, Gilfain, Pendred, [name_m]Wright[/name_m], Wadleigh, Strauss, Collingwood, [name_m]Walden[/name_m], [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m], [name_m]Carver[/name_m], Pound, Finnimore

7

Wow, thanks guys!

My lists for now:

  1. [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m], [name_m]Silas[/name_m]
  2. [name_m]Carl[/name_m] [name_m]Clark[/name_m], [name_m]Jake[/name_m] [name_m]Jackson[/name_m]
  3. [name_m]Terrence[/name_m], [name_m]Horace[/name_m], [name_m]Seymour[/name_m], [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]
  4. [name_m]Ethan[/name_m], [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_m]Pierce[/name_m]
  5. [name_m]Justus[/name_m]
  6. [name_u]Jules[/name_u], [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f]
  7. [name_m]Vincent[/name_m], [name_m]Harold[/name_m], [name_m]Brian[/name_m]
  8. [name_m]Carver[/name_m], [name_f]Marci[/name_f], Alvarado, [name_m]Armand[/name_m]

I’ll think about it some more and be back when I’ve decided (or have more questions)