Character Names vs Real Names

can be distracting.  In fact, they can keep me from even buying a book!  I know, I know, it's stupid but I ignore covers but the names are all throughout the book! 

Her first name was normal, something like Debbie or Sandra. But her last name was Fuch. I pronounced it Foosh, assuming that her name was French in original. But she corrected me. The "u" is short and the "ch" is pronounced "ck". Try carrying that name around during highschool. *Sheesh*

I knew a girl named Spring Storm, but I actually think that`s quite lovely.

I have a few friends with horrible initials...one girl`s initials are PMS (don`t know how her mother missed that one) and another`s are ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

Names that are a little too out there in books can drive me batty. It`s one thing to have invented names for a fantasy novel, or to have a heroine with an unsual name--those can be fun. But when every single character in a contemporary novel has a wacky name for no apparent reason...that just feels unrealistic and throws me out of the story.

(Is it wrong that I think Terri`s example of twin boys named Bruce and Wayne is...kind of awesome?)

Try the last name of Peed.  Yep - an employee from the company I work for has the last name of Peed.  Now insert any name in front of Peed and tell me how it sounds to you!

It is crazy what some people will call their kids.

Terri, That is funny about Arsenio. Oh my goodness, Indy and Pendance? That is crazy but I do kind of like Bruce and Wayne. :)

Frenchie, I have met some people with that last name. It must be really hard to go through school with that name.

Jodie, I know of someone named Richard and his son is also the same but they go by Dick. One time my cousin was saying something about them and to be clear who she was talking about she said big Dick and we all started laughing. :0

There is this boy and, when he was little, I just thought he was the cutest little thing. Big brown eyes with long eyelashes. His name is Jean Luc and it just didn't fit to me. My cousin, a good friend of his parents, said to me that he is named for Captain Jean Luc Picard of Star Trek. Apparently, they are huge fans.

Margie

Or naming your child Angel or Jesus and they're holy terrors. We had a student named Anus one year had to go by his middle name forgot what that was. We've had some really weird ones over the years. Treasure Trammell, Dallas & Denver Brown, Helja, Zilia makes me think of little worms. That's all I can think of now.

I have a stepbrother with the initials TNT

You know on the Simpsons when someone will call the bar and ask for names like  IP Freely or Anita Mann?

Well a friend of mine was working at a building supply store and he heard someone ask for Mike Hunt (sounds like.....).

I know in some countries, you cant just name your kid Mickey Mouse or Elvis Presley Jones, or just make something up.  The name has to mean something. Something besides Ima Hogg.

A friend of mine is named Paul LaGreca...but on the phone people think he is saying Paula Greca.

My grandma said she went to school with twin girls Ima and Ura Pigg (sp?).  I always thought she was joking, but after reading this... maybe not.

I like JAK's antiquated character names.  Of course, I always said I would name a boy Shethar... my family said it's a good thing I'm not having kids.  Maybe that says something about my taste level.

OMG!  Ima and Ura Pig?!?!?!?!?  That is just sssooo totally whacked!!!  Their parents had to be on something.  That's just not right!  

 And poor Mike Hunt.  I probably would have been a little sensitive too! 

And I gotta ask - Why Shethar Silverfire?

My last name is Fields so I have to really think about the names when we have children.  I've always like the name Summer but I wouldn't want my child to be Summer Fields all her life!    But I could really have some fun with it if I wanted to. 

We all had a good laugh over Ima and Ura Pig! 

Ok That's understandable then.  I just couldn't recall ever hearing that name before and was trying to place it!

Funny this subject came up.  I was reading a letter someone wrote to a magazine (a parenting one, I think) and it was signed Summer Blizzard.  I'm really hoping she married into that.  Could you image?  I also saw in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd this week, there is a girl named Spendrift Beck.  What kinda name is that?  Sad is, I don't remember the sport that put her their, just her name.

I don't remember too many strange names in school.  The only one I had trouble with was Huni Myers.  I just couldn't say "Hi Huni".  The toughest ones for the teachers was this girl original from Guam.  Her name is Chandinine Ramnarine.  Let me tell you how many times that was pronounced wrong.  Her cousin was luckier - her name was Pratima Lall.  They were real sweethearts - and I use to give all my romance novels to Chandinine.  She would have fit in well here.

There are a lot of baby books where they put in strange names in the front.  Mostly to warn people of what not to do.  People pick some crazy things.  They also put in names where it matches the profession they go into.  I always find those hilarious (i.e. Dr. Foot - podiatrist).

has a husband named Jim.

Their children are: Jamie, Jeremy, Jessica, Jennifer and jerry.

Jennifer and Jerry are twins, but they have different birthdays and of course different genders.  At least they get their own birthdays...a little individuality.

What an interesting topic. lol I've always wondered about people's names. My mother's maiden name is Sweet. Always loved it. I think have one name a little cutsie or something is fine, but when you add a funky first name to an already funky last name, you've just gone too far.

I've gotten into reading baby name books, cause dh and I are on fertility drugs to get pregnant. I hate it because most of the names in those books are so wacky and different. Now, I don't want a name everyone else has, but I'd like to find names I can at least pronounce!

 Some of these names you all have found are hilarious!

Good Luck, Tracey!!

I have met people with names that made me wonder what their parents were thinking, but i can't think of any....

I did want to say that I have a pet peeve with writers that try too hard to name their characters something that really tells who exactly the character is, like if you have a sweet girl and name her Candy or a cold man and you give him the last name Winter.  I know it's supposed to be very literary to do so, but it seems too contrived to me and annoys me.  I have actually put books down because of this 

Vanessa reminded me of a name.  When I worked at the podiatry college, there were these sisters that came in.  Their names were True Love and Holy Love.  I thought I was seeing things.  These women were probably in their 70's too. 

I bet all of us knows of a family with names all starting witht he same letter (either w/or withou the parents).  I'm included in that.  My girls and I are all "A's".  It wouldn't have been if I'd had boys though.  Also, my mom had a cousin named Patricia, who married Patrick, and then named their son and daughter after each other.  Can you imagine?  You say "Hi Pat" and 4 heads turn.

Tracey - best of luck to you.  I never went thru that, but it took me almost 18 months to get pregnant w/my second.  This after only taking a month w/my first.  I'm sure you'll find the right name.  I understand you're need to be different but not strange.  My oldest is named Aurora.  Just about everyone has heard the name, but it will never make the top 100.

I know a guy who has 3 sisters named Maria.

They live in El Salvador, and I guess the custom of alot of Catholic/Latino families is to name their children with Biblical names.

They are named Maria Cruz, Maria Elena, Maria (something I dont remember). They are all called by their middile names.

His name is  Manuel (Emmanuel).

as far as celebrity names go: Suri, Rumor, scout, Apple.....I say why?

today was Pricilla Presley.  I just couldn't resist asking her if she married into the last name and she hadn't! 

My mom drilled into us that we really needed to watch initials when we named our children.  My brother was going to be named Benjamin Scott but his initials would have been B.S. so she forgot that name combo real fast!  My brother went on to name my adorable nephew Ashton and his initials are A. S. S.  *shakes head*  I would really love to name a girl Madeline but her initials would be M. F.  Not so obvious on that one but we'll see. 

I really love Madeline Grace.  Scooter's not exactly crazy about it though so I guess we'll see.