Do This Character Names Fit?

Question

I'm writing a novel that takes place in 1930, around Great Depression time. These are the 3 main characters.

Byron McKenny - 13 year old boy who has childish antics, but is working in Texas as a farmhand. Reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, freckles.

Daisy Rosebud Lowell - 13 year old Texas "cowgirl" falls in love with Byron. She has long brown hair and oak-colored eyes. Serious by day, Playful by night.

Jason Michael Lowell - 29 year old, holds the secret of Daisy being his daughter, but she doesn't know that. Brown hair, Brown eyes, the whole bit. Longing to be free

Answer 1

I agree the names are too modern.

Use the social security names by decade...

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/decades/names1920s.html

This is for the 1920's... ie approx. when your characters would have been born.

13 yo boy - William Robert ... Billy to his friends since he's childish. it gives him a name to live up to.

13 yo girl - Evelyn Pearl... Sounds texan after the boy falls in love with her, he can call her Evie or talk about how she's more precious than a Pearl or well named... etc...

30 yo father - Jesse Andrew - manly with a bad boy streak but trying to live his life on his terms.... Andrew actually mean Man.

Answer 2

Jason Michael is 29, so he would have been born in 1901. Unless Jason's parents were very forward thinkers, they probably wouldn't have named him Jason. However, it is listed on the SSA site (#700) out of 1,000 names, so it is entirely possible this could be his name. As a reader, I would want to read something more believable from that time period though.

Here are some of the more widely used names for that time period (included are girls' names in case Jason has a female counterpart).
John/Mary
William/Helen
James/Margaret
George/Anna
Charles/Ruth
Robert/Elizabeth
Joseph/Dorothy

Bryon and Daisy are both 13, so they would have been born in 1917. Byron is #227 and Daisy is #130, so those two names would definitely be believable. I don't know about the Rosebud part though. The name Rose is listed very high at #16, so that may be an option.

This is your novel, so it's ultimately your choice. If you're writing a novel for other people to read, try to make it as believable as possible. You want people to understand that this could only take place in the 30's and at no other time in life....it's all about the details.

Good luck, the character profiles sound interesting!

Answer 3

I would change Daisy Rosebud because daisy is too typical and rosebud seems hippy'ish.
Byron seems fine.
What about Franklin or Alexander (alex) instead of Jason
maybe try...
Adeline Beth Lowell
Charlotte Rose Lowell
Lucinda Marie Lowell
Violet Rosemary Lowell
Ruby Frances Lowell
instead of Daisy

good luck writing your book

Answer 4

Byron's ok, but Daisy sounds a bit too stereotypical - its the rosebud bit that throws it, plus its a bit modern for the 1930's. jason could work, but its also a bit modern
check out baby name sites, they have popular names from each decade

Answer 5

Daisy Rosebud is too much. The other two are fine though. Here is a website with popular names from the 1930's.

Hope this helps you.

****UPDATE****
http://www.babycenter.com/0_1930s-most-popular-names_1738080.bc

Answer 6

I dont like Daisy Rosebud....... What about Ingrid or Valerie.

Jason??? Byron??? not sure sounds to modern, what about John or Thomas.

Look at your grandparents for inspiration and their friends.

Last names sound good though

Answer 7

If the novel your writing is humurous then Daisy Rosebud
is ok. But if it is a serious one you may want to change
this to a more noble one.

Answer 8

You're writing a novel, yet you ask questions like, "Do This Character Names Fit? " I hope you have a good editor!