Character Naming Dilemma

Keilin Alyr · Post by **Keilin Alyr** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:11 pm

As I find myself fussing with new characters and new concepts in the hopes of maybe finally getting a decent website online after all these years, I come across a slight problem in naming one of my important characters.

Her mother is Nyx, Greek goddess of night, and this little darling was intended to be her daughter Eris, goddess of strife. Well, things don't go as planned for her mother, the baby gets rescued, and now she's a bubbly little bundle of joy in need of a name.

I want to name her Kelly, which is ultimately derived from an Irish name meaning "war" or "strife". It's perfect for her. It works for the concept I've built and the world I'm creating.

Just one problem. It happens to be my name.

So, I have a question for those of you familiar with potential self-insert Mary Sues and all the other conflicts involved in finding just the right name for a character. Do I throw conventions and concerns to the wind and let her just so happen to bear my first name, or do I search for something else so I don't forget that I'm not dealing with me here?

Decisions, decisions... ^^;

Cacopheny · Post by **Cacopheny** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:17 pm

Bah, a lot of the folks who run agencies have self-inserts at their IC locales XD I wouldn't worry about it, honestly X3

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:25 pm

lol! I didn't know that was the name's origin.

Maybe try a different spelling, or head to another mythology / language? Kelly is good, perhaps Klee, Kali (which is another kettle of worms), etc.

Keilin Alyr · Post by **Keilin Alyr** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:38 pm

True, true, but there's something to be said for a conscious self-insert and another for an unrelated character who shares your name and nothing else. Well, and your love for shiny things, but that's another thing entirely. *shifty eyes*

I guess what I'm really wondering is if anyone has named a non-self insert after themselves. Do they end up taking on some of your personality traits? Is it difficult to distance yourself from them when writing for them? Are they difficult to write for? Should I stop asking silly questions and figure this all out for myself? *chuckles*

*ponders*

But Shard, if I try another language I'm gonna have a list of fifty variations of my name and no way to use them! *laughs* Well, unless I finally get around to cloning myself and send the horde out to bond dragons...

*scolds her muse for having evil thoughts*

caesiusdraco · Post by **caesiusdraco** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:48 pm

www.behindthename.com

That's a great place to search for other name variations by meaning.

But, as long as you can differentiate yourself and your reactions from your character while you're writing it, I don't see any problem.

Cacopheny · Post by **Cacopheny** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:48 pm

Well, really, most characters tend to take on aspects of their player.... X3 Personally, I have trouble with chars who have a different value system than my own, regardless of their name >.>

As for names.... I personally have only twice ever done a char with a variation on my name, and neither time did I have trouble beyond the norm with personality traits. Gayle was way sweeter and walk-on-me-ish than me, and Alagael... well, I only wrote her briefly, and she's rather more outgoing than me X3 :: still hasn't gotten her "self-dragon" up yet simply because she isn't sure she could play/write herself >.> ::

Really, I doubt it'll be a problem, as long as you're consciously thinking "this is not me" and their personality isn't exactly like yours X3 Just cuz you have a cool name that fits the character doesn't automatically make the char a Sue or make her hard to play : )

Keilin Alyr · Post by **Keilin Alyr** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:08 pm

Yup, I love that site. It's one of my favorite places to check out when I need a catch-all naming site in hopes of later research, and best of all, it isn't over-run by a swarm of baby ads. *chuckles*

Problem is, I'm not sure I can manage the distinction subconsciously. I get so darned attached to some of the buggers, and a lot of my early characters either became mini-me's or ideal-me's. In essence, definite Mary Sues. Though I suppose the best way to know for certain if I can pull it off is to just find out. *sighs lightly*

I am finding your experience to be really reasurring though, Cacopheny. Now if only I could write half as well as you do! *grins* Or half as well as anyone here for that matter. *shifty eyes*

Speaking of players though... I have found that extensive tabletop roleplay is helping me ease out of character-is-me mode. Nothing like playing a LN rogue/sorcerer kobold to shock yourself out of that mindset. ^^

Xalia · Post by **Xalia** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:41 pm

The only character I ever actually named after myself...or using a variation on my name rather...turned out to be /so/ not like me I was rather disappointed...but then again, even my 'me' characters don't ever seem to turn out like me...because they do what I /want/ to do, not what I actually do.

I think as long as you write a good character it doesn't really matter whether they happen to have traits that might classify them as a 'Mary Sue'. And as Caco said most characters tend to take on aspects of their creators. Even my evil characters aren't really /evil/ so much as misguided and angry...they represent the extremes of my negative emotions rather than real /evil/.

Just be conscious of who you're writing and that she's /not/ you and therefore won't react to what you set in front of her as you will and you should be fine.