Hi there, The setting of my story is in Belgium (I also live there). So it's hard to find names for my characters. Because the names must be pronounceable in English, but not too uncommon in Flamish/Dutch as well. How can I solve this? Can I use names that aren't pronounceable in English so that they fit my setting? Or can I use English names I like (read: not boring ones) that aren't common over here? Thank you for helping me out!
What do you consider unpronounceable? I've not seen many Belgian names that English speakers couldn't handle. Sure, if we only see the written form we'll get it wrong, but you won't see any Kdr'graks in Brussels, will you?
I second @NiallRoach . What kind of names are we talking about? I went through the names of my Belgian colleagues, and there's Erwin, Ruben, Johan, Carla, Jasper, Erik, Hana... None of these would be too difficult for me, but then again, English isn't my first language. But I'd imagine some of those would be pretty easy for, say, Americans? Hana is a funny one though, 'cos it means "faucet" in my native tongue. Anyway, you can use more "unpronouncable" names as well, if you want, as most of your readers will read them in silence, not out loud. Besides, you see strange names e.g. in fantasy all the time and usually they aren't a deal breaker, not for me anyway. So if the name fits the setting in your opinion, go for it.
Taking the Belgian football squad... Eden Hazard Romelu Lukaku Kevin De Bruyne Radja Nainggolan Yannick Ferreira Carrasco Thibaut Courtois Marouane Fellaini Axel Witsel Vincent Kompany Dries Mertens Toby Alderweireld Jan Vertonghen Michy Batshuayi Thomas Vermaelen Thomas Meunier Divock Origi Laurent Ciman Jordan Lukaku Christian Benteke Jason Denayer Adnan Januzaj Mousa Dembélé Nicolas Lombaerts Kevin Mirallas Simon Mignolet Nacer Chadli Thorgan Hazard Steven Defour Dedryck Boyata Anthony Vanden Borre Jean-François Gillet Guillaume Gillet Dennis Praet Björn Engels Luis Pedro Cavanda Laurent Depoitre Olivier Deschacht Igor de Camargo Denis Odoi Sammy Bossut Gaby Mudingayi Sébastien Pocognoli Björn Vleminckx Ilombe Mboyo Laurens De Bock Jelle Van Damme Benjamin De Ceulaer Leander Dendoncker Thomas Buffel ...I don't see many that would give me a problem.
Yes you're right many of our names come from English, I can use them. But what about real dutch names, are they okay to use (see examples underneath)? Boy names: Ward, Joris, Karel, Adriaan Girl names: Aagje, Anja, Floor, Eefje, Paulien Family Names: Vermeiren, Van den Broeck, De Backer, Vermeulen, Cobbaert, Schellekens, Lauwers, Verhulst I can make sure not too use too much difficult first names, but what about the family names? Won't the reader just skip such a family name while reading? Thanks a lot!
That solves the problem then! I will just use Belgian names, because apparently nobody makes a problem out of it except me.
