Young adult literature is full of some unique names to say the least. I struggle with naming things; characters, places, objects—yikes. I am a firm believer in placeholder names in my fantasy world. If I waited to write my story until I found the perfect names I would never even get started. However, it has come time for me to face reality: these guys need names. In an effort to tackle the thing that scares me most, I decided to make a list of my 10 favorite YA names, and see why they worked so well.
10. Samirah al-Abbas from the Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan
Samirah al-Abbas in three words: badass Valkyrie bitch. She’s one of the first Muslim characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading about (lack of diversity in YA is still a thing people), but that’s not even the most interesting thing about her. She brings the souls of soldiers who died in glory to Valhalla (an afterlife in Norse mythology) and that’s how she meets the protagonist of Rick Riordan’s series, Magnus Chase (who also has a sweet name). Riordan is a master of naming in my humble opinion (Percy Jackson=classic), but Samirah, or Sam, has to be one of my favorites. She talks about her name with Magnus in one scene of the Sword of Summer, saying that the al-Abbas family is Arabic, but has a history of intermingling with Norse gods. Her last name references a lion, which fits her tough personality, and the dynamic between "Samirah" and her nickname "Sam" represents how she shifts between your average first-generation American schoolgirl to your average demigod-training Valkyrie. Sam's name teaches me to be conscious of what culture the character derives from, but also to make sure it holds a meaning below the surface. Nicknames are especially important, but I'll get to that later.
9. Dorian Havilliard from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
Dorian Havilliard, Crown Prince of Adarlan. Or maybe more than that...honestly I am still in the middle of this series and researching his name for the purpose of this article spoiled some stuff for me. It’s okay. I’m okay. (*sobs*)
ANYWAYS, Maas has some fun names in her books, but Dorian's is one of my favorites. In the fantasy world Maas has created, he has a name that you do not need the pronunciation guide for. It still has that pompous, regal feel while still being recognizable. Dorian also has Greek roots, the name of a hero, which I am really hoping this cinnamon roll turns out to be. I have no idea what Havilliard might mean, but it just sounds princely. What I learned from Dorian: names should have a feel to it. It could mean something special but if it does not have an aesthetic that matches the rest of the story, it won't work. Also, I dig names that I can pronounce without a guide (@SarahMaas).
8. Primrose Everdeen from the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
Okay, in a post about YA names the characters from the Hunger Games will obviously come into play. Collins picked some grade-A names in her future dystopian series. She used the names of political leaders, literary figures, religious figures, and mythology. I have to admit, I had a hard time picking just one name for the purpose of this list (Katniss, Finnick, Haymitch, Effie Trinket?). I picked Prim, because she has always had one of my favorite names. Primrose is a yellow flower, sometimes pink. It shows that her sister sees her as delicate and beautiful. “Prim” is also Latin for “first.” I probably don’t have to explain that one. "Everdeen" symbolizes a want for peace. At first glance, her name is just pretty but still has that delicate feel to it. When you dig deeper, it is carefully thought out and means a great deal. You can also tell that her parents had a theme going with the whole Katniss and Primrose thing. Real life parents do that, so it is important to keep in mind when naming sibling characters.
7. Maximum Ride from the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
Maximum Ride is not only one of my favorite names, but one of my favorite characters. I never thought I would be able to easily relate to a girl with wings who grew up in a lab, but her mental and emotional journey is fascinating. Max is another character who discusses her name directly with the reader. She tells us that her and the rest of her flock (Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel) all chose their own names once they were freed from their laboratory prisons. Their names all help with their own characterization, and they each sound like names that only they would pick. Max is a fairly normal name like the girl she wants to be, but Maximum Ride shows her love of flying and freedom. Fang shows that he’s dangerous, Iggy is silly, Nudge can be adorable, though sometimes bothersome, and the Gasman is hilarious, not to mention explosive (one reason I love this series: a lot of fart jokes). Angel is the little baby of the group. I’d call her sweet but…well, read the books. These characters teach me how to get into the minds of the characters themselves. What do they want to be called? If they could choose their own name, what would they pick?
6. Ponyboy and Sodapop from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Both are iconic names from the classic YA novel featuring inner city youth. Like Sam, Ponyboy discusses his name with another character as well, saying his father picked the names out for him and his brother, Soda. These names stick out because they are not normal names at all but still work well with the story. It gives us a look at the household they come from, because who in their right mind names their kids Ponyboy and Sodapop? Pony is a sweet kid, and Soda has some kick to him. What I learned from their names (among all of Hinton’s books replete with some sick names) is that names are allowed to be downright weird if it is relevant. If they are weird, then have the characters poke fun at it and make sure their names are explained.
