Character names...?

Question

I've got a Civil rights worker character named Rune and I've gotten a lot of flack for that. Keep in mind, when I was 18, I thought the name was wicked awesome, as I was a wannbe goth girl back then. Is it too dungeons-and-dragons goth fantasy? Should I change it? It definitely wasn't in the top-10 back in 1939 (when he was born), that's for sure, but I know for damned sure I'm not going to name him John.

Answer 1

If you can show a reason early in the story for how he got an unusual name, it should be fine.

Also, the suggestion about it being a nick name is good.

I remember a scene from an old cowboy show on TV where a character was named Quirt, which someone didn't like because a quirt is a sort of whip used on horses. But the character explained that he got his name because when he was a boy, people used to call him Squirt, and it just got shortened to Quirt.
Maybe you could do something like that with Rune.

Answer 2

I agree with Ya Ya and I also agree with Master C in regards to the rune stones. But I wouldn't go as far as changing it as he suggested. Like Ya Ya says, it's your story.

Here's a good way to pick up some really fantastic names for characters. I've been doing this for years.

Take a DVD of a movie and, in the chapter search, go to the credits. There are hundreds of names that scroll up. I don't bother with the 'cast' I just use the 'behind the scenes' names. The hairdressers, the best boys, the wardrobe people, the makeup artists, etc... Some of them are very unique. You can take the first name of one and the last name of another and mix and match.

As a matter of fact, there's nothing wrong with Rune Stone as a name. Master C brought that up and it rang a bell. More than likely, a person would call him Stone. Very macho and charismatic name.

Answer 3

You could give him a different name and have Rune be what people call him. It does sound really odd for a given name, but you could have so many fun reasons why Rune is his nickname, like if he's a natural skeptic, or he's into symbols, etc.

A rune means something inscribed on an object, like a letter. It's often used as a magical symbol or a spell. Because people automatically jump to this definition, they may have a hard time adjusting to the character.

Answer 4

This is a site every author should keep bookmarked. Search through it - the perfect name is there Yeah, I think that is a little too D and D for the time. Although there is someone named Rune Arlidge - although I have no clue how old he is.
Maybe you can find out. Pax - C

Answer 5

I like how you think Hayden. Your right, its absolutely a tick off when you see these questions posted anywhere on the enternet "I need a name" or "Whats a good name for...". When I brainstormed my book the names came naturally to me. I would choose a name from a favorite book , and choose from another to make an entirely original name (Like "Josseir". I got "Joss" from Gaurdians of Ga'hoole, and mixed it with a name from Prosperoe's Children. Most young writers today spend hours trying to find the perfect name, and half of them know that all they're doing is destracting themselfs from writing. Its rubbish! Almost all young writers have no clue how to even publish a book (I myself spent an entire summer writing details down, asking famouse writers how they did it. and I am a young writer) They dont know how to start or where it ends.

Answer 6

I like the name, but it's a bit odd. But it's your story. I named a kid Mercury in a story just because he's fast, like his namesake, the god Mercury (and the quicksilver)!
It was an odd name (laughable, maybe), but it did match with his personality. His original name, Marc, didn't.
So you can name him whatever you want. I agree with pj m. The name rocks. And it also could be used as a nickname instead of a given name. Who knows. It's your story and completely and utterly under your control.
=D aximili12, (an amateur) fellow writer

Answer 7

I really like the name Francis. It sounds really stupid at first, but so did the name Edward, before I read the Twilight series. You can make a name hott if your character is.

PS- If you want girl's names, Loretta is a really good one. That's my best friend's name (and I'm in high school, so we're not old, or anything....)

Answer 8

If you dont like it, you can change it to Rube. Ever seen Dead like me? Its a tv show, and one of the characters is Rube Sofer. He was born I believe around the 30s or so...maybe a bit earlier...anyway, they're all modern day grim reapers, and theyve been around for all these years, etc. Good show, it got cancelled awhile back, but I always thought that name was kinda cool and unique. Rube.

Answer 9

Rune reminds me of the game Gauntlet: Dark Legacy (you collect Rune-stones to open the magic door).
Change it, but keep it unique too.

Answer 10

I think it's an awsome name, and I have a character in one of my stories with the same name. I think the name is wicked cool and you should most certainly use it!