View Message

[Opinions] Elizabeth Spencer - okay to use?
I am planning to use the name Elizabeth Beatrice Spencer for a character, the main character, but I just found that there is an author by that name. Would it be too obvious or is it okay to use? Also, what do you think of Elizabeth Beatrice? I have a slight feeling that it doesn't flow too well.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up2

Replies

I don't even know the author, perhaps others wouldn't think of her either. And their are authors with very generic names, like John Green and Andrew Smith. There are probably multiple characters who share their names. There is another famous Andrew Smith too. So don't worry about that. I'm not crazy about the combo, but its kind of pretty. : ) I wouldn't use it though, as it's very lispy.
vote up1
Elizabeth Spencer is a fine and normal name. There are probably better names that can go with Spencer, but if you like Elizabeth for the character, go for it.Elizabeth Beatrice is very classic. Nice combo, even if it doesn’t have the best flow.
vote up2
I agree with Dianatiger - my immediate impression was that it sounds like it's supposed to suggest royalty.I think if the author is not extremely successful or well-known, and you are not writing in the same genre, you could use it. It's generic enough.
I agree kinda with Rox about E.B.S. being very front-of-the-mouth and that isn't pleasant to me, but it's not a problem for a character imo. Unless you are saying the full name repeatedly in an audiobook!The -beth Beat- and the -ice Sp- might be the flow problem. But I think you may be overthinking it. It's fine.
vote up2
Never heard of the author but the name Elizabeth Spencer is so generic it doesn't stand out. (But then, Elizabeth Taylor is very generic and it definitely stands out.)
Having said that, I have to say that neither Elizabeth Beatrice or Elizabeth Spencer flow easily off the tongue; the combos are both downright spit-spraying. I'd go for something with fewer sibillants and plosives.
vote up1
My daughter is Beatrice Elizabeth Anne. She's had no problems; I wasn't aware of the author and wouldn't have worried if I had been. You might want to be safe and use, say, Beatrice Victoria, Beatrice Josephine, Beatrice Margaret ...
vote up1
Aside from the author it makes me think of The Spencer Family circa Lady Di. Was that the intention?
vote up3