Weird names

[Kaylabirdy]

This whole subject is close to my heart. Here's a SAMPLE of the names in my MS (fantasy, btw)

People:
Asherasinosia Asmodym Axmyl Azomyn Calchas Cryzba Ebshesa Gonmyr Korbyn Velryk Vrugan Grinlai Gyan Twai Idouchoh Jakfyr Jakorus Kwynzar Borcai Fletus Raghuv Ondsyr Xyahda Oscilnar Ranhulyr Ashyrea Sheribai Woomfis

Species:
Bryzintan Bukdar Droydha Dwodyn Folzyr Framorai Hordusk Krenoc Quiswanti Randyr Rutsyn Sbetchie Thraxdil Trybsar Vlydai Vylrac Wrixyr Xaymongkol

Places:
Cybraxas Casdora Ousintoz

Do your eyes hurt yet? :-)

wow...just wow...
O.O

[mmcdonald64]

This whole subject is close to my heart. Here's a SAMPLE of the names in my MS (fantasy, btw)

People:
Asherasinosia Asmodym Axmyl Azomyn Calchas Cryzba Ebshesa Gonmyr Korbyn Velryk Vrugan Grinlai Gyan Twai Idouchoh Jakfyr Jakorus Kwynzar Borcai Fletus Raghuv Ondsyr Xyahda Oscilnar Ranhulyr Ashyrea Sheribai Woomfis

Species:
Bryzintan Bukdar Droydha Dwodyn Folzyr Framorai Hordusk Krenoc Quiswanti Randyr Rutsyn Sbetchie Thraxdil Trybsar Vlydai Vylrac Wrixyr Xaymongkol

Places:
Cybraxas Casdora Ousintoz

Do your eyes hurt yet? :-)

I would not be able to keep all that straight. If there was some explanation of root words, I might eventually figure it out. For example, one ending in 'an' denotes a person of royal heritage, or 'as' means peasant-- something along those lines.

[kenpochick]

Ok, I have to chime in. Yes, Yes it does.

Especially the baby in the Twilight books. Reneesme??? Seriously? I don't even call her that when I read the book, I just skip right over the name. Although I will admit that it's probably what a teenager would name their baby. I do that in High Fantasy and Sci-Fi as well if I can't figure out how the name is pronounced.

At my real job I see the names off most of the babies born in the state and the weird name thing is not limited to fiction.

[mmcdonald64]

At my real job I see the names off most of the babies born in the state and the weird name thing is not limited to fiction.

After I had my son, I was in the hospital, and the lady in the other bed was on the phone asking people how to spell Gabrielle because that's what she wanted to name her daughter. Now, I *could* have told her the correct spelling, but I was so pissed at her because she'd been yapping on the phone until 2a.m. that night before, and I'd just had a c-section and was exhausted. She'd also had some guy bring her in cigarettes at midnight! (this was in the mid 80s and smoking was still allowed.) So, I kept my mouth shut, and when the hospital person came in the see about what to put on the birth certificate, the mother spelled it Gabreal. I felt a little guilty--but not too much. ;-)

[Hillsy]

*Post removed by poster*

[christi]

Thank you, Hillsy, for reminding me why I used to avoid forums. There are people without tact or diplomacy with no regard for other peoples' feelings. I offered my post in the spirit of fun, without mocking others or ridiculing their writing or them personally. You failed at both.

Like others have commented, I work in the healthcare industry and see some very unusual names. Seven of the names I listed I've seen on birth certificates. I have seen many more that are far more strange than I listed above. I am an avid reader of fantasy, and there are names in works such as Dune and even Watership Down that are strange and unpronounceable at first, but that did/does not deter people from enjoying the stories.

I can understand how some are put off by strange names, and opinions vary widely and people are free to have them. You're even free to insult me, and I see you embraced this right with great zeal. Go you. You must feel so proud in your smog of superiority.

[shadow]

Thank you, Hillsy, for reminding me why I used to avoid forums. There are people without tact or diplomacy with no regard for other peoples' feelings. I offered my post in the spirit of fun, without mocking others or ridiculing their writing or them personally. You failed at both.

Like others have commented, I work in the healthcare industry and see some very unusual names. Seven of the names I listed I've seen on birth certificates. I have seen many more that are far more strange than I listed above. I am an avid reader of fantasy, and there are names in works such as Dune and even Watership Down that are strange and unpronounceable at first, but that did/does not deter people from enjoying the stories.

I can understand how some are put off by strange names, and opinions vary widely and people are free to have them. You're even free to insult me, and I see you embraced this right with great zeal. Go you. You must feel so proud in your smog of superiority.

I agree with you Christi. After all lots of people come from other backgrounds that strnage words to us have meaning to them and their traditional names. With Fantasy I have come across very weird names myself but I read thrrough them no problem really.

[ganstream1]

I don't mind weird names. It's like a stamp of exclusivity to the novel because you simply can't get another name (unless it's a series) like it anywhere else.

I also like weird names because it helps me remember the story in case I'm reading more than one book at a time. :D

[Hillsy]

Hey Christi,

OK point taken. I humbly ask you accept my apology and have removed the offending post as a gesture of my sincerity. Reading it back, it was definitely lacking the tone I was hoping for, about 1000% more tongue in cheek that I achieved - I could make excuses but I think they'd be hollow. I'm sorry if I offended you, honestly, as that wasn't my intention.

You're right - I am entitled to my opinion, but I'm also encumbered with a responsibility to put it across in the right way. There are a lot of cool people on here, with a better facility for dealing with the occasional flushes of god-complex that lends itself, unfortunately, to internet forums than evidently I possess. I hope I haven't ruined something for you that's been a serious source of enjoyment for me with an ill-considered, poorly reasoned comment.

I can only offer my apologies.

[Margo]

As a reader, way-out names do annoy me, even in sci-fi and fantasy. If I really like the book, I will just focus on the first syllable of the name. If the writer has too many of these names, with several of them having the same first syllable, I will put the book down. Sad but true.

As a fantasy writer, I'm hindered by the fact that I'm good with languages and pronunciation. So I can pronounce every person and place name I put into a story or novel. I was distressed to learn that not every reader/critiquer can do the same. I got nailed big time for using Humfridhak Mirrid (place name). I can pronounce it perfectly. Apparently, I'm virtually alone in that regard. If I ever rewrite that one I will very likely take out the longest person and place names -- more syllables seem to intimidate readers. (I don't mean that as a criticism of readers, just an observation. Gotta recognize I have an audience to serve, not dictate to.)

On a related note, I have a rule I use when coming up with character names. I write down the letters of the alphabet, name my important characters, and cross off the letters those names begin with. That saves my readers from the problem of having to slow down in their reading to double check whether the speaker was the hero Estof, his rival Elren, his sister Elliria, or the minor character Estira. If my hero's name is Estof, no other character name will begin with E or with a similar first syllable, like Ast or Ist. Also, I generally try not to have more than two minor characters with names that begin with the same letter, if that many.