I posted about this in the Writers corner, but the responses were limited (thanks again jasmine.lee!) So here I go…
I have a character that was origionally named [name]Edith[/name] [name]Magda[/name] [name]Louise[/name]. But I felt that the name neither fit the character, nor with the name her siblings had. [name]Edith[/name] was a family name, with a musty feel. However, her siblings are eclectic with an old fashioned feel. They’re all fairly different, but they fit in their wierd puzzle. [name]Edith[/name] is the odd name out.
The character in question was born in [name]Vienna[/name], [name]Austria[/name] in 1919. Her family are upper class Austrian Jews, with branches of family in Switzerland, [name]France[/name], and the Netherlands.
Here are the sibling names:
[name]Ottilie[/name] [name]Petronella[/name] [name]Marie[/name] nn [name]Lotte[/name], [name]Tillie[/name]
[name]Ernst[/name] [name]Heinrich[/name] [name]Ludwig[/name] nn Ness
[name]Helene[/name] [name]Carolina[/name] [name]Sophie[/name] nn Nènè
[name]Philippa[/name] [name]Odetta[/name] [name]Margurite[/name] nn [name]Pippa[/name]
Yeah, I do get what you mean about limited responses.
What about:
[name]Agatha[/name]: Maybe too grannyish?
Ariettie/[name]Arietta[/name] nn [name]Etta[/name], [name]Ettie[/name]: I think this would actually work, maybe
[name]Sophia[/name]
[name]Katarina[/name]/[name]Catarina[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name]/[name]Camille[/name]
[name]Just[/name] to put this out there, but why do all of your characters need 2 middle names? Usually when I read books you only get a first and last name, and sometimes a middle if they actually use it or it’s relevant to the story.
I’m not trying to be a downer here, as obviously you want rich backgrounds for your characters. My point though is that if you cut the rest of your names back to one first and one middle, then you could use a couple of the ones you currently have as ‘excess’ middles for your character. I think I like [name]Marguerite[/name] the most for your character.
Thank you all for your help! You’ve given me some great suggestions.
@jasmine.lee- thanks again! I like [name]Agatha[/name], and it was going to be used for another character, but it could be used for her. It’s not too old lady.
@lunaah- I love your suggestions of [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Hedwig[/name], [name]Augusta[/name] and [name]Greta[/name]. Thank you!
@bluejuniper- I sort of understand why you’re questioning the two middle names. The family who is the main center of the novel like to use many names. I forgot to list her parents names, but her father has two middles as well. I don’t see the middle names as “excess” I see them as names that fit well, and I wouldn’t use otherwise. Thanks for you opinions though.
Ahaha, I have a relative in [name]Austria[/name] named Waltraud.
Anyway, my grandmother was born in [name]Austria[/name] in 1926 and her name is [name]Ericka[/name]… weird, eh?
Her mother was [name]Francesca[/name]. I feel like that could fit in!
@lucialucentum- That’s really interesting. I’ve never heard of Waltrude or Waltraud. That’s so cool that it was spoted twice! It’s an intersting way to get to [name]Trudy[/name]. [name]Francesca[/name] and [name]Erika[/name] are intersting too!
