Sexy Names by Samantha Hunter
A rose by any other name… Doesn’t necessarily sound the same when cried out in a fit of passion. . . .Does it?
Thanks to the naughty girls here for inviting me to blog today – I love this place, and I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun chatting with you all. In fact, if you chat with me today, I’ll pick a winner from the comments to receive a signed copy of Pick Me Up, my new Blaze Forbidden Fantasy, released this month. Anyway, on to the topic of sexy names… what makes a name sexy?
I read in a news item this morning that there is a Chinese couple who want to name their baby “@,” the “@” symbol used in email. They said “The whole world uses it to write e-mail, and translated into Chinese it means ‘love him’,” the father explained, according to the deputy chief of the State Language Commission Li Yuming.”
Yeah, right. I don’t know if they were allowed to do it or not, since China apparently has some law against using Arabic symbols in names. However, names are always in the news. Celebrities who name their kids crazy names, and last week, I saw a news clip where some folks are making a living now as “name consultants” – I’m not kidding, you can pay someone hundreds of dollars to tell you the best name for your baby.
Imagine if we had to do that with our book characters? We’d go broke. I name a couple dozen characters every year, and I manage to do it without paying someone to tell me what name I should use. I also named my son and myself. I was asked by my editor when I sold to Harlequin to choose a pseudonym, and I actually like Sam very much, though I feel more like a Sam, not a Samantha. I think anyone who knows me would agree.
It’s kind of a sexy name, though, I think, Samantha Hunter – and I guess that’s why Harlequin agreed to put it on the front of my sexy books (when I first chose it, a friend teased me that it’s because “man hunter” is in there…). Ha.
When I’m naming characters, I try to find names that are reflective of the story – so Risa Remington in my Blaze Extreme, Untouched, has an alliterative name because she’s a superheroine, and superheroes always have alliterative real names. I also wanted her to have an unusual name, since she was an unusual gal.
I write books largely set in New England and the east coast, so I come up with names that I think match geographically (white bread, east coast names, LOL), and I think about my characters’ families, ethnicity, background, and how their name reflects who they are, at least in my estimation. Lauren is a shy, somewhat insulated, over-protected heroine, but Miranda is a firecracker. Brett is a cowboy, but Colin was my college professor.
I usually wonder, how would this name sound called out during sex? Would it sound silly? Is it the kind of name that someone can say affectionately, create a loving nickname from, or repeat over and over at the moment of orgasm? I mean, how would poor @’s lovers deal with this symbolic name? Does this symbol scream passion? I don’t think so.
Are there names that are just not sexy? I don’t know. I would have said “Fritz” wouldn’t be a good name for a hero, until I watched The Closer – Fritz (or as they often call him, Fritzi), on that show, is completely hot. Howie is another one that probably wouldn’t win the sexy name sweepstakes, but I think a lot of folks probably think Howie Mandell is attractive. How about a Stan, Percival or an Arthur? Female equivalents?
I’m wondering if off-the-tracks, retro geek names are actually becoming more sexy than the more stereotypical hero names like Jared and Hawk. Even “The Rock” goes by his own name, Dwayne Johnson, in movie credits, but I have to admit, The Rock is sexier. However, I find Henry a very sexy hero name. Dick, I think is the obvious non-choice for hero names. ;)
Preppie names, Biff and Tad, I can’t imagine ever being sexy. They are usually bad guy names to me. ;) It’s something to do with plaid jackets and shirts with little symbols on them.
What character names do you find sexy or not? Have you ever been surprised by a name that shouldn’t have been sexy, but became that way, like Fritz? Do you have favorites? What would your pseudonym be if you had to pick one, or if you just wanted to change your name? Let’s talk names….
August 31st, 2007 at 12:41 am
Hey Sam! Good blog post! I saw that about the baby wanting to be named @. I think China said no.
I’ve often thought about that, what’s sexy in a name and not. To me, in real life, I think you can make any name sexy like if you’re into the person. Because when you’re screaming “Oh Dexter!” in the heat of the moment, it’s sexy. You’re relating it to that man who drives you wild.
But in books, you have to go for names a woman can fantasize about or relate to. IMHO.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:42 am
Ok who the hell would name their baby @? I should’ve named my first born *. What do you think?
