Worst Character Names?

[Patrick]

I've noticed that many fantasy books, sometimes ones that use made-up names, have some awful and embarrassing character names. Examples:

Saetan Deamon SaDiablo (The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness): Satan, Demon and Diablo all rolled into one. Not very subtle.

Croaker (Chronicles of The Black Company): I know every character in this series has a nickname and some are awesome: The Lady, Feather, Soulcatcher, Raven and Stormbringer. Freaking Stormbringer! How much of a better name can you get? But Croaker? Sounds like a frog.

Pug (The Riftwar Saga): Just starting this book, and I have to wonder. Why does your main character have a one-syllable name that sounds like a dog?

Anyone care to share theirs?

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

LOL! None come to mind. Most don't bother me so much, I guess...

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I think the really insanely crazy names (those I create a 'sounds-like' name for as I'm reading) really come up in high fantasy more than UF/PNR, but I'll keep my eye out for those that are odd.

Off the top of my head are Chess (Downside by Stacia Kane), Pritkin (Cass Palmer by Karen Chance), and (while I like it, I think it's odd) Chrysabelle (House of Comarre by Kristen Palmer).

[S.L.J.]

Zoey Redbird (House of Night) - Sounds like a pornstar.

[Lauren]

Niniane in Storms Heart - I kept reading it as Ninny for some reason...

[Spinster]

Pretty much every name in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Phury, Zsadist, Rhage, Vishous etc. Oh come on! I can't take the series very seriously because the names just hurt my eyes.

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

I totally love the Kara Gillian series. I can't exactly recall where I read that but for the author was fooling around with 'Please call' and came up with Rhyskahl (funny since he kept asking Kara to call him).

While is romantic scifi, the name of the heroine (Analia) rubs me the wrong way, maybe because it'a easy to leave off the last two letters.

[Christal]

I have to say that I found the name of the male lead in pretty laughable, Criminy Stain. I can't even take him seriously as a love interest with a name like that.

[Ashley]

I have a rule that I if I can't pronounce the MC's name, I'm not reading the book. Tripping over names is way too distracting for me.

I really wish authors would go back to more normal names (at least for the mortals) I'm really tired of trying to figure out what to call people.

[D.G.]

LOL, this thread is hilarious! Thanks for posting guys!

The first name that Patrick posted almost made me pee in my pants laughing. Who can take that character seriously?

[Steph, Serious series addict]

That's hilarious, Christal! He kinda looks like a Stain, if that's him on the cover. ;)

Ashley, if I come across names I cannot pronounce, I make up my own. LOL! It doesn't really bother me.

[Judithe, Soap Operas never end....]

Me, too. :D

[Valerie ~ Val Hall ~]

Steph wrote: "That's hilarious, Christal! He kinda looks like a Stain, if that's him on the cover. ;)


But I liked this book. It was like Alice in wonderland meet Tim Burton....weird steampunk.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Definitely not saying I wouldn't read it, just that the cover is a hoot, even more so know that I know his name. I have it TBR. ;)

[Lee]

Spinster wrote: "Pretty much every name in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Phury, Zsadist, Rhage, Vishous etc. Oh come on! I can't take the series very seriously because the names just hurt my eyes."

I agree with you 100% , but then some of the dialogue makes me cringe as well, I mean seriously do American men all talk like this ?

You feel me ?

and before you ask I too am an avid fan.

[D.G.]

I've heard guys say 'You feel me?' (LOL!) but then I live in an Urban area. I've never heard old white guys talk like that though - which you can assume these vampires are because they are hundreds of years old.

[Missyb]

My problem is when two names are very similar, and one is a good guy and the other a bad guy.

[Jojobean]

These are all from: & . Im pretty sure these are meant to be funny

MC: Sophronia Temminnick
Woman who recruited her: Mrs.Barnaclegoose
MC best friend: Dimity
Dimity's brother: Pillover
Professor Braithwope
Mc mechanical pet: Bumbersnoot
Preshea
Sidheag
Professor Shrimpdittle


From:
MC: Zephyr Mourning
MC love interest: Tallon
Zephyr's sister and mom had equally ridiculous names but i cant remember them

[Pam]

I saw a galley some time ago where the main character was a meteorologist names Stormy Weathers...Come on, Really?!?!?!

I thought if the author did that to the main character I could only imagine how cheesy the rest of the book would be.