Can you name a character in your novel after another well-known character if you give credit to the original? For example, can you name a character's pet parakeet Hedwig if you mention the character's fondness for Harry Potter? Or is that even necessary?
Naming a fictional character after another fictional character
- Thread starter dochas
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2005
- Messages
- 11,792
- Reaction score
- 4,698
- Location
- Wicked Little Town
- Website
- cathellisen.com
Er, actually, I wouldn't mind knowing this.
I have a fae called Arnold Layne who gets drunk/high on Pink Floyd.
(I know you can read that in several ways, I mean the music of the band.)
I have a fae called Arnold Layne who gets drunk/high on Pink Floyd.
(I know you can read that in several ways, I mean the music of the band.)
In my upcoming YA, I have a family in which several of the children are named after the patriarch's fondness for literary characters. He named one child Uncas and another Hawkeye, and then when he ran out of sons he called his house Chingachgook. Later on, one of his descendants called his children Dashwood and Willoughby.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2007
- Messages
- 2,267
- Reaction score
- 449
- Location
- Thataway
- Website
- sasseebioche.blogspot.com
In Office Space, one of the co-worker's names was Michael Bolton. (Though they made a running joke of it through the whole movie.)
I can't remember the name of the movie, but it has Jennifer Anniston in it. One of the guys in the movie goes by Holden Caulfield. That's not his real name, he just identifies with the character. I think the movie is called The Good Girl.
I believe the names of fictional characters are like book titles and can't be protected. You might double-check with Uncle Jim.
Bayou Bill
Bayou Bill
I'm not Uncle Jim, and I don't play him on TV (or even on a dobro).I believe the names of fictional characters are like book titles and can't be protected. You might double-check with Uncle Jim.
Bayou Bill
Your best bet is to contact an IP lawyer who specializes in literary works. However, I would think, just being me, that the names of fictional characters are covered by copyright. Otherwise, I could write a novel about a private eye in Arizona, name him Harry Potter, and not have to worry about Ms. Rowling's solicitor ringing me up to inform me about a friendly 'cease and desist' order.
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2006
- Messages
- 163
- Reaction score
- 18
There's definitely nothing wrong with it, unless you go to an extreme (as in your MC is named Harry Potter and his best friend is a redhead named Ronald and the badguy is called Draco Voldemort or something like that).
In one short romance i wrote, the MC's love interest was named Heathcliff (okay, that also has to do with the fact that Heath Ledger is hot, though he too was named for the character) and in one historical, my MC names her flock of kittens after Jane Austen men (Darcy, Bingley, etc).
In one short romance i wrote, the MC's love interest was named Heathcliff (okay, that also has to do with the fact that Heath Ledger is hot, though he too was named for the character) and in one historical, my MC names her flock of kittens after Jane Austen men (Darcy, Bingley, etc).
I don't see anything wrong with it, so long as you're not copying ALL the names. Parents name their children after other famous figures all the time--for granted they don't adopt the other person's first and last name (although I wouldn't be surprised to find out a parent named them by both parts of another's name)--so why not your literary children?!
can he see emily play while he does it?
does he yell at eugene to be careful with that axe?
sorry. had to!
No I don't believe there is anything wrong with naming your character after a fictional character.
Last edited:
In M*A*S*H*, Hawkeye explains that the only book his old man ever read was Last of the Mohicans.
If you write a Harry Potter story, then there will be trademark--and I'm sure worse--issues. But Rowling can't sue people named Harry Potter for using the name.
My guess is ... use of the character name would be fine.
Use of the name and comment that the character was named after so-and-so would be fine.
Use of the character name and identity would be a no-no.
So you could have a character named 'Frodo' or Harry Potter or Mickey Mouse with no problem, as long as he was a Medieval crusader instead of a hobbit, wizard or animated rodent.
Use of the name and comment that the character was named after so-and-so would be fine.
Use of the character name and identity would be a no-no.
So you could have a character named 'Frodo' or Harry Potter or Mickey Mouse with no problem, as long as he was a Medieval crusader instead of a hobbit, wizard or animated rodent.
Wasn't "Scout" the name of the Lone Ranger's horse?
My feeling is this. If you are doing something that requires a note of explanation or apology, just don't do it. Or do it and don't have the note.
My feeling is this. If you are doing something that requires a note of explanation or apology, just don't do it. Or do it and don't have the note.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm going to go with the majority here and run with it. Assuming it gets accepted, if it turns out the editor has a problem with it, it'll be an easy matter to change the name.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2005
- Messages
- 12,560
- Reaction score
- 5,326
- Age
- 50
- Location
- Alabama -my home sweet home.
It is a rather minor part of my story but I named one of my characters Beatrice after I saw Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" becuase I liked her and thought she was a good strong role model. Later when I was working on my novel in earnest, I needed names for Beatrice's sisters. I'd always known she had sisters but they weren't a big part of the story. I decided to name then Desdemona (from Othello) and Ophelia (Hamlet.) Desdemona goes by Mona. If it comes up, (can't remember if I cut the scene) Beatrice says her mother fancied herself to be a thespian. (her mother is very much NOT a thespian.) OTher than that I am not sure I will mention it, just leave it for those who notice to notice. Like an easter egg. I think that is what i will do. Yes.
- Status