5. Deryn Sharp from the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld
If you haven’t read Leviathan, you are missing out. Westerfeld is a brilliant namer, and one of my favorites is Deryn Sharp. This is another book where names are important: Deryn is a Scottish girl who pretends to be a boy named Dylan so she can achieve her dream of flying in the British air service. Deryn and Dylan are both Welsh names, so they are culturally appropriate for a kid born in the U. K. Deryn literally means, “bird,” while Dylan means “born of the sea.” Deryn fits her perfectly, but Dylan? Not so much.
Sharp is also a great surname for her, fitting her personality to a T. She is smart and witty (sharp), but also vulgar and sometimes prickly (sharp). No matter whether people think she is a boy or girl, her surname stays the same, just like who she is inside. Westerfeld has a squick of naming sense after all.
4. Stanley Yelnats from Holes by Louis Sachar
Everyone remembers Stanley Yelnats. His name is the same forwards and backwards. He grew up with a curse on his family and ends up going to a juvenile reform camp in the middle of nowhere for it. Stanley is another character, who, yet again, has to explain his name to you. It is a family name, he says, stretching back generations. Looking at the name Stanley, it is a perfect ordinary, if not bland name. Once you realize his last name is the backwards spelling of his first name it becomes interesting. It is comical, to say the least, but it is a simple way to put some meaning into this character’s title. This book places a great deal of emphasis on ancestry, and it is his ancestry and that of his friend Zero which ultimately provides a resolution to his family curse. Stanley has to constantly look backwards to see where his bad luck comes from. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. What I learn from Stanley is that sometimes names can have meaning and also be comical. Think about it, and sometimes the meaningful choice isn’t rooted in etymology.
3. Miles “Pudge” Halter from Looking for Alaska by John Green
John Green is another master at naming all around. Miles has to have one of my favorite names, though. "Miles" symbolizes the long journey he takes, while "Halter" shows his hesitations. It is straightforward, but also appears to be a rather ordinary name. It is easily decipherable by the average teen without having to consult Google about Latin roots. I also like the nickname he receives upon arriving at boarding school: “Pudge.” His friend, the Colonel, chooses this name for him. He is lanky and awkward, and the Colonel names him the opposite, which Miles gladly accepts. Nicknames are important in this book, because it shows how he longs to be something different. It is also important that he did not choose his own nickname. He wants to be different, to leave his small-town home and become endlessly fascinating like his friends, but he is not even the one who names himself. There are characters in my books who don’t go by their birth names either, and looking at who names them as well as what kind of name they pick is important for both characterization and theme.
2. Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Absolutely a classic name. It first seems like a perfectly ordinary, if not somewhat interesting name, much like Miles' (that's no surprise--Salinger is one of Green's biggest influences). But look deeper. The main idea of this book is that Holden is on the cusp of growing up and kind of sucking at it. He has this dream where he stands in a field of rye and catches the little kids who play there before they fall off the edge of a cliff. That field of rye is directly where the second half of “Caulfield” comes from. I did a lot of research about the first part, “caul,” and I found out that it is part of the amniotic sac that protects a fetus in pre-birth. "Holden" also pretty clearly denotes his “holding” onto childhood. His name represents his dream. What I can derive from Salinger’s naming technique is to take what is important to the character and use it in their name. Also, do your research. How did Salinger know what a caul was?
1. Anyone from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
If you were expecting anything less from me then I don’t know you at all. J. K. Rowling: naming extraordinaire. There are essays written about her naming capabilities (I know because I wrote one for an upper level psychology class. I got a B, but still). If you could not tell that Rowling was a genius from reading her books, than looking at her names might give you an idea: Harry Potter (ordinary kid who becomes a hero), Ron Weasley (the funny best friend who comes from a poor but magical household), Dumbledore (the wise old man), and Voldemort (every villain is lemons). Not to mention Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Sirius Black, Severus Snape, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin, to name some of my favorites. The thing about Rowling’s naming technique is that they all fit a theme and they all work well with the story despite being absolutely silly names. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger both grew up around muggles, so their names seem perfectly average (thank you very much). But the others all grew up in the world of magic, so their names have a magical sensibility to them. There are a lot of alliterations and rhymes, which is a common theme in magic spells in any classic book about magic. Their names are also rooted in mythology, astrology, and the classical languages. Rowling somehow manages to skillfully intertwine all of these elements in her naming technique to build a whole world of magic. What I learn from her? A lot of things, but, specifically, to look closely at how names can affect your worldbuilding.
With all of that being said, I am looking at all of my placeholder names and trying to find the perfect fit for each character. I do have a few good names, and those just seemed to slide right into place. When you find the perfect name for each character, you’ll know. Good luck to me.
Peace out,
Grace
Comments