What do you think of when you hear these names?

[I_Write_Ivre]

LadySnark

Not illegal (if you are talking about the Name-book sticky). She's not asking for help naming, she's asking what we think when we hear those names. Like a Rorschach test.

I thought these were included in that. I've seen lots of posts (and made them) just like this.

LadySnark

And technically, as per the rules that you so love to quote, your posts could be deemed as trolling since you aren't answering the question the OP is asking or giving relevant advice.

You men spamming? I checked, this is all legal relevant advice.

LadySnark

I know you think it is relevant, but the advice you are giving her isn't what she needs or is asking for.

Uh, you need to take your own step back. A) this is in the sticky and thus relevant, and B) just because she doesn't want it doesn't make it not advice. We get people flaming, trolling, and stomping their feet over 'please add whitespace'. They do need it. Whether they want it has no bearing on it being advice or not.

I asked mods about this exact issue months ago. I was not reprimanded by you or anyone else and the mods said that yes, this was all legal.

Yes, this does belong in the name sticky according to the last mod I asked. But I can only say it in a way that DOESN'T tell the OP directly. Hence, at best I can steer them to change the idea (heck, a name connotation GAME like the old 'twist that cliche!' thread would be awesome) to something that belonged in the main forum, such as how to deviate form connotations and these as examples, or if name connotation changes over time, or what have you.

Were this in the name thread, I'd just go 'why', chat for a good answer as to why she wants to use/not use them, do what I can, and probably post a follow up.

[Turnilk]

Lady Zyzzyva

I'm starting to work on a mature YA book and I'm planning on having the four main characters be..

I'm curious as to why whatever you are writing would be a YA book instead of in one of the many other categories used for classifying books? Will it not fit into any of them?

Lady Zyzzyva

1]Kendall
2]Fay/Faye (I'm still deciding on the spelling)
3]Brooke
4]Elise

1] Barbie's boyfriend (it is literally one letter and a space away from being "ken doll" )
2] faries or any other closely related magical/mythical creature
3] a stream of water. possibly a babbling one
4] Tales of Xillia 1 and 2 has a character by this name, so she comes to mind when it is mentioned/used

Lady Zyzzyva

I'm really curious to know what people first think of when they see these names, what do you think their personalities would be like. I already have a basic idea of what they're like, but I'd really like to get some input from other people.

What I think of upon hearing/seeing the listed names are listed above.
Although names can bring up thoughts of things, places, and people, personality rarely comes to mind when they are. The only two names I can think of that would bring up personalities for me would be "Simon" and "Alex". Even though I think of personalities when those names are used, I am very much aware that the personalities and the names have no actual connection other than in my own head.

Lady Zyzzyva

Also, I know that a name alone does not tell you someone's personality, but I know when people say certain names, you think certain things and I'd like to know what they are!

Thanks in advance

As I said above, only two names have personalities attached to them for me:
"Simon" because I knew two people named Simon and they were both jerks.
"Alex" because I knew one person named Alex who was fun and generally a really nice guy.

The names you listed just remind me of things. Well, Elise is technically a character in a game, then again, she is fictional, so she might be more of a thing than a person. Ken (Barbie's boyfriend) might also be a character, though fictional like Elise, but mostly he's a toy, so he's a thing in my mind.

Lady Zyzzyva

Names come with connotations. It brings up images, and since names are attached to people, they bring up certain images of the people themselves. I just wanted to know what images were brought about by a list of names.

Perhaps you don't think of a single thing when you hear/see a name, but I do, and I'm sure there are other people out there who do to. I wasn't trying to create a personality for any of my characters, I was just seeing if what I thought matched up with what other people thought.

To give you an example, with Faye, I thought it was a really unusual name. Apparently, it's an old name according to some research, but I thought it was unique. So, she became a really laid-back person, probably with parents who were a little alternative in their thinking and that probably rubbed off on her. I feel like the name suits her. Then, I really develop a character and see what their hopes and dreams and fears are. It's just a starting point.

