So, as I mentioned in a comment on my last post, I am now considering changing the names of my characters (since their personalities have all changed anyway), stopping calling this project a "rewrite," and just think of it as a brand-new project working from the same basic premise as the original.
Which might be smart, because last night it suddenly took a sharp plot turn I hadn't seen coming, and now I'm scrambling to catch up and figure out where we're going now. I haven't had a story get this out of my grasp (and this far away from the outline) in ages. It's both scary and fun - I love that it's taken on life of its own, but I hate the uncertainty of not knowing where the heck we're going, and trying to figure out when I can make it intersect again with the outline.
Anyway. I'm keeping the Welsh flavor, because I love that culture, and because I've already done a great deal of study on it.
And here's where you guys come in: I need opinions on names!
MC Current Name: Tesni (means warmth from the sun).
New Choices: Catrin ("pure"); Efa ("to live"); Nest ("chaste"); Nerys ("lady"); Rhian ("maiden"); Tegwen ("fair and blessed").
(She is very tall and sturdy, plain features, crooked nose, muddy eyes, mouse-colored frizzy hair. She is extremely practical, with a wry sense of humor, and is self-sacrificing to a fault because she doesn't consider herself of any value at all.)
Romantic Interest Current Name: Gwyn ("white, fair, blessed").
New Choices: Wynn (same meaning as the first); Neirin ("noble"); Iolyn ("handsome lord"); Gethin (swarthy").
(He is short, stocky, curly black hair and bright blue eyes, square face. Reassuring type of person, calm and accepting of almost any situation without surprise, feels the need to do something for the world as he has lived in sheltered privilege his entire life and only recently escaped.)
MC Sister (also victim and sort of bad guy) Current Name: Elain ("fawn").
New Choices: Anwen ("very beautiful"); Elin ("moon").
(Beautiful in a traditional fairy-tale way, but weak and vapid. Is usually crying or whining.)
Those are the three main names I'm struggling with. The others I've either already chosen or don't need to settle yet.
Which would you pick? I'm also open to other suggestions, if you have them - my only stipulation is that they must be Welsh, and not modern!
I'd have to vote for Catrin, Wynn and Elin; they all sound a bit like something you could hear everyday, so my guess is they'd be less likely to alienate readers who aren't necessarily addicted to fantasy, but who might pick your book up off the shelf and scan the back cover to see if it interests them ;)
ReplyDeleteI love Welsh names. The only problem is when it comes to people reading them--because Welsh names are sometimes pronounced differently than they look. My current books (book 1 and 2) use a lot of Welsh and Scottish names. One of my main characters is Mairwyn, which is Welsh, but the "ai" is pronounced like "eye" so it's said "mire-win." I think I'm going to need some kind of pronunciation guide at the beginning. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think for the sister, I'd go for Elin, but I'm totally biased. "Anwen" is REALLY close to my daughter's name, so that's what I think of when I see that name. ;)
I think Wynn reminds me of a girl's name. I kind of like Iolyn or Gethin, but that might depend on how Iolyn is pronounced?
I like Rhian or Catrin for the first one. :)
I think it's important to pick names that don't pull the reader out of the story because they don't know how to pronounce them, which is why I wouldn't chose Iolyn or Nerys. The other names are all lovely. Isn't it great as an author that you can just go and do what you want?
ReplyDeleteOne thing to remember--try to make sure all the names start with different letters. It makes it easier for the reader to keep everyone straight. (I've had books where three characters had names beginning with "m".)
ReplyDeleteAndrea - as usual, you make an excellent point! Finding names that are still traditional but work for the modern ear is definitely one aspect I hadn't considered, but will now.
ReplyDeleteLaura - From what I understand of the Welsh language (I've been promising to teach myself Welsh for years now, even have all the materials, just can't get around to starting with all the other projects I have happening), Iolyn would be pronounced YO-lin. And now I'm really curious about your daughter's name!
Elle - Tricky pronunciation is definitely another good point to consider. I do so love the freedom that comes with being a writer!
Connie - Yes, different letters are a must. And if one must have the same letter starting two characters' names, make sure they aren't close to the same length, or have any syllables or sounds in common! It gets so confusing otherwise.
Great tips and hints, all! Thank you so much!
I loved Efa as soon as I saw it. The boy names are a little femme, so I picked Gethin. For sister, I like Elin. It's nice that the girls both start with an E. Good luck! All the names are really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI like Gethin for the guy. Kind of most partial to Elin. But I think I like the original Tesni best for the protag! But then, I don't know the character so can't say as well as you can!
ReplyDeleteLydia - I hadn't even made the connection between the "E" possibility for starting both names; definitely something to consider!
ReplyDeleteRockinlibrarian - Since picking Tesni for the protag way back at the beginning of this story's journey (quite a while ago now), I've become so fond of the name that I've started recommending it as a baby name to friends! It really is awfully pretty, I think.