What’s in a Name? aka Favorite and Unique Character Names

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Hello, happy readers and friends. Welcome back to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday. This week the topic is especially fun methinks. Let’s take a look. Talking Unique Character Names: 2018 Edition or as That Artsy Reader Girl May 22 topic reads: Best Character Names (make this as narrow/broad as you’d like

What’s in a Name? aka Favorite and Unique Character Names. Talking unique bookish character names! All text © Rissi JC / RissiWrites.com

Character names have been something I’ve talked about off and on. To me, the more unique a character name (and provided I can
pronounce it!), the more that character’s story lingers with me. For example, the name Katniss Everdeen is an “icon” in YA fiction. Despite the fact that I do not love The Hunger Games, this name – and all of the characters, really – has certainly stuck with me these many years. It just sounds cool.  

I’m not ordinarily (with exception to a few cases) the biggest fan of names that you see often spelled unusually, but when a name is
unique or unusual, it does help the character and the story linger in my mind.

Today, we’re talking about eight names that are favorite. Let’s have a look.  

UNIQUE CHARCTER NAMES: 2018 EDITION

What’s in a Name? aka Favorite and Unique Character Names #fromthearchives Click To Tweet

1: Avery from Still Life by Dani Pettrey | Not only do I love this name, I also love this character. Also, here’s a fact: Avery is one of the character names from my old WIP novel. Which I haven’t dusted off in years – and to be truthful, I’d be a little scared to
open said document today. Goodreads

2: Bane Alexander from Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden | Years ago I read this wonderful historical novel. Though I don’t remember particulars, I do remember loving this story, and the hero. Not only is a good man of character, but how cool is his name!? Goodreads  

3: Caymen from The Distance Between Us by Kasie West | This isn’t my favorite novel by West, but irrelevant of this, it’s still a darling story that has a heroine with a really (really) cool name. Plus, if you like them, you’ll love knowing this one boasts Gilmore Girls vibes. Goodreads

4: Celia from Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge | Celia isn’t unusual in some of the ways Bane or Caymen is, but it’s an old-fashioned name that I think is beautiful. Goodreads  

5: Finley from There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones | What I love about this name, I cannot quite pinpoint, but I do. I think it suits the character so well, and is also crazy unique which as we’ve established, I admire. Goodreads

What’s in a Name? aka Favorite and Unique Character Names. Talking unique bookish character names! All text © Rissi JC / RissiWrites.com

6: Hamlet from The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo | I’m not a Shakespeare fan, but for this character and this story, the name Hamlet is just… cool! Goodreads  

7: Isla from Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins | Though I haven’t read this novel yet, I feel like the name fits the character 100% “to a T.” It’s a striking name that sounds really sophisticated, plus I love how it sounds as a title. Goodreads

What’s in a Name? aka Favorite and Unique Character Names. Talking unique bookish character names! All text © Rissi JC / RissiWrites.com

8: Lara Jean from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han | Again, this is another book I haven’t read (WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!? Now seems an excellent time to binge read considering the upcoming film). Irrelevant of this, from all I know of these stories, Lara Jean sounds like the PERFECT name for this character. Goodreads

Of all the books on my shelf, I’ve zero doubt I could find MORE names that are favorites. What are your thoughts on character names? Do you prefer more the names you see commonly or do you like names that sound unique? How do you feel about unique spellings of names you see commonly? Tell me about your favorite character names!  

If you joined today’s meme, make sure and leave your Top Ten Tuesday links below so I can visit – or simply introduce your blog. I’d be glad to visit your bookish spaces.  

Thank you for visiting! Come back soon.

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

38 comments

    1. Totally understand this, Lauren – and I think we all are like this. My parent's have a similar story when they were picking out names for me. :)

      Thanks for visiting!!

    1. SO pumped to read Jenny's 'Boys' series, Wendy – especially in light of the upcoming movie adaptation!! :)

      Thanks for visiting.

    1. Aren't they? Isla sounds so sophisticated which I suspect will match this character quite well. :)

      Glad you dropped by, Chrissi, as always.

    1. Fun! And doesn't Caymen sound awesome?! It's such a unique name – and I think that's rare to find in contemporary novels. :)

      Thanks for visiting.

  1. I still need to read the 2nd and 3rd Lara Jean books, but I highly recommend the first one. It's so sweet and happy and awesome. Isla is a cool name too!! I have a friend who named her kid that and I know she doesn't know about that book, but it's 100% the first thing I thought of when I heard what she picked!

    1. YAY!! So happy to read all the good thoughts for Jenny's 'Boys' book. Cannot wait to read those – in fact, I saw the paperbacks in store today which is just another reminder to READ the series. :)

      Love Isla too. It's a great name – and what a cool story about your friend. Funny how we bookworms associate things with books, right!?

      Thanks so much for visiting, Michelle.

    1. It is! There's SO many different names too, and in addition to this, there are lots of variations on common names, too.

      Thanks so much for visiting, Joann. :)

    1. Totally understandable! (For me, this is an easy mistake since there's the Elsa character from Disney's Frozen.)

      Thanks for visiting, Anne. :)

    1. Lara's name SEEMS 100% perfect for the character. Me too! Hoping this summer I'll FINALLY read these books. :)

      Thanks for visiting, Alicia.

    1. Hi, Daniela. Thank you so much for the kind words – and for visiting! Visit anytime. We love our fangirl and bookish talks here. :)

      Isla is forever one of my favorite names. It sounds so pretty.

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