How bad a name is "Tjaard" for you?

Shweta · Jul 7, 2008

I know, back to names...

I realized I have to rename my MC (fantasy story) away from Maarten, since that's too Roman in derivation. I've been considering Tjaard, which is a Dutch/Frisian name, but... obviously it's non-English spelling.

So I was wondering how much it'd bother people.

I guess I could spell it Tyaard or Tiaard, but those look really really wrong for Dutch names.

BrookieCookie777 · Jul 7, 2008

I don't know - it's kinda odd - but then again, look at Chewbacca and Yoda. lol Sometimes I wonder if weird is actually a really good thing with Sci-Fi. The best indicator would be testing people to see how it "reads". My agent and I were working on something once and she really disliked my MC name. She thought it was "annoying to read." See if people have trouble getting through it. That's what I did. Turns out, the agent was right.

Shweta · Jul 7, 2008

I can't really tell, because I speak Dutch and the name's pronunciation is obvious to me

I'm sort of looking for good Germanic names that sound like Fantasy Names[sup]TM[/sup], since it's an alternate-Holland fantasy

TheIT · Jul 7, 2008

I don't speak Dutch, so I would try to pronounce "Tjaard" as "Ti-jarred". At least it fits my "I'd recognize it in the text" test even if I can't pronounce it correctly, so no, this name wouldn't bother me.

Matera the Mad · Jul 7, 2008

Tjaard (Tyahrd, it sounds in my mind) looks like a nice comfortable character name to me.

Neurotic · Jul 7, 2008

Wouldn't bother me. I gave the j a y sound and it came out fine. As I read it in my head.

Chris Huff · Jul 8, 2008

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, but you have to consider the Weird Al factor. Chewbacca is Chewie is Chew-toy. Yoda is Soda. Tjaard is Tard.

It sounds silly, I know. But there it is.

I wouldn't use it.

txgrl · Jul 8, 2008

If it works it works. Maybe look at different spellings? But I like it.

Faolmor · Jul 8, 2008

I quite like it. It seems appropriate for your setting.

geardrops · Jul 8, 2008

My main concern is: does it fit when set against the other names in the novel?

I mean, if you have Tjaard sitting at the table with his sisters, Marianne and Isabelle, we're going to have problems. But if he's sharing a beer with Hannes and Joord, shouldn't be too big an issue.

Also, I read it fine, but I may be an exception. I pay attention with languages. And I have Dutch friends.

Shweta · Jul 8, 2008

Basically it's a Germanic (Dutch, largely but not completely Frisian) setting with a slight Greek influence but no Romance or Celtic language contact. Oh and, West Germanic in a world with no Norse. I make life easy on myself, uh huh.

There can be no Hannes or Joord cause there's no direct biblical reference in this place. All Germanic-Pagan, though they traded with the Greeks and have had Northern Saami as a (somewhat) contact language. I have a Jahn, but the derivation of the name is not biblical, it's from Northern Saami Jahki. I might change it if it's setting up confused expectations too badly.

So Tjaard (changed for extra Frisian-ness to Tjaarde, which I think makes the "tard" association less?) would be hanging out with Reinier and Voss, getting screwed over by Heumber, and getting Dieter out of trouble; but his sister is Katrein and his niece is (guess this etymology!) Zanfrid.

Bartholomew · Jul 8, 2008

Shweta said:
I know, back to names...

I realized I have to rename my MC (fantasy story) away from Maarten, since that's too Roman in derivation. I've been considering Tjaard, which is a Dutch/Frisian name, but... obviously it's non-English spelling.

So I was wondering how much it'd bother people.

I guess I could spell it Tyaard or Tiaard, but those look really really wrong for Dutch names.

I'm sort of looking for good Germanic names that sound like Fantasy NamesTM, since it's an alternate-Holland fantasy

Pold. Franz. Hanz. Bart. (

) Yunic. Juhn.

If you like it, you have permission to use my universal paladin name - Tholomar.

Those suggestions aside (I really like #4), I don't think the name Tjaard would make me stumble too much. I've seen stranger names in published works--but to be completely honest, they were always ridiculous books that didn't take themselves seriously. I'm specifically thinking of the MYTH INC books, with Skeeve and Ahz, though I'm fairly sure I've seen some downright weird names in the Xanth series.