When I write, I like finding names that suit my characters, not just throw in a random name. Just because I think this way, doesn't mean it's a 'bad shortcut.'.

I once used to take the same method of creating characters. It made me become attached to the names I give them at first because the personalities were attached to them and as such I'd end up with the name "Katie" for an alien on an alien world when none of her entire race has been around humans before. It was weird and out of place so I stopped building characters that way. I also noticed when I named first then built a character, whatever I thought up would color my thoughts about real people with the same or similar names, which was also wrong in my mind.

You can develop everything about a character without attaching a name to them from the start. Does that mean your method is wrong? No, but it could come back to bite you later (see my example above). So, I would suggest if you keep to this method of yours that you at least keep your mind open to the possibility of changing the names later if you need to.

I would also like to mention as was mentioned in other threads, that names suiting the character doesn't really work very well in reality. Outside of a naming ceremony when they've already developed their personality, how exactly would those who give them their names know what their personalities would be when naming them? The name giver would have to be able to see into the future to be able to pull that off. You could do that with a fantasy story of course, but then would everyone have such personality-fitting names or just those with psychic parents or those who were named by the future-seeing person? Why are names so special to the people if they need to put in so much effort into it?

See how the questions just start piling up when you put thought into it?

[SebastiansLittleDoll]

Kendall

Makes me think of Kendall Jenner and her runway-walk-thingies at the last New York fashion week.

Fay/Faye (I'm still deciding on the spelling)

Sounds magical, but it's a tad bit of a weird name. surprised

Brooke

It's a nice name. Kind of reminds me of Brock 'cause the spelling's similar.

Elise

Makes me think the person who has that name is very innocent and saintlike, and pretty.

Why do you ask?

[Altesse Royale]

Lady Zyzzyva

Kendall
Fay/Faye (I'm still deciding on the spelling)
Brooke
Elise

Here's what I got from those names:

Kendall - Erica's nappy-haired daughter on All My Children
Fay/Faye - That red-haired pornstar whose last name is Reagan
Brooke - That slut whose married every Forrester on the Bold and the Beautiful
Elise - That ugly girl from the original 90210

I hope that helps.
sweatdrop

[Wayward King]

I can't believe people are trying to start a fight with the OP about this instead of just answering the question.

Yes, personalities are important, but names do have an influence about how readers view characters? If you were reading a book and a character with the name Gertrude came up, you'd think "elderly lady, probably not very attractive" because it's not a nice sounding name. On the other hand, something such as "Becky" would make you think of a teenager, and I personally think braces when I think "Becky."

OP isn't asking if people Like the names; she's asking what people think when they first see it since most people will automatically apply traits to that character and it's a part of writing to play with these kinds of first impressions people get.

Apart from that, when I read those names I get:

Kendall. I think of a more athletic kind of girl, probably a tom boy type. Probably born within the past decade or two.

Fay/Faye. Not going to lie, I think of wannabe special snowflakes who are like. "My name is [normal name] but call me Faye." Probably into magic and probably around 10-13 years old.

Brooke. A quiet girl who is either into ocean life or nature. Probably about twenty years old, give or take.

Elise. Nothing really prominent comes to mind when I see this name except maybe someone who is more book smart and probably blond. It's a good name. I can imagine it for someone of any age.

[I_Write_Ivre]

Pumpkin Priest

Yes, personalities are important, but names do have an influence about how readers view characters? If you were reading a book and a character with the name Gertrude came up, you'd think "elderly lady, probably not very attractive" because it's not a nice sounding name. On the other hand, something such as "Becky" would make you think of a teenager, and I personally think braces when I think "Becky."

OP isn't asking if people Like the names; she's asking what people think when they first see it since most people will automatically apply traits to that character and it's a part of writing to play with these kinds of first impressions people get.

I and others have pointed out we don't do this.

I'm also wondering why telling the OP to focus on story and follow the rules is 'fighting' when they're in the WF stickies. If it's fighting, what are the stickies for, decoration?

[Wayward King]

I_Write_Ivre

I and others have pointed out we don't do this.

