How often do you see surnames being used as first name? Ai-chan isn't talking about Chinese names, in which surnames and given names often have similar sounds, but use different characters. In Ai-chan's story, Claw of the Guardian, the protagonist is named Horton Baker and Ai-chan realized that Horton is a surname. Should Ai-chan change this or is it fine to keep it? What other characters you know use surname as given name? What about your character's names? Any particular reason why you choose those names? BTW, first thread in new section!
In the childrens book horton hears a who the main character's only name is horton. so i think horton can be a first name.
Horton is an unusual first name, but a first name nonetheless. It's only names that end in -son that aren't used as first names, since Johnson is John's son.
Doesn't really matter to me. Some names I choose to use in a joke, some have a hidden meaning that hints at the character's future or sometimes it's just something that fits.
We've been referring to the savoir of Whoville by his last name this whole time? Also, mens' names like James are frequent last names, and in old Scandinavian culture, children take on the dad's first name as a last name, appending a -son/sen or -datter/dotter, like Leif Erikson.
I think it's fine to have first names which may be surnames for others since it also occurs in real life. I personally have never heard of the name Horton in particular being used as a surname; I've only known of it as a first name. I don't currently write, but I personally like to use names that are related in some manner to the character themselves, whether it be related to their personality or their abilities. Generally only for the first name; I don't put as much emphasis on the last name. For Western names, I would go based on the overall meaning or the origin of the name. For Eastern names, I may make sure one character (of the name) or the entire name fits. For less important characters, a random name generator works for me... Actually, all the names in my last CoC campaign were randomly generated...
In academia and law enforcement, it's not particularly rare to refer to someone by their last name. It's not common and a prof would hold it against a student brazen enough to do so, but I doubt they'd be stunned to be called by their last name by a colleague. It happens. Or at least it's stereotyped to happen?
Should be fine imo. Heck, I wasn't even aware that Horton was a surname. I mean, one of Dr. Seuss' book was called "Horton Hears a Who"
I'm dang bad with names......I used Generators for them....Or, mashed different names from Generators... Dang, how did you command @Tony to create this new section in just a day that easily, @Ai chan ?
I unconsciously obsess over the name of the character until I feel like I get it right. To me, the name of the character will reveal itself if I give it time. I know, it's a bit mystical wishy washy but it works for me. The place where ideas come from fascinates me as much as getting my point across effectively. When I write, the name of a character just comes to me, a bit like naming a baby, and it usually just feels right. This method usually works out and if it doesn't, I change it. >.> Like the shameless, shameless author that I am drunk with my own power. Replace All is the BEST tool for this feat. I love technology .
As the author you can make anything you want mean whatever you want, and do whichever thing you want. Hell you could have it so the protagonist's name is Bob, which in your universe means something awesome like Dragonsbane, or King Slayer. Of course no western reader is going to believe for a moment that Bob is a cool name, they're just gonna picture some middle aged man with a receding hairline, and beer belly. Still the point is you can do it if you want, just realize that while you can control the thing that happens, you cannot control your readers reaction.
What's in a name? that which we call Horton Baker By any other name would arouse Ai-chan to make thread in new section
Yeah, that's the intention. BTW, you want to take a gander at the name of the main heroine? She's the same female lead with blonde hair and big tits in the visual novel. Ai-chan decided to change the story a little. Instead of a human ship that got sent far into the unknown, which is quite overused, they're personally transfered there due to a quantum irregularity and they steal the alien's ship.
Which culture did those names come from? Just to inform, they're all humans from our era, not space age era.