Joss Whedon’s World of Names
By Sarah Douglas of Names4real.__
What would our significant others name our children if we left it totally up to them? Well, according to this blog on Nameberry, Joss (born Joseph Hill) Whedon is a big inspiration.
And no wonder. When perusing his shows, the character names range from the classics to the bold.
Here’s a list of some of the most interesting character names and which show they were featured on.
Angel: A vampire with a soul; at least on most episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and her spinoff show, Angel. Angel’s real name (pre-vampirism) was Liam. His vampire without a soul name is Angelus.
Connor: Angel and Darla’s son. Yes, apparently vampires can reproduce.
Cordelia: The spoiled cheerleader Cordelia Chase on Buffy became a main character when she followed Angel to Los Angeles. Cordelia is played by the interesting named Charisma Carpenter.
Gunn: Actually Charles Gunn, but he goes by his last name.
Illyria: Fred in blue, i.e. an ancient demon that possessed Fred’s body after she died.
Lindsay (boy)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Buffy: If cool, tough vampire slayer Buffy Summers couldn’t bring back this old-fashioned nickname, it may be gone for good.
Spike: Don’t try this one at home. Spike’s real name was William.
Willow: If there’s a Whedon success story when it comes to names, Willow would be the star. The TV show debuted in 1997 and Willow entered the chart for the first time at #853. She is now at her highest at #171.
Other interesting names from the series include Anya, Dawn, Forrest, Glory, & Oz.
DOLLHOUSE
FIREFLY
Hoban Washburne “Wash”
Inara
Jayne: Interesting because Jayne is a guy in the series. What do you think about the name Jayne for a boy?
Kaywinnit Lee “Kaylee”: Kaywinnit is a first. Any Firefly fans know anything about her name?
Serenity: This is not the name of a character, but the name of the spacecraft. Serenity is ranked at #58 for 2012.
Characters aren’t the only people Joss Whedon gives interesting names too. Whedon and wife Kai Cole named their children Arden Cole (boy) and Squire Cole (girl).
What is your favorite Whedon- inspired name?
Sarah Douglas is the author of Bold Baby Names and shares her finds from birth announcements on her name blog, Names4real.