I'm also wondering why telling the OP to focus on story and follow the rules is 'fighting' when they're in the WF stickies. If it's fighting, what are the stickies for, decoration?

Just because YOU don't do it doesn't mean that OTHER PEOPLE don't do it, clearly.

The OP is following rules. OP isn't asking "Do you like this name?" The OP is asking what us, the general public who will someday read her story, what we imagine when when hear the names. It's perfectly fine the the creative process to use names to imply certain things or to use what people expect from seeing a name/word initially and turning it on its head.

Not to mention, you don't know what the OP is doing behind the scenes. The OP could be focusing completely on the story and just dropped onto gaia to ask other writers something to work out some finishing details of the story. Maybe a character arc. Do you know? No.

So instead of trying to "help" the OP by just talking about a sticky and not answering the question presented, you can either actually answer or you can stop.

[I_Write_Ivre]

Pumpkin Priest

I_Write_Ivre

I and others have pointed out we don't do this.

I'm also wondering why telling the OP to focus on story and follow the rules is 'fighting' when they're in the WF stickies. If it's fighting, what are the stickies for, decoration?

Just because YOU don't do it doesn't mean that OTHER PEOPLE don't do it, clearly.

So just because the rules post that many people don't and that an another shouldn't think about this given that when people do, they will never match up doesn't mean the rules should be followed?

Pumpkin Priest

The OP is following rules. OP isn't asking "Do you like this name?" The OP is asking what us, the general public who will someday read her story, what we imagine when when hear the names. It's perfectly fine the the creative process to use names to imply certain things or to use what people expect from seeing a name/word initially and turning it on its head.

I checked, This is illegal. I The name sticky covers this topic as well. I even asked a mod (which I already mentioned).

Pumpkin Priest

Not to mention, you don't know what the OP is doing behind the scenes. The OP could be focusing completely on the story and just dropped onto gaia to ask other writers something to work out some finishing details of the story. Maybe a character arc. Do you know? No.

I do know she's wasting time on this and shouldn't. That's good enough to know about anyone. It's not something any author should do.

Pumpkin Priest

So instead of trying to "help" the OP by just talking about a sticky and not answering the question presented, you can either actually answer or you can stop.

I notice you don't like people fighting, you choose to fight yourself. What you brought up has been addresses already and you know that because you're angry someone was already told all this.

You being angry doesn't go back in time and make me not ask a mod. It doesn't rewrite rules. It doesn't mean the OP should NOT be doing this. It doesn't mean you couldn't have done the logical thing of PMing the OP, if the issue were that important.

[Alberic of Krufton]

Seems like a fun experiment, I'll bite.

Kendall: Male, sort of preppy but laid-back. Maybe naive. Athletic.
Fay/Faye: Ha, I know someone we call Fae, and she's a beer-swilling, foul-mouthed lesbian. The name itself, though, makes me think of someone kinda introverted and peaceful, kind of an Aquarius personality. Mystical or otherworldly.
Brooke: Modern, feminine. Social butterfly, maybe haughty and vain to some extent.
Elise: Retiring and understated, maybe old-fashioned. Someone who retreats into books or daydreams.

Hm, wonder where those personal associations come from? Now I want to check actual etymology, see what each is 'supposed' to invoke.

[Turnilk]

Pumpkin Priest

I can't believe people are trying to start a fight with the OP about this instead of just answering the question.

I am/was not trying to start a fight, nor do I see anyone else doing so. Perhaps you'd like to point out specifically what posts you are referring to?

In my post I did in fact answer the question. I also advised the OP to be open to changing the names because sometimes it is needed. I'm not going to repeat myself as to why (because its long), so you'll have to find my other post an read it for yourself.

Pumpkin Priest

1]Yes, personalities are important, but names do have an influence about how readers view characters? 2] If you were reading a book and a character with the name Gertrude came up, you'd think "elderly lady, probably not very attractive" 3] because it's not a nice sounding name. On the other hand, something such as 4]"Becky" would make you think of a teenager, and I personally think braces when I think "Becky."

