Name My Character (Again!)

[kshsj777]

Okay. As some of you know, I'm working on Safe Haven. One of the MCs in the novel is named Kyel. I've been trying to come up with a last name for him other than Stevenson, since I'm giving that last name to his mother.

His mother whose name is Lorraine is actually his adoptive mother who is Peluri, so when he joins the Jenar, he picks a new last name.

I think that his last name should be Raine, after his mother.

Kyel Raine.

I want to know what you think, if that sounds right. If not, pick another alternative above or post an idea of your own. It also needs to go with Jennifer, his wife and Keilah, his daughter.

[Merry]

Sure, sounds fine.

[kshsj777]

Thanks, Merry.

[Laina]

Hi KS

I like Raine, but my favorite would be Demur.

Kyel Demur
Jennifer Demur

[kshsj777]

Thanks, Laina.

[VLSmith]

I like DeLor.

In my weird way of thinking, it's a tribute to his mother. The "de" means "of" in Spanish, maybe even in some other languages. The "lor" is the first part of his mother's name. So it's a way of saying "of mother," "of Lorraine."

Plus you avoid the Jennifer Raine scenario where her first name ends with the same letter that her last name starts with. Not a big deal for a book, but if it ever becomes a movie (Thinking positive here :D) and they have to say her name real fast, then she becomes Jennifer Aine.

[kshsj777]

Thanks VL. I was thinking that DeLor might sound too strange.

I don't know if it'd be too noticeable for Jennifer Raine. I'm trying to think Jennifer DeLor and Keilah DeLor too. But I'm still leaning towards Raine, because it fits all three.

[Xenia]

I say stick with Raine :)

[kshsj777]

Thanks, Xenia.

That is probably what I'll do. I already did the find & replace... but I could always do it again.

[Timber Wolf]

Safe Haven is the oneabout the genetically manipulated guy wanting to marry the "normal" in order to have a child and save the universe, correct? (sorry been away form the group for awhile) So what i the nameing convention in the society? IN Russa I believe the middle name indicates "son of" / "daughter of" remember Babylon 5? Susan Ivanava - Susan Daughter of Ivan (whatever her last name was - it slips me), tha tis the custom of the culture. I don't think you should invent new ways of parents naming their kids just so you can have a cool name for one of the characters. If you give different characters last names that are based on different "societal rules" I think it would confuse the reader.

Please don' take this to mean in anyway that I don't think giving a character a last name is not important, quite the contrary. I believe the naming conventions for the society you are creating should be quite clear - rule X for naming boys, rule Y for naing girls, etc.

[kshsj777]

Yeah that's the one.

I'm a bit confused about what you're saying. I'm trying to make Jenar names sound different while Peluri names should sound common. Kyel chose his own last name to protect his mother, yet he wanted to honor her so he picked a last name that would reflect his mother's name.

[Timber Wolf]

Oh, sorry. Guess I sped read through and missed that. I would say give him a name that reflects his character. You are saying his mom's first name was Raine, and he wants to take that as his last name? But wouldn't he just take the name of his adoptive parents?

[Lookin^Up]

DeLor to me sounds too much like "dolor," which means "sorrow" or "grief". I went with DeRaine because the "De" part sounds a bit more classy to me. Kyel DeRaine.

Of course, if worse comes to worse, you could always go to the last item in the poll and call him Kyel Other. LOL

[Tarin]

I don't see any problem with Raine. !thumbsup!

[Thebigguy]

I like Raine. Delor is to much like Beastor, Skeletor, and all those other He-Man figures. Great cartoon, toys were fun to play with but I don't think this would fit.

[kshsj777]

LU: LOL!!!!!! DeRaine, I think, sounds a bit too close to derange(d)

TW: The mother's name is Lorraine, not just Raine. He can't take his mother's name, because his mother is Peluri and he's Jenar. The Peluri and Jenar hate each other and he wants to protect her.

Thanks LU, TW, Tarin & The bigguy. It's pretty much settled that it will be Raine.

By the way, I got a LOT of writing done on Safe Haven. So I need to rewrite the last scene of chapter 3, maybe change the chapters and bit and then I will move on to chapter 8 or 9 or whatever chapter it ends up being.

[Zanzibar]

I like Raine - fwiw, since it looks like you've already decided on that one - but I just thought I'd pop in to concur.

[Lookin^Up]

Have it your way, 777. It's your story, after all.