Main Character's Name.

Exir · Mar 24, 2008

Hi, in my current work in progress, my two main characters are called Ben and Jade. Does the names sound smooth when said together?

chevbrock · Mar 24, 2008

I think so, Exir.

Willowmound · Mar 24, 2008

V. smooth.

Smoothest.

writin52 · Mar 24, 2008

Smoothly blended, Exir

Phaeal · Mar 24, 2008

No problems here. BTW, I've always wondered whether people who name a girl Jade know that one of its meanings is "a woman of disrepute," aka "slut." Too bad. It's a pretty name.

Bufty · Mar 24, 2008

Too bad? It's a beautiful name, and the 'slut' meaning is both archaic and irrelevant.

Phaeal said:
No problems here. BTW, I've always wondered whether people who name a girl Jade know that one of its meanings is "a woman of disrepute," aka "slut." Too bad. It's a pretty name.

megan_d · Mar 24, 2008

reminds me of ben and jerry's.

Willowmound · Mar 24, 2008

Phaeal said:
No problems here. BTW, I've always wondered whether people who name a girl Jade know that one of its meanings is "a woman of disrepute," aka "slut." Too bad. It's a pretty name.

The two meanings (the name and the insult) are etymologically unconnected.

From Etymology Online:

jade (1) "gemstone," 1598, from Fr. le jade, error for earlier l'ejade, from Sp. piedra de (la) ijada (1569), "stone of colic, pain in the side" (jade was thought to cure this), from V.L. *iliata, from L. ilia (pl.) "flanks, kidney area."
jade (2) "worn-out horse," c.1386, possibly from O.N. jalda "mare," from Finno-Ugric (cf. Mordvin al'd'a "mare"). As a term of abuse for a woman, it dates from 1560. Jaded "dulled by continual indulgence" is from 1631.

Claudia Gray · Mar 24, 2008

I think it's been a half-century since anyone used "jade" as a slur on a woman, and I think it was seriously antiquated then. I wouldn't worry about it.

sportacus · Mar 24, 2008

In my WIP, the main characters are Troy, Devin, and Jack. I plan to change Troy's name, because I don't like it. I haven't come up with names I like for either of the two female MCs yet.

IceCreamEmpress · Mar 24, 2008

"Let the galled jade wince! My withers are unwrung."

I think of that whenever I hear the word "withers" but never when I hear the name "Jade".

Susan Breen · Mar 24, 2008

Jade is a very strong-sounding name, which I like. Hard to imagine someone boring with a name like that.

Mel · Mar 24, 2008

Jade A lovely name.

Phaeal · Mar 24, 2008

ClaudiaGray said:
I think it's been a half-century since anyone used "jade" as a slur on a woman, and I think it was seriously antiquated then. I wouldn't worry about it.

I'm not worried about it, nor do I think it's a reason to rename a character. Just my personal take on the name and my idiosyncratic reaction to it when I hear it.

Mythica · Mar 24, 2008

megan_d said:
reminds me of ben and jerry's.

mmm..... ice cream....

I like your character's names! I like names I can pronounce aren't too crazy. Those bug me.

Main Character's Name.

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

chevbrock

Willowmound

Lightly salted

writin52

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

megan_d

Falling in the milk

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Claudia Gray

sportacus

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Susan Breen

Mel

Never be completely back to normal.

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Mythica

Expert Gerbil Wrangler