Names

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
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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.
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Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

It does feel very modern, and very American, to me. Have you seen in a historical context?
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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.
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Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

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.
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject:

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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?
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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.
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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. Laughing

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.
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Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:21 am Post subject:

I like Nichola. That's nice and doesn't sound too modern to me.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:24 am Post subject:

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