What's In A Name?

What's In A Name?

• Oct 22, 2013

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic asked bloggers to list either the top ten character names they love or the top ten unusual character names. To be honest, I just didn't feel that inspired by the topic. I knew I'd have to spend a long time looking at my bookshelf or scouring Goodreads to come up with ten names. Why? Well, I think I usually find the character a lot more memorable than the name they're given. I know the two should go hand-in-hand, but they don't always for me.

Sometimes, I'll find myself working on a review with characters that I ADORED, but I'll still have to flip back through the book to make sure I'm remembering their name correctly. Isn't that terrible? It typically only happens when I've let too much time pass in between finishing a book and writing the review, but still... 

I did, however, start thinking about when parents name their kids after characters in literature. The inspiration for what to name your baby can come from anywhere, and I know that it's not uncommon for bookish people to reflect their literary love in the naming of their babies. No, I'm not pregnant, but I do have a lot of friends who have started having babies... And, what can I say, it's put babies on my brain!

Would I name a future baby after a character I loved? I'm really not sure! But here are a few I'd consider:

Anne - I probably wouldn't use this as a first name since my name is Hannah, and those are a little too similar to each other to be used as the first name for my future offspring. I would, however, consider using this for a middle name. I love classic, traditional names so this is obviously right up my alley. It also helps that this is one of my favorite characters ever written.

Blythe - As much as I love Gilbert, I just can't see myself giving a little boy that name. It's just a little too out-of-date for my taste. Plus, I'm pretty sure everyone and their mother would know exactly why I gave my baby that name. But I would love to use his last name for a girl's first name! The mister isn't a fan, so it's not likely to happen but in my imagination this would totally work.

William - Look, I can't use Fitzwilliam because of obvious reasons but I'd totally turn it into William for my future little boy. It's another classic, traditional name. I like that it's not obviously literary (like if you named a boy Gilbert) so it's not like everyone would immediately know that I'm nerdy enough to name my kid after a fictional character. Not that I mind being nerdy...

Elizabeth - Like Anne, this is another really popular and classic name. It's also one I'd be more likely to use as a middle name than a first name, but that's just because I'd prefer to pick something with a little more personal meaning for my future baby's first name. I also particularly love it shortened to Beth. 

Have you ever named something after a favorite fictional character?

What names would you consider for future babies or furbabies?