✨Sailor Haeli✨
asked
Rainbow Rowell:
What Inspired you to name your characters Eleanor and Park? I love the book so much and always find it hard to name my characters in the stories I write.
Rainbow Rowell
I often use the U.S. Social Security database to see what names were popular in the specific years that the characters were born.
In 'Eleanor & Park,' I called Eleanor "Eleanor" because I love that name -- and because I wanted a name that would make her stand out even more than she already does. It's part of her never fitting in. (Most of Eleanor's family members have names that are just slightly *off* in one way or another: Sabrina, Maisy, Mouse.)
"Park" is a very common family name in Korea. I imagined Park's parents giving him a name that combined both of their family names (Park Sheridan).
His story is also so much about fitting in. I imagined his parents thinking that "Park" sort of sounded like an American name (Parker), but then giving his younger brother a really *solidly* American name (Josh). That's something that I've noticed in families -- they take more risks with the first kid's name.
As you can probably see, I spend A LOT of time thinking about names -- how they indicate region and class and age, and also how they sound in your mouth when you say them.
I love names that end in -th, and I've run through pretty much every -th name in my books. Beth, Cath, Seth...
If you can think of any more, please tell me!
In 'Eleanor & Park,' I called Eleanor "Eleanor" because I love that name -- and because I wanted a name that would make her stand out even more than she already does. It's part of her never fitting in. (Most of Eleanor's family members have names that are just slightly *off* in one way or another: Sabrina, Maisy, Mouse.)
"Park" is a very common family name in Korea. I imagined Park's parents giving him a name that combined both of their family names (Park Sheridan).
His story is also so much about fitting in. I imagined his parents thinking that "Park" sort of sounded like an American name (Parker), but then giving his younger brother a really *solidly* American name (Josh). That's something that I've noticed in families -- they take more risks with the first kid's name.
As you can probably see, I spend A LOT of time thinking about names -- how they indicate region and class and age, and also how they sound in your mouth when you say them.
I love names that end in -th, and I've run through pretty much every -th name in my books. Beth, Cath, Seth...
If you can think of any more, please tell me!
More Answered Questions
AnnaLadd
asked
Rainbow Rowell:
Hi! I’ve always been curious about how fan art affects your cannon images of the characters? Like when I first read carry on I imagined Baz the way you described him- like Andrew Ridgeley. Now I imagine him the way he’s usually drawn- with softer lines (Vanessa’s art)Has it affected the way you imagine the characters? This is not a question about Penny with purple hair (I know she doesn’t have purple hair- I promise!)
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more