What impressions do my minor character's first names make?

Writers' Corner
1

[name]Hi[/name], everyone. So, in my story, I need at least seven minor characters who are living in futuristic (about 120 years or so) [name]Orlando[/name]. It’s not a dystopian story per say, but there was an economic collapse that was resolved a few decades beforehand, so it isn’t exactly the same as modern day.

My characters are meant to have names with familliar sounds that could very possibly become popular, but aren’t as of now.

My question is, what are the impressions that the names of these minor characters make, if you had minimal information about them? As of now, their first names are:

  • [name]Harleigh[/name] (female)

  • [name]Noa[/name] (female)

  • [name]Roscoe[/name] (male)

  • [name]Lavinia[/name] (female)

  • [name]Thaddeus[/name] (male, nickname [name]Thad[/name])

  • [name]Colette[/name] (female)

  • [name]Stellan[/name] (male)

I also really like [name]Maeve[/name] and [name]Shreya[/name], and [name]Marco[/name] and [name]Twain[/name].

Thanks, everyone!

2

  • [name]Harleigh[/name] makes me think of [name]Harley[/name], and that makes me think of tough-motorcycle-chick, sleek ponytail, some kind of dark past, probably a rebel

  • [name]Noa[/name] sounds like someone shy, more peace-motivated…probably small, everyone thinks is insignificant if they think of her at all, but ends up being important, if only to give advice to MC/other character at time of need

  • [name]Roscoe[/name]: reckless, younger than the MC, can handle a weapon (a hunter?), owns a pet (dog, or some kind of predator like a hawk), has a temper and maybe gets into a fight with people but is very loyal, freckly with auburn hair

  • [name]Lavinia[/name]: a very pretty girl who knows she’s pretty, arrogant but not necessarily helpless, wealthy and/or foreign, long flowing hair or something

  • [name]Thaddeus[/name]: kind of a dork, but intelligent and a sweet guy, reddens easily, gets upset or frustrated when people fail to listen to him and get themselves in trouble, fuzzy light brown hair and hazel eyes

  • [name]Colette[/name]: younger and maybe appearing/being physically weaker than the other characters, but determined and maybe sort of stupid because she thrusts herself into situations she’s incapable of doing, doesn’t want to be saved by anyone, dark hair and light eyes or vice versa

  • [name]Stellan[/name]: posh rich boy who gets toughened up by MC/other character, has an arrogant facade but is secretly insecure

I like [name]Maeve[/name] but dislike [name]Shreya[/name], I like [name]Marco[/name] and like [name]Twain[/name] as well, but I had a female character named [name]Twain[/name] and I’m thinking your [name]Twain[/name] would be male, so that would throw me off.

3

I agree with all the descriptions above, except a few, so I’ll answer this too.
[name]Harleigh[/name]: Tough, leader, brave, rebellious, no nonsense type of girl, maybe a tough past, maybe a bit older than MC. Looks like a biker girl, but not as many piercings. A sharp sort of character. But since it’s leigh not ley, she does have a sort of soft side, but doesn’t really show it.
[name]Noa[/name]: Soft, gentler, equally as brave as [name]Harleigh[/name], but more of a follower, is more of a ‘healer’ than a ‘fighter’, if you get what I’m saying. And I think she’d have a warm feel to her look. Like, maybe, golden brown skin, warm brown eyes, medium, dark brown hair.
[name]Roscoe[/name]: the good guy, not romantic interest, but a really “good” guy, if you know what I mean. Has a dog, very resourceful and smart, but not school smart. [name]Brown[/name] hair, light skin, blue eyes, freckles, outdoorsy.
[name]Lavinia[/name]: The pretty, popular one. Maybe she’s not friends with MC, sort of the popular cheerleader type. [name]Beach[/name] blond bimbo sort.
[name]Thaddeus[/name]: The cool guy. The guy version of [name]Harleigh[/name]. Knows everything there is to know about cars, always wears leather jackets around. A good fighter. Suprisingly intelligent.
[name]Colette[/name]: younger, vulnerable, innocent. I think it’s basically an association with the name [name]Cosette[/name] from [name]Les[/name] Miserables, so somewhat like that girl. Definitely blond, or light brown hair and blue/green eyes. If she’s not younger, than at least shorter and smaller. Maybe, actually really smart, but is really only tagging along, the one that everyone protects.
[name]Stellan[/name]: this is the hardest one so far. I’m not sure. The smart, geeky, dork, rich, rich, rich one. Maybe.
I like [name]Maeve[/name], but [name]Maeva[/name] might be better because it sounds more futuristic. About [name]Shreya[/name], how would you pronounce that? I don’t like the name b.c. I wouldn’t know how to pronounce it which is always a pain when you’re trying to read a book, but the name itself is cool and futuristicky. [name]Twain[/name] reminds me of [name]Mark[/name] [name]Twain[/name], so contrary to what the person above said, I think it’s definitely a boys name, and I like it, but if you’re ever famous and your book becomes famous, be aware that all analistic people will say you’re referring to [name]Mark[/name] [name]Twain[/name], so be careful about what type of character you give that name and what you want it to say. [name]Marco[/name] is good. :slight_smile: Best of luck!

