My MC's name is Bianca Phillips but I'm wondering if I should change it. I personally love the name I think it sounds pretty and unique but I've heard some say it sounds stuck-up. She is a very kind and compassonate character, born in the early 90's. Thanks!
A name is just a name, it doesn't have to mean anything. It doesn't sound stuck-up - the people who say that are judging a person by a name (it's bad enough that people are judged by their race and religion, but their name also?), and that is plain silly. You could have someone named Adolf and not be a genocidal dictator! Just don't give them the surname...
How you associate personality types with names depends on experience I think. For example, girls named Stephanie are all self centered flirts out to play with your emotions. Guys names Robbie are jerks. Anyone named Dolores is elderly. But that's just from experiences in my life. No matter what name you choose, people will either make an association based on their own experience, or create a new one based on your character.
Who cares if some people think it sounds stuck-up? If you don't write the character that way, she won't come across that way. People have preconceived notions about names all the time. Whatever name you pick will have negative connotations for someone. But, just like when we meet someone in real life with a name about which we've always felt negatively, we're able to get past it and assess the person as she is.
Names don't tell us anything about the person, but they might tell us something about their parents. If you're doubting the name, think of what her parents were like at the time she was born and what kinds of names they would choose.
Thanks for the replies! I just wanted to make sure it wasn't like "duh, everyone in the world knows all Biancas are stuck up!" lol. I think I'll go ahead and use the name since I like it.
It doesn't sound stuck up to me. Reminds me of a character in Eastenders and she was definitely working class.
The name, Bianca, reminds of that lesbian vampire eating monster in the OEl manga, Vampire Cheerleaders.
To me it means breath freshener. I know that's Binaca, not Bianca, but it's close enough that Bianca always means breath freshener to me.
I think it means 'white' like blanco in Spanish, it's probably an Italian version of Blanca, since they are similar. I know a lady named Blanca. And I agree, not stuck-up - it sounds a little antiquated but vamps are usually old, right?
According to baby name sites the name was almost unheard of before the 90's when it became popular for a few years then went back out. My character is not a vampire, she's plain ol'human. She is white though. Very pale skin with red hair and brown eyes.
Voiced by Eva Gabor. haha I loved that movie. I always thought she had such a lovely accent. I agree with both of these. People will draw conclusions from their own experiences and you'd be hard pressed to find a name that no one ever associated with someone they didn't like. Concentrate on writing a compelling character and people will make new associations.
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. I can't help it. It's what comes to mind. I freaking love that play. Freaking HILARIOUS!
Bianca only conjures up the sound of that shrill voice. "Riiiiiiickyyyyyyyy!" Eastenders has forever ruined that name for me.
A self assured girl with long dark hair. She's intimidating before you even meet her, but when you do, you're pleasantly surprised - she's actually nice.
Stuck-up comes to mind for me as well - based on a late 90s/early 00s game character. However, I've loved the name since hearing it on her. I've only met one Bianca in person (just last month, actually, while abroad) and she was lovely, but it didn't change my overall opinion of the name.
