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Name my character
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message 1:
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Bronwen
(new)
Feb 22, 2013 02:06PM
Please help me. What should I name my boy character? It is 1888. The boy's mother is Maori, timeslipped from the 1700s but lived years in Paris (had her baby in Paris); his father is part-Maori also living in Paris but passing himself off as Italian (never been to NZ) - his mother is English. The boy is aged 11, born in Paris, where he has lived so far. He is kind and sweet, but sensitive and hears the heartbeats of machines, and hears their murmurings. He is taken by his mother to NZ and, in 1888, is the hope for the future in the struggle against rampant colonialism. He will become a politician. So, given all these elements, what is his name?
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What fantastic challenge! OMG! I wonder if there is a name that could be somehow French/English/Maori. Is he also strong? wilful?
BronwenI immediately started thinking in terms of Maori words with suitable meanings as this is what I do when writing about my dolphins, some of whom have Maori names.I often go to the online Maori/english dictionary. It might be of use to you too. It's here:
http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/
Wero is a Maori word meaning 'challenge.'
Owha (noun) relic, keepsake, gift, treasured bequest, inheritance. He owha nā ōku tūpuna (JPS 1959:265). / A treasured bequest from my ancestors.
I also found this:
Rangihau, John Te Rangiāniwaniwa (personal name) (1919-1987) Tūhoe; charismatic leader, academic, social welfare officer, gifted speaker in Māori and English and authority on Māori language and custom. Fought with the 28th New Zealand (Māori) Battalion in Worl War II. Completed a diploma in social science at Victoria University of Wellington. Awarded the British Empire Medal in 1975 for services to Māori. Worked at The University of Waikato in the Centre for Māori Studies and Research (1973-1982) and as an advisor for the Māori Affairs Department from 1982.
(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 82-88;)
Tui, thanks for inspiration. Yes, he is young but already a leader. (This isn't YA, tho). SEveral good suggestions in your post. Cheers.
Mod
There is a french settlement in Akaroa of the Banks Peninsula. I haven't heard Akaroa as a name but could be usable. Maori for long harbour according to wikipedia. There is also a place called Little Akaloa. Maybe Akaloa, sounds Italianish...
What about a common Parisian name like Pierre?
there are too many things to consider!
Maybe Piripi (sp?) - Maori form of Philip and Philippe (sp?) is French is it not?
Matai (or just Tai)Rangi
Anaru (Andrew)
I also really love the sound of your book!
Thank you, Sharlene. Good thoughts here.Sharlene wrote: "Like Tui, I think of Maori names.
There is a french settlement in Akaroa of the Banks Peninsula. I haven't heard Akaroa as a name but could be usable. Maori for long harbour according to wikipedi..."
Yes, that would transition nicely too.Angie wrote: "Maybe Piripi (sp?) - Maori form of Philip and Philippe (sp?) is French is it not?"
Good point with the ending in "i", Kathleen. Thanks.Kathleen wrote: "I'm thinking that Piripi (as Angie has suggested), or some other Maori word that ends in the "i" would work well as it has an Italian sound. That would fit with the father's passing himself off as..."
Angie, Sweetpi-1 - more good suggestions. Thanks so much. Thanks especially about the nice remark about my book, Sweetpi.Sweetp-1 wrote: "Matai (or just Tai)
Rangi
Anaru (Andrew)
I also really love the sound of your book!"
It sounds almost steampunkish with the time slip and hearing the machines?
Choose carefully Bron. Characters have a habit of taking on unexpected significance from their names, that you might not have expected.I recently gave a character in my current story the name "Atarangi." It means "shadow"
I thought it suited the character because he followed his mother like a shadow. Then the story developed and he wound up becoming a dreadful shadow over his mother's life.
Sweetp-1, well spotted. Yes, there is a bit of steampunk. Not too heavy - I'm still learning about it. Love it, tho.Tui, Love the way your character morphs - shadow into shadow. Can't wait to read your next novel.
Everyone, thanks so much for your input.
Have you decided?! Have you decided?! Have you decided?!
Steampunk is great. I really enjoy reading it and have a pinterest board of pretty steampunk things, not into cosplay or anything but the genre really appeals.
This so cool. We get to feel we are helping with the new novel. You couldn't do this in Dickens' day.
At the mo, I'm going with Tobias-Toby-Topi. I'm still not settled with the name and when I write more of the boy's character, another name might pop up. But in the meantime, Toby fits:
Tobias - from the Greek; plus Old Testament story of a man who banishes a demon (Toby banishes a "demon" from his recently found koro)
Topi - middle name of Capt George Toby Philpotts, who was killed fighting at Kororareka (Russell) in 1845, and whose scalp was brought to the tohunga for examination to ascertain the outcome of war. The boy's mother is from Kororareka.
So that's how it goes at the moment. But when I type Toby said this, that, it doesn't sit quite right, so we shall see.
Big thanks to all. I loved how you jumped in with suggestions. It made me feel all warm and cosy - not so alone in my writing.
Im so intrigued by your premise. Would love to read it :)
Thank you, Sweetp. I hope to finish the manuscript this year. :)
Mod
