Character Names

This is a list of the names of characters I've written about in my 'writing career', whether still being written about or not.
  1. Alyssa
    • Origin:

      English variation of Alicia
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      Alyssa was in the Top 20 from 1997-2010 and peaked as the 11th most popular girls’ name in 1998 and 1999 but has become less popular in recent years. It's related to the flower alyssum as well as to the classic Alice and variants. Alyssa Milano helped give it a bounce back when she was still a child sitcom star.
  2. Annie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Ann
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Annie is one of the most open and optimistic, the-sun'll-come-out-tomorrow type of name, having been celebrated over the years in song (Annie Laurie), comic strip (Little Orphan Annie), folklore (Annie Oakley, born Phoebe), and film (Annie Hall). It strikes a nice old-fashioned-but-jaunty chord that still has appeal, but we do suggest that you consider putting a more formal version on her birth certificate.
  3. Bo
    • Origin:

      Norse nickname
    • Meaning:

      "to live"
    • Description:

      A popular name in Denmark, in this country Bo has some cowboy swagger and a lot of substance in its minimal two letters. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
  4. Dawn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "dawn, sunrise"
    • Description:

      Dawn's heyday in the US, Canada and the UK came in the 1960s and 70s. It peaked at #14 in the US in 1971, but has since sunk from sight to be eclipsed by other names with the same meaning, such as Aurora, Roxana or Zariah.
  5. Elise
    • Origin:

      French variation of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Elise is one of those golden names that stylish but not TOO popular. Its appeal is due in large part to its French flair and to the love for El-names in general.
  6. Ember
    • Origin:

      French variation of Amber
    • Description:

      Unlike Amber, which is in decline, this name still has a bit of a glow left -- though confusions between the two will inevitably arise.
  7. Josh
    • Lance
      • Origin:

        English variation of Lanzo, German "land"
      • Meaning:

        "land"
      • Description:

        Though the fuller Lancelot has for the most part been shunned as a 'too-much-name' name, the short form Lance has been consistently in or around the Top 500 since 1938, climbing as high as Number 76 in 1970. It was used as a character name by Walter Scott as far back as 1823. Lance is also the name of a medieval weapon, making this name all boy.
    • Lilly
      • Origin:

        English flower name
      • Meaning:

        "lily"
      • Description:

        Lilly may contain one L too many for some people, though this secondary spelling of a name that's become wildly popular is still a popular choice. And the Lilly spelling does feel a bit less wispy, a bit more like a name as opposed to a mere flower, than the slender and delicate Lily. Lilly suggests the long-form Lillian, but it doesn't need to be an abbreviation for anything; Lilly can stand on its own.
    • Nick
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Nicholas and Dominick
      • Description:

        The classic strong-yet-friendly nickname name, much used for charming movie characters.
    • Pixie
      • Origin:

        Swedish or Cornish
      • Meaning:

        "fairy"
      • Description:

        Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally recognized as a sprite or fairy: tiny, sometimes green, usually pointy-eared.
    • Rory
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "red king"
      • Description:

        This spirited Gaelic classic, which became popular in Ireland via the illustrious twelfth century king Rory O'Connor, makes a highly energetic choice, now used for either sex. Rory's gender split is still trending boyward; it's one of the coolest boys' names starting with R.
    • Twinkie
      • Wesley
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "western meadow"
        • Description:

          Reminiscent of the Old West, with rugged charm and a gentle, easy-going feel, Wesley has long been a staple on the US charts.
      • Willow
        • Origin:

          English nature name
        • Meaning:

          "willow tree"
        • Description:

          An ancient tree that figures in literature from Shakespeare to Harry Potter and is believed to possess magical powers, Willow is a lovely name, as graceful as its inspiration.
      • Yuki
        • Origin:

          Japanese
        • Meaning:

          "snow"
        • Description:

          An appealing Asian name with a nickname feel.