Problem with character's name. It has already been used, but it's the only name that fits my character!

Question

I'm writing an adventure story. a sort of epic journey with characters that seem to be taken out of the 19th century period.
the name I got for the main character, who's an inventor, was Johnathan Harker.
This name shows up in Stoker's "Dracula". But it's written Jonathan, without an H.
I use the H, but it's read the same way.
Do you think many people would start reading my book thinking that it was a book about vampires?
Is this plagiarizing?
Could I still use the name?
The only thing that worries me is that people start reading with the wrong feeling about the story.
The story has nothing to do with vampires or evil lords.
It's basically a period piece/adventure.
Think "Journey to the centre of the Earth".

Answer 1

You can use the name. However, it will be considered to be an allusion to Stoker's character by a serious reader who notices the similarity.

Answer 2

Why do you think this is the only name that fits the character? You are familiar with this name as applied to the character in Bram Stoker's book, right? So YOU are thinking of that Jonathan Harker when you hear the name. That suggests that you are somehow equating your character with him. Your readers will do that too. It will be a distraction. Think of another name.

Answer 3

Don't worry about people getting the wrong feeling. Personality weighs much more than names. Unless you use really original names like 'Dracula', 'Ponyboy' or 'Rincewind', people aren't going to pay much attention to what your characters are called.

Anyway, I rarely bother keeping the names of characters in my head unless the story is great in the first place. So just write a brilliant book! That's more important. Best wishes...

Answer 4

It won't cause a problem and is not plagiarizing. Why not go with Nathan Harker, with some explanation in the book somewhere that he adopted Nathan because everyone called him John, and he hated Johnathan being short-formed to John, so he chose Nathan instead? Just a thought.

Answer 5

who cares about the name...you can use it....I have read Dracula many times and although I know the name I would not automatically think your book is about vampires only that it is the same name. And I wouldn't quite say his name "shows" up in Dracula as Jonathon was a major character.

Answer 6

Try to make it a original spin of the name like Than or maybe give him an name based off of it.

Answer 7

Use the name not the character and you will not have a problem.