Same name of charachters

chaoserver2 · Oct 7, 2006

Two questions regarding charachters with same names.

1. If another book has a charachter with the same name as a charachter in yours should it be changed? In this particular case a charachter in my book is named Thalos, which sounds and is perfect for him, however upon researching I came to find that the name is used in the Simarillion, although it is a very obscure charachter.

2. If two charachters in my story have the same name(a unique one) if one charachter is immensely more important than the other would it be ok to leave both names the same?

janetbellinger · Oct 7, 2006

I don't see a problem with using the same name. Whatever name you use for your characters is bound to have been used somewhere by some author or another. Now using the same story line or phrases as another author might cause problems.

Fahim · Oct 7, 2006

chaoserver2 said:
1. If another book has a charachter with the same name as a charachter in yours should it be changed?

I don't think so

Names are bound to recur - even in fiction. I think you are fine using a name which has been used before. Of course, I was given the exact opposite advice when somebody read one of my stories - the only thing they commented on was the fact that one of my characters had the same name as somebody in one of the "Star Trek" series

The only caveat would be if the name is unusual and the other character with the same name is so well-known that your character's identity might be overshadowed by the first character. (Did that even make sense?)

chaoserver2 said:
2. If two charachters in my story have the same name(a unique one) if one charachter is immensely more important than the other would it be ok to leave both names the same?

That would depend on your story but it might be confusing to the reader if you have two characters with the same name. Would the story be affectred if you changed the minor character's name? Is there any plot point which hinges on both characters having the same name? Are there any scenes where both characters appear and so the reader would be confused as to which character you meant when you refer to them by name?

Ad Astra · Oct 7, 2006

There are millions of characters out there, you needn't worry about using another book character's name.

As for your second point, it wouldn't be a good idea to give two characters the same name, unless you're willing to specify their last names every time you write their first ones.

PeeDee · Oct 7, 2006

By the by, chaoserver, it's "character" not "charachter." I promise.

chaoserver2 · Oct 7, 2006

Thanks for feedback, as for the characters with the same name, they are from utterly different generations with no relation, one is only relevant to the past, and the other is a semi main character. In a way I thought it might be realistic that two entities might share a name, and also based on the fact that they are entirely different that I didnt think they would be confused.

Ad Astra · Oct 7, 2006

Yes, it's very realistic to share a name with someone else.
But you need to remember that the reader's would be going 'What the hell...?'
Try to empathize and put yourself in their shoes. ^^

Soccer Mom · Oct 7, 2006

Count me among those easily confused by similar names. Two characters with the same name? You'd lose. I'd cuss a lot and that's not a good thing since I have small children so you'd better not do it.

LeeFlower · Oct 7, 2006

I see no reason to change the name 'Thalos.' It might be a different story if the character's name was "Harry Potter," but as it stands I think you're fine. The X-Men franchise has a character named "Sauron," and that's way more obvious. If they got away with it, you should be fine.

Just don't go hog-wild, and you'll be fine. I was betaing a story where the MC was named "Sith Skywalker" once. It was neither fanfiction nor parody. The author swore to Dog she had come up with it completely independantly of the Star Wars franchise. I don't beta her work anymore.

PeeDee · Oct 7, 2006

LeeFlower said:
I see no reason to change the name 'Thalos.' It might be a different story if the character's name was "Harry Potter," but as it stands I think you're fine. The X-Men franchise has a character named "Sauron," and that's way more obvious. If they got away with it, you should be fine.

He used to drive me nuts in the comics. Good stories with that freaking Teradactyl, but I'd be going "Yeah...but you're not a big red eye! You're a dinosaur-guy!"

Yarval · Oct 8, 2006

Sith Skywalker. That's horrible.

I'm with everyone else on the shared name between 2 individuals in the same story. Unless this serves a very specific purpose (other than to show you've created a complex world where names are conserved), I'd definitely change that. It'll seem like your Name-Generator 2.0 crapped out and you had to start again at the top of the list.

Tracey · Oct 8, 2006

Two characters in the same book with the same name is a problem. It's too confusing for the reader, and unless this is a historical novel where the names are based on real people and can't be changed, I'd avoid it. I also try to have the names of all my characters start with different letters to also distinguish them. Too many characters with names that start with "J" for example, can make it tough on readers as well.

As for changing a name because you've seen it used in a different book, I wouldn't worry about it. Common names are always going to be duplicated and the same can happen with unusual names. I write fantasy and even when I come up with a great fantasy name that I think is uniquely mine, I'll occasionally come across it in another fantasy book. Don't sweat it.

Sassenach · Oct 8, 2006

chaoserver2 said:
2. If two charachters in my story have the same name(a unique one) if one charachter is immensely more important than the other would it be ok to leave both names the same?

No. Obviously. It's confusing to have two characters with the same name.

Jenan Mac · Oct 8, 2006

If there's a specific reason for there to be a reused name-- like a family tradition of naming after frail and obscenely rich elderly relatives, and your MC is named for Uncle Porfirio-- I might buy it. Even then, I'd specify that the younger one went by "Skippy" instead of his real name.

Gillhoughly · Oct 8, 2006

Try to avoid having characters who do not share an identical, unique name with a more famous character.

