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  1. Luna13

    Luna13 Active Member

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    I can't think of a good name!

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Luna13, Jul 3, 2012.

    The story I'm currently writing takes place in the future. Everybody's name is an obscure-ish word. A lot of them are from nature. I'm not talking Daisy, Willow, and Raven. I mean names like Sequoia.

    There's this one boy. He's not the main character, but he's pretty important to the story, being the main character's best friend. He is intelligent without being a know-it-all and sort of rebellious. I can't find any names that I like for him. Do you have any suggestions?
     
  2. SocksFox

    SocksFox Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2024 Contest Winner 2023

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    Rowan.
    Alder.
    Ash.
    Cedar.
    Sky.
    Cirrus.
    Argon.
    Helix.
    Yew.
    Larch.
    Jay.

    - Darkkin
     
  3. noodlepower

    noodlepower New Member

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    Eh, I wish I knew what to say. I think naming characters is something rather personal because honestly, who knows your character better than you? Maybe try a google search for obscure nature names and see if you find something that seems fitting for your character.

    I can throw out of a few names but don't know if its what you're looking for....

    Ringo (apple in Japanese)
    Sage
    Basil
    Oliver (like an olive tree or something)
    Gram
    Cannibus
    Cloud
    Snow
    Rainier (i don't think this is related to nature but the way its spelled always reminds me of rain - i think this name is French maybe Arabic in origin.)
     
  4. suddenly BANSHEES

    suddenly BANSHEES Senior Member

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    Did you mean Cannabis? Because I would definitely read a book with a character named Cannabis. I would read it so many times.
     
  5. Luna13

    Luna13 Active Member

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    I really like the name Cannabis. I might use that! As for the other names, they're great too, most of them will probably end up as names for other characters. Thanks so much!
     
  6. peachalulu

    peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

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    I read a ya book in which the mother went through a different phase during the birth of each child - one was animal rescue ( I think ) - hence the birth of Bunny , one was gardening - which is how her son wound up as Shadbush - but thankfully they called him Shad.
     
  7. Luna13

    Luna13 Active Member

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    Shad... that's actually a pretty cool name. It's funny - he was named a bush, but called a fish.
     
  8. Samo

    Samo New Member

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    Estragon is what the Germans call tarragon. See Waiting for Godot.

    Often referred to throughout the play as 'Gogo'.
     
  9. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Hawthorne, Thistle, Pip, Honeysuckle, Bullrush, Azalea, Sorrel, Husk...
     
  10. Samo

    Samo New Member

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    Honeysuckle would get beaten up a lot
     
  11. noodlepower

    noodlepower New Member

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    Yeah... hahaha... yes! Sorry! The name cannabis always make me think of this rapper from the 90s called Cannibus. But I meant Cannabis... since the OP was asking about nature-related names.

    I'm glad you liked it. :)
     
  12. Patrick Gallant

    Patrick Gallant New Member

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    A nature-themed naming scheme in a futuristic society? Perhaps thinking along the lines of things people associate with nature would be an avenue of exploration, like Solar or Sunlight or even just a simple concept like Air. The name is a core element andcould represent aloofness and supremacy. It will be important here to find a descriptor that is closer to his personality and role in the story, because a mischievous clever knowitall named Sunlight might not allow the world to take him seriously. Just a few ideas to add to the list!

    Regards,

    Torian
     
  13. Luna13

    Luna13 Active Member

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    The names do not necessarily have to be from nature. To explain this, I guess I should give you a brief outline of the plot.

    The society had "banned" certain words from use. A long time from now but a long time ago from the character's perspectives, the society decided to start rationing people's word usage, because speech had become mundane and unappreciated and totally taken for granted. Along with the rationing, they got rid of a lot of unnecessary words. Because it is futuristic, most of the plants and animals that are known today are extinct, so those words are no longer necessary, so nobody is allowed to use them anymore. Also, all of today's countries and cities are gone.

    What this has to do with names is, the names are all "forbidden words," hence a lot of nature names. All names are required by the society to be forbidden words, but the forbidden words can be used for nothing but names. So there are no more Maries and Jasons and Ashleys. Just Sequoias and Rowans and Hyacinths and Germanys.
     
  14. Jamie Senopole

    Jamie Senopole Member

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    How about Cascara? I think it sounds really pretty. I stumbled upon it one day when I was looking up names of spices/herbs that start with C.
     
  15. maidahl

    maidahl Banned

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    Treegirl
     
  16. Andrae Smith

    Andrae Smith Bestselling Author|Editor|Writing Coach Contributor

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    I can't think of any names, it is always trouble for me, but I will offer this suggestion: perhaps you might try googling names that match or run through a ist of plant and animal names and find one that just really screams at you. often times your characters will have a name once you create them, you just have to find it. I know when I developed the names for my first project, the names ment nothing, but they seemed to attach to my characters perfectly and now I couldn't change the names. for my new project, I chose some names that I thought seemed to fit who I wanted them to be and it turned out-- after some research-- those names were perfect. play around with a few and find one you really like.

    Beyond that the story seems to have a good concept and I can't wait to see what kind of conflict arises from this. :) good luck.
     
  17. maidahl

    maidahl Banned

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    Danaria, Rhimthana, Danith, Tamar, Thaneth, LAURA!!<---- best name in the world :) I'm biased.
     
  18. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Why use nature? I think that old-fashioned objects that are no longer needed would be much more fun.

    Spork
    Teacozy
    Lightbulb
    Monocle
    Buggywhip
    Hubcap
    Carburetor
    Sparkplug
     
  19. maidahl

    maidahl Banned

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    LIGHTBULB!!!!!! SPORK!!!!
    LMFAOFF
    How about Ketchup!
     
  20. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Sure. For someone who is always trailing behind.
     
  21. maidahl

    maidahl Banned

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    So witty with the joking.
     
  22. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Hey, you left that one so wide open, I coulda drifted a bus through it.
     
  23. maidahl

    maidahl Banned

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    I've been trying to think of that thing with Lord Voldemort spelling Tom Riddle? I got Lord Fatie. Which spells nothing. And is lame. Good idea though, yes?
     
  24. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    It was:

    Tom Marvolo Riddle => I am Lord Voldemort

    (no, I didn't have to look it up)
     
  25. maidahl

    maidahl Banned

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    I mean another one.

    Lord Of war: Ofordwarl.
     

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