Character Names

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Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. As I write this blog I’m getting ready to start work on a new book. I’ve done some pre-writing – thinking about my characters backstory, what’s hurt them in their pasts and what motivates them in the present and touched on what their goals are, but now I’m ready to put pen to paper, start the story, and really figure out who they are.

That is both a very exciting thing and a scary thing for me. Exciting because at this point there are so many fun and adventurous new possibilities stretching out in front of me. Scary because there is always that little niggling worry that I won’t be able to do justice to the story as I try to translate what’s in my head to the actual manuscript.

But that’s not what I want to talk to you about today. This book will feature twin sisters – one will be the heroine of this book and one will be the heroine of a future book. I’ve been trying to name these two ladies and I’m finding it a bit more difficult than usual.

Do I give them similar sounding names like Amanda and Miranda, Hilda and Wilda, Annabel and Isabel, Connie and Bonnie.  Or maybe I should go with themed names like Ruby and Opal, Summer and Autumn, Daisy and Lily, Iris and Rose, Fern and Ivy, Flora and Fauna, Scarlet and Violet? Or just name them like I would any other siblings? After all I have twin daughters of my own and deliberately didn’t chose matchy-matchy names – they are Lydia and Melissa.

There are other people as well as places and things I’ll need to name in these books of course.

There are the heroes naturally. Right now I am thinking I’ll name them Wyatt Hayes (a ranch hand) and Gavin Burns (a small town lawyer) but that may change as I figure out who they really are.  For the town name, I’m waffling between Larkin and Crossvine.  And one of them owns a dress shop – should I name it after her (Miss such-and-such’s Dress Shop) or after the town (Crossvine’s Fashion Emporium) or something altogether original (Purple Plume Fashions)?

But back to my dilemma over naming my twin heroines – what do you think, which approach should I take? And based on your answer, do you have any suggestions for actual names?

Give me your thoughts in the comments below and you’ll get your name in the hat to win a copy of one of my backlist books AND a fun Christmas ornament.

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Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

67 thoughts on “Character Names”

  5. I gave my characters floral names for my first novella, Iris and Lily. How did people usually name twins back then?

  6. Winnie, nice to see you in another venue. My personal reaction is not to get too cutesy, or they’ll hate you (or their parents) later. I guess it also depends on the tone of the book. I’ve never done twins, but I had cousins who were identical and their parents named them Dale and Darlene. (They were girls.) interesting to see how this one plays out.
    Your friend, Kathy Bailey

  8. For some reason when you mentioned names the names Summer and Autumn kind of got me. I really like those names. I think its because you never here those names to often.

  9. I’m thinking it depends on the twins, themselves. Are they identical?? Does one have blond hair, one have brown? Do they have eyes the same color? If they’re identical, separate sounding names would be good, as usually they’re the sound alike names, though I know male twins who are identical named Michael and Stephen. So, I’m going to go with Tabitha (Tabby) and Abigail (Abby) for their names, whether they’re identical or not!

      • Actually, I read somewhere that some people used to wait til the child(ren) were older to see their personalities a bit before actually naming them! So, I guess it would depend.

  10. welcome today. this is a really great question. personally I would not give them names that rhyme or sound alike. because if they were mine I would want them to find some of their own individuality. I like these names: Tabitha, Isabella, Clarinda, Grace, Raelynn, Savannah, Crystal, April, Lournetta, Shannon

  11. I think they should be names like any other characters. People quite often used Bible names so I think Rebecca and Rachel or perhaps Hope and Faith.

  13. I too believe the matching names went out of style long ago – we have several sets of twins in the family and none have these and they are in their 30’s now!

  16. Personally, I prefer the names not rhyme or be too close sounding. I too like older names such as Cora, Velma. Millie Bea, etc. Some friends were discussing the success of your books the other day. Proud of you.

  17. I am not sure… I like names that start with the same letter, the floral ones are nice too… also like longer names that the character uses a nickname for instead.

  18. While maybe I’d shy away from rhyming names like Connie & Bonnie, I think I’d name twins with at least some kind of connection. My choice would be that the names begin with the same letter. Amber & Abigail. Kendra & Katie. Susan & Sarah. Ellie & Emilie. Jennifer & Julie. Lisa & Lana.
    Happy Writing! 🙂

  19. If you are writing in a historical setting, it would be more authentic to use names with something in common,

  20. Our community has a lot of twins…five sets from 2 to 10 years old at a Grange Christmas party a few years ago were pictured in our weekly paper. None of them have rhyming names. The class a year behind our youngest daughter had two sets… Cammie and Jamie, Amanda and Jessica. Growing up our across the field neighbors were Joan and Mary. Joan was left handed, Mary right handed. That was the easiest way to tell them apart.

  21. I don’t like the same letter matchy names as the characters are unique individuals. Grace and Faith are good for a name connection. I like the hero names you have picked as well.Thanks for sharing your work in progress with us.

  24. I am a twin and my twin sister, and I were named after songs that were popular in the late 60’s. Our names are Cherie and Sherry. Due to this, I am drawn to themed names for twins.

  26. I like either the themed name idea or just two different names that you like. I never really cared for it when people tried to make twins matchy matchy in everything, including their names. Just because they look alike doesn’t mean they aren’t each unique individuals.

  29. How about – Miranda and Cassandra. Those names sound very classy and sweet natured while being genuine. Cassandra’s Boutique Shop? Miranda’s Boutique Shop?

  31. I like Daisy, Pearl, Lula, Emma, Ruby, Rose, Lily
    These are my family names (grandmothers and great- grandmothers)
    I am trying to piece together my family’s history and came across these names.

  34. I would not use matchy names. It makes it too confusing. I like Anita and Grace for my mother and her mother, my grandmother. My grandmother was a seamstress, so Grace’s Divine Fashions would work for the dress shop.

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