Hey guys, was just curious to see if there are any character names you’re avoiding because of popularity or association with another novel/series.
For me, it’s mostly names like [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] (The Hunger Games), [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] ([name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]), Penryn (Angelfall), [name_u]Percy[/name_u]/[name_f]Annabeth[/name_f] ([name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_m]Jackson[/name_m]), [name_f]Clary[/name_f]/[name_u]Jace[/name_u] (Mortal Instruments).
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you guys have any you’d love to use but are taken?
I hadn’t really payed attention to why I avoided ceratin names, but now that you mention it…
I personally like [name_u]Bryn[/name_u] and [name_u]Devon[/name_u] (from Raised by Wolves), but I don’t need the connotation that I get associated with them (even if no one else does). Other names are: [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_u]Madison[/name_u] (all because of popularity), [name_f]Grace[/name_f] (All Fall Down), Bex/[name_f]Cammie[/name_f][[name_u]Cameron[/name_u]] ([name_m]Gallagher[/name_m] Girls series), and [name_u]Skye[/name_u]/Batty (The Penderwicks).
Any others?
No… I don’t think there are any I avoid. One time I just blatantly stole a name (Sunmi) 
, but usually I use names so common that they aren’t connected to anything specific.
edit: it doesn’t anwer the question but this reminds me of when we had to write a story in 2nd grade and were told not to use the names of anyone in the class. I literally forgot we had a Lisa in our class and wrote a story called “Lisa the Fairy”.
Other than the ones you’ve already listed, I’m avoiding the names [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_m]Augustus[/name_m], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] (already mentioned but meh, mostly because of that new ‘13 reasons why’ show), and all of the names of people I know, lol. I may use some of these names in the future, but I’m definitely waiting until they become less associated with the movies/books.
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], from [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_m]Park[/name_m] by [name_f]Rainbow[/name_f] Rowell, since I write romance from time to time. [name_u]Percy[/name_u], from [name_u]Percy[/name_u] [name_m]Jackson[/name_m]. Basilton/[name_m]Basil[/name_m] from [name_f]Carry[/name_f] On, also by [name_f]Rainbow[/name_f] Rowell. [name_f]Primrose[/name_f], like you. I don’t know, but I will avoid names from books I have read recently.