a question of names

BeccaPrice · 04-24-2013, 04:42 PM

Now here's another question. In my fairy stories, I'm dealing with archetypes, so I don't tend to give names to people: The Prince, The Princess, The Dragon, and so on.

but here, I've got two princes, so I can't do that. I could call them the Gargoyle Prince and the Human Prince, but that construction can get awkward.. any suggestions here?

How do you come up with names that don't either sound dorky or mundane?

Turtle91 · 04-24-2013, 07:08 PM

Depends on the genre and setting:

Prince Edward
Prince Humperdink
Prince Snaggletooth
Prince Shandie
Prince Shaddam Corrino IV

All are appropriate to the story being told.

I've seen good use of archetypes when referring to a rival species/race, as you've mentioned, but that was mostly when referencing them rather than them being present in a scene. If you are going to develop their character any more than that, it is essential that they have a title/name, IMHO.

Good luck!

BeccaPrice · 04-24-2013, 07:40 PM

These are very short stories - 2500 words or less, usually. Not a lot of space for character development, although the one story I have in mind may wind up being maybe twice that. I just really hate coming up with names, when they're not really *people* but archetypes.

VydorScope · 04-24-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

These are very short stories - 2500 words or less, usually. Not a lot of space for character development, although the one story I have in mind may wind up being maybe twice that. I just really hate coming up with names, when they're not really *people* but archetypes.

well arch types of what?

Prince Commoner
Prince Royal
Prince Dumb-dumb

Or other synonym for the arch type?

Turtle91 · 04-24-2013, 07:54 PM

Hmmm....

In that case short would be the magic word...with the implication that their "real" name is unpronounceable. I've seen that used well - "Bis" is a very friendly young gargoyle, just don't trespass in his church (TY Rachel Morgan). That would be especially easy to do for non-human races. Human names would be at your discretion...most readers I know are human and would identify with any name you come up with; just keep it period/genre appropriate.

crich70 · 04-24-2013, 09:15 PM

Perhaps (at least for the gargoyle prince) something that reflects part of his nature or personality. I've seen plenty of fan fics based on Harry Potter where goblins are given odd names based on things they did. i.e. throatcutter or noseslicer and in one the goblin just told Harry that his name wasn't easily pronounced by humans so he should just call him 'the architect' since it was what his name meant in human language. Maybe something like prince stonefist or prince granite something like that.

BeccaPrice · 04-24-2013, 10:02 PM

oh, now that's a good idea for the gargoyle prince. Now for one as good for the human prince!

gmw · 04-24-2013, 10:31 PM

Well, as Vydorscope suggested, that depends on what he is. He might be Prince Pruneface, Prince Handsome, Prince Scaredy or Prince Dauntless. In Ice Age the human child was variously called Lumpy or Pinky (or Breakfast

).

crich70 · 04-24-2013, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

oh, now that's a good idea for the gargoyle prince. Now for one as good for the human prince!

Which one did you like?

BeccaPrice · 04-24-2013, 10:47 PM

Something on the order of Prince Onyx or other gem stone.

Maybe I'll just make the human be a knight, then I don't have to worry about differentiating him from the gargoyle prince.

crich70 · 04-24-2013, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Something on the order of Prince Onyx or other gem stone.

Maybe I'll just make the human be a knight, then I don't have to worry about differentiating him from the gargoyle prince.

Sounds interesting. Though historically most hero's seem to have been of the common people rather than a noble like a knight or prince. Of course the hero usually has had some aspect of personality that others in their world lack too. Like in stories where 3 brothers are sent out in turn to achieve something. The 1st two brothers show a selfish uncaring personality while the 3rd brother is willing to share or give aid to someone in need and therefore in turn receives advice or other aid that he needs in order to be successful in his quest.

James_Wilde · 05-01-2013, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Something on the order of Prince Onyx or other gem stone.

Maybe I'll just make the human be a knight, then I don't have to worry about differentiating him from the gargoyle prince.

Chicken! Even princes have to have names.

gmw · 05-01-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

Chicken! Even princes have to have names.

Well done: advice and a suggestion all in one post! Prince Chicken.

BeccaPrice · 05-01-2013, 09:27 AM

Wasn't there some book where a lead character was named Hiro Protagonist?

teh603 · 05-01-2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Well done: advice and a suggestion all in one post! Prince Chicken.

Brave Sir Robin?

04-24-2013, 04:42 PM	#1
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	a question of names Now here's another question. In my fairy stories, I'm dealing with archetypes, so I don't tend to give names to people: The Prince, The Princess, The Dragon, and so on. but here, I've got two princes, so I can't do that. I could call them the Gargoyle Prince and the Human Prince, but that construction can get awkward.. any suggestions here? How do you come up with names that don't either sound dorky or mundane?

04-24-2013, 10:47 PM	#10
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Something on the order of Prince Onyx or other gem stone. Maybe I'll just make the human be a knight, then I don't have to worry about differentiating him from the gargoyle prince. Last edited by BeccaPrice; 04-24-2013 at 10:50 PM.

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04-24-2013, 07:08 PM	#2
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,397 Karma: 20212733 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Depends on the genre and setting: Prince Edward Prince Humperdink Prince Snaggletooth Prince Shandie Prince Shaddam Corrino IV All are appropriate to the story being told. I've seen good use of archetypes when referring to a rival species/race, as you've mentioned, but that was mostly when referencing them rather than them being present in a scene. If you are going to develop their character any more than that, it is essential that they have a title/name, IMHO. Good luck!

04-24-2013, 07:40 PM	#3
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	These are very short stories - 2500 words or less, usually. Not a lot of space for character development, although the one story I have in mind may wind up being maybe twice that. I just really hate coming up with names, when they're not really people but archetypes.

04-24-2013, 07:54 PM	#5
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,397 Karma: 20212733 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Hmmm.... In that case short would be the magic word...with the implication that their "real" name is unpronounceable. I've seen that used well - "Bis" is a very friendly young gargoyle, just don't trespass in his church (TY Rachel Morgan). That would be especially easy to do for non-human races. Human names would be at your discretion...most readers I know are human and would identify with any name you come up with; just keep it period/genre appropriate.

04-24-2013, 09:15 PM	#6
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Perhaps (at least for the gargoyle prince) something that reflects part of his nature or personality. I've seen plenty of fan fics based on Harry Potter where goblins are given odd names based on things they did. i.e. throatcutter or noseslicer and in one the goblin just told Harry that his name wasn't easily pronounced by humans so he should just call him 'the architect' since it was what his name meant in human language. Maybe something like prince stonefist or prince granite something like that.

04-24-2013, 10:02 PM	#7
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	oh, now that's a good idea for the gargoyle prince. Now for one as good for the human prince!

04-24-2013, 10:31 PM	#8
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Well, as Vydorscope suggested, that depends on what he is. He might be Prince Pruneface, Prince Handsome, Prince Scaredy or Prince Dauntless. In Ice Age the human child was variously called Lumpy or Pinky (or Breakfast ).

05-01-2013, 09:27 AM	#14
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Wasn't there some book where a lead character was named Hiro Protagonist?

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