I am writing a story, what do you think of these names?

The name choices I have narrowed down are these:

- Aniliyah (Aun-ah-lee-ah)
- Breaha (Bree-ah)
- Tegan (Tee-gen)


All for my main girl, who is petite, and brave, but really curios, which gets her in trouble (heh heh) This is also in an apocalyptic world, and they are a very Christan family. If you need more details comment. I just want to know what you think of the names.

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12 replies since 9th April 2012 • Last reply 9th April 2012

breaha proberbly or tegan good luck!

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I would choose Breaha.

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I think a different spelling would be prettier
either Brieah (spelling brie like the cheese)or Aunaliea

I like Brieah the best

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I think there is a huge drive for stories written in post apocalyptic worlds where the characters have strange names that most people can't pronounce. As a writer I have to encourage you to think a lot more about your characters than your readers will. Why would her very Christian parents name her such unheard of names? Where would they come up with names in a post apocalyptic world? If they are Christian, isn't it much more likely that their source of inspiration when it comes to naming their children would come from the Bible? I especially ask you to focus on the second question, 'where would they come up with names in a post apocalyptic world?' It's not like they would have had a lot of baby name books laying around (which I'm assuming you used to come up with such names).

It's about creating creditability when writing, people can't believe in the story they're reading if the writing is random.

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PinkWeeds: This is all very true, I didn't want a totally weird name like Katniss But I didn't want to have a totally common name, and nobody wants to copy of course, I had 17 names and I loved them all so I couldn't pick and my sister gave up with helping me, I think (I, me, not my readers) think that they are all really pretty names, and popularity of certain names changes throughout time, and those are not common, but not un-common. I just said she had a very Christan family because they are, so they weren't gonna pick totally out of there names, as very Christan families don't do a lot of the time, sometimes, not always. But I did look at bible names (not all them, there is so many) and I didn't think any of them fit like these. I have been thinking of "passing" along a name from a grandmother to her, or something like that, but I want a name all her own. I just wanted to see what others thought, since I can't pick. It is really really hard. It might be stupid, in fact, probably stupid, but I can't. It is about credibility, if you can't believe in your story, your character, what your writing, who will? But yes, I thought I would reply to your post, and thank you for the help you gave, which was a lot. I think I like Tegan, but there is also other names I like. Darn it. I am where I started again. I guess I will keep thinking, Happy Thanks again (to everybody) for all the help. And I do think other spellings would be good.

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the story im writting is a bit far fetched, its a mythical style one and My characters are called Iris and Miles Tongue

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The name ( or word) Breagha is Scottish Gaelic for beautiful.
Here in Scotland it is used for a girl's name, and I also must add that my friend's dog is called Breagha!
It is pronounced Bree - ah and would be fine to use if the parents had some scottish ancestry.

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In an apocalyptic world there wouldn't be many sources for name inspirations, as pink weeds pointed out. Plant names, animal names etc would however still be around such as rose Lilly sparrow. They may still have historical books enabling the use of names inspired by historical figures like Joan, Elisabeth and Napoleon. If they are Christian religious names may have been used but a lot of biblical names are plain boring and overused. Maybe they speak a different language and their names are based on that eg French. Popularfrench names include Marie, Agnès, Aimèe(Amy). My favorite French name is Ciel, which means sky.
You could also try unusual spellings of common names, or use a dictionary o find words that would make nice names

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I agree with Pinkweeds. If you don't want names that are terribly common, there are still plenty to choose from. It's mostly the same biblical names used over and over again. There are plenty that are relatively unknown.

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I think Tegan because it is the least confusing and it is easier to look at.

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Breaha definitely

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If there is one thing that I have noticed; names are always recycled.
I have been reading a lot of book from the 40's and 50's (because grandma is fantastically giving!) and I see so many names in these stories that are movie characters now! AND I always have to remind myself this book is way older than that! so if a name is already hundreds of years old or thousands of years old, the apocalypse didn't wipe out everyone's memory... or did it? Then you are back you started..... and is story Novel? or have you finished a short story already?
Oh and I am studying from "The Fiction Writers Workshop" by Josip Novakovich. I love it! I really find it "teaching."

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