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Gareth23 Since: Mar, 2012
#1101: Mar 15th 2012 at 12:19:53 PM

I'm working on a story set in the present-day US, and I'd like some suggestions about appropriate but not stereotypical names for the characters. The first character was born in 1985. He's a white man from the Southern US, the descendant of slaveowners and Civil War soldiers. His parents are conservative Baptists. Anything you can suggest for either his first or last name, or both, is welcome.

Nocturna Since: May, 2011
#1102: Mar 15th 2012 at 12:56:21 PM

Jackson, Nathaniel, Joseph, Ezra, Abram, or Jedidiah (or any prophet from the Bible) might work for a first name.

edited 15th Mar '12 12:56:45 PM by Nocturna

Gareth23 Since: Mar, 2012
#1103: Mar 15th 2012 at 2:51:19 PM

Thanks. If he's called "Jackson", would that be the surname of one of his ancestors, or is it just a popular name for that background?

CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1104: Mar 15th 2012 at 3:01:19 PM

The ones Nocturna gave are all given names from the Bible, but some, such as Jackson, function as surnames as well. You don't have to have Jackson as a surname or use it at all.

I highly recommend Behind the Surname for this; the Baptist sect originated in 17th century England, so you might want to check the English surnames section of the site.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
jewelleddragon Also known as Katz from Pasadena, CA Since: Apr, 2009
Nocturna Since: May, 2011
#1106: Mar 15th 2012 at 6:17:27 PM

[up][up] Jackson's not from the Bible. But yes, the rest are.

Muramasan13 Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: Not war
#1107: Mar 15th 2012 at 6:24:37 PM

Thanks. If he's called "Jackson", would that be the surname of one of his ancestors, or is it just a popular name for that background?

No, Jackson is just a popular name.

Smile for me!
Gareth23 Since: Mar, 2012
#1108: Mar 15th 2012 at 7:50:11 PM

Thanks for the link, I didn't realise you could search by state on the site. After a few searches it seems that personal names really don't vary much by state, at least not for boys. "Christopher" was popular everywhere from Maine to Mississippi in 1985. So maybe we should focus on the surname. I was originally going to look up a real Southern aristocratic family and give him the name, but perhaps that's a bad idea.

CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1109: Mar 15th 2012 at 7:52:13 PM

No, then you'll be getting into Famous-Named Foreigner territory for some people, which is just really lazy.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
Gareth23 Since: Mar, 2012
#1110: Mar 15th 2012 at 9:56:23 PM

I don't think it's quite that bad. For example, if his surname was "Bulloch" very few readers are going to think it's gimmicky or implausible. Even though there was a real Bulloch family from Georgia who were slaveowners and in the Confederate navy. But on the other hand, the real Bulloch family doesn't seem to have any surviving members with that surname, so it would still be bit weird to insert an imaginary descendent.

Discar Since: Jun, 2009
#1111: Mar 15th 2012 at 10:37:59 PM

While I applaud your attention to detail, I really don't think it matters. Yes, your character won't be a real Bulloch (or Jackson). Is that such a big deal?

Writing a post-post apocalypse LitRPG on RR. Also fanfic stuff.
Gareth23 Since: Mar, 2012
#1112: Mar 15th 2012 at 11:50:55 PM

Perhaps not. I'll give it some thought. Here's a harder character to chose a name for: She was born in 1985 too, to American-born Chinese parents in San Francisco. They were pretty thoroughly assimilated, so they gave her a Western personal name (but not one that sounds like anything bad in Chinese). Her surname is Chinese, but it might modified to fit better into English, like "Lee". I can come up with dozens of possibilities, but I'd be interested to see other people's suggestions.

CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1114: Mar 16th 2012 at 7:37:16 AM

[up][up] This should be relevant to your interests. As for the given name, my recommendation is that you trawl the Behind the Name database for something that sounds good.

Also, you are not necessarily confined to time periods. Yes, you do have to observe when names came into use, but that doesn't mean that that's the only time they were used. My name came into use in the 1970s, but I was born in the mid-90s.

[up] Ruthenia, maybe? It was a Latin rendition of Rus, a region where the Eastern Europeans who were the predecessors of the Russian people lived.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
Nightwire Since: Feb, 2010
#1115: Mar 16th 2012 at 8:40:41 AM

[up]Sounds good. But it still reminds one of the actual Russia.