ETA

I really think you should stick with Maartin. The extra A lets me know I'm in a different culture without making me think too hard about what I'd call him in English.

SPMiller · Jul 8, 2008

Sticking just to the name part of your question, Tjaard looks fine. You're stuck with using j for the [j] phone because, well, it's Germanic.

Mumut · Jul 8, 2008

I like it. I've worked a lot with names and many of them including a 'j' are really neat as far as I'm concerned.

Shweta · Jul 8, 2008

Bartholomew said:
Pold. Franz. Hanz. Bart. ( ) Yunic. Juhn.

I suppose Bart is actually possible, being Greek, but female names tend to spread more than male names in a patriarchal society. So I'd rather keep to good old Germanic for my male names.

Since I'm playing in an alternate our-world, I really need to be careful with the history of the names I choose. They need to be possible, and evoke the right ideas rather than the wrong ones.

I really think you should stick with Maartin. The extra A lets me know I'm in a different culture without making me think too hard about what I'd call him in English.

Yeah, but this all started when I realized that Maarten is derived from Mars, and I am playing in a world with no Roman Empire effects up in northern Europe and (I'm pretty sure) no Roman Empire at all, but an Alexandrian one, down south.

So I simply can't use it. Thus, alternatives

As of today I'm renaming him, two major supporting characters, and two antagonists. Wheeee!

RoccoMom · Jul 8, 2008

I think it's pretty good.

JimmyB27 · Jul 8, 2008

Looks fine to me. Much better than Maartin which, to me, looks like you've taken a normal name and stuck in an extra letter to make it look 'other'.

Nakhlasmoke · Jul 8, 2008

Saw Tjaard, immediately assumed Dutch, or Dutch ancestry.

What is the problem - do you think people will have trouble pronouncing it?

Paichka · Jul 8, 2008

Shweta said:
Yeah, but this all started when I realized that Maarten is derived from Mars, and I am playing in a world with no Roman Empire effects up in northern Europe and (I'm pretty sure) no Roman Empire at all, but an Alexandrian one, down south.

Crap.

/Pai suddenly realizes she paid NO attention to what she was naming her people, and she doesn't have a Roman Empire, either.

Or a Bible.

*wince*

The amount of effort you put into your world is so impressive, Shweta. You're my con-worlding hero.

Sarpedon · Jul 8, 2008

I think it would be better as Djaard.

After all, english already has the dj sound, as in 'budge.' however, what does a tj sound like? If my english-massacring friend were to read your book, how would he pronounce it?

PattiTheWicked · Jul 8, 2008

I like Tjaard. I assumed (apparently correctly) that it was pronounced "Ti-yaard", and that isn't difficult to do.

Now if you wanted to really be obnoxious, you could do the Obnoxious Vowel Apostrophe Fantasy Name, like "T'jhaar-ad'h".

But then we'd have to poke you with something sharp.

Mr Flibble · Jul 8, 2008

I like it ( and I guessed how to pronounce it correctly, yay!)

However I can see some people might have problems with it. Mr Huff up thread is probably right -- it may end up getting misread as Tard, or people who have trouble sounding it may just call him that.

How about...Raban, Adelmar. Or Hengist

Nakhlasmoke · Jul 8, 2008

Hmm Ti-yaard?

wow my pronunciation would have been way off then.

I would have run the sounds closer together so that the ti and y sound would almost have been one sound. If that makes any sense.

~grace~ · Jul 8, 2008

k I know nothing about your work...but is there some way the pronunciation/spelling could be mentioned? you say it's a Germanic setting, with Greek influences--could one of the Greek influences have to write it down and foul it up miserably?

or you can do a Hermione-Krum thing. (Goblet of Fire. at the ball.)

that may not work tho if your world is very much one culture and everyone would already know how to pronounce it.

oh yeah, and to actually answer your question...it would not trip me up at all to have a name I might not necessarily pronounce properly. I actually like the way it looks (visual person).

Memnon624 · Jul 8, 2008

I have an Egyptian character named Ujahorresnet. Who am I to cast aspersions?

To me, Tjaard (or Tjaarde) fits well with your other names, and I wouldn't give it a second glance. In my mind, I'd pronounce it "Tyard."

Best,

Scott

How bad a name is "Tjaard" for you?

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