June 10, 2010

Help!

HELP!

I'm working on my WIP and wondering about my character's names.  Are the names Nicholas and Beatrice too similar for the same story? (It's a period piece)

14 comments :

  1. I don't think so. I think they have a nice ring to them, actually. But that's just my two cents. :)

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  2. No. I think it's a problem if they sound so much alike that the reader will get confused, like if they start with the same letter.

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  3. Really the only similar aspect is the "ssss" sound at the end. And since most readers read only the first letter or (if you're lucky) the first syllable of a name, then I don't think these two are similar enough to be a problem. I think they work. :)

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  4. I think they're fine!! I just started reading something new and the MC and his brother have similar names with the same first letter. Now that is confusing!

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  5. They don't sound similar to me. I like them

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  6. Don't sound smiliar at all to me :)

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  7. I think those names are fine. I have to agree with everyone else. I actually quite like them. :)

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  8. They don't sound similar at all. I think they're nice.

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  9. I don't think so. The only names that really bother me are ones that start with the same letter AND sound the same, like Trevor and Tanner or Jack and Jake. That gets a little confusing.

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  10. They both have three syllables and an "S" sound at the end, but that doesn't bother me because they're both fantastic names. They are also fun to say together. If I read them in a book it would never occur to me that they're similar. Hope this helps?

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  11. I don't think there's anything wrong with the names. If you're uncomfortable, have one of the characters go by a nickname sometimes.

    Like the girl could be referred to as Bea sometimes. Or the boy as Nick. But of course, that depends on the storyline and character relationships.

    A sister/brother/cousin or younger neice/nephew might be comfortable using nicknames if no one else is. Or it could be a nickname given in childhood by a parent or older relative. This might give the reader an interesting and endearing view of Beatrice or Nicholas. Your reader might even start thinking of them by this nickname.

    But of course it depends on the storyline. I'm just suggesting it as an option if you feel something's off somehow.

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  12. Thanks everyone! You've put my mind at ease. :)

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