See the results of this poll: What should I use?
Respondents: 27 (This poll is closed)
- Zephyrus, Septimus and Kalliope : 15 (56%)
- Zeph, Tim and Kallie: 12 (44%)
Respondents: 27 (This poll is closed)
Well there’s no poll to vote on, but I say sure! It helps that they all have similar names (Not like [name_f]Kallie[/name_f], [name_m]Tim[/name_m], and [name_m]Zephyrus[/name_m]); it’s only when one character in particular has a super cool, special name that things start looking weird. My advice would be just give their parents a good reason for naming them that, like maybe one parent had a fixation on everything ancient Greek/[name_m]Roman[/name_m]. Best of luck!
The poll didn’t come through for some reason, so I’m going to try to add one now.
I think [name_f]Kalliope[/name_f] could work fine in the real world. It’s pretty on trend actually as a modern variation of an old-fashioned name, especially with a K. [name_m]Kip[/name_m] would also be cute.
[name_m]Zephyrus[/name_m] is definitely unusual, but I think Zeph works as a modern nickname. With the trend for Biblical names I could see [name_m]Zephaniah[/name_m] being used and I know a lot of berries love [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u] for real.
[name_m]Septimus[/name_m]…that’s the one I’d struggle over. It sounds like a body part (septum) and a [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character. The nn [name_m]Tim[/name_m] is really bland in comparison with [name_f]Kallie[/name_f] and Zeph. Something like [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m], [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m], or [name_m]Phineas[/name_m] would be more in keeping with the other 2.
But I agree that giving the parents a reason for going with such names would make it more understandable. Make it part of the story rather than making it only a part of your own process.
[name_m]Septimus[/name_m] is actually the one I’m most willing to change, so I would like to see a good alternative to that. I have also considered [name_m]Decimus[/name_m].
Like I said, they were originally from [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] [name_f]Fan[/name_f] Fiction.,
Out of curiosity, what character does [name_m]Septimus[/name_m] sound like? [name_m]Severus[/name_m]? Because that was my concern. I do want them to be independent characters now.
Well, their original names were really bad:
Cedarus (SEH-dah-rus)
And
Cleverus!
When it comes to names and appearance, I was a bit of a copycat back when I started writing fan fiction and yes I am ashamed!!
Alright so Zeph and [name_f]Kallie[/name_f] seem okay, but let’s give the third one a new name. I can say what he looks like if it helps.
I actually used to write HP fan fic as well so I understand
[name_m]Septimus[/name_m] sounds like [name_m]Severus[/name_m], yes, but also like [name_f]Septima[/name_f] (Prof Vector’s first name) and Scorpius (Malfoy’s son)
Are you attached to the -mus theme? There’s a lot of old style names with that ending that could work:
[name_m]Artemus[/name_m] ([name_m]Artie[/name_m]),
[name_m]Erasmus[/name_m] ([name_f]Raz[/name_f]),
[name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] ([name_u]Nico[/name_u]),
[name_m]Cadmus[/name_m] (Cad)
@kalaway said my thoughts almost exactly. [name_f]Kalliope[/name_f] and Zeph on their own are believable, if whimsical, but [name_m]Septimus[/name_m] feels very much a fantasy name. [name_m]Tim[/name_m], on the other hand, sounds too mundane with the other two.
[name_m]General[/name_m] names I feel have the whimsy of the other two (some for [name_m]Septimus[/name_m], some for someone else, or perhaps just for inspiration):
[name_u]Echo[/name_u]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], [name_m]Bastian[/name_m]
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_m]Romeo[/name_m]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ursula[/name_f]
[name_u]Ellery[/name_u]
[name_m]Cassius[/name_m]
[name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m] nn [name_m]Thad[/name_m]
I prefer the full names over the butcherings
I think it’s important for the names to fit that characters regardless of time period. [name_f]Do[/name_f] they fit your characters? You could certainly give the parents a reason for giving them the names if feel like you need to do so. I would keep them.
Alright, so let me describe the characters.
These are all eleven years old.
[name_f]Kalliope[/name_f] (the main character) is an eccentric, energetic girl who is a bit of a show off and has a knack for trouble.
[name_m]Zephyrus[/name_m] is a mysterious, secretive boy whom no one knows much about
[name_m]Septimus[/name_m] is an overly confident, somewhat irritable boy.
[name_f]Kalliope[/name_f] has curly brownish red hair, heterochromatic eyes, and buck teeth.
[name_m]Zephyrus[/name_m] has long black hair and is tall.
[name_m]Septimus[/name_m] is short for his age and has brown eyes and wears glasses
I’d keep them the same and use the nicknames too. Giving the characters familiar nicknames like Zeph, [name_f]Kalli/name_f, & [name_m]Tim[/name_m] familiarize it. But I think the names work. I know people named [name_m]Achilles[/name_m] and [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f], so I think [name_m]Zephyrus[/name_m], [name_f]Kalliope[/name_f] (I actually know a [name_f]Kalliope[/name_f] she went by [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]/[name_f]Popi[/name_f] (not sure how she spelled it)), and [name_m]Septimus[/name_m] seem fine to me in a novel setting.
What about [name_m]Zephyrus[/name_m], [name_f]Kalliope[/name_f], and [name_m]Timeo[/name_m]|[name_m]Timotheos[/name_m]? NN: Zeph, [name_f]Kalli[/name_f], and [name_m]Tim[/name_m]?