# Naming your kid after a fictional character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049 "2010-07-17T18:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/1 "2010-07-17T18:21:44Z")
I’m a few weeks from having my first child, and we still haven’t settled on a name. I always wanted to name a kid after a fictional character, and when I suggested Zooey for a girl (from _Franny and Zooey_\*), my wife liked it and we settled on a girl name pretty easily. Then it turned out to be a boy. Months later we still can’t agree on this anything. I’ve suggested Hal (_Infinite Jest_), Finnegan (Finn for short, from _Finnegan’s Wake_), Huck (duh), and Quinn (modification of Quint from _Jaws_ for ease of pronunciation), among others. The wife is sort of lukewarm on Finn and Quinn, but hates the others. I didn’t even try Kilgore. Any suggestions? - Zooey was actually the brother in that book, but it doesn’t feel like a boy’s name. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/2 "2010-07-17T18:27:12Z")
Riker edit: yes I know it is his last name but Will is a boring name ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/3 "2010-07-17T18:31:29Z")
Geordie (pronounced “Jordie”) for ST:TNG’s Geordie LaForge. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/4 "2010-07-17T18:40:21Z")
Spock. Or possibly Mork. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/5 "2010-07-17T18:42:15Z")
Don’t name your kid after a recognizable fictional character. I have a friend who named her daughters Eowyn and Inara. She is very pleased with her choices, so more power to her, but I think it sounds ridiculous. YMMV and IMHO, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/6 "2010-07-17T19:37:21Z")
Be careful about naming **Dumbguy, Jr.** after pop fiction characters. If you don’t mind that the reference severely dates him, well, ok. Fictional names that have stood the test of time are cool in my book, though. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/7 "2010-07-17T19:39:18Z")
Oh, so many possibilities out there . . . Damien . . . Nicolae . . . Sauron . . . Morgoth . . . Voldemort . . . Ming . . . Jason . . . Freddie . . . Chuckie . . . ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/8 "2010-07-17T20:05:44Z")
My friend named her son Corwin. Then another friend of mine named her twins Winter (girl) and Fenris (boy). I have some seriously geeky friends. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/9 "2010-07-17T20:35:29Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Don’t name your kid after a recognizable fictional character. I agree. And avoid any names that are supposed to be pronounced: Ahs-WEE-pay. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/10 "2010-07-17T20:50:41Z")
Finn and Quinn are both characters on _Glee_, so I would avoid those even though I like the show. They are liable to become trendy names. Huck? Short for Huckleberry? Don’t do that to him. Hal makes me think of _2001: A Space Odyssey_ more than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/11 "2010-07-17T21:02:51Z")
This makes me think of the Charles DeLint story about a boy named Peregrin who was embarrassed by his name, but thankful that his parents hadn’t gone with Frodo instead. Why not consider using those names as middle names? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/12 "2010-07-17T21:03:10Z")
Obviously, the only suitable names would be from the X-men. “Nightcrawler, stop bothering your sister…Shadowcat, eat your carrots.” ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/13 "2010-07-17T21:22:57Z")
> [@Dumbguy](#): > > I always wanted to name a kid after a fictional character, and when I suggested Zooey for a girl (from _Franny and Zooey_\*), my wife liked it and we settled on a girl name pretty easily. Hah! One of my step-brothers named his first Francis after his grandmother, but she was frequently a Franny. When daughter number two came along, you guessed it - Zoey :D. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/14 "2010-07-17T22:06:07Z")
In Eric Flint’s “Ring of Fire” series, there is a character named Tom Stone. He’s the last resident of a defunct commune. Tom raised three sons there. One is his, another _may_ be his, and the third isn’t his but Tom kept him when the mom skipped out. All three boys were given names out of LOTR, but Tom never calls them by their registered names, and it embarrasses the boys when their stepmother does. Ron is actually Elrond. Frank is Faramir, and Gerry is really Gwaihir. A fictional situation in itself, sure, but I’d never name a kid for someone famous. As said upthread, it dates them. My sister escaped being name Dwight(for the president) only by being a girl. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/15 "2010-07-17T22:20:44Z")
This is reminding me that I knew a girl named Goldberry when I was in college. Don’t do this to you children, people. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/16 "2010-07-17T22:45:24Z")
Sherlock and Voldemort would be AWESOME kid names. There are a few Annikin’s out there. I wanted to name our daughter Elizabeth Bennett, but was pooh-poohed. If we knew your fictional leanings, we could throw out more suggestions, but for now, I am sticking with Sherlock and Voldemort. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/17 "2010-07-17T22:59:38Z")
> [@Dumbguy](#): > > I’ve suggested Hal (_Infinite Jest_)… Just factor in that other repurpose-a-fictional-character parents may well be taking their cues from how the Next Big Superhero Movie will apparently feature Hal “The Green Lantern” Jordan. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/18 "2010-07-18T00:06:43Z")
Warning: I am apparently falling half asleep. This presumably affects my brain. Mercutio. Tybalt. Laetres. Lysander. Corin (not that strange, unless you name him Corin Thunderfist. Don’t name him Corin Thunderfist. One has to earn that.) Peter, Edmund, Eustace, Aslan, Puddleglum. Shasta (Don’t name him Shasta McNasty.) Kermit. Oswald (not after the guy in _The Drew Carey Show_ just a nicely distinctive name.) Sledge. Jimi. Sly. Beornbjorn (I just made this up.) My cousin named her kid Samuel Clarence, I keep trying to turn it into Samuel Clemens/Clement. Rilian. (Trillian?) Tristram. Trismegistus. Name him J.R., call him Bob. Don’t have the R. stand for Robert. Change last name to Dobbs. Friedrich. Nikola. Tesla. Tyr. Charlemagne (maybe esp. if he’s tall). [del]Esp.[/del] Del. Floyd. George. John Henry. Stalnoivolk. Orwell. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/19 "2010-07-18T00:16:58Z")
Scout ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/20 "2010-07-18T00:20:30Z")
When I was an undergrad, I met a young lady named “Arwen”. She was surprised that I knew where the name was from. Of course, now I’m sure a lot more folks recognize it. Personally, I think that things like this are the reason for existence of middle names. If you want to give your kid a wild and crazy name, knock yourself out, but put it in middle, not in first. That way, they can choose to embrace it if they want, but they also have the option of hiding it away behind a mere initial. For your child’s first name, though, pick something that neither of you will have reason to regret later. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049.md?page=2)