Character's Names Trends

[Leslie]

Have any of you noticed that authors seem to use alot of the same names for there characters.

Ones that I have noticed lately:
Curran
Cassie, Cassandra
Roman
Christopher
Bella
Tomas
Luna
Dmitri

Also, I have noticed that alot of girls are given names that are generally use for boys.
Ex: Pete, Scout

[Ellen]

I like girl/boy names on girls though for some reason- not entirly sure why though.
And I love ordinary/boring names that get spelled different:
Faith-Faythe

[Darcy]

One I noticed and only because I thought it was so unusual was Crispin.

[Ellen]

:P Hehe. Yeah, that is an odd name. But I loooove Crispin. :D

[Denell]

and the surnames..like MacAlistiar why is the Mc surnames used so often?

[Melodie]

Denell wrote: "and the surnames..like MacAlistiar why is the Mc surnames used so often?"

Because everyone is supposed to be a "Highlander", I guess. Makes me nuts!

[Darcy]

Melodie wrote: "Denell wrote: "and the surnames..like MacAlistiar why is the Mc surnames used so often?"

Because everyone is supposed to be a "Highlander", I guess. Makes me nuts!"

LOL Men in kilts are the in thing right now.

[Dawn, Desperately seeking new worlds]

The one that annoys me is Isabelle or Belle...uggg

[SamBFN]

It seems if he's Scottish/ Navy Seal/ ShapeShifter / Vamp that is your "alpha" hero.
Other than Barrons how many alpha "Irish Heros" can you find. . most are Scottish McKelters etc.

I agree Dawn that Isabelle or Belle drive me!!! :-)

[Carley]

I love the names Mercy and Adam from the Mercy Thompson series, love the name Crispin and Spade from Night Huntress... I love Bastien, and Lucern from the Argeneau series

[Shannon]

I have noticed that a lot of authors are using the same names. It's sometimes hard to keep them straight! A few more are:

Gideon
Julian
Wolf/Wolfe
Grace
Sam/Samuel
Amanda
Sienna

[S]

Ellen ♥ wrote: "I like girl/boy names on girls though for some reason- not entirly sure why though.
And I love ordinary/boring names that get spelled different:
Faith-Faythe"

I'm in total agreement! I also love Irish names.

[Leslie]

Carley wrote: "I love the names Mercy and Adam from the Mercy Thompson series, love the name Crispin and Spade from Night Huntress... I love Bastien, and Lucern from the Argeneau series"

Carley,
I agree with you. I love all those names too.

[Leslie]

I like the whole girl/boy name too. In theory, more than in true life.....
You see, my name is Leslie, and my husband's name is, Shannon.
So, I get called, Shannon, all the time. "Thanks for banking with us, Shannon" (you get it).

[Leslie]

Ok, I have noticed another name that seems to get used by our favorite PNR authors,

Elena

[Leslie]

Ok, once in a while a charater is named "Leslie". Not very often mind you, but we Leslies take what we can get.

Ink Exchange: main charater, Leslie
Zombies: A newly made zombie is named Leslie

"So, like, I got that going for me..." (Bill Murray, Caddyshack)

[Irene]

I've a lot of characters name Randall recently
Outlander
Prince of Wolves
Dark Lover

[Alyssa]

Elena is one I've noticed to be used a LOT. Vampire Diaries, Women of the Otherworld (both older series...)

Another name I find very popular is Sam. Boys and girls alike, are all named Sam...a completely ordinary name but still quite over used.

[Stephanie]

What bothers me is names that are prounced odd, such as clarie or pieter. I just feel that it is hard to keep rereading them when I don't like the sound of the name

[Jessa ♥ EvilDarkSide]

Stephanie wrote: "What bothers me is names that are prounced odd, such as clarie or pieter. I just feel that it is hard to keep rereading them when I don't like the sound of the name"


Thats funny, cause when I come across a name I can't pronounce or don't like I just kinda skip over it while I'm reading. I know that sounds crazy but I know in my mind who the character is so I just ignore the name. *shrugs* Weird, I know.

[Chelsea]

Megan is used a ton -- in various spellings. I remember being a little startled when I started the Iron Fey series (The Iron King, etc.) when the character's name was Meghan Chase. I kept thinking, 'didn't I just read about a Megan Chase?" Yes, I had, in Personal Demons by Stacia Kane.

[Chelsea]

Jessa *metalgirl80* wrote: "Thats funny, cause when I come across a name I can't pronounce or don't like I just kinda skip over it while I'm reading. I know that sounds crazy but I know in my mind who the character is so I just ignore the name. *shrugs* Weird, I know."

I always just make up my own pronunciation and go with it. The only time it's a problem is when you're discussing books verbally -- then I kind of sound like an idiot in those cases -- but I figure it's worth it to move smoothly through the book.

[Jessa ♥ EvilDarkSide]

I do that also, Chelsea. I'm sure I butcher the name but its all good.

[Jessa ♥ EvilDarkSide]

I like the name Lucian. Don't come across it much but it sounds like a good villian name.

[Irene]

I notice that a few books have a character named Adam that seems to be popular.

[MissSusie]

I've mentioned these on a post on another site these names show up in more than 20 books in my library
John/ Johnny/Jonathan/Jack
Henry
Sam/Samuel/Samantha
James/Jim
Charlie
Ann/Anna/Anne
David
Edward
Claire

What I found surprising was only one book with a Heather and I know like 5 or 6 Heathers.

[Nichole ~Bookaholic~]

Cade is a name I have seen in quite a few books lately....

[Irene]

Okay here's a strange one. I've just encountered my second book with lead character named Mercy

[Cat]

Irene wrote: "Okay here's a strange one. I've just encountered my second book with lead character named Mercy
"

Reading the synopsis, her friend's name is...Sukey? ...Like Sookie Stackhouse? *facepalm*

[Irene]

the last two books I've read the name was Grey
Miranda Grey and Nora Grey

[Lindsay]

Lucien/Lucian
Wrath/Wraith
Beth/Elizabeth

And if the character has an irish or scottish background his name is always decidedly irish or scottish sounding

I LOVE some of the Greek names in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter's
Soteria, Megeara, etc. I don't know if she made some of them up or they are standard Greek names, but they're pretty

Oh! Speaking of Sherrilyn Kenyon, I met a 6 year old boy the other day named Zarek! I wondered how the mom came up with that, but I didn't ask her. I don't really know her and am a little shy to come out with my shameless obsession with PNR right off the bat, haha.

[SamBFN]

I'm thinking she must be a Kenyon fan, I haven't heard of Zarek outside of her books.

I named my dog Acheron, who we call Ash, but when we go to vet, kennels etc they always ask where we got the name from