Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

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What Is Your Favorite Character Name?

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Not favorite character, favorite character name.

There are countless great characters in literature. Which of them have the best names?

Ishmael? Humbert Humbert? Bilbo Baggins? Or, heck, take your pick from the incredible character names in the Harry Potter universe. Severus Snape? Dolores Umbrage?

For me personally, I’m going with Severus Snape. What about you?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. marion says

    No one mentioned Frankenstein! He was the chemist, of course, not the monster. I think his first name was Victor. A nice ironic name.

    But my first thought was Uriah Heep. Famous/infamous name for a good reason! Dickens wins hands down.

    But I love all those sci-fi names that look as if your hand slipped onto the wrong keyboard keys. Weird conglomerations of infrequent consonants.

  5. Jo-Ann says

    Hi
    Can't believe that nobody's nominated Artemis Fowl.

    But that's not my personal favourite. My vote is split between Mr Willy Wonka and Slartibartfast.

    With an honourable mention to "Silky" from the Faraway Tree series (i loved her as a child!)

  7. wendy says

    I've always liked the character name Marigold from a children's book I read aeons ago. It sounds kind of fey and lovely.

  17. Laura Martone says

    So many awesome names, so little time.

    I'd agree with everyone who favors Rowling, Dickens, and Shakespeare – their works are filled to the brim with awesome names – though kudos to Janet Kay Jensen for calling attention to Eustacia Vye – one of my favorite Hardy inventions.

    And, for the record, I'm 100% behind Stephen Parrish's suggestion for a "hooky" character contest!

  19. Jackerickson.blogspot.com says

    This is fun . . .

    Two nominees:

    Mildred Ratched, AKA "Nurse Cratchet," as Jack Nicholson's character, Randall Patrick McMurphy, called her in the Academy Award winning movie adapted from Ken Kesey's book, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest."

    And,

    Yossarian, Milo Minderbinder, Major Major Major Major and all of the delightful characters in Joseph Heller's "Catch – 22."

  20. Gabrielle D'Ayr says

    Hahaha! This is too much fun!

    And so many people I'd like to reply to (Yes, I know who Jamie Fraser is ~ sigh!)

    I was always partial to Remy, and then when I discovered X-men, Remy Etienne LeBeau ~ it's just so scrumptious.

    Thought Dumas did will with D'Artagnan and Aramis.

    Oddly Harry Potter is probably the only name I don't like from JK's world.

    Rumplestiltskin has got to be offered up as well I think.

  24. Noel says

    Queequeg (because I think I say it differently every time I read Moby Dick)
    Arya Stark (and especially Arya Underfoot)
    Reepicheep
    Rikki-tikki-tavi
    …and I could keep going, but I'll save some for the other kids.