In my world, Not-Russia used to be a colony of Lobotomia (a pastiche of Transylvania/Germany), so I figure it should have a German-esque name.

Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#1116: Mar 16th 2012 at 10:01:35 AM

I'm having a little trouble with the name of one of my post-Cataclysm cultures. In English, "Kingdom of the Lion" sounds awesome, but in Latin, "Regnum Leo" might sound a little strange. I'm not 100% sure, though. Are there any good alternatives, or does it sound good as is? I'd appreciate the feedback. :)

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
jewelleddragon Also known as Katz from Pasadena, CA Since: Apr, 2009
Also known as Katz
#1117: Mar 16th 2012 at 1:36:42 PM

"Of the Lion" would be genitive, so "Regnum Leonis."

edited 16th Mar '12 1:36:53 PM by jewelleddragon

Pattyunknown Makosexual Since: Nov, 2011
Makosexual
#1118: Mar 16th 2012 at 2:14:45 PM

I'm having trouble naming some characters, and also places.

The protagonist, first of all, is a fallen princess (former blue blood, kind of) turned rebel who's initially very vain and haughty with a side order of snobbery. She's also intelligent, sensitive (she tends to pick up on things quite easily) and deep down, quite kind and generous, and becomes a mage as the story progresses. She needs a name.

The leading man is a mercenary who comes across as ruthless, independent, resourceful and a great shot. He seems quite selfish, but underneath it all is a hidden, jaded and rather cynical heart of gold. He also needs a name.

Yes, defrosting seems to be rapidly becoming a theme with my main characters.

My setting needs a name too, a country where the government rebelled against magicians (who were in power before them) and that is now run by a bunch of muggles who will execute anyone hinting that they're magically gifted for the greater good (and the country as a whole is ran quite well), as the magicians really did abuse their power. It would be a slightly futuristic society, with sufficiently advanced technology (not quite Star Wars or crystal spires and togas advanced, but still).

"In the end a gentle heart may be worth more than pride or valor."
jewelleddragon Also known as Katz from Pasadena, CA Since: Apr, 2009
Also known as Katz
#1119: Mar 16th 2012 at 2:18:09 PM

[up]As with all requests of this type, do you have any sort of preferences about what kinds of names you'd like? Real-world names, made-up names, rare or unusually spelled real names? What kind of sounds are you looking for, or cultures do you want to evoke?

draconiansuperior The Draconic Superior from Home, doing stuff Since: May, 2011
The Draconic Superior
#1120: Mar 16th 2012 at 2:22:57 PM

I need something to call my Sentai style Magical Girls. They already have their own names and the like, but they need a codename for when they're fighting their enemies.

Pattyunknown Makosexual Since: Nov, 2011
Makosexual
#1121: Mar 16th 2012 at 2:24:10 PM

[up][up]I really, really should have been more specific, haha. For the names of the characters, something Western (but with a little bit of fantastical...ness (that's now a word (I'm bracketing in your brackets so you can bracket while you bracket, yo))) would be ideal. Similar with the actual country, but if there was something sort of meaningful (like Panem in THG —> Panem et circenses) that would be brilliant.

edited 16th Mar '12 3:01:42 PM by Pattyunknown

"In the end a gentle heart may be worth more than pride or valor."
CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1122: Mar 16th 2012 at 2:59:05 PM

So... you want slightly archaic European names. Also, fix your arrows.

[up][up] Again, is there a specific feel or sound you're going for? Do they follow any sort of theme?

edited 16th Mar '12 3:14:10 PM by CrystalGlacia

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
draconiansuperior The Draconic Superior from Home, doing stuff Since: May, 2011
The Draconic Superior
#1123: Mar 16th 2012 at 3:07:29 PM

[up] The only real theme is the fact their powers are based off of the Greek Fire/Water/Earth/Air/Quintessence elemental system.

CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1124: Mar 16th 2012 at 3:15:04 PM

You could do something Greek or Greek pantheon-based, if only to offer something quick because I have to go.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#1125: Mar 16th 2012 at 4:16:24 PM

[up]Thanks for the help with the name change, jewelleddragon. :)

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!

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