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Re: Names from Game of Thrones; suitable for a real person?
Hmmm, yes, I agree with this! ^Okay, I've taken on board what you said :) - from the five you suggested, I guess Rickon and Theon work if we're saying 'names which don't scream fantasy', which was my initial problem. Rick has a root to, say, Richard-like Rick, and Theon could pass as having the same 'Theo' root as countless other names. This is a made up etymology because as far as I know Theon isn't a 'real' name and doesn't have any such roots, but if we're taking them as name-names in their own right, it could pull it off. It also sounds a bit like a cool name for a scientific particle or atom. Theon - the gooooood particle. No, I like that, because I'm lame. Rickon struggles a bit being taken as a proper name in its own right, but maybe I just can't see it because it isn't my style. I guess it could work.Tyrion. I'm sorry... please, please, please forgive me... looks ugly. It looks... really rather ugly. I tried not to sound brutal, but every way I try phrasing it skirts around the problem that Tyrion has no depth to it. It's as shallow, meaningless, un-aesthetic and faddy as Tinley and it looks trendy and made-up. I'm not sure if there's any other way you can spell it to get the sound you like, but avoid it looking faddy. I have a real problem with it - I think it is very much the most problematic-aging-badly-cheesy-fantasy-type of the bunch. Renly still screams 'renal' at me, and I have many of the same problems with it. Jorah is very fluffy and fantasy-esque, but okay, I guess. I'd still go with the first two if anything.Much as Adenydd suggested going for ones which sound like existing names, have you thought about using these names as 'inspiration' and searching for names which have the elements you like in these names, but are established names which not only lack the fantasy issue but might not, maybe, age so badly? I know that's a poo idea, but you did say the problem was that you were struggling for names. For example - Theon... what do you like about it? What about, as mentioned, Theron, or other Theo names? Not Theodore, necessary, but there are a whole range out there which are hardly ever used. Theo- was such a popular name element that not even BtN lists them all.Tyrion - -on endings, or Ty- beginnings? There have to be some of either.Jorah - What about Jonah, Jory? I think there must be some Biblical or Hebrew names ending with -rah but can't be bothered to check because I'm tired and lazy. The first two really sprang to mind.Renly - Do you like the Ren bit most? The -ly bit? Think about names with ren in them so that Ren or Renly could be a nickname, or look for -ly ended names.With all that, it looks like I'm desperately trying to change your decision. It's ultimately your choice, but the comment about being stumped on names made me think that that might be something to think about, if you want inspiration from these names but are not keen on the aging-badly and fantasy issues. If those aren't a problem for you, by all means, do what you want, it's your choice, but I do think you should consider these possible problems :)
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All your comments are fair enough. I haven't decided anything. I agree, Tyrion does come off rather trendeigh. I thought that Rickon, Theon, Renly, and Jorah sounded the most like real names, and them being more minor characters in the show I thought the reference wouldn't be such a big deal. Good idea to look for real names with sound elements similar to those names. I know these GoT names are really "out there" but there are several real names I've suggested that my family and friends see as just as wild and bizarre (i.e. Llyr, Caspian, Ruarc, Rudyard, Alaric). Picking a name is hard (when there are two people who have to agree!).

This message was edited 5/25/2012, 7:58 PM

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