Ever

Meaning: (Ever's timeless quality would make this evocative word a positive middle name choice for a boy or girl. Alanis Morissette and Souleye named their son Ever Imre.
Ever also seems to have ties to a Scandinavian name meaning "wild as a boar" and a Hebrew name meaning "beyond,"-- a variation of the name Eber. Ever is a name we first heard via the now grown-up Ever Carradine, daughter of Robert. It's a truly unusual and simple name with an evocative meaning. Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson chose it for their daughter.
Ever has ties to (primarily male) names in the Scandinavian and Hebrew cultures.)

Origin: (Latin, Scottish, English, Scandinavian, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (EH-ver)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I actually quite like the using Ever as a name. I think it is a name not used too often but has a good sound to it and is easy for everyone to say as it is a common word.

Why I believe Character Naming is Important

It has taken me a while to get to this. A few people on Yahoo Answers have stated they don't agree with me on the importance of a character's name. Everyone is free to have their own opinion. Since I haven't been able to tell each of them why I believe character names are important I have decided to write about it on this blog.

Most people say the plot and how you write the story is important and I agree. But to say the naming of any one character isn't I don't agree. I think in most cases the story popularized a name not vise versa. Example: Harry Potter (Harry Potter Series), Edward Cullen (Twilight Saga), Elizabeth Bennett (Pride & Prejudice) the list can go on. The characters could easily be named something else and probably be just as popular. But the Author must have given thought to the Right Name for their character.

Personally I like to look at the nationality of the characters as that in my opinion is an important factor. I also like to find a name with a good meaning. The meaning doesn't have to do with the characters personality as that personality doesn't become clear when someone is just born. I mean I go for a meaning that I like and a name that I think fits the story and character best. Like I will name a character Serenity just because I think the name is beautiful and would have been a name the characters parents would have named her. That character became the antagonist within the story. In that way look at Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker wasn't born and name Darth Vader. The name and significance of the name Anakin was from the mother and George Lucas chose it that way for a reason. So I don't choose a name meaning based on what the character becomes later on. If need be I have the character change their name to coincide with their new role in the novel.

Each person has a different way of choosing a name for their character. I think people should do more research into a name. I don't think a name defines anyone but I think a name creates different feelings and reactions to that name. So I think giving more thought when naming a character isn't a bad thing. Of course like I said every Author has their own way of coming up with character names. You do what is most comfortable for you and I will do the same for my stories.

I hope this has made a little sense to anyone reading this and that it tells you all why I think more Importance should be laid on Character Names.

Lorna

Meaning: (Fox, Laurel, Bay, Lost, Forsaken, Believed to be Created by Richard Doddridge Blackmore from a Scottish place name, Lorn, and used for the heroine of his 19th-century romantic novel "Lorna Doone". Was published in 1869. Records show it was in use before Blackmore's novel.)

Origin: (Scottish, Latin, Old-English)

Pronunciation: (LOR-nah, LOHR-nə, LAWR-nə)

Gender: Female

I first heard this name on Doctor Who. This character Lorna Bucket helped the Doctor's Companions in the episode "A Good Man Goes to War". I really love this name for some reason. I think it is pretty and rare and unique.

Meadow

Meaning: (A Meadow, Grassy Field, Field of Grass or Vegetation)

Origin: (English, English Nature Name)

Pronunciation: (MEH-doh)

Gender: Female

I think Meadow is a pretty cute name. I don't think too many people use this name. I think in a novel this would be a pretty unique name to use.

Patrese or Patrice

Meaning: (Noblewoman, Of Noble Decent)

Origin: (Latin)

Pronunciation: (pah-TREES)

Gender: Female

This name is a variant of Patricia and I like it a lot better because it is used less and sounds more unique. I heard this name on Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader. One of the contestants had this name.

Aksana or Oksana

Meaning: (Praise God, Glory to God, Welcoming, Derived from the Greek Xenia (hospitality), which is from Xenos (a guest, stranger)

Origin: (Russian, Hebrew, Slavic)

Pronunciation: (ahk-SAH-nah)

Gender: Female

I heard this name on WWE Smack Down. I have heard this name before but I guess I forgot about it until I heard it on there. I like the name and the meaning as well.

