Kate Sundara's Blog
July 20, 2023
What's in a Name? A Lot! How I Named the Characters in my New Adult Novel.
The United States of Us: A Multidimensional Love Story.
Choosing a name for someone, albeit real or imagined, can be a headache and a big responsibility - ask any new parent. So how do we choose character names for our literary baby, our book? We find out the meaning behind potential names, of course! Research in this area can be a lot of fun...
I went through plenty of options for each character in my new adult novel, The United States of Us. I'm happy with the names I decided on in the end, but it was only after a lot of experimentation with what felt right for each person and what they brought to the story.
Every move in one's writing needs to be meaningful, and this especially applies when naming one's characters. After all, we're doing our best to present a mental image of a person to our reader. We can help our reader conjure up an accurate depiction of a character by giving them a name that embodies essential traits.
If you've read The United States of Us, you'll hopefully know and love these characters as much as I do. Here's a bit of background for each one of them, and how I decided on what to call them in the end:
Mia:
The main character. Her name, as she points out in the story, is an acronym for Missing In Action - this seems particularly poignant at this point in her life. The name is romantic, with Italian origins, just like Mia. An idealist, she sees the world through rose-tinted glasses. Mia actually means Mine, or My Darling which is very appropriate for the character, since the story is narrated by Robin, Mia's deceased first love. He clearly still thinks of her as 'his' in the most endearing way. Since Mia is also my main character (Mine) she also belongs to me, the author. This definitely felt like the right name for my protagonist.
Will:
Meaning Resolute Protector. This is Will through-and-through. It's an unassuming name - how fitting for our lovely modest Will! My favourite male character in the book, he's stable, consistent and loyal. Will is Mia's biggest confidante and <spoiler> after a lot of heartache, who she ends up with! </spoiler> (Phew!) Will Jansen is named after his Dutch Grandfather, Willem. A well brought-up young man, from good, strong, healthy stock. He's undoubtedly the understated hero in this book! **What do you most love about Will?**
April:
She's a bit of an unknown and a bit off-beat. Like the month, April comes with uncertainty. Mia isn't sure about her from the start, but gives her the benefit of the doubt. Zak's step-sister can be bright and breezy, or harsh and frosty. She's scattered, like the season's famous showers. April blows hot and cold and Mia can never really count on her as a true companion. She's whimsical and unreliable. A fair-weather friend. The name April actually means Fertile One. This is interesting, given that Mia initially saw a lot of potential in April and imagined that their friendship would bloom, as things naturally do in Spring. Unfortunately though, April was a let-down. Her and Mia's sense of sisterhood was as fleeting as blossom. This character is a trickster, the April Fools. I actually like the name itself, although this character put me off it! **Incidentally, Spring is my favourite season. What's yours?**
Ruth:
Meaning Friend, Friendship, Compassionate Friend. This name is absolutely perfect for our Ruth! She's the definition of a trusted companion, a complete contrast to April. I love this name so much for Mia's favourite female friend because it reminds me of the words roof and earth, both of which are concepts I associate with our dear sweet Ruth. She puts a roof over Mia's head whilst, at the same time, staying down to earth. Ruth is one of the most grounding forces in the story. The name also has some positive biblical associations, and in my story, some of her qualities are practically saint-like. We love you Ruthie! Stay golden.
Zak:
I chose this name much less for its meaning and more for the way that it sounds; it's sparky. The Z makes him sound a bit zany, quirky and intriguing, which is why Mia is attracted to him in the first place. There's something almost electric and buzzy about this short-fused name. Zak is a live-wire and, as such, he can be dangerous, powerful and unpredictable. He is a current going through the entire story. As with electricity, he can be used for good or bad. The Z is also diagonal - it switches one way then the other, much like his character. A person of opposites and extremes, Zak zigzags all over the place, which is, as we later find out <spoiler> symptom of his bipolar disorder. </spoiler>
Rosa:
Sweet, soft and gentle like the rose. She endures tough and prickly situations, just as a rose is surrounded by thorns. The rose has a natural beauty and innocence, although Rosa's innocence was lost when she was 'deflowered', resulting in her teenage pregnancy. Now an adult, she's a classy lady who keeps her grace and dignity. I thought it interesting that the rose has associations with England (English rose), yet Rosa is Native American. This not only ties into ideas of colonisation and the downfall of her people, but also her affinity with British-born Mia. The name has an international charm. Rosa has strong roots, like the rose, but she's wilting with her cancer (a rose is susceptible to disease). She's strong but fragile. Rosa is resilient. She has the ability to regenerate after losing everything.
Robin:
Transient, like the bird. Deceased as our narrator is, he lives between two worlds. Always watching on from the outside, he flies between scenes. Robin is a joyful, good natured character. Mia misses him greatly, but he visits her often from The Other Side. The name means Famed, Bright and Shining He's all of these things to Mia, and his memory lives on.
The only thing I'd change when naming the characters in my next novel is that I wouldn't choose names that start with the same letter again. In The United States of Us I have three main characters whose name begins with the letter R. In my future books, I will make sure everyone's name starts with a different letter, just to keep things nice and clear for the reader.
So tell me, what's your name and what does it mean? Do you like your name, and if you could choose a different name for yourself, what would it be and why? Has a character ever ruined a name for you, or made you fall in love with it?
I can't wait to read your answers!
