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As I was finishing up my current book (Marrying John Doe June 2010) I realized I’d named the hero Nick…again. 
There are just certain names–especially male names–that I seem to choose (and like) more than others.
As I was thinking of this, I thought it might be fun to tally up the names I’ve used so far in the books that I’ve written.
Okay, so here goes:
Names in more than one book
Nick- 3 books
Dan- 2 books
David-2 books
Jake- 2 books
Just one book-
Alex; Carson; Clay; Drew; Jack; Jay; Josh; Matt; Mitch; Robert; Sal; Sam; Seth: Tony
I will soon be starting another book. The hero’s name in that book is currently set to be…Derek. But another book that I’m also currently plotting has a hero named Dan (which would make Dan tie with Nick with three books)
I’d be curious to know what is your favorite hero name. And I’d also like to know what names can you really not stand?
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Dec 5th
2009
9:20 am
Margo Maguire Said:
Since I write historical, I do try to be somewhat accurate for the time period AND take into consideration what my audience would view as a masculine name. So I’m not going to be naming my hero Baldwin Truitt – even though that might have been a popular name in my era. But there were an awful lot of men named John, Robert, Henry, Harold, and Edward.
I love the name Nick (one of my dogs is named Nick!). Keep on using it, Cindy. The name sure sends a particular image, doesn’t it?
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Dec 5th
2009
9:29 am
kristan higgins Said:
I’m writing a Nick right now! I tend to like “real” names…that is, old-fashioned. Names like Tanner and Jayden are a little harder for me to accept, especially in a 30-something hero. I have lots and lots of cousins; their names seem to pop up quite a lot.
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Dec 5th
2009
11:21 am
Shana Said:
I like Jack. If my hero isn’t Jack, there’s probably a secondary character named Jack. I don’t like the name George. Everybody in Regency England was named George, it seems.Once I named a secondary character Freddie. I didn’t really like the name, and then he ended up being the hero in my next book. So watch out for that!
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Dec 5th
2009
2:12 pm
catslady Said:
As long as I can pronounce the name I’m usually fine with any name. I so wish authors would explain somewhere in the beginning when they have an odd name on the pronounciation – drives me crazy through the whole book because I keep changing my mind lol.
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Dec 5th
2009
4:51 pm
Jane Said:
For historicals I like Sebastian and Marcus. I also like Chase.
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Dec 5th
2009
6:38 pm
Cindy Kirk Said:
Margo,
It’s nice to know there’s a fellow “Nick” lover out there.
Kristan,
I’m with you. If I have a thirty-year-old hero, I have difficulty using a name that didn’t come into popularity for another decade.
Shana,
Good point. That’s how I ended up with a hero named “Jay.” I had him as a secondary character with abolutely no plans for him to have his own book.
Catslady,
Your post made me smile. It’s always a shock to me when I find out that I’ve been mentally misprouncing a name in a book.
Jane,
I really like those names, too. I need to write them down so I don’t use Nick or Dan again.
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Dec 6th
2009
2:35 am
Serenissima Said:
I am with Shana on this; on contemps I really love the hero to be called Jack. It is nice to read about Jake, Matt(hew) or Levi too.
On the historicals I like the names Sebastian, Justin, Lucien and Alex.
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Dec 6th
2009
7:01 am
Emmanuelle Said:
I love “Nick” too !! It’s one of my favorite character name along with “Jack” and “Cam”. I just can’t help falling for one of those names… I know, I’m weak
.
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Dec 6th
2009
12:40 pm
Cindy Kirk Said:
Serenissima and Emmanuelle,
Interesting that Jack should be a favorite of ours. (and Emmanuelle if you’re weak, I’m weak,too )
In the book I’m currently writing although the hero’s real name is Nick…he goes by Jack for most of the book.
How’s that for getting two of my favorite names in one book! lol
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Dec 6th
2009
4:52 pm
RobynDeHart Said:
I think I naturally gravitate to good Hebrew names, but I never use them in my historicals, just feels wrong. So far I’ve had a Derrick, Colin, Gareth, James and Fielding and my next one is Maxwell (we’ll just call him Max though). I love the name Jack too and Nick, haven’t written any of those though. The hero in my current mini-novella is Griffin. I tend to just go with something that “feels” right to me, not a perfect science, I suppose.
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Dec 6th
2009
5:46 pm
Cindy Kirk Said:
Robyn,
You’ve got some great names there. I even wrote some that I never think of (Griffin and Fielding) down.
Thanks for sharing! Much appreciated.
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Dec 8th
2009
4:16 pm
Caroline Said:
I read a book recently with a character name of Candidia (shortened to Candi)… I’m not sure the author realized that she named this woman after a yeast bacteria that can cause…
yeah…
I tend to hate it when names for the hero get soap-opera-y. Like Hunter, or Carter, or Hudson, or Drake. Please no more Drakes!
My current WIP has a hero named Barley and a heroine named Nessa. I have no idea where they came from.
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Dec 8th
2009
4:54 pm
Cindy Kirk Said:
Caroline,
That name is hilarious. My favorite is Latrina. What would be funny are sisters Latrina and Candidia. lol
Okay, Drake is off my list. I love Nessa!! It is weird how those names just come to you and seem so perfect.
Thanks for commenting!
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