Avalon

Meaning: (Apple Tree, Island of Apples, Celtic mythology: Avalon is an island paradise. In Arthurian legend, it is the island where King Arthur took refuge after his final defeat, and whence he will reappear. The name of this island is perhaps related to Welsh afal meaning "apple", a fruit which was often linked with paradise.)

Origin: (Celtic, Welsh, English (Rare)

Pronunciation: (AV-a-lahn, AV-ə-lahn, Go to this site and run your cursor over Avalon to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=avalon&submit=Submit)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I really love the meaning and look of this name. I have quite a few names on my blog which were in the Arthurian Legend. I think this name is unique and I would love to see an Author use this name in there novel.

Octavia

Meaning: (Eighth, Eighth Child, Feminine form of Octavius. A clan name of Roman emperors used often in Victorian times. Octavia was the wife of Mark Antony and the sister of Roman emperor Augustus. In 19th-century England it was sometimes given to the eighth-born child.)

Origin: (Latin, Italian)

Pronunciation: (ock-TAHV-yah, ock-TAY-vee-ah, ahk-TAY-vee-ə, Go to this site and run your cursor over Octavia to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=octavia&submit=Submit)

Gender: Female


I read this name on Yahoo Answers and I really came to like it. I think I like the sound of the name the best followed by the look of it. It is a name that can be used in modern times and in a Historical Fiction as it is a name from the Roman times. It is a unique but not strange name.

Phoebe

Meaning: (Bright, Radiant, Shining, Moon, Pure, Bright One, Biblical: a Christian woman who aided Paul and others. Greek mythology: a reference to Phoebus Apollo, the god of light. Name of the first flycatcher to migrate to Wisconsin each spring. The bird gets its name from its call which is a sharp "Phoebe!". The name became more common in the 18th century and is familiar in modern times due to the fictional character Phoebe Buffay on the "Friends" TV series. In Greek mythology Phoibe was a Titan associated with the moon. In England, it began to be used as a given name after the Protestant Reformation.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (FEE-bee, Go to this site and run your cursor over Phoebe to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=phoebe&submit=Submit)

Gender: Female

I think Phoebe is a nice name with a nice meaning. It isn't used too often in Literature. It has a great look and sound to it. I have used this name in one of my novels and I really like it. It could fit in many different genres and could fit in a multitude of eras.

Morgana

Meaning: (Bright Sea, Circling sea or great brightness; bright or white sea dweller, Great Circle)

Origin: (Welsh, Old-English)

Pronunciation: (MOR-g-ana, MOR-GAH-NA, MOR-GAN-A.)

Gender: Female


Uses of Morgana in Film and Literature: Morgana is an alternate name for the character Morgan le Fay in Arthurian legend. Morgana, a villain from Power Rangers: S.P.D. Morgana, the villain of the Disney film The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. Morgana, a DC comics character. Morgana, a character in the animated television series Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders. Morgana Macawber, a Darkwing Duck character.

I like the name even with its use on negative characters and most notably in the Arthurian Legend. I think it is a beautiful name. I think it spices up the name Morgan.

Lydon

Meaning: (Descendant Of Lodan, From the Linden Tree Hill, This very interesting English surname is locational. It is derived from villages in Kent and the West Country of England and specifically the counties of Devon and Somerset. The place name and hence the later surname means the dweller at the place of the loud water, from the Olde English pre 7th century word "hlyde" meaning loud. In this context it probably described a waterfall, with the suffix of "-dun", meaning a hill or a place on a hill. The village of Lydden, near Dover in the county of Kent, is still a prominent place, however the village of Lyddon which may have existed in the Somerset area of the West Country, is either Lidden in the neighbouring county of Dorset, which seems likely, or is one of the five thousand or so now "lost" medieval villages and hamlets, of which the only surviving public memory is the modern surname. Early examples of the surname taken from surviving rolls and charters include Adam de Lyddone in Kirby's "History of Somerset" in 1328, whilst in 1543 Johanna Lydden of Whitstable, Kent, married John White, and in 1800 William Lyddon married Bessey Goldsmith at St. Georges chapel, Hanover Square, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Lydone. This was dated 1273, in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset. This was during the reign of King Edward Ist of England, 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Lydon#ixzz1VzVYZ8ip)

