View previous topic :: View next topic

LadyVictoria
Baroness of the Manor Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 648 Location: Goshen, NY	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:35 am    Post subject: Names   I'm always on the lookout for great names and came across this website. Its a merchants directory from 1830 and it lists people by name, so you can get great ideas for surnames as well. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pobjoyoneill/tradedir/engtrade.htm _________________ ___________________ Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess
Back to top

LadyVictoria
Baroness of the Manor Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 648 Location: Goshen, NY	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:08 pm    Post subject:   Speaking of names....one of the comments I got on my story from the contest was that they felt the heroines name was too modern. Her name is Nicol. What do you guys think? I'd hate to change it as its been her name for over a year now and its kind of stuck with me, but if it will throw readers off, then I will change it. _________________ ___________________ Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess
Back to top

KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:39 pm    Post subject:   It does feel very modern, and very American, to me. Have you seen in a historical context? _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
Back to top

kat
Moderator Princess Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 4175	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:50 pm    Post subject:   I've seen Nicholaa, but that was in a book set in the 11th century. I'm pretty sure I've seen it in Regency period books (possibly spelled differently), but I don't remember which ones. _________________ Blog: Wit and Sin
Back to top

KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:27 pm    Post subject:   I don't mean have you seen it used in a work of fiction set during the right era, but have you ever seen it in an actual extant document or source from the period in question? "Nicol" as a woman's name just strikes me as very modern (in a way that "Nicole" might not) and very American (as we're far more likely to monkey around with the traditional spelling of a name than modern Europeans). But even “Nicole” hits an off note for me. I wasn’t one of the judges (in case anyone was wondering) but I’m pretty sure that I had I judged this manuscript I’d have flagged “Nicol’ as well. If you have a period source, I’d reference it in the text somewhere, the way Mary Balogh did with the crazy names she gave the characters of her “Simply” series. Occasionally, even if you know a name is perfectly correct, it’s wise not to use it. For example, Ashley is a very traditional and common name for boys in England (as are Cary and Vivian) but I’d think twice before using them for a hero, because to a modern American reader they’re going to sound effeminate, if not outright wrong. _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
Back to top

KeiraSoleore
Moderator Princess Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 5898 Location: Seattle	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:41 pm    Post subject:   KalenHughes wrote: For example, Ashley is a very traditional and common name for boys in England (as are Cary and Vivian) but I’d think twice before using them for a hero, because to a modern American reader they’re going to sound effeminate, if not outright wrong. Poor Cary Grant, the manly man, must be rolling in his grave. _________________ Medieval & Regency Writer keirasoleore.blogspot.com
Back to top

kat
Moderator Princess Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 4175	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:47 pm    Post subject:   KeiraSoleore wrote: KalenHughes wrote: For example, Ashley is a very traditional and common name for boys in England (as are Cary and Vivian) but I’d think twice before using them for a hero, because to a modern American reader they’re going to sound effeminate, if not outright wrong. Poor Cary Grant, the manly man, must be rolling in his grave. But his name was Archibald Leach, so maybe not - Cary's better _________________ Blog: Wit and Sin
Back to top

KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:02 pm    Post subject:   KeiraSoleore wrote: Poor Cary Grant, the manly man, must be rolling in his grave. For those of us who are old movie buffs, Cary is a very hot, manly name. And we have Cary Elwes too (was there anyone hotter than him in Lady Jane? I was a teenager in love). But Carrie is such a common girls name . . . I forgot about Shelley, that's another one that's morphed into a girls name. I'd LOVE to write a book about brothers named Ashley, Shelley and Vivian. LOL! _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
Back to top

KeiraSoleore
Moderator Princess Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 5898 Location: Seattle	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:23 pm    Post subject:   I'm now curious. There are many, many examples of women usurping men's names, even though there are a ton of women names already out there, and not enough men's names. Then once women start using them, the men stop doing so. I wonder how many women's names have crossed over into male territory and become their preserve? _________________ Medieval & Regency Writer keirasoleore.blogspot.com Last edited by KeiraSoleore on Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:29 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top

Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:36 pm    Post subject:   Remember that movie where Jeremy Irons played creepy twin brothers who were gynecologists? I'm blanking on the name of the movie, but the twins were Evelyn and Beverly, Ev and Bev. I agree that some of the names that are either legitimately old (like Tifanny) or legitimately British (like Beverly for a male) are best avoided for main characters in Ameican genre fiction. Stuff like that becomes a speed bump for the reader, or raises such a red flag they can't go on. Even when it's right, sometimes it's best not to use names or details that will stop a reader ... unless you include a reference in the narrative that explains why it's right. _________________
Back to top

LadyVictoria
Baroness of the Manor Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 648 Location: Goshen, NY	Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:43 pm    Post subject:   I had seen different spellings of the name in documents, like Nichola and Nicholette, but not Nicol. OK< she gets a name change, thats settled. Funny, the heroes name is Dane (which is proper) and no one mentioned that sounding modern. As for women taking mens names, my favorite was alwasy Michael. Don't know why. As for the opposite, thats funny because I had the nickname of "Vyvyan" after Adrian Edmondson's character on Young Ones so many years ago. Funny, it never struck me as odd that a man was named Vyv. _________________ ___________________ Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess
Back to top

CjRH
Influential Member of the Ton Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 238 Location: an hour out of Frisco	Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:21 am    Post subject:   I like Nichola. That's nice and doesn't sound too modern to me. _________________ "Alas," cried Candide, "I have had some knowledge of love myself, this ruler of hearts, this soul of souls; yet it never gave me more than a kiss and twenty kicks in the ass!"
Back to top

CjRH
Influential Member of the Ton Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 238 Location: an hour out of Frisco	Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:24 am    Post subject:   Candice wrote: I agree that some of the names that are either legitimately old (like Tifanny) or legitimately British (like Beverly for a male) are best avoided for main characters in Ameican genre fiction. Doesn't the name Tiffany come from something like Tifan, which means "land under sea"? I could be way off with this. It was in a Pratchett book and he's always turning stuff around--but he's British and I got the sense that this tidbit was for real. _________________ "Alas," cried Candide, "I have had some knowledge of love myself, this ruler of hearts, this soul of souls; yet it never gave me more than a kiss and twenty kicks in the ass!"
Back to top

KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:13 am    Post subject:   CjRH wrote: Doesn't the name Tiffany come from something like Tifan, which means "land under sea"? From "Behind the Name": Medieval form of THEOPHANIA. This name was traditionally given to girls born on the Epiphany (January 6), the festival commemorating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. I forgot about Beverly and Evelyn. Great names. I like to use names like these for minor characters, which could get me into trouble down the road should said minor characters become hero material. LOL! My favorite name I've run across for a man in Georgian England is “Anne-Holles”. Yes, that was his first/Christian name. _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
Back to top

kat
Moderator Princess Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 4175	Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:40 am    Post subject:   CjRH wrote: I like Nichola. That's nice and doesn't sound too modern to me. I do as well. I'm sorry you had to change it. It must be hard to create a character, think of her a certain way, and then have to make changes. I'm sure authors have to do that with their books but it's gotta suck. More props to you! _________________ Blog: Wit and Sin
Back to top

Choose Display Order

Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First

User Permissions

You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum