What's in a Name?

While I was growing up I absolutely hated my first name. Since the only Helen I’d ever heard of was the actress Helen Hayes, the name always said to me “old lady.” Sweet, frail, gray-haired mum, that was me.

Admit it, that’s the same image that pops up for you, too. Look at that picture. Is that the quintessential Helen or what?

Eventually, I came to terms with the name, and now I actually like it. It’s different, simple, kinda pretty. I guess my folks did okay.

Some parents don’t do so good. I think about some of the names celebrities have given their kids and I alternate between cringing and laughing.

Calico (Admittedly pretty tame for Alice Cooper’s daughter.)

Apple Blythe Alison Martin (What do you expect from a mother named Gwyneth and a grandmother named Blythe?)

Fuschia (Sting – you’d think such wonderful poet/song writer could come up with something more lyrical.)

Hopper (Boy? Girl? Farm equipment? Sean Penn and Robin Wright)

Sage Moonblood and Seargeoh (Sylvester Stallone, who shouldn’t be allowed to name any more children.)

Kyd (Honestly, this one makes me chuckle - David Duchovny and Tea Leoni – figures.)

Brooklyn (David and Victoria Beckham, parents also of Romeo and Cruz - somebody please stop these two.)

Moon Unit Zappa (Guess who?)

But then there’s Suri, (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes). I love that name.

And Destry (Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw). I don’t know what the name means, but it conjures up all kinds of wonderful images for me.

Anyway, one of the first things I have to do when I start a new book (which I’m doing this week) is to figure out my characters’ names. It really messes me up if I have the wrong name for one of my people. So I search and search through my baby name books and the phone book and websites until I come up with what feels right. I think it pretty much comes down to a combination of stereotypes and nationality. But what I find interesting is that other writers pick names that I don't like. So our stereotypes must be fairly personalized.

What does Emily say to you? Elijah, Alexander, Grace? Wilbur? Yeah, that’s my grandpa’s name. I loved him, but the name always made me think of that talking horse sitcom … what was the name of that show?

According to one of the websites I visited during my search for names, the top five boys names of 2007 were Aidan, Braden, Kaden, ( I kid you not), Ethan, and Caleb. The top five girls names were Ava, Abigail, Cailyn, Madeline, and Isabella.

Could you imagine naming the kid in this picture Albert?

What I really what to know, though, is how important are character’s names in books to you? Can it end up meaning the difference between liking and not liking a story?

What about over used names. Do you have one that you’re sick of, one that if you see it again you’ll want to puke?

I apologize if I've offended any Alberts, Wilburs, or Moon Units.