Origin: (English, Teutonic, German)

Pronunciation: (LIE-duhn)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I saw and heard this name on an Episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. I really liked the look and sound of the name. It is rarely used as a given name it is more of a locational surname. I think that makes this name even better seeing it is used very little. It is mostly a male name but I could see a female being named this.

Surnames

Amir

Shalom

Angel

Wellington

Garcia

Powell

Lichtenstein

Eckstein

Kindle

Lindale

Liddell

Kendal

Rogers

Temple

Meyer

Flagge

Cooke

Cooker

Holt

Whitney

Eden

Randal

Castle

Johnson

Smith

Anderson

Winfield

Meaning: (Friend's Field, Kind Field)

Origin: (Old-English)

Pronunciation: (WIN-field)

Gender: Male


Winfield another place name and usually used as a surname. It is a name that would be interesting to see used in a novel as a first name of a character. I can see an english Lord being named this.

Winthrop

Meaning: (Friend's Village, Wine's Village)

Origin: (Old-English)

Pronunciation: (WIN-throp, WIHNTHRahP, Go to this site and run your cursor over Winthrop to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=winthrop&submit=Submit)

Gender: Male

Winthrop is a place name used more often as a Surname than a given name. It is one of those names that you could see on a person of grandeur....ex. Winthrop Voltaire IV or Winthrop Van Cartier III.

Dannika or Dannikka or Danica

Meaning: (Morning Star, From Denmark, There is a famous and expensive Royal Copenhagen china pattern known as "Flora Danica", or "Flowers of Denmark". )

Origin: (Latin, Slavic, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (DAN-i-kah, Da-nik-a, daw-nika, DAh-nee-tsah, DA-nee-tsah, DA-ni-kə)

Gender: Female


I heard and saw this name the other day on one of those Hoarders shows. One of the professional organizers brought in was named Dannikka. I thought the name was unique and pretty. The Pronunciation various from person to person which can be a bit of a down fall.

Kendall

Meaning: ("the Kent river valley". Place name: a river in the west of England. Also possibly "bright river valley". Used as a given name since the 19th century.)

Origin: (Old-English)

Pronunciation: (KEN-dal)

Gender: Uni-Sex


I told someone on Yahoo Answers I might put there name on here. Kendall is an alright name but one of the reasons I don't much care for it is because Kim, Kloe & Kourtney Kardashian one of there half sisters is named Kendall. Too much hype around the Kardashians as of late. Kendall is a nice name and could be nice in a variety of novels.

Haven

Meaning: (Safe Place, A place of safety, Sanctuary; Shelter, Refuge)

Origin: (Old-English)

Pronunciation: (HAY-ven, HAY-vin, Go to this site and run your cursor over Haven to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=haven&submit=Submit)

Gender: Uni-Sex


Traditionally a male name it is now being used for females. Jessica Alba named her second daughter Haven. I think it is a beautiful meaningful name. I have only heard of places being named Haven I didn't know people were named Haven as well. But I really liked it once I saw it.

Zara or Zarah

Meaning: (Radiance, Shining, Flower, Blossoming Flower, Splendor, Dawn, Yahweh has Remembered, Princess, Lady, Literary name often used for exotic characters. It was first introduced to English speakers via literature, used by William Congreve for the name of an African queen in his tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697). It appeared again shortly after, as the title of the play Zara (1735), Aaron Hill's translation of Volaire's tragedy Zaïre (1733). The first name was however rarely used till the mid-20th century. It was later chosen by Princess Anne and Mark Philips of Britain for their daughter Zara Philips (1981-); the departure from royalty naming convention generated much discussion then. Their choice of the name did not boost its popularity until Zara Philips became famous in her own right in recent times. The trendy Spanish clothing retailer Zara (1975-) could have also increased the adoption of the name.)

