Advice on Character Name Changes

AZ_Dawn · Feb 2, 2008

I did something foolish yesterday (or maybe it was smart, I'm not sure which); I googled the names of some of my characters. Everything was fine until I googled "Jacques Vanier". Somebody seems to have gotten to the name first. I'm now torn between two courses of action:

1. Keep the name. It would very difficult for me to think of the character with any other name. He also has relatives that would have to be renamed. Plus the two Jacques Vaniers are in different genres (pirate fiction and political RPG). Besides, names aren't copyrightable.
2. Change the name. It's not like the name's set in stone yet. If nothing else, keeping the name could cause some confusion. There may also be a common courtesy issue, or the creator of the other Jacques Vanier might not understand Great minds think alike and get on my case. All I'd have to do is change Jacques' surname and I have a big list of period names to choose from. I'd have to get used to the new name, but tough toenails for me!

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

Sage · Feb 2, 2008

What about a small change. Vaneer?

It's probably okay. Is the other work very popular? Are the characters similar in any other way? I wouldn't worry about it, if not.

Claudia Gray · Feb 2, 2008

I had a character named Painter Crowe in a WIP until I read a thriller that had a guy named, you guessed it, Painter Crowe. What are the odds?

I ended up changing it - she'll be Painter Ford if that WIP ever comes into being. YA supernatural stories and thrillers don't really share an audience, but in that case, the name was so unusual, and the thrillers with that guy popular enough, that I thought it would be better to sidestep the issue.

It all depends on how strongly you feel about the name, I guess. I wouldn't think that one is so unusual that it would call attention to itself.

Finni · Feb 2, 2008

If we have to change our characters' names every time we realize they've been used in fiction before we're in big trouble.

There are some names we should stay clear of, like Scarlet O'Hara and Harry Potter. Just think of hurricanes. They can use the same name they've used before, but once the name is associated with a famous storm, like Katrina, they retire the name forever. I would say change it if the name was iconic, but I don't think it is.

HeronW · Feb 2, 2008

Even if your char has the same name as some one else, by the time your book is published, if not so already, there'll be a time gap long enough to separate them from readers minds.

Certain names are forever associated with eras/authors, Macbeth, Pippi Longstocking, etc.

Making up a name that's spelled differently usually assures safety but not necessarily.

I did a short story on a valkyre with a woman called Vallerie Kyre. And got an email from a live person asking why'd I used her name, oh well. :}

loiterer · Feb 3, 2008

AZ_Dawn said:
Everything was fine until I googled "Jacques Vanier".

Well, Jacques is an extremely common name, for a start (which I'm sure you're aware of). So, all you need to establish is, how common is the name Vanier?

For 'Vanier' by itself, google gives over 2 million results. Who knows what all those results are, but it suggests that it's not exactly an unusual name.

If you are really attached to the name Jacques Vanier, I see no reason to change it.

AZ_Dawn · Feb 3, 2008

So basically if the other JV is obscure and/or the surname is common-ish I shouldn't worry about it. Don't know how obscure the character is, but I did find some stats on the surname (assuming this site is a good source and the online translator is any good):

Vanier with 1 n
Vannier with 2 ns

I still need to think hard about this, but thanks for the advice, guys!

Stijn Hommes · Feb 3, 2008

I wouldn't worry about it. In the real world there are also people who share their names and you're right when you say that the genres differ a lot. I doubt a lot of people would come across both characters and make the connection.

Judg · Feb 3, 2008

Yes. Don't worry about it. The name is too common in real life. Jacques is extremely common and Vanier, while not being the equivalent of Smith, is common also. There are at least two towns in Canada with the name, one of our very prominent families in Canada bears the name (and I'm willing to bet there's several Jacques' in it) and truckloads more in France. No author would have the right of accusing you of stealing "his" name. It would be like trying to lay claim to Brian Anderson or something.

AZ_Dawn · Feb 4, 2008

Thanks again for the advice, guys! I think I'll keep the name as is.

Oberon · Feb 4, 2008

I have a YA fantasy/SF novel with two talking birds, Hawthork and Jar Jar. Then Star Wars stole Jar Jar. I couldn't continue, same genre, too famous, agents could accuse me of plagiarism. Now she's Chipit, and I don't care if the name is not new, I'm keeping it.

DeleyanLee · Feb 4, 2008

HeronW said:
I did a short story on a valkyre with a woman called Vallerie Kyre. And got an email from a live person asking why'd I used her name, oh well. :}

That happened to me--except the author had used MY name as the heroine of a steamy-line Romance. I was actually fairly tickled. She sent me a signed copy of the book, gratis. Very nice of her.

As for the OP, I quad-triple the option of not changing it. Personally, that's something that someone with money can tell me to change. I've got enough things to think about in the writing of the book.

Advice on Character Name Changes

AZ_Dawn

AW Addict

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Claudia Gray

Finni

discipula vitae

HeronW

Down Under Fan

loiterer

AZ_Dawn

AW Addict

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

AZ_Dawn

AW Addict

Oberon

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist