A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

[fullygoldy]

From time to time, I've heard writer-friends lament having to name their characters.  I can relate.  Names are very important, and that's why I'm always very deliberate about naming things and especially about getting other people's names right - in spelling and pronunciation.  

But for any writers on my flist, I have a present, or at least some friendly advice.  If you need inspiration for names, visit an elementary school.  Here is a selection of names I collected from three elementary schools that I toured today. (Obviously, most of my visit consisted of standing around and reading the walls.)

First of all, are the merely rarely-seen names, that you'll probably recognize, or feel like you should recognize:

Zaria, Merrill, Kylie, Dremond, Devarius, Kyla, D'Andre, Thurston Sandlin (this was a teacher, I just liked it), Shawndell, Jayden, Apolonio

Then come the names that are pretty normal, except that they're spelled a little differently:

Zowie (Zoe?)

Tatyanna

Tiana, Tianna

Porcha (Portia)

Nyjel (Nigel)

Mya, Maiya (Two spellings of Maya)

LaWayne (Dwayne?  Wayne?)

Kensie

Keil (Kyle?)

Jazemine, Jazmyne (Two spellings of Jasmine)

JaQueline (That's unique)

Ehron (Aaron - I heard this pronounced)

Dayten

Coryaun (Cory Ann? or a play on Corian?)

Crisie

Cyndae

Cam'Ron (Seriously?  Did s/he need an apostrophe?)

Antuan

Ailani (maybe this should be in the first group)

Alixandra

Now don't get me wrong, I totally understand the need to give your children their own identities.  I myself have named a kid something unique.  But I don't understand the need to saddle a kid with a name that is a) unspellable, b) unpronouncable, c) totally made up or d) all of the above.  

Case in point, the truly Alien names (sf writers, take note!):

Aaliyah, Amahria, Amaurie, 
Antwanita (I'd like to think this is in honor of someone's favorite Aunt), 
Astazia, Aumunique, Avonte, Bryanth, 
CaRya (which I imagine is pronounced the way my daughter's name is most commonly mis-pronounced), 
Cashiana, Cassimy, Chamar, Ciaramita, Cilicia, DaJhaun, Darchelle, Davin, 
DayJahnay, De'Janae', Tajanae, and Jahnaye (variations on a theme, but why?)
De'Corrian (what is the fascination with solid surfaces?), 
Deenay, Deeontre', Dolsher, Grecia, 
Jahnaquirra (seriously?),
Jailexiyah (that's just mean - imagine being 4 and having to spell this), 
Jamarish, Jameria, Jamoris, Janyica, Jarvic, Jateria, Javen, Jianna, Jiyah, Joldany, 
Kailene, Kaiya, Kaleisha, Kauresha, Kelshey, Kentraille, Keoncello, Ketrick, Keyon, Kiaria, Kiarra, Kihya, Kylea, (gotta love the Ks!)
Lavanity, Laveshia, LinZell, Marlennis, Marleny, Marlesha, Miyanah, Natanya, Neasha, Nya, Odalys, Otayva, Quantay, Qwantrel, 
Raq'qim (the semi-random apostrophes stump me, but they definitely work for Aliens - e.g. Teal'c),
R'Reonna (it took me all day to decide this is an alternate spelling for Arianna), 
Samaiya, Saony, Shad, Shelvin, Shylyn, Sperandeo, Syretha, Tahzian,  Talique,  Tishara, To'jai, Treyveon, Turvus, Tyara, Ty'Jiere, Tykee, Ty'shone, Vashawn, Yamila, Zaydid, Zionna, Zypashon
And another theme:  Asianna, JaTasia, LaNasia, Miasia, T'asia - no boycott of China here.

And all this from only 3 of the 8 schools I'm visiting this week.