# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/181 "2010-08-12T09:58:30Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I think middle names are a great option for more “unconventional” choices. But it’s very “safe” as well. You’re basically sweeping the uniqueness under a rug. What’s cool is when a unique first name matches the person really well and the whole become greater than its parts. John H. Poirot wouldn’t be as good as Hercule Poirot. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/182 "2010-08-12T18:14:49Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > > [@Dinsdale](#): > > > > I think middle names are a great option for more “unconventional” choices. > > But it’s very “safe” as well. You’re basically sweeping the uniqueness under a rug. What’s cool is when a unique first name matches the person really well and the whole become greater than its parts. John H. Poirot wouldn’t be as good as Hercule Poirot. Considering the fact that Hercule Poirot was Belgian, “John” would have been an odd choice for a first name. I’m still trying to wrap my head around an OP who wants to name a child after a literary character, but thinks Jaws should be in the running. You should have named him Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/183 "2010-08-12T18:29:16Z")
One of our options for a girls name was Cecily from The Importance of Being Earnest. We went with something different because she was born with dark hair, and in our minds Cecily is blond. I am holding that name on reserve for child number two. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/184 "2010-08-12T18:34:37Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > However, I hope your kid’s surname doesn’t start with B. NO-almost any letter spells out a word of some sort, but NOB would be unfortunate. NOM would just be mildly amusing - and NOT and NOW. 😃 Of course, if the last name starts with a G, then you got your fictional character! Also, you have to dress him as an egg every Christmas. \>\_\> ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/185 "2010-08-12T20:07:09Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > My best friends’ oldest son is named Geddy Alexander. Their last name wouldn’t happen to be O’Neil, would it? ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/186 "2010-08-12T21:08:32Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > I’m still trying to wrap my head around an OP who wants to name a child after a literary character, but thinks Jaws should be in the running. You should have named him Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan. Please excuse me if I’m being completely thick but what’s wrong with a name from Jaws? The book came first. Hell, I wasn’t even born when the movie came out and I still read the book before seeing the movie. Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan are also literary characters. Books don’t have to be hoity toity Shakespeare-caliber writings or from the Bible to qualify as literature. I hate to break it to you, but even the moronic Twilight books are still works of literature. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/187 "2010-08-12T22:06:09Z")
Bioware Games has always had some good names…my kids will be named one of the following: Imoen Mission Branwen Bastila Shepard Garrus Tali ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/188 "2010-08-12T22:33:09Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > > [@Erdosain](#): > > > > I’m still trying to wrap my head around an OP who wants to name a child after a literary character, but thinks Jaws should be in the running. You should have named him Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan. > > Please excuse me if I’m being completely thick but what’s wrong with a name from Jaws? The book came first. Hell, I wasn’t even born when the movie came out and I still read the book before seeing the movie. Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan are also literary characters. > > Books don’t have to be hoity toity Shakespeare-caliber writings or from the Bible to qualify as literature. > > I hate to break it to you, but even the moronic Twilight books are still works of literature. Thank you, I do understand the concept of literature. What I was pointing out was the disparity of the OP’s literary taste: David Foster Wallace, Mark Twain, James Joyce, Vonnegut, and Peter Benchley. There’s nothing wrong with a nice thriller or airport novel, but I’d sure hate to be named after one. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/189 "2010-08-12T22:46:14Z")
Ahhh, I see. I completely misunderstood the point you were making. There are a few people in my life who insist that only classics are REAL literature (and they’re also the people least likely to read a book) so I automatically assumed that was where you were going with it. I see nothing wrong with naming a kid after a thriller or airport novel character but since I don’t plan on ever having a kid, my opinion probably isn’t sought after. If hell ever does freeze over though, my daughter will be named Esmerelda (Weatherwax) or my son will be Samuel (Vimes). Middle names were never discussed. ---
**Author:** ![Animastryfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Animastryfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animastryfe)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/190 "2010-08-12T23:02:48Z")
Evangeline is one of my favorite female names. However, I was first acquainted with this name by means of a vampiric character in a manga; I’m not sure what my response would be if I were to meet a real person with such a name. A Japanese website recently conducted a poll asking which fictional characters (primarily video game and anime) would you name your child after. Over 50 percent voted that they would not name their children after a fictional character. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049/191 "2010-08-13T00:21:46Z")
Octavian is a great name, but maybe I’m a bit biased from having one in the family as well (from my grandparents’ generation). My SIL is planning to call her unborn baby Tyler if it’s a boy because the father’s last name sounds similar to Durden. Yup. When I asked her if she really wanted her kid to be associated with a psycho violent extremist (albeit fictional), she assured me that by the time he’s be old enough to go to school, nobody is going to remember the movie. Ooookaayy. But hey, it’s not my decision! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-your-kid-after-a-fictional-character/547049.md?page=9)