With Love,
Kate (meaning pure)
Sundara (meaning lovely) xx
Choosing a name for someone, albeit real or imagined, can be a headache and a big responsibility - ask any new parent. So how do we choose character names for our literary baby, our book? We find out the meaning behind potential names, of course! Research in this area can be a lot of fun...
I went through plenty of options for each character in my new adult novel, The United States of Us. I'm happy with the names I decided on in the end, but it was only after a lot of experimentation with what felt right for each person and what they brought to the story.
Every move in one's writing needs to be meaningful, and this especially applies when naming one's characters. After all, we're doing our best to present a mental image of a person to our reader. We can help our reader conjure up an accurate depiction of a character by giving them a name that embodies essential traits.
If you've read The United States of Us, you'll hopefully know and love these characters as much as I do. Here's a bit of background for each one of them, and how I decided on what to call them in the end:
Mia:
The main character. Her name, as she points out in the story, is an acronym for Missing In Action - this seems particularly poignant at this point in her life. The name is romantic, with Italian origins, just like Mia. An idealist, she sees the world through rose-tinted glasses. Mia actually means Mine, or My Darling which is very appropriate for the character, since the story is narrated by Robin, Mia's deceased first love. He clearly still thinks of her as 'his' in the most endearing way. Since Mia is also my main character (Mine) she also belongs to me, the author. This definitely felt like the right name for my protagonist.
Will:
Meaning Resolute Protector. This is Will through-and-through. It's an unassuming name - how fitting for our lovely modest Will! My favourite male character in the book, he's stable, consistent and loyal. Will is Mia's biggest confidante and <spoiler> after a lot of heartache, who she ends up with! </spoiler> (Phew!) Will Jansen is named after his Dutch Grandfather, Willem. A well brought-up young man, from good, strong, healthy stock. He's undoubtedly the understated hero in this book! **What do you most love about Will?**
April:
She's a bit of an unknown and a bit off-beat. Like the month, April comes with uncertainty. Mia isn't sure about her from the start, but gives her the benefit of the doubt. Zak's step-sister can be bright and breezy, or harsh and frosty. She's scattered, like the season's famous showers. April blows hot and cold and Mia can never really count on her as a true companion. She's whimsical and unreliable. A fair-weather friend. The name April actually means Fertile One. This is interesting, given that Mia initially saw a lot of potential in April and imagined that their friendship would bloom, as things naturally do in Spring. Unfortunately though, April was a let-down. Her and Mia's sense of sisterhood was as fleeting as blossom. This character is a trickster, the April Fools. I actually like the name itself, although this character put me off it! **Incidentally, Spring is my favourite season. What's yours?**
Ruth:
Meaning Friend, Friendship, Compassionate Friend. This name is absolutely perfect for our Ruth! She's the definition of a trusted companion, a complete contrast to April. I love this name so much for Mia's favourite female friend because it reminds me of the words roof and earth, both of which are concepts I associate with our dear sweet Ruth. She puts a roof over Mia's head whilst, at the same time, staying down to earth. Ruth is one of the most grounding forces in the story. The name also has some positive biblical associations, and in my story, some of her qualities are practically saint-like. We love you Ruthie! Stay golden.
Zak:
I chose this name much less for its meaning and more for the way that it sounds; it's sparky. The Z makes him sound a bit zany, quirky and intriguing, which is why Mia is attracted to him in the first place. There's something almost electric and buzzy about this short-fused name. Zak is a live-wire and, as such, he can be dangerous, powerful and unpredictable. He is a current going through the entire story. As with electricity, he can be used for good or bad. The Z is also diagonal - it switches one way then the other, much like his character. A person of opposites and extremes, Zak zigzags all over the place, which is, as we later find out <spoiler> symptom of his bipolar disorder. </spoiler>
Rosa:
Sweet, soft and gentle like the rose. She endures tough and prickly situations, just as a rose is surrounded by thorns. The rose has a natural beauty and innocence, although Rosa's innocence was lost when she was 'deflowered', resulting in her teenage pregnancy. Now an adult, she's a classy lady who keeps her grace and dignity. I thought it interesting that the rose has associations with England (English rose), yet Rosa is Native American. This not only ties into ideas of colonisation and the downfall of her people, but also her affinity with British-born Mia. The name has an international charm. Rosa has strong roots, like the rose, but she's wilting with her cancer (a rose is susceptible to disease). She's strong but fragile. Rosa is resilient. She has the ability to regenerate after losing everything.
Robin:
Transient, like the bird. Deceased as our narrator is, he lives between two worlds. Always watching on from the outside, he flies between scenes. Robin is a joyful, good natured character. Mia misses him greatly, but he visits her often from The Other Side. The name means Famed, Bright and Shining He's all of these things to Mia, and his memory lives on.
The only thing I'd change when naming the characters in my next novel is that I wouldn't choose names that start with the same letter again. In The United States of Us I have three main characters whose name begins with the letter R. In my future books, I will make sure everyone's name starts with a different letter, just to keep things nice and clear for the reader.
So tell me, what's your name and what does it mean? Do you like your name, and if you could choose a different name for yourself, what would it be and why? Has a character ever ruined a name for you, or made you fall in love with it?
I can't wait to read your answers!
With Love,
Kate (meaning pure)
Sundara (meaning lovely) xx