No, names matter. I can’t use certain names cos they remind me of people I don’t care for. A hero has to have a strong name, I like my heroines to have feminine names. Though if they’re a little sassy, a quirky name works too.
I love so many names, maybe that’s why I became a writer, so I can use them all!!!!
Thanks for guesting with us today Sam!
August 31st, 2007 at 12:49 am
I can’t believe someone would want to name their kid @…that’s just insane, I like names like Jordan, Mike, Katie, Sara…not Apple and @ and other crap like that..although I do love the name Indiana for a girl, and I know that’s not exactly common.
I love the names Brian, Noah, Mark, Cole…for guys… especially Brian, and I guess it’s because I know a Brian…and he’s incredibly awesome, so his name seems even so more to me now as well.
I can’t imagine names like Joseph, Art, Clarence, Stewart…ever being sexy, but hey…if Brett’s name had been Clarence, I would probably now find Clarence to be an incredibly sexy name lol. I think at first a name appears one way or another, but after getting to know the person it can be different…go either way…like you could think their name is sexy sounding but after finding out their a complete jerk come to hate that name.
somehow it always goes back to brett when im replying to one of your posts…
August 31st, 2007 at 1:18 am
I agree with Shelli–in reality, the person (and situation) makes the name sexy or not, but in books, the names do help set the scene. In books, I do gravitate towards those stereotypical, often single-syllable (or maybe two) Macho Man names (like Brett ;)), although in more meta-moments, some of them do seem a bit over the top (Slade? Stone? ??). In reality, I seem to prefer pretty mainstream “boring” classic names–Matt, Mike, Chris, Jack, Hugh… (Oh, Mr. Bauer… or maybe Dr. House will see you now ;)) Sorry, I seem to be getting off track…
August 31st, 2007 at 2:38 am
I like the ‘boring names’ as you say, Fedora. I think a lot of women do and that’s why they turn up so often.
August 31st, 2007 at 5:55 am
I notice that guys often get called by their last name in books. But instead of calling them “Mr. (last name here)”, you just use their last name now-a-days. Maybe it’s a shortened version still conveying the respect though.
With first names, I find a name that has a shortened version of one, maybe two syllables appealing as long as they don’t have dirty double meanings or can be considered as a girls name.
It’s easy to say that it’s the man behind the name that makes it sexy, but I’d like to remind you of the real names of John Wayne (born as Marion Morrison) and Cary Grant (born as Archibald Alec Leach).
August 31st, 2007 at 6:06 am
I like Jack, Clint, Cole, and Dillion. Jack is my fave since Keanu’s name in Speed was Jack. I wouldn’t have thought Vin to be a sexy name till I saw Vin Diesel. lol. Irwin, Alfred, and Wilfred are not sexy names. lol I don’t know what I would change my name to or use as a pseudonym. I would probably pick two of my favorite female characters and use the first name from one and last name from the other one.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:10 am
Wow, lots of thinking for me today lol I really like my name, I’m not sure what I would use to change it. I am a New Englander with the name Ashley Mae (Mae is my middle name, but I still think it sounds very country-ish lol)
non sexy names to me are ones like Arthur, Bart (bleh lol), Hal….
August 31st, 2007 at 8:50 am
Morning folks — man, you’re all up early! I’m only on my second coffee… Love this blog though, and happy to be guesting here today — thanks for having me! :)
I love thinking about names. My real name is an odd one, so I’ve had a lifetime of “how do you spell that” or “is that your real name?” or similar comments.
I personally enjoy androgynous names, which my real name is and my pseud — a lot of folks who don’t know better have been surprised to meet me and find out I’m a woman, because my name is male.
That’s all the hint your getting, LOL, but it’s probably why I gravitated to Sam, and Samantha feels less natural.
I like the solid, normal guys names, too — Mike and Jack are my two faves, and I love Henry and Harry, too. Names that suggest a guy is grounded and normal. I don’t know I could ever see myself dating a “Slade” LOL Or a “Marion” either, for that matter.