Origin: (Arabic, Hebrew, African, Swahili)

Pronunciation: (ZR-ah, ZAERah, ZAH-rə)

Gender: Female

This is a name that can be substituted for Sara or Sarah. As you see under meanings it has been used often in literature and more for an exotic character. It is a beautiful name with a lovely meaning.

Endora

Meaning: (Fountain)

Origin: (Greek, Hebrew, Hawaiian)

Pronunciation: (en-DOHR-ə)

Gender: Female

I really like names with Dora in it. Endora is growing on me *Slowly*. I like the meaning a lot as well. It is a good name that to me seems a bit old fashioned but rare as well.

Jaeger

Meaning: (Hunter, Huntsman, The similar sounding Jagur, a biblical place name, is an Aramaic name meaning "heap of stones; marker".)

Origin: (German)

Pronunciation: (English/American: JAY-ger, German: YAY-ger)

Gender: Male

I saw Jaeger the other day on T.V it was the last name of some person. I thought how cool would that last name be as a first name. I looked up the meaning and I really liked it. It is a very masculine name and a great alternative for the name Hunter. It wouldn't fit in every story but I think it is a great name.

Venice

Meaning: (Love, Desire, Happiness, Luck, Place name: Venice, the "city of canals" in Italy. Used since the 17th century. Its source is Venetia, a Latin name meaning "Home people." The name of the northern Italian city, famed for its canals, was derived from that of its first inhabitants. The Venetia gathered there to escape the barbarian invasions that plagued the Italian peninsula after the fall of Rome.
By 700 A.D. the first doge, or chief magistrate, was presiding over Venice's government. So began the commercial and political rise of the Venetian Republic, a powerful city-state that lasted well into the 16th century.
This name's Indo-European root probably was also ancestor to the name of the Roman goddess of love, Venus)

Origin: (Latin, Italian, Welsh)

Pronunciation: (VEH-nis, Go to this site and run your cursor over Venice to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=venice&submit=Submit)

Gender: Female

Venice is one of my favorite Italian cities. I have never been but I have always wanted to go there. Venice is another pretty place name that isn't used too often. I think it is a beautiful name and looks like a beautiful city.

Verona

Meaning: (Bearer of Victory, True Image, Victory Bringer, Variant form of the English, Italian, and Romanian name Veronica. Also name of an Italian City where William Shakespeare's play Romeo & Juliet was based.)

Origin: (American, Dutch, German, Greek)

Pronunciation: (VER-ona, VER-ohna, Go to this site and run your cursor over Verona to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=verona&submit=Submit )

Gender: Female

I have recently become interested in the city of Verona. The other night I thought wouldn't it be cool to have a character named Verona. The name is just cool looking and sounding. I saw it was a variant of Veronica which I don't much care for that name. So I would stick to just Verona. It's a nice place name too that isn't used too often.

Catherine or Katherine or Kathryn

Meaning: (Pure, Pure Maiden, The name was borne a semi-legendary 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on a spiked wheel. The saint was initially venerated in Syria, and the name was introduced to Western Europe by returning crusaders. It has been common in England since the 12th century in many different spellings, with Katherine and Catherine becoming standard in the later Middle Ages.
Famous bearers of the name include Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century mystic, and Catherine de' Medici, a 16th-century French queen. It was also borne by three of Henry VIII's wives, including Katherine of Aragon, and by two empresses of Russia, including Catherine the Great.)

Origin: (Greek, English)

Pronunciation: (KATH-ə-rin, KATH-rin, KATH-er-in)

Gender: Female

Catherine is the name of Prince Williams Wife. So it will become quite popular soon because of the Royal Wedding that took place in April. Catherine "Kate or Katie or Kat" is a nice traditional name. I first liked the name Catherine when I watched Star Trek Voyager where the Captain was Kathryn Janeway. I liked that she was the first in the series to be seen as a Captain. Being a traditional name with many variations of spellings it can fit in many different genres and eras.