4

I knew a girl named [name]Shreya[/name] (it’s a traditional [name]Indian[/name] name) and she pronounced it Shuh-ray-uh. It sounds to me like “shred” which is why I don’t particularly like it, and I do agree with you about the pronunciation issue (if I didn’t know the girl, I’d have no idea how to pronounce it either). I also think that it’s more of a traditional name for people of that culture, and seems to me, I guess, less “futuristicky” as you put it.

5

[name]Harleigh[/name]- Doesn’t put up with nonsense, bossy with lots of tattoos and piercings.
[name]Noa[/name]- Very sweet kind with soft curly brown hair and big blue eyes.
[name]Roscoe[/name]- An old man(maybe in his 50’s) who has been through a lot. Smoker, and also bald with silverly stubs of hair on his face.
[name]Lavinia[/name]- Pointed eyes and medium dark skin. Sassy and loves fashion
[name]Thaddeus[/name]- very gladiator. Athletic and attractive, maybe a military leader. Dark hair and dark eyes
[name]Colette[/name]- Short black hair cut into a bob. Very tall and business like.
[name]Stellan[/name]- very punk rock with a slick black mohawk and many tattoos and piercings.

6

About [name]Noa[/name]: She’s actually very different from how most people so far have seen her. Should I change her name? Or is it not such a big deal with minor characters?

7

[name]Harleigh[/name] - Strong, maybe a slight attitude. Fiercely protective of the people she cares about.

[name]Noa[/name] - Outgoing and cheerful, with a sense of humor. Not overly feminine. Gets along better with guys than girls (as friends). Maybe plays a sport or something. Basically your average schoolgirl.

[name]Roscoe[/name] - Good-looking, focused, sarcastic. Great at pretty much everything he does. The kind of guy everyone admires, for various reasons, but kind of aloof. Doesn’t hang out with a lot of people, but they still know who he is. Possibly has a side to him most people don’t see.

[name]Lavinia[/name] - Shy, quiet introvert. Thoughtful and reads a lot, so she’s pretty smart. The kind of person who goes unnoticed half the time. Kind and sweet.

[name]Thaddeus[/name] - Typical teenage guy. Blends in with the crowd.

[name]Colette[/name] - Smart, sophisticated. Maybe just a little bit stuck. Has her own clique. Appearance-conscious.

[name]Stellan[/name] - Friendly and loyal. Class clown. Gets along with most people. Kind of a geek, but not in a bad way.

8

I don’t think you should change it. It’s not really a big deal with minor characters, and besides, I always like when a character isn’t like what I assumed she would be, based on her name or anything else. It makes it more interesting,

9

Nope. I think [name]Noa[/name] is a catch all name. If you told me she was a mermaid, a ballerina or a pirate I could see her as any of those things. As a reader I accept what I’m told. I don’t have any preconceptions about the sort of person a name should be attached to because in real life calling a baby [name]Sophie[/name] Twinkle doesn’t mean she won’t grow up to love dirt bikes and calling a baby [name]Raven[/name] Batwing doesn’t mean she won’t grow up loving barbie pink and princesses. You can’t control a persons personality with their name in real life, so it shouldn’t matter in books either :slight_smile:

10

Okay, thanks, everyone!

11

  • [name]Harleigh[/name] (female)- [name]Harleigh[/name] is pushy and her own kind of person. Not special, but she doesn’t care. She just survives.

  • [name]Noa[/name] (female)- [name]Noa[/name] is outspoken and lovely, but she can be obnoxious and unintelligent.

  • [name]Roscoe[/name] (male)- [name]Roscoe[/name]'s sleazy and annoying. 'Nuff said.

  • [name]Lavinia[/name] (female)- [name]Lavinia[/name] is the foreign exchange student, and she loves the attention. She’s intelligent, daring, and beautiful.

  • [name]Thaddeus[/name] (male, nickname [name]Thad[/name])- [name]Thaddeus[/name] doesn’t realize that no one likes him–that everyone thinks he’s crazy. But don’t get me wrong: he’s not stupid, he just doesn’t see. He’s artistic and ingenuitive. He loves architecture?

  • [name]Colette[/name] (female)- [name]Colette[/name] is popular and annoying about it. She’ll probably end up dying of lung cancer. She’s submissive and goes with the crowd.

  • [name]Stellan[/name] (male)- [name]Stellan[/name] is the jocky type, but he doesn’t play any sports. He’s charming and uses his cunning to get away with anything. People love him for it.