Lesse… my heroes have been (let’s see if I can do this in order): Jack, Colin and Travis (same book), Ian, Logan, EJ, Nathan, Daniel, Brett, and Rafe (my upcoming Christmas book, Talking in Your Sleep — since it’s a Christmas story, I have Raphael and Joy), Joel, and Mason (upcoming books) ;)
Heroines have been: Raine, Miranda and Penny, Sage, Sarah, Charlotte, Jennie/Maria (she had two names), Risa, Lauren, Joy, Edie, and Ginny.
Although it’s true real people will affect how we see names. My ex’s name is permanently banned from my consciousness — he is “he who shall not be named” LOL Unfortunately, he has one of those common, normal names (see, you can never tell), and when my niece was dating someone with that name, I kept calling him a slightly different name , not on purpose, just my brain could not deal with it and kept popping out the other name.
Names are important. I feel bad for kids who’s parents give them strange or strangely spelled names.
I like Mae — it is old-fashioned, in a nice way. I gravitate to old-fashioned names for women. My Blaze anthology for 2008 has “Edie” and I’ve used Rita (that book never went) and I also like Joan, Mary, and Alice.
What I find difficult in books sometimes is coming up with last names — sometimes they come right to me, other times I have to search the net or the phone book for something to hit me right…
Sam
August 31st, 2007 at 8:51 am
What a great post!
I have the “stand-by” names for my fiction. Meaning, when I can’t think of a name I always use Nick and Claire. I don’t know why. Nick and Claire get into a lot of mischief together before they become who they are in the final version of the story. LOL
Sexy male names: Sawyer from LOST - I named my lead hero in my latest contemporary after him; Dane in my time travel. I never thought the name Dane could be sexy until I started writing his character and then he sort of look on a life of his own.
Okay I’ll stop talking about my characters and pick other names. haha I like Jake and Aidan. Strong sound male names with hard tones. THOSE are what’s sexy.
Sexy female names: I love Elizabeth. Claudia and Eve. Soft, pretty sounding names. I use the name Skye in my time travel and she and Dane fit very well together. hahaha
August 31st, 2007 at 9:19 am
Great post Samantha. I like the names Chance, Chase, Jackson, and Cole. They sound sexy to me.
I don’t think names like Elmer, Luther, or Homer would be good hero names.
I am not to picky about heroine names.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:28 am
LOL on Homer, and Bart!
So the Simpsons are definitely NOT sexy. LOL Come to think of it, I had a Marge in Hide and Seek, but only as a secondary…
Sam
August 31st, 2007 at 10:05 am
I love the name Jack - so much that I named my youngest that.
Of course, now it doesn’t feel right using the name as a hero and I have a half finished manuscript somewhere with a Jack hero.
Oh well….
August 31st, 2007 at 10:58 am
Good question, Sam! I had a friend who once told me that Mr Darcy from Pride & Prejudice is the perfect romance hero and she wouldn’t change anything about him.
Including his name, I asked.
What do you mean? Mr Darcy is a great name.
Yes, but is that what you’d call him during sex? Right THERE, Mr Darcy.
Oh, well, I’d call him by his first–oh, Fitzwilliam.
Yep. Fitzwilliam. Kind of makes your insides dry up, doesn’t it?
Okay, so I’d shorten it to William, like the young prince across the pond.
No, you wouldn’t. You’d want to but you’d end up calling him Bill. And, face it, Bill Darcy is just not a romance hero’s name (this despite the fact that my own husband is William/Bill).
So, yes, there is definitely something in a name.
When I read a blurb on the back of a book sometimes I’ll see a name (Boyd or Earl, come to mind) and I think no f*cking way! But when I get caught up IN the book, the name no longer gets in the way (maybe it wouldn’t get in the way of Bill Darcy either).
I like my romance men to have strong names. I don’t care for nicknames unless they’ve got an edge: Nick is fine. Chad isn’t.
Joshua is one of those names that can go either way depending on how the character is written. To me, Josh is usually a child.
The female names don’t mean as much to me UNLESS THEY ARE STUPID. I hate when the heroine is named something like Danger (Sherrilyn Kenyon used this one). Or something really ugly like Bertha (yes, I know it’s historically acurate if you’re reading a regency novel but UGH).
