ThoraoftheNord
Initiate
Hero
Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Name...
I hope it's okay that I posted this here, Firle, I didn't quite know where to put it. Feel free to move it if it belongs in another spot.
I'm trying to find just the right name for the main character in a novel I'm writing. It needs to be Irish, or Celtic (I'd even allow Gaelic or something).
I looked through a lot of the name sites, and they're all pretty limited and equal. I did find a few that I liked, though still not one that I *love*.
The one that I like most is "Shae," but I wondered what impressions it gave to people.
The runner up is "Naessa." What impressions does it give?
Thanks guys!
---  |
|
6/28/2007, 10:07 pm
|
Send Email to ThoraoftheNord
Send PM to ThoraoftheNord
AIM
MSN
Yahoo
|
Blitzen
Grand Master
Hero
Registered: 12-2004
Location: falkirk
Posts: 208
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
I thought Shae was male till I googled it. It gives off the impressionm of luxury, I feel, very much the name of the lady of the manor.
Naessa is a lot more down to earth. More of a gypsy.
On a side note, you're putting a lot of thought just into the name...
|
|
6/28/2007, 11:06 pm
|
Send Email to Blitzen
Send PM to Blitzen
|
ThoraoftheNord
Initiate
Hero
Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
Hmm, thanks. I was worried about "Shae" being masculine sounding. Especially because of the highly popular last name of "O'Shea," it does give off that male energy. Anyway...
I might go with Naessa. I'll wait for more responses though.
I do put a lot of thought into names. They have to be perfect for me. Names have energy and power, and if a name doesn't fit the character, I find that it leads the readers astray sometimes. The perfect name for a character gives off everything the character is, at least the sense of them. Personality, strength, quirks. It doesn't always work that way with real people, but there's so much power in words...especially the written word. Usually I don't have any trouble with my naming process, but this character in particular has given me some trouble.
--- |
|
6/29/2007, 1:49 am
|
Send Email to ThoraoftheNord
Send PM to ThoraoftheNord
AIM
MSN
Yahoo
|
hadaad
NaNo Winner
Hero
Registered: 08-2005
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 305
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
I've always liked the name Siobhan but that's just me.
I like Shae better than Naessa. To me, Shae seems more earthy. But again, that's just me.
---
Reading: Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Writing: Resurrection edits
|
|
6/29/2007, 5:51 am
|
Send Email to hadaad
Send PM to hadaad
ICQ
MSN
|
Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
Hero (premium)
Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 1813
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
Thora, it's perfectly fine to post that here. 
I know how you feel -- names are important for me as well. Usually, I just start a story, but it tends not to flow well if I don't like the name of the MC. And the name does help me to find the character's depth.
Now, to choose between Shae and Naessa ... that's difficult. I think you probably know this site: What's behind the Name: Irish Names.
For me, Naessa sounds more like a person who'd go for things alone. Shae seems to me more of a team player. Obviously, I know nothing of the meaning behind those names ... just wild impressions.
Good luck in finding your character, Thora.
Edit: Forgot to paste the link. Ahem.
Last edited by Firlefanz, 6/29/2007, 12:50 pm
|
|
6/29/2007, 6:26 am
|
Send Email to Firlefanz
Send PM to Firlefanz
|
David Meadows
Master
Hero
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 197
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
My immediate response was the Shae was a male name. So I couldn't understand how Naessa could be a runner-up, because that sounded female 
I can't recall any Irish people with either of those names, so I don't know how typically Irish they are. If you hadn't mentioned the Irish connection and asked me to guess whewre they came from, I might have guessed that Shae was Irish but I wouldn't have known what Naessa was.
If you want Shae to sound more female, you could add an "a" to the end: Shaea. It's probably not an authentic Irish name, but an "a" ending automatically sounds female to English ears (I know that's not true in all languages).
|
|
6/29/2007, 8:54 am
|
Send Email to David Meadows
Send PM to David Meadows
|
Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
Hero (premium)
Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 1813
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
What I do sometimes in cases like this - and it doesn't always work, either - is to go into a meditative state and then talk with the character in my mind. Sometimes, they tell me their name.
Of course, there is one character who is still refusing to share her real name with me, even though the novel is almost finished. *sigh*
|
|
7/1/2007, 7:05 am
|
Send Email to Firlefanz
Send PM to Firlefanz
|
ThoraoftheNord
Initiate
Hero
Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Name...
Hmm...I've never tried to converse with a character like that...I usually just connect with them as though they were me. I was thinking about doing a tarot reading for both of the names.
Aw, Firle. I'm hope you find her real name soon!
--- |
|
7/5/2007, 5:33 pm
|
Send Email to ThoraoftheNord
Send PM to ThoraoftheNord
AIM
MSN
Yahoo
|
Add a reply
Powered by AkBBS 0.9.5b - Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
Click here to get your own free message board
|
You are not logged in (login)
GMT is: 9/7/2008, 9:04 pm
|
|
|
)