Question Home

Position:Home>Books & Authors> Character name help: What names make you think of someone with much beauty, yet


Question: Character name help: What names make you think of someone with much beauty, yet much strength and ambition!?
I am writing a novel, but I keep on changing the first name of my lead female character!. Here's a quick bio to help you get the idea of who she is:

She's 14 years old, and a rebellious ball of fire!. Her beauty is one that not many people will come across in their lifetime; yet she isn't vain at all, rather, kind, and thoughtful!. She is very strong, mentally and physically, and she isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in!.

I've had many ideas for names, but I keep it keeps on changing!.

At first I thought Reese, because it's a welsh name meaning, "Running," and in a way that fits her personality, because she's not someone who would want to stand still, and, it's a name that, in general, reminds me of Strength!. But, the problem is, is that my lead character discovers her strength later on in the novel, and I don't want to pick a name that just screams the entire plot from beginning to end!. I do generally love the name though!.

Then, I thought Bridget, but it doesn't have that balance that I'm looking for!. I'm looking for something that has an equal balance, that reminds me of strength, yet beauty, all at the same time!. Bridget sounds more like a name for a more minor character!.

I also thought about Mia, but I feel as if, in using that name, I'd be stealing from another book series, The Princess Diaries!. I try to avoid making my work simular to the work of other authors, because as a writer myself, I know that I wouldn't be happy if someone took my ideas, or thought up something entirely simular to my work!.

I also thought of the name Jess, but that reminds me more of strength, and less of beauty, unless her full name is Jessica, which goes along with both very nicely, but I wouldn't use because I know several Jessica's, and I'm trying not to use any names simular to any one's that I know!.

Now, I'm considering changing it to Elizabeth, because it evens itself out on the scale, and I think of power and beauty!. But, I'm having second thoughts, because it's a bit overused as a name on TV, in books, movies!.!.!.ect!. It is indeed a beautiful name, along with all of the others I am considering!.

I need your opinion!. If you have any other name suggestions, please don't hesitate to tell!. Thank you!

-ToriWww@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I can certainly sympathize! I've had the same problem whenever I try to start a story!.

I agree that you probably shouldn't use names of people you know, even though, since most people have met and remember (to some degree) over 300 people (think high school, college, etc!.), this can be a hassle!.

Names that are overused can quickly lose their meaning!. Elizabeth still works, but perhaps not for long!.

I also agree that you should try to avoid using names from popular movies -- it sort of categorizes your character before your readers know anything about her!.

Maybe try a random name generator!? I've included some as sources!. You can typically sort by ethnicity, meaning, etc!.

One reminder: don't get too hung up on meaning!. Very few people (at least that I know) will take the time or energy to look up the meaning of a name!. I've got a source linking to an article about what's in a name!.

Now suggestions:
*Rachel -- casual, fairly common, but seems 'balanced' to me!.
*Christine/Christina -- sounds pretty, and can be shortened to Chris for a nickname
*Ariana/Arianna -- Maybe a little too fluffy, maybe not!. Ana or Anna for short, quick and easy, sounds beautiful!.
*Alana/Alaina/Alana -- perhaps overused, perhaps not!. Maybe I'm biased (Song of the Lioness Series by Tamora Pierce), but Alanna (any spelling), which can be shortened to Aly (or Ally), is pretty, but definetly not girly-girl!.
*Victoria -- Vicky or Tori as nicknames, pretty and not overused!.
*Natalie/Natalia -- Nat, Tali, or Talia can be nicknames!. I'm sort of biased to this one, too, it's very pretty, and the name of someone I've met but don't know well!.
*Madeline/Madison -- becomes Maddy, Maddie, Madi, etc!. for a nickname, pretty and common enough, but can definetly be a strong name as well!.

Overall, like you said with Jess, pretty names usually work to show strength as welll, especially if you can pull a nickname out of it!. But no matter what the name, even Gertrude or Beatrice, it's the character that makes the name, not the other way around!.

Good luck, and hope I helped! :)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Katherine-Pure

Regina-queen

Jade-'Precious green stone'

These names make me think of someone with much beauty and yet strength and ambition!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Renelda,Tori, Delina, could be a bunchWww@QuestionHome@Com

Maureen
Celia
Dianna
MariaWww@QuestionHome@Com

I think that Jaycee fits all of those things quite nicely! Www@QuestionHome@Com

Dana because that's my name and I represent strength and I want to be a writer someday
Audrey:means strength
Lydia: because the woman I know who has that name is an amazing woman
Amira or Amiracle: it's just beautifulWww@QuestionHome@Com