What name would you give to a shopaholic who spends massive amounts of someone else's money when she's depressed, only to try and return it all later after suffering from buyer's remorse? She's in her early 40's, entitled and narcissistic. Here are some options I'm considering: Nadia Mercedes Tiffany Porscha I don't want it to be too on-the-nose, but I do want it to bring to mind flightiness, extravagance, and a bit of snobbery.
Then take #2, #3, and #4 completely off the table. They're not on the nose, they're up it. Nadia sounds like the name of an elite Russian expat who managed to ensconce herself into a posh segment of Manhattan with other Russian expats. For me, she's also super on the nose, but only because of contextualism.
You think Mercedes is less on-the-nose than Tiffany?? ETA: Ah, never mind, I was thinking in a different order than I listed. Back to my coffee ...
I don't know.... I guess it also depends on the reader's sociocultural antecedents. Mercedes can either be a clear nod to the motor company, or... it can be a super common name for a certain generation of Latin women. Tiffany can either be a ref to Tiffany & Co. or it can be a very common name found in American trailer parks (oh, I'm so gonna' get the brickbats for that). Given the way you asked the question and the details of the character, I immediately linked to the poshity-posh companies and franchises.
It wasn't until I thought of the name Tiffany that I realized that I have a client named Tiffany who, though I don't know her exceptionally well, acts exactly like the character. I don't love that ...
I like Clarissa. I also think I like Tiffany. Hmmm ... is it a bad sign that I'm already so hung up? Lol.
You could give her a plain name and a nickname that suggests what sort of background she has. I've heard of a Beryl who is known to everyone as Bunty.
LOL Beryl does not conjure up any images of the 'monied' class unless her pa was in scrap metal from the East End of London. Now they have plenty of money. The ladies I met were dripping in gold and even had gold fillings. What about Daphne? As in: that's absolute fab, Daphne darling... haw haw haw...
I like Mercedes or Porscha - mostly because those are also expensive makes of luxury car and they scream affluence.
Trisha. Names are nothing but identifiers: Expressions that bring characters into context. They bear very little value other than what may be perceived phonetically. Don't let it deter you from writing your story.
I can associate the name Tiffany with all the aspects you've listed. Not really sure if that comes from personal experience though...
I don't see why someone with a boring name can't also be of those descriptions. Why does it have to be something clever? A name doesn't define a person. Were not given a name and then are told what we're going to be when we grow up or are predicted how we're going to act. It's the same for a story. The name Jesus didn't mean anything before he was born. Now it's a symbol. Do the same thing. Pick any name, write your story, and then whatever your character is (how they're described) will later become defined by the use of that name. Ron Burgundy twenty years ago didn't mean anything. Now it means chauvinistic news anchor. See what I mean? Don't worry about the name. Worry about everything else.
I would probably give her a name common to her demographic and age group. Tiffany was a popular American (any ethnicity) name in the 80's. Nadia is popular in Russian and even Arabic. Mercedes is traditionally Spanish and common enough in the african american community. Porscha is also fair common among african americans. The latter are (statistically speaking) names from a low income background who do not attend college. My bf has studied name statistics (statistics that can be very controversial and eye-opening). He always says "if you want your kid to go no where in life but the strip club, name them after a food, a gemstone or a car".
I would say Tiffany. Right after reading your description though I thought of the name Katlin don't know why....
I have a cousin Clarissa who is very much like the character you describe. The other name that comes to mind is Bridget. I think Mercedes and Tiffany are a bit obvious, more misguided aspirational than high class. Just my opinion!
I've written stuff, and then later like i have a way i come to think of the character, a name, and its ust it. Write her, and however you come to think of her, thats her name. I do suggest a short in this instance though. like if she is Tiffany her friends call her Tiff. and remember, its the nuance more than the mechanics.
How about naming her after a city, where she was conceived or her parents' favourite get-away? I don't think there's anything more pretentious and if you find the right city name, it can be pretty flighty or snobby, too. Madison comes to mind although that's not really suitable for your purposes, I don't think.
