Character Names

My character names are usually a bit traditional, e.g. 3 different Marys, 2 Lucys, and 2 Janes & 2 Amelias
Sometimes they have a nod towards a previously existing character, and one real person.

I do think that character names are important, as they will contain a piece of the character's nature and can give the reader a clue as to what the character is like, for better or worse. Sally & Jane were Everywoman, whereas Sharon & Tracy were hinting at a slight Essex Girl vibe, though in reality they weren't.

Obviously as a writer one can't know how any given reader might respond to a name, but the general population's reaction might well change over time as a real life owner of that name becomes notorious and thus affect a previously neutral name.

Of course then there are those named for fun like Mr Burchall and Professor Gluteus.

One more thing that I do with character names is to Google them - just to be sure I haven't used the name of someone in the news, whose name I might have picked up subconsciously!

TheEnglishMaster

I've only got two letters of the alphabet to go, though I admit I had to invent a fictitious Greek goddess - Xylisma (from the Greek word for spanking) - in order to get the letter 'X'!

Fun topic!

For me, sometimes a name will just pop up in my head, and other times I Google a list of common names (and especially surnames, those tend to be more difficult for me) for whatever geographical location makes sense for the story, and pick some. For Dutch characters I try to pick something that also works in English, or at least isn't a complete tongue breaker.

For Sweet Revenge I used some anagrams. For Author Regrets as well as Sweet Revenge, I used bits and pieces of author names from this Library

The name I use most frequently is my own, as I like to insert myself (or some alternate version of myself) into the action. Beyond that I often use the (first) names of real people who inspired me to write a story (the waitress Lindsey in a diner, the checkout clerk Carolina in a food market, a woman with the last name Lenz who lived to banter), or just names that "feel right" - an uptight couple Percy and Pansy Prisiwell in therapy, last names of Plumpbottom, Bigrump and Tinglebutt in a Pythonesque story, but more commonly just everyday names that feel right for the characters. Although I try not to repeat names(other than "Rick" of course), I don't keep a list. Often when I find I've repeated a name, the two characters share something in their personalities - not surprising when I'm choosing a name that (to me) "feels right." On occasion I've used Library members as characters, with there LSF names of course.

For female spankees I try to think of names which feel feminine and diminutive. A shortened version of a longer name is great for that reason, but also because it allows for the longer name to be used in anger. As an author who is younger than many others, it seems, choosing more contemporary names better conjures up the image of a young woman in my mind. The aforementioned Dani works for all of the above.

An interesting topic that has made me think about how I choose names for characters in my stories. Some are random but others with a slight nod to people I have known that were a bit naughty (first names only). Similarly names that are a nod to spanking models in films, but again first names only. I like Dani which reminds me of Dani Daniels and a great film where DD paddles Belinda Lawson. What makes that film unique is that BL (spankee) is wearing jeans and DD (spanker) is completely naked

Names are a problem for me. I try to have names that match the time period, as in what names were in use then. I'm not that creative so coming up with character names can be a problem. Some names I just associate with the sort of person I'm writing about, or with their physical appearance.

I have real trouble with stories that have a lot of characters in them, and have trouble keeping them all straight as to who did what, who got what in terms of punishment, who took their punishment well and who took it poorly. I tend to do a lot of back reading then.

Sometimes I have fun with names as I did with my "Memories" series, when the girls maiden name was Swat, and she married a man with the sir name "Hooker." What's more, she became a teacher.

Anyway names are an ongoing struggle for me, and probably always will be.

I haven't posted much. But I do write a lot. I fictionalize real life experiences. I'll change real names to common, simple names. Especially ones with diminutives. (Edward, Ed, Eddie) I can use those variations for different situations. I don't abandon storylines. I may have multiple storylines going at the same time. Sometimes I'll confuse which characters belong in which story. So, I also have to use search and replace.

Most of the time I just use common names, although sometimes I like to add a bit of humor in the process such as in New Town New Life 2. I decided the last name of a small Texas town lawyer would be Hawgbone, a derivative of hog bone. In New Town New Life 3, currently under construction, the setting involves England and France, so I am trying to use names that are or were more common in those countries.