"Thalos" you can likely get away with, but not "Aragorn." Ditto for Bilbos & Frodos, but Sam is okay.

However any editor will tell you (and I'm one of 'em) to NOT have two characters in the same book with the same name. If it's John Sr. vs. John Jr. then one of them HAS to have a different nickname. I know a James Jr. but everyone calls him Kevin, including his mum.

I'll also let you know it is a VERY good idea to avoid characters with names that begin with the same letter. Some writers will go on letter riffs with Jane, John, Jeff, and June, unaware of just how confusing that can be to a reader.

One of my buds had the perfect names for her two antagonists: William and Walter. Before her editor finished reading it my friend was told to fix the problem & changed one of the dudes to "Adam."

I had to do that for one of my books because *I* was getting confused on the same letter thing.

The cure: sheet of paper divided into 26 squares, one letter of the alphabet in each square. As you name characters put their narrative name (the one that occurs most often) in that square. If John Smith is known as John, he'll go into "J," if known as Smith, put him in "S."

If it's a short story, retire that letter.

If a novel, then limit letter retirement to main characters, and use the rest of the alphabet on supporting characters.

And always, always, always spell check!

Anthony Ravenscroft · Oct 9, 2006

Gillhoughly said:
The cure: sheet of paper divided into 26 squares, one letter of the alphabet in each square. As you name characters put their narrative name (the one that occurs most often) in that square. If John Smith is known as John, he'll go into "J," if known as Smith, put him in "S."

If it's a short story, retire that letter.

If a novel, then limit letter retirement to main characters, and use the rest of the alphabet on supporting characters.

I'm glad to see there's someone else who does that! Even though I've got a large number of nicknames in the current WIP, I'm forcibly trying to keep unique initials for the half-dozen main characters.

In a short story, it can be funny if repetition is done with intent, so long as the writer doesn't get confused -- Willy & Woody & Wendy & Wanda.

Vomaxx · Oct 9, 2006

chaoserver2 said:
2. If two charachters in my story have the same name(a unique one)

If two characters have the same name, the name is not unique...

Scruffy Scribe · Oct 9, 2006

In regards to question 1, I think that as long as your not using really well know character names like "James Bond", or like LeeFlower said "Harry Potter" then I think you are lely to be fine.

As to question 2:

John walked into the resaraunt, as he glanced around he saw John sitting in a booth at the end. He quickly approached and slid into the booth beside him.

"John, I've been looking for you all night." Said John.

As they were sitting there, the waiter approached.

"Good Evening. My name is John and I'll be your waiter tonight."

"Really, your name is John." Said John.

"My name is John." Said John.

"John, do you happen to know the time?" Asked John.

"Ten past Ten." Replied John, as he turned to look at John.

"Don't I know you?" John asked John, "Your names John right."

clara bow · Oct 9, 2006

holy cow so I can keep the name I just created for a new character even though when I googled it I found one other author had used it?

thank goodness for AW and this thread. I was just thinking I'd have to come up with another name.

(dibs on Nick St. James, so hands off. just kidding! :tongue

)

I dunno, though. I may still change it.

sorry, hope i didn't hijack the thread.

PattiTheWicked · Oct 10, 2006

If another author has used the name, is it an author in the same genre as you? For example, if you're writing horror, it's probably best not to name your bad guy Randall Flagg. If you're writing a romance, don't make your heroine Eve Dallas.

As to having two characters in the same book with the same name, I've gotta ask: why on earth would you want to do this anyway? It's confusing as all hell. The only exceptions I could see would be if (a) it's a family name, as mentioned previously, and even then John Jr. would still have to be known by some other nickname, or (b) if it's a source of comedy to the characters -- I read a chick lit book once where the main character's name was Beth or something, and she met another girl that they called Manolo Beth to distinguish her from the Beth who didn't wear Manolos. Something along those lines anyway, but funnier.

But yeah, if you've got two characters sharing a name -- especially if it's an unusual one -- that just looks silly.

PattiTheWicked · Oct 10, 2006

clara bow said:
thank goodness for AW and this thread. I was just thinking I'd have to come up with another name.

(dibs on Nick St. James, so hands off. just kidding! )
.

Hey, let's start a thread on Orphan Names! that way anyone who needs an extra one can just claim our leftovers.

PeeDee · Oct 10, 2006

That thread would be full of names like "Odo Throckmorton" and "Clive Henry Thomas Wilmar III"

It could also double as a baby-names thread for the particularly cruel.

Jaycinth · Oct 10, 2006

I do keep a name list....(Lets face it, I have a bible with names of people places things holidays etc etc)
When I introduce a [new] character I do a quick check to see if I have used the name before. If I have I change it. If I really like the name I change the spelling ( Sierra and Ciara...)

I have a character named Betty in one of my books. I'm sure a lot of authors use the name Betty. No sweat, my Betty will be the 'FAMOUS' Betty.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 10, 2006

Wasn't Thalos a big all-powerful being that was the enemy of Captain Marvel as created by Jim Starlin?

PeeDee · Oct 10, 2006

Ferret, meet Thanos

Same name of charachters

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