1. StudentWriter

    StudentWriter New Member

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    What do you think is a good name for a Scrooge-like character?

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by StudentWriter, Nov 10, 2011.

    I'm having trouble thinking of a male name (first and last) that would suit my bitter, selfish, antisocial protagonist
     
  2. Lisa-Marie Dutt

    Lisa-Marie Dutt New Member

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    I often find myself browsing online baby name sites or name generators when stuck like this. Perhaps a name like Seth would work?
     
  3. seelifein69

    seelifein69 Active Member

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    I use baby-name websites ALL THE TIME. I used to use a great site called 20000names.com but I've noticed that it's getting a little virus-ey.

    I would give him an old fuddy duddy English name, like Rutheford or something hoity toity like that.
     
  4. topeka sal

    topeka sal New Member

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    Newt Gingrich? :p

    Um... sorry... couldn't resist. Whatever your politics (and you can probably guess mine), the name itself just sounds so, well, Scrooge meets the Grinch?

    Anyway. I like Seelifein69's suggestion of Rutherford. Or maybe Simon? Simon Finster? Simon Mead? I don't think it needs to be too overtly sinister. After awhile the name itself will be transformed by the character and take on whatever evil characteristics you care to bestow. Even an upstanding sort of name like Dave Smith can become evil on the shoulders of an evil character.
     
  5. madhoca

    madhoca Contributor Contributor

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    Kurt Parsons
    Ken Scrimper
    Nigel Pincher
     
  6. tjc88

    tjc88 New Member

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  7. agentkirb

    agentkirb New Member

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    Yeah. I was about to post the same link: http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/

    I suck at creating names for people so literally I just go to that website, pick an "ethnicity" and just keep clicking generate until I find something that fits.
     
  8. lostinwebspace

    lostinwebspace Active Member

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    I find villain names sound "villainous" when they include sharp or edgy sounds, like G or K or CH, maybe like Chuck McGlinker, something that just sounds annoying or abrasive. The problem is you run the risk of annoying your reader if the reader has to read a name that sounds ugly to his or her mind's ear.

    A thing to think about is if Scrooge is public domain. If so, hey, you could use that name and reference that Scrooge is actually a Scrooge in the story. If it isn't public domain, I'd not risk it: no one can copyright a name (like Scrooge), but you could get in trouble if you have a Scrooge who is way too similar to a certain Dickins character.
     
  9. madhoca

    madhoca Contributor Contributor

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    You can 'generate' your own names. Just think of synonyms and variations on the idea of Scrooge-like, 'parsimonious' 'niggardly' etc or go for sounds that are abrasive, like lostinwebspace suggests. I think 'Scrooge' can't be used really, since it just calls to mind the Dickens character--but hey, before Dickens what did we call someone who was Scrooge-like?
     
  10. Cacian

    Cacian Banned

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    there wasn't one before Dickens I don't think.
     
  11. FoxPaw

    FoxPaw New Member

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    When I think "Scrooge-like," I think of an older English gentleman. (Or maybe I'm just influenced by the Muppets Christmas Carol.) So a name that would sound English... Edward something? Edward McGuller?
     
  12. T1p2

    T1p2 New Member

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    Generally such a person would be called a "Miser". One such example is John Elwes or "Elwes the Miser". In fact he is believed to have been the inspiration for the character of "Ebenezer Scrooge" in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

    That said I'll get back to the subject of names.

    Andrew Harper
    Christoper Martelle
    Maximilian Landsteiner
    Lord Percival Bartholomew Robinson Esq. III
     
  13. ic1978

    ic1978 New Member

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    Augustus Strain

    Mandolin Urwin

    Helmut Vanderberg

    Aristoph Muddsuckle

    Harland Showorth

    Silas Stoud

    Bernie Madoff
     
  14. Bookslug

    Bookslug New Member

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    Surrel Stinge

    Milas Sarner (joke)
     
  15. Colin Ruggles

    Colin Ruggles New Member

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    In order to find a name for this scrooge like gentleman, you have to have an age, ethnicity and character trait in mind.

    Tf he is from victorian times like the Dickensian character then a Victorian name would be appropriate.

    There is so much to think about when naming someone who is to be believable.

    Ernest Trubshaw
    Joshua Grubstrike

    Something like this is both imaginative and believable. it also gives a vision in the mind as to who this person may be.

    Just go with your heart and good luck.

    colin
     

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