Runboard.com
Слава Україні!

runboard.com       Sign up (learn about it) | Secure Login (lost password?)

 
ThoraoftheNord Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Initiate

Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
Reply  Quote
Name...


I hope it's okay that I posted this here, Firle, I didn't quite know where to put it. Feel free to move it if it belongs in another spot.



I'm trying to find just the right name for the main character in a novel I'm writing. It needs to be Irish, or Celtic (I'd even allow Gaelic or something).

I looked through a lot of the name sites, and they're all pretty limited and equal. I did find a few that I liked, though still not one that I *love*.

The one that I like most is "Shae," but I wondered what impressions it gave to people.

The runner up is "Naessa." What impressions does it give?

Thanks guys!

---

6/28/2007, 10:07 pm Link to this post Email ThoraoftheNord   PM ThoraoftheNord AIM MSN Yahoo
 
Blitzen Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Squire

Registered: 12-2004
Location: falkirk
Posts: 596
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


I thought Shae was male till I googled it. It gives off the impressionm of luxury, I feel, very much the name of the lady of the manor.

Naessa is a lot more down to earth. More of a gypsy.

On a side note, you're putting a lot of thought just into the name...

---
My Amazon Author Page

[url=]http://dun-scaith.blogspot.com/[My Blog[/url]
6/28/2007, 11:06 pm Link to this post Email Blitzen   PM Blitzen
 
ThoraoftheNord Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Initiate

Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


Hmm, thanks. I was worried about "Shae" being masculine sounding. Especially because of the highly popular last name of "O'Shea," it does give off that male energy. Anyway...

I might go with Naessa. I'll wait for more responses though.

I do put a lot of thought into names. They have to be perfect for me. Names have energy and power, and if a name doesn't fit the character, I find that it leads the readers astray sometimes. The perfect name for a character gives off everything the character is, at least the sense of them. Personality, strength, quirks. It doesn't always work that way with real people, but there's so much power in words...especially the written word. Usually I don't have any trouble with my naming process, but this character in particular has given me some trouble.

---

6/29/2007, 1:49 am Link to this post Email ThoraoftheNord   PM ThoraoftheNord AIM MSN Yahoo
 
hadaad Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

NaNo Winner

Registered: 08-2005
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 334
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


I've always liked the name Siobhan but that's just me.

I like Shae better than Naessa. To me, Shae seems more earthy. But again, that's just me.

---
Reading: Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Writing: Resurrection edits
6/29/2007, 5:51 am Link to this post Email hadaad   PM hadaad ICQ MSN
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


Thora, it's perfectly fine to post that here. emoticon

I know how you feel -- names are important for me as well. Usually, I just start a story, but it tends not to flow well if I don't like the name of the MC. And the name does help me to find the character's depth.

Now, to choose between Shae and Naessa ... that's difficult. I think you probably know this site: What's behind the Name: Irish Names.

For me, Naessa sounds more like a person who'd go for things alone. Shae seems to me more of a team player. Obviously, I know nothing of the meaning behind those names ... just wild impressions.

Good luck in finding your character, Thora. emoticon

Edit: Forgot to paste the link. Ahem.

Last edited by Firlefanz, 6/29/2007, 12:50 pm


---
- Firlefanz


6/29/2007, 6:26 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
David Meadows Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Squire

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 693
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


My immediate response was the Shae was a male name. So I couldn't understand how Naessa could be a runner-up, because that sounded female emoticon

I can't recall any Irish people with either of those names, so I don't know how typically Irish they are. If you hadn't mentioned the Irish connection and asked me to guess whewre they came from, I might have guessed that Shae was Irish but I wouldn't have known what Naessa was.

If you want Shae to sound more female, you could add an "a" to the end: Shaea. It's probably not an authentic Irish name, but an "a" ending automatically sounds female to English ears (I know that's not true in all languages).



---
Harold Saxon. The man you can trust!
6/29/2007, 8:54 am Link to this post Email David Meadows   PM David Meadows
 
ThoraoftheNord Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Initiate

Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


Thanks guys.

Firle--yes, I've looked up the meanings of both names (I actually found them off of a name site).

It's not supposed to be a typical Irish name. She's not exactly a typical kind of gal, so it fits.

David--I thought about having an "a" at the end of the name, as I think you're right in that about 75% of readers would read a name with an "a" ending to be definitely female. My problem is that I don't like the a-sandwich around the "e" that results. Also, it's too close to "Shea" which is primarily a last name, and more masculine. (Yes I know they're prounounced the same. But they are going to be reading the word... emoticon )

I'm still not sure which I like better. I originally liked Shae because it does have an earthy feel--like a play between sun and shade, and I really like that. But I like the strength of Naessa better, and it has a tie with myths, which are key elements in the novel.

*sighs*

---

7/1/2007, 3:59 am Link to this post Email ThoraoftheNord   PM ThoraoftheNord AIM MSN Yahoo
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


What I do sometimes in cases like this - and it doesn't always work, either - is to go into a meditative state and then talk with the character in my mind. Sometimes, they tell me their name.

Of course, there is one character who is still refusing to share her real name with me, even though the novel is almost finished. *sigh*

---
- Firlefanz


7/1/2007, 7:05 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
ThoraoftheNord Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Initiate

Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
Reply  Quote
Re: Name...


Hmm...I've never tried to converse with a character like that...I usually just connect with them as though they were me. I was thinking about doing a tarot reading for both of the names.

Aw, Firle. I'm hope you find her real name soon!

---

7/5/2007, 5:33 pm Link to this post Email ThoraoftheNord   PM ThoraoftheNord AIM MSN Yahoo
 


Add a reply





You are not logged in (login)