1] This sentence is written as a statement, but has a question mark at the end. I'm confused, are you asking people or telling them?
2] Wrong. I think of a young girl in a ruffled dress with braided pig tails with red ribbons tied in bows at the ends, yodeling while sitting on a rock in a open field with mountains in the background. This could be because I knew of a german character in a movie or tv show that had braided pig tails and the name Gertrude. She was middle aged and wasn't wearing a ruffled dress though. Don't know where I got that.
3] According to whom? You? If you are saying your opinion and what you picture is what most people picture, you are so very wrong. The people who name their children "Gertrude" do so when the child is young, so they'd probably say they liked the name enough to give it to their kid. A new born at the time of naming. Not an old lady.
4] Correct this time. Sort of... The name Becky makes me think of a brunette in late highschool years in the '50s who studies hard and has a lot of friends. Why do I associate the name with the 1950s? Maybe because of the Archie comics my dad would buy for me once in a while in combination with a movie I saw titled "Pleasant Ville". Actually, if there were a person named "Becky" from the '50s around today, she'd be in her sixties. Should it be mandatory that she change her name because it doesn't "sound" like a name an old lady would have?

Pumpkin Priest

OP isn't asking if people Like the names; she's asking what people think when they first see it since most people will automatically apply traits to that character and it's a part of writing to play with these kinds of first impressions people get.

And...? The impressions people get shouldn't have any bearing on a character's personality, because that is not how it works in reality. If it did, it would suggest the name giver had some sort of psychic ability and/or the ability to see into the future. You might be able to pull of that sh*t in a story with fantasy elements, not so much with anything else unless the characters chose their own names or changed them at some point.

Pumpkin Priest

The OP is following rules. OP isn't asking "Do you like this name?" 5] The OP is asking what us, the general public 6]who will someday read her story, what we imagine when when hear the names. It's perfectly fine the the creative process to 7]use names to imply certain things or to use what people expect from seeing a name/word initially and turning it on its head.

5]We are not the general public. We are a small portion of the public that do not represent the majority. If the OP wanted the general public's opinion, he/she should set up a poll and asked people on many different many websites across the web what they thought. He/she could also do this in person an area with a lot of foot traffic, though that would still be a small portion of the general public.
6] We don't actually know if we will ever read this story.
7] True, a name can be used to imply something, however it only works if the audience knows the meaning of the name already. If you should be one of those people who don't know what it means, then it is nothing more than a name. If you are one of the ones that does know the meaning of the name, then congrats on you being in-the-loop. Though most people won't know the meaning of a name or bother to look it up. And it gets worse if it is based on random people's opinions or the author's own opinion, because then it becomes impossible to know unless the author tells people. Even then not everyone is going to know.

Pumpkin Priest

Not to mention, you don't know what the OP is doing behind the scenes. The OP could be focusing completely on the story and just dropped onto gaia to ask other writers something to work out some finishing details of the story. Maybe a character arc. Do you know? No.

I could ask you the same question and get the same answer.

Pumpkin Priest

So instead of trying to "help" the OP by just talking about a sticky and not answering the question presented, you can either actually answer or you can stop.

There are a number of things we can do that don't include those options.

Also, are you advocating that the OP should get in trouble? Not telling him/her they are breaking the rules suggests that you are. Either that or you ignore rules you don't like, which could lead to bad things.

[Ami Satomora]

seriously guys, if you feel that deeply that a thread is in the wrong report it and move on, making a big public spectacle about it helps no one, at all, it's seriously a headache to see such backlash over something minor.

Now that I finally got that off my chest

I'll bite OP

Kendall - Probably someone young. I wouldn't say trendy, maybe a more homely person.
Fay/Faye (I'm still deciding on the spelling)-I think of Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bepop. But my second thought is like an elf. Someone knowing in things all magical. Probably comes in and doing most of protective magical beam things.
Brooke-This sound like a trendy girl. Probably spends a lot of time being social. The kind of person you naturally gravitate towards
Elise - Hmm, someone cultured. Like they are polite 24/7 it's really hard to get them out of that proper mold but once they do they really shine.