Hunger Game Names: Inventions and Reinventions

I’ve had the first Hunger Games book laying around for ages. I’ve heard they’re excellent, and I really wish I would have finished it before the end of my pregnancy! Maybe I’ll be able to get around to it in 18 years when they go off to college haha.

Oh, and I’ve always loved Gale for a boy. Very excited to see it up there. When I saw it listed I was sure it was going to be some girls’ nouveau version of Gail, luckily my unisex cynicism was wrong for once!

The books truly are amazing.

I think Gale for a boy could be the big story of The Hunger Games. He’s a compelling character. I’m hearing Cale/Kale more and more, and there’s also Cade and Gage. Plus I’m sure none of the little Abigails would ever consider using Gail, so … why not?

I love Gale (Gael) for a boy. The names were definitely one of my favorite things about reading the series. As soon as I read Katniss I mourned the fact that I could never use it without it being constantly linked to the books. Katri might do just as well though.

I haven’t read Hunger Games yet, but it’s in the queue for sometime this year. I like so many of the names from the series!

Cecilia
Cressida
Lavinia
Effie & Posy are two nicknames Josephine uses often!
Portia!
Gale!
Primrose!

I probably won’t use any of these but not because I don’t like them but rather I’d hate for the kid to have to say “Yeah, my Mom’s a fan” forever. Rather why I won’t use Arya either.

Love this post. I even named my kitten Katniss.

I read the whole series (my nephew had them)over Christmas break. They were amazing and I loved all the unique names the characters had.

I keep searching for my first Katniss, but I have found a Maysilee.

http://names4real.wordpress.com/

Sarah

http://names4real.wordpress.com/

Maysilee – whoa! Wonder if the parents were huge fans or stumbled on the name some other way? With Macy/Miley in vogue, you can imagine it being invented by someone who never read the books.

But Maysilee seems like a really clever HG name to bestow – you’d have to read all three books to know her significance, and I’m not sure if they’ll fit her into the movie adaptation or not …

Yeah, that name could go either way. Her parents may be surprised when someone brings up The Hunger Games thinking they invented the name from grandma Maisie and grandpa Lee.

Plus, Maysilee fits with other trends going on. The -ley, -lee, -leigh (sadly) is so popular right now. Just this week, I’ve found a Rensley (girl), Hatley (girl), Lizlee, and so on. Maysilee fits right in with that group.

Yeah, Maysilee make not make it in the movie. We’ll have to wait and see.

I kind of love Marvel. And I certainly love the rest. (Except Cato, which gives me an icky feeling. Maybe we can blame Kato Kaelin?)
If there were an award for Best Naming in a Book or Series, Ms. Collins would certainly be nominated.

Yea! I kept waiting for a Hunger Games blog. Suzanne Collins is fantastic at creating character names . . . And the books are so good–Read them if you haven’t.

LOVE Cressida!

My favorites are Marvel, Rue, Mags and especially Gale. I love and adore Gale.
I can’t believe that my name made the list.

I am in love with “The Hunger Games”, the books and names are truly amazing. I’m so excited about a blog about the names!
Favorites that I may or may not consider using:
Katniss
Peeta
Rue
Finnick (one of my favorites of the series)
Cato
Clove
Rory
Hazelle (although I prefer Hazel)

Ooh yay, this blog made my day. Thanks Abby!

@Johanna, she’s a neat character, too.

@Rachelmarie, Finnick really is wonderful, isn’t he? With Finn so fashionable, I wouldn’t be surprised to meet a Finnick.

@Jenny, Suzanne Collins would TOTALLY walk away with the trophy.

@SarahinJune, I like Katri. Love Kateri, actually, but I’m never sure about pronunciation issues.

Am I the only one who hears “catnip” for Katniss?? I just can’t settle into this name. It jars me every time I hear it.

mcope24:

“Catnip” is Gale’s nickname for Katniss, so the author hears it too

Anyhow i agree with pp about Gale. I know several Dale’s and Cale’s so Gale will definitely come after.

Love the Hunger Games. Probably my favorite series after Harry Potter.

Even as I was reading I loved the ancient Roman-ness of some of the names mixed with the random word/plant names. I feel like the names are a sort of allusion towards the whole story compared with ancient Rome, which is an interesting analogy that I’m sure the author put in intentionally.

Suzanne Collins’ lesser known series (Gregor the Overlander) also boasts some fantastic names.

I think Finnick is a real gem, a water name, and I’m sad it doesn’t have a link. Finn and Nick put together in a modern, masculine fashion. Cato slaps of old world charm with just enough edge and sport for a modern boy; I love this name even though the character was a beast. It fits right into the “O” trend with Milo, Otis, Omar, Owen, ect. I would totally consider Cato because of it’s history (it’s meaning in Latin, “all knowing”, is cool and it is also Shakespearean!). Posy falls right into the retro name trend, as does Madge (GREAT alternative to Maggie!!). These books are really suspenseful reads that make you think and I recommend them to all the readers out there! Great Blog!

Hey there, as always Abby has done a great job of compiling these names, but just in case you want a more in-depth look into the “whys” of Collins cast of characters stop by my blog: http://themodpodgebookshelf.blogspot.com/2010/12/friday-name-fame-1-hunger-games.html

Also, hate to nit-pick, but as a YA reviewer I can tell you that the genre of book is called “Dystopian” not “Sci-Fi.” To give you an idea, Dystopia is the antithesis of Utopia.

Blessings,

Bella <3

Looovvve Finnick! He’s one of my favorite characters, and I love his name. My absolute favorite character is Peeta, even though I’m not in love with his name.

[...] week’s Nameberry post was all about Katniss and company.  This week’s list goes in a very different [...]

I love the idea of taking a plant name and using it as a name. Grandiflora comes to mind, but that would probably work better in the middle spot.

I’m writing a book and I named one of my characters Rue. Fits her perfectly because her guardian doesn’t really want her. As further revenge, Rue’s full name is Brunhilda Hortense, whick I’m actually starting to like!

I know a woman named Marvel! I think a lot of the really roman sounding stuff is cool, but feels really stilted on the tongue. can you really imagine calling a toddler Cressida? I just love the associations the names tug on, but they are certainly more appropriate for a different time– Collins did a fantastic job. And like the blogger I love how the names also imply the post-apocalyptic America, as themes persist. Is Peeta a post-literate Peter? I wonder…

I had vaguely heard of this before, but I was just doing a few searches on origins of names I love, and I came across this book series using the names both Effie and Rue. I’m so upset that this is becoming a movie and will boos the popularity. Ugh!

My son’s middle name is Finnick. It would have been his first name if I had the choice, but my husband didn’t love it. I think it’s very handsome and masculine without going overboard.