And if I had to pick a pseudonym, how about something fun like: Hotmans Sexslave. Too over the top??
ani
August 31st, 2007 at 11:13 am
Samantha, welcome to our blog! Thanks for the awesome post. I love thinking about names.
Ani, that’s interesting about Darcy. I can totally imagine yelling out Mr. Darcy! at the wrong (or right, depending on how you look at it) moment. In fact I have.
It occurs to me that in the Bridget Jones version she named him Mark Darcy. And the name of my current hero is Mark. Mark. St. Crow. I like good, solid names. Reliable names. I also love the name Nick. I named the hero in my new EC book Nick, but my editor (whose name is Nick BTW) told me to change it on account of the fact that there were too many Nicks out there right now. Go figure. I named him Harry Marshall instead. We call him Marsh.
I love the name Bullet, you know from that old Steve McQueen movie? I really wanted to name my kid Bullet, but everyone I know had a cow. Oh, well. Some day I’ll have a hero named Bullet. Right there, Bullet! Shoot it! Shoot righ into me!
August 31st, 2007 at 11:54 am
The name can sound sexy to me if I view the person as sexy. I do tend to feel about a name the way I feel about someone I know with that name. Sometimes it isn’t good but… I associate names with people I know.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I’m guilty of spelling my child’s name differently, whoops lol I chose Rian over Ryan because it just…felt right to me. It wasn’t because I wanted him to be different or anything like that. I was looking at an Irish name website and saw it and I said that’s it!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:02 pm
So… is the name Phil sexy to any of you?
August 31st, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I’ve known one sexy Phil, though I knew him by his nickname, mostly, which wasn’t sexy at all, LOL.
ani, you completely crack me up, though the Mr. Darcy breakdown was wonderful! Yeah, Bill. . .hmmm. Sookie’s vampire lover was Bill, and he was sexy, and I always thought it was a fun thing that she named her vampires Bill, Eric, Pam, LOL — normal names. Nice twist.
Imagine if Spike and Angel had been Steve and Andy?
Sam
August 31st, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I knew a Phil and lots of the women who knew him thought he was sexy. But I don’t know. Now I imagine Dr. Phil. Like I said before, it’s all about the emotional connection you have with someone. Then any name can be sexy.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Yeah, I like that Sookie (an unusual name there but I like it) has “normal” sounding vampires. Let’s face it not everyone gets a great moniker like Christopher Remington St Basil at birth!
And I also liked that his name was changed from Fitzwilliam to Mark in Bridget Jones. But I do have to say I “almost” gave my younger son the middle name of Fitzgerald. So that was close.
This is a fun topic and one I think could be explored again.
Ashley, since I have such an uncommon spelling of my own name (and prefer not to capitalize it to boot!), I made sure my sons were given the most common spellings of their own names!
ani
August 31st, 2007 at 1:40 pm
August 31st, 2007 at 3:54 pm
How interesting – I was just having a similar conversation with my roommate last night. I was saying that I tend to like the more old-fashioned, “biblical” male names – names like Isaac, Matthew, Noah, Michael, etc. There’s a certain strength behind them that works for just about every type of hero you create. Plus most of them are classics and the classics never go out of style
Everyone have a wonderful weekend!
August 31st, 2007 at 7:41 pm
great interview
August 31st, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Hi Samantha, what a great cover for Pick Me Up. I think Roarke is a sexy name.
September 1st, 2007 at 9:25 am
Hey everyone — thanks so much for the chat — sorry I was AWOL for a while. Buy Friday. But I loved this chat, and want to announce the winner of the drawing…..
SUE A! You are the winner of a signed copy of Pick Me Up, so email me at samhunter@samanthahunter.com and I’ll get a copy out to you. :)
Thanks to the Naughty and Spice girls for inviting me — I had a great time! And of course, I’ll be around commenting a few times a week, because it’s just fun here, and I hope you guys will stop by my blog at www.loveisanexplodingcigar.com as well! :)
Sam
September 1st, 2007 at 11:45 am
Woot!!! Congrats Sue!!!
And thanks again for stopping by Sam! What a great discussion.
September 1st, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Thank you Sam, I sent you an e-mail!
Hi Karen, thanks for the congrats!
September 3rd, 2007 at 1:26 am
Ani…
Why make it Bill? There is another option. *wink*