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HelpRe: Violet and Elliot too similar?
in reply to a message by FictionPrincess31415
I think you can keep both names. Things like that happen in real life; it's not unrealistic. There are couples who are Chris and Chris, or Robert and Robyn, etc.
(What's unrealistic is, if her name is Violet and she lives in the present day US and is over the age of about 15. Violet on a young adult would be remarkable since it was still very rare in the 90s, and the fact that it's a popular-ish name now makes it seem fake. Iris or Rose would be - slightly - more probable than Violet.)
It's not cheesy to have 3 only children, especially if at least a couple of them come from the sort of families that typically would have only one child (in the US, the stereotype is well-educated, older, white, urban parents with good incomes). What's cheesy is the reader finding out whether or not all 3 of them have middle names. Or even finding out that they don't have siblings, unless that impacts the story. It's too much detail. Just don't mention details like that, unless the story provides a convincing reason to tell them. If you don't have a reason to tell details, then it doesn't matter if there's too much coincidence in them. It'll just be between you and your characters, and you don't mind! You could also mention the middle name of Nia if there were a reason to, and just never mention about the others.
- mirfak
(What's unrealistic is, if her name is Violet and she lives in the present day US and is over the age of about 15. Violet on a young adult would be remarkable since it was still very rare in the 90s, and the fact that it's a popular-ish name now makes it seem fake. Iris or Rose would be - slightly - more probable than Violet.)
It's not cheesy to have 3 only children, especially if at least a couple of them come from the sort of families that typically would have only one child (in the US, the stereotype is well-educated, older, white, urban parents with good incomes). What's cheesy is the reader finding out whether or not all 3 of them have middle names. Or even finding out that they don't have siblings, unless that impacts the story. It's too much detail. Just don't mention details like that, unless the story provides a convincing reason to tell them. If you don't have a reason to tell details, then it doesn't matter if there's too much coincidence in them. It'll just be between you and your characters, and you don't mind! You could also mention the middle name of Nia if there were a reason to, and just never mention about the others.
- mirfak
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Replies
Gotcha.
The middle names of major characters are unimportant (I'm essentially just a fan of names and feel that having a full name would cause the characters to feel more real to me. Shape them more into reality in a sense) the middles names aren't exactly written into the story, unless you count reading a scene where their names are in list form (as their manifest) and a bit while later, the other characters mocking another characters middle name. A very small amount.
Cole, Daniel and Nia being an only child would be that I just simply won't ever mention a sibling of theirs. Not them describing being an only child. I feel I shouldn't create more characters than I have to. One too many characters makes it hard to juggle and keep track.
Those 3 characters are siblingless for a reason. Not exactly the stereotypes you mentioned.
Nia: Dad walked out which was never mentioned in the story or at least not yet and her mother simply never had another child
Daniel: Mother died shortly after giving birth to him. His father simply never had another child with another woman. Involved with them, sure. But never impregnated another one.
Cole: Father's an violent alcoholic. His mother's dead but never mentioned into the story.
As for the middle names, I couldn't find anything that went with Cole or Daniel (including their surnames) so I just said, "ah, screw it. Not everyone needs a middle. Makes the story seem more realistic" and i'm definitely just going to drop Nia's middle name completely. The less names mentioned the better.
And I wasn't aware at the fact that Violet is rare on a youth today. (The story takes place in modern day USA) I went to school with a Violet and the name just seems like one of those classic and timeless types of names. Very usuable on all ages. May not be overly popular as other names but not completely unheard of on a younger person today. May just be my personal expirenced
Sorry for all the writing. Thanks for your input!
The middle names of major characters are unimportant (I'm essentially just a fan of names and feel that having a full name would cause the characters to feel more real to me. Shape them more into reality in a sense) the middles names aren't exactly written into the story, unless you count reading a scene where their names are in list form (as their manifest) and a bit while later, the other characters mocking another characters middle name. A very small amount.
Cole, Daniel and Nia being an only child would be that I just simply won't ever mention a sibling of theirs. Not them describing being an only child. I feel I shouldn't create more characters than I have to. One too many characters makes it hard to juggle and keep track.
Those 3 characters are siblingless for a reason. Not exactly the stereotypes you mentioned.
Nia: Dad walked out which was never mentioned in the story or at least not yet and her mother simply never had another child
Daniel: Mother died shortly after giving birth to him. His father simply never had another child with another woman. Involved with them, sure. But never impregnated another one.
Cole: Father's an violent alcoholic. His mother's dead but never mentioned into the story.
As for the middle names, I couldn't find anything that went with Cole or Daniel (including their surnames) so I just said, "ah, screw it. Not everyone needs a middle. Makes the story seem more realistic" and i'm definitely just going to drop Nia's middle name completely. The less names mentioned the better.
And I wasn't aware at the fact that Violet is rare on a youth today. (The story takes place in modern day USA) I went to school with a Violet and the name just seems like one of those classic and timeless types of names. Very usuable on all ages. May not be overly popular as other names but not completely unheard of on a younger person today. May just be my personal expirenced
Sorry for all the writing. Thanks for your input!
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