Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Character's I'd name my children after



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!








So I think I'm going to do this a little differently, I'll still be listing characters I'd name my future children after but I'm also going to include authors that I've always wanted to pay an homage to by naming my offspring after their creative selves. So in no particular order, here I go!

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1. Alice 
(From Alice in Wonderland NOT Twilight!)
This isn't a nod to the rather bratty and obnoxious blonde who goes by this name but a nod to the author who had such a wonderfully quirky, creative and interesting mind! I'd name my child after one of the other characters but I think they might be teased if they were known as Dormouse, Tweedle-dee (or dum), Mad Hatter, or the Queen of Hearts! 




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2. Lily  
(Harry Potter's beloved mother)
I always loved the name Lily (and many other flower names, so beautiful and girly) but as I continued to read the HP series and see what a rock and inspiration she was to her son I couldn't help but fall head over heels for her and her name. She is such a strong, determined and loyal character and she means so much to her son. I only hope I am a similar mother to my children. 

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 3. Daisy
(The woman Jay Gatsby pined for)
Again this isn't so much for the character herself but for the talented author who brought her to life. The Great Gatsby was my first Fitzgerald so it holds a special place in my heart for introducing me to his marvelous writing and of all the names in the novel Daisy is the one which I love the most.




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4. Howl 
(Because I'm a little obsessed!)
This is one of the names that would definitely only be a nickname and not a first or even middle name. Howl is such a wonderful character, he's complex, and tough and secretive and a great big softie underneath it all. Plus he's a wizard, that's an instant win in my books!



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5. Hunter
(Because he is my hero)
This is one of my favourite authors. No. He is my favourite author. It was Hunter who turned me on to gonzo journalism and it was Hunter who made me realise a journalism degree was never going to allow me to write the way I want to write. I will never be Hunter, I have neither the inclination to drugs and alcohol nor the absolute genius level of creativity that he did but he inspires me to do things my way, to push boundaries and to live outside of the restrictions so much of society pin around themselves. My son will be named Hunter, that isn't even a possibility, it is a fact.

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6. Dumbledore
(Because, well,  it's Dumbledore!)
I often sit and think about what my future children will be named (i'm going to need about 15 to get through all my favourite names!) and at one point I honestly did consider Dumbledore as a middle name but then I stopped and thought that my kid would probably hate it and it might be overstepping the line from fan to fanatic to do so! Although I do believe there are a few Dumbledores and Voldemorts wandering around the world since HP debuted!


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7. Alex 
(Viddy well, my droogs)
Obviously I don't want my kids to be Alex DeLarge because he isn't exactly what I imagined to take to the family get-together, but I absolutely love, love, loved A Clockwork Orange and Alex was an amazing character, so naming my son Alex would be a tribute to the mastery of the novel rather than an indication of how my children should grow up to behave! Plus wouldn't it be fantastic to dress up your kids on Halloween like their namesakes?!!



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8. Max 
(Because he has an imagination like no other)
 One of the best things about being a kid is the imaginary worlds you can create in your bedroom, and Maurice Sendak's precocious young protagonist travels to the furthest reaches of his and back and learns a great deal in the process. I know a name can't really influence the behaviour of the kids (unless it was really weird and resulted in bullying at school or something) but I'd love to think that by naming my son Max he would be equally imaginative and be able to work things out on his own because of this creative little skill.



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9. Spider Jerusalem

(Because he's the graphic representation of HST)
I will never name my son Spider, because apart from the fact that it is a terrible first name for anyone by a fictional character I am terrified of the teeny (and not so teeny) beasts that share this name! He's on my list though because he's strong and determined and refuses to accept the lies and abusive tricks played by people in power. I'd like to think that one day one of my kids will be so determined to make things right in the world that the nickname 'Spider Jerusalem' will fit perfectly.



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10. Alliteration!
(because it sounds oh so good!)
Okay I don't actually mean I'm going to name my kid Alliteration, but I have always loved names that follow this device. For instance Christopher Chant, the Chrestomanci in Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci series, Willy Wonka, Severus Snape- actually if I mention Harry Potter I should really mention Minerva McGonagall, Madaye Moody, Godric Gryffindor, Luna Lovegood and on and on the list goes. Alliteration just trips off the tongue so wonderfully and makes any name sound a little special and different even if it is as simple as Christopher or Sam.




This list was hard!! I mentioned that I have dozens of names I love and want to use when I have kids and while a lot are influence by novels or authors there are still quite a few that come from films or people I know, so it took awhile to go through the names in my head and work out who to attribute them too. I'm sure I missed out a few names I really love because I was overthinking this question but I can't wait to read everyone else's lists and see how out-there some people go, and what books have made an impact on them.

8 comments:

  1. I really need to read Alice in Wonderland. I didn't realize Alice was bratty and obnoxious.

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  2. I'm not sure how many other people share my opinion but when I read the books I didn't find her as sweet and lovely as she's always depicted in pop. culture. She isn't a terror, but she's quite bossy and stubborn and not what I was expecting!

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  3. I am crazy about names. I'm long past the day when I am in need of names for actual offspring, but I still loving thinking about names.

    Here's my post: http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-ten-characters-id-name-my-children.html

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  4. Nice job on your choices! Daisy and Hunger are my two favorite on your list.

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  5. This list is made of win!!!!! Especially Alice and Daisy and Alex

    Here's mine: http://featherednest-birdie.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-ten-tuesday-naming-your-children.html

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  6. I love how much Harry Potter is on your list. I also love Daisy. I totally forgot about her when I was doing mine.

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  7. I had Alex as well.

    My son is named Hunter so I love that choice! :)

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  8. Lily: What a wonderful choice! Both a lovely name and a stellar character.
    I agree that Daisy is definitely not painted as sweetness and light. Perhaps people get that impression more from the film than from Fitzgerald?
    Thanks for this list!

    ReplyDelete

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