Naming my Main Character

Sargentodiaz · Nov 27, 2008

Just completed my latest novel at 100,00 words, either sword/sorcery and fantasy - not quite sure yet.

My MC is the son of a prince from one country and a princess from another. I gave him the name Ian (pronounced ee-ahn) which means God is Gracious. The problem I see is that some might find the name difficult to try to hold on to.

His father's name is Aricin which means king's son. In Gaelic, his son's name would be Baricin.
But, I'm not all that happy with that.

So, I am also looking at:
Caley = brave warrior
Cargan = little rock

It's not a big deal to change the name in the manuscript but I just wonder what others think. Am I better off with a name starting a vowel or a consonant?

scarletpeaches · Nov 27, 2008

Ian, a difficult name to hold on to? Why should that be?

I wouldn't have a problem with Aricin either. Both names are easy enough to pronounce. Especially Ian, which is a common enough name (sometimes spelled Iain, or in my part of the world, Eoin or Aoin).

KTC · Nov 27, 2008

I think you are overthinking. Just give them the name you want to give them. I've seen WAY more difficult names. The reader adjusts if the name is difficult. The names you've given are not difficult.

scarletpeaches · Nov 27, 2008

Aoife or Saiorse. Those are names which not every reader would know how to pronounce.

Mr Flibble · Nov 27, 2008

The only problem I'd have with Ian is I know too many of them for it to sound at all fantasy. It's just too mundane. Unless you set it round here obviously.

Any of the other names are fine. Most fantasy readers get to grips with odd names early on in their reading career

gypsyscarlett · Nov 27, 2008

Ian is a perfectly normal name. I like it. It's simple but strong at the same time.

dpaterso · Nov 27, 2008

I'd maybe keep the name but go for an exotic spelling, Iáonne or similar.

-Derek

Captain Ian · Nov 27, 2008

Stick with Ian!

katiemac · Nov 27, 2008

scarletpeaches said:
Aoife or Saiorse. Those are names which not every reader would know how to pronounce.

I never remember how to pronounce this name, even though I've run into it quite a few times.

Mad Queen · Nov 27, 2008

I love Ian. Stick with it!

RJK · Nov 27, 2008

I'm sort of partial to BOB. It's easy to pronounce, remember, and dyslexics don't have any trouble with it.

scarletpeaches · Nov 27, 2008

katiemac said:
I never remember how to pronounce this name, even though I've run into it quite a few times.

Seersha. The other one's pronounced Eefa.

Shady Lane · Nov 27, 2008

I have a MC named Ian

Sargentodiaz · Nov 28, 2008

Thanks all! I know it sounds wierd but the name Ian worked very well in my first 160,000 version of this. Somehow, it just didn't feel right to me for the revision but, after all the comments it stays!

Gillhoughly · Nov 28, 2008

If fans root for Meriadoc Brandybuck and Perigrin Took, I think they can keep track of an Ian.

No need to get hung up on the meanings behind the names. Use what sounds right in your head for the character.

OTOH let's not get silly. I had a friend who was in love with this name for her dashing, sword swinging hero at large: Mongo.

She was just a bit too young to have caught Blazing Saddles and meet its pawn in the chess game of life...

Or know that Ming the Merciless was that planet's head honcho. (Seen here slugging back a Mongo-tini.)

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 29, 2008

I like Fred.

Kaylee · Nov 29, 2008

I like Ian.

Gary Clarke · Nov 29, 2008

Ian is a fine name, stick with it. Plus Aricin sounds waaaaayyyy too much like Arse for it to be creditable to a teen audience. BTW are you talking about scots gaelic, coz as far as I know king's son in Irish is Mac an Ri.

Scarlet, where I'm from saoirse is pronounced sair-sha ( means freedom) and it's sister name Sorcha ( light bearer) is sor-kha.

Madisonwrites · Nov 29, 2008

I actually know someone named Ian and like the name. Don't worry about it unless your agent and/or editor have a problem with it.

Dark Cyril · Nov 29, 2008

Exactly, anytime I'm writing or creating a character for a tabletop game, I don't get too hung up on the name. Usually, it's one of the last things I do after coming up with the basic idea of him, unless a lightbulb turns on somewhere during the process.

I've had silly names and serious names. 99 times out of 100 it's the serious names that work. Though I have had a character (a half-orc barbarian mind you) name Forrghk (pronounced like the eating utensil) that wormed his way into quite a few hearts.

Just pick what sounds natural and what sounds like will be a good fit for the character, just keep genre in mind. Can't have a sword and spell slinging warrior named Tim now can you (unless you happen to be one of the Monty Pythons... then you can get away with it)?

Naming my Main Character

Sargentodiaz

scarletpeaches

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

scarletpeaches

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

gypsyscarlett

Ma fin est mon commencement

dpaterso

Patent pending

Captain Ian

katiemac

Five by Five

Mad Queen

California Mountain Snake

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

scarletpeaches

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

Sargentodiaz

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Kaylee

New kid, be gentle!

Gary Clarke

Knackered

Madisonwrites

The Unicorn Writer

Dark Cyril