View Message

I'm writing a book set in Germany in the late-1950s, and I'm currently calling my villain (who, really, is the central character) Elfriede, who would have been born around 1910. However, I'm having some second thoughts. First of all, I'm not sure the pronunciation would be obvious to English speakers - this doesn't bother me so much, and I'm wondering if spelling it Elfrieda would be an acceptable alternative. However, I'm considering finding a new name for this character, because I've read about enough non-villainous people for me to reconsider using it for a villain. So should I find a new name altogether?

---

I know it's discouraged to name a character based on their traits/personality, but any advice and input is appreciated. If it helps, here's a list of popular German names in 1910 - http://www.beliebte-vornamen.de/jahrgang/j1910

---

"Evil is human, it always has been." - Edward Buchan, Whitechapel