What’s In a Name?

Part 1!

The famous quote from Shakespeare is:

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

Do names mean anything?  I think they do and, for the most part, I put a lot of effort in selecting the right name for the right character.  I believe many names give readers an instantaneous feel for the character.

Examples of this are my two main characters from The Raven series on JoyBoy Island. Bryce Farrington is rich, comes from the upper class, and has a high-powered career in the financial sector.  The Farrington name has links to a political family in Hawaii and sounds aristocratic.

Jason Phillip is a strong dominant character.  He’s a Master at a BDSM club and a lifeguard during the day.  To me, Jason is a strong name, that of a leader… think Jason and the Argonauts.  Strength is one of Jason’s underlying characteristics.  Frequently I try to make the name match the character.

However, occasionally, a character names himself.  In Possession of Truth, both the names Randy McQuaide and Eben Foster came after I started developing the story.  The names don’t necessarily match their personalities but they don’t cause a juxtaposition with their personalities!