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good name for a good man

carocaro
edited July 2008 in - Writing Problems
I've just introduced a new character to my story. He's supposed to be the kind of man you could trust. Can any of you suggest a name for this character? He's 54 years old, very fit and looks a lot younger than his years.

Comments

  • Stan2Stan2
    Stan? Only joking!
  • CarolCarol
    John, it would have been one of those standard names that were around at the time he would have been born, or William- Will for the more younger sounding persona.
  • carocaro
    Thanks, Stan and Dorothy. I quite like Will. It will be interesting to see what others suggest.
  • RosalieRosalie
    Graham? Steve? Colin?

    (These are of the right era and all sound trustworthy to me - but perhaps I've just been lucky..)
  • Stan2Stan2
    Tom is a good old English name. Honest Tom. Born Thomas, but known to his friends and workmates as Tom. As honest as the day is long.
  • carocaro
    Thanks, Stan, Tom's a good name. I know a Colin and a Graham and don't like them very much, but thanks anyway, Rosalie.:)
  • JennyJenny
    edited July 2008
    Definitely not Tony - not after what he did to this country!

    Silent Tony - No disrespect intended!!!!
  • LizLiz
    edited July 2008
    Peter was one of the most commonly given name at that time and sounds steady somehow. Hang on, I've got a book which gives the most common names around then... I'll list them for you...

    Born around 1950:

    Robert, Michael, James, John, David, William, Thomas, Richard, Gary, Charles, Ronald, Dennis, Steven, Kenneth, Joseph, Mark, Daniel, Paul, Donald, Gregory
    were the top 20.

    Born around 1965:

    Paul, David, Andrew, Stephen, Mark, Michael, Ian, Gary, Robert, Richard, Peter, John, Anthony, Christopher, Darren, Kevin, Martin, Simon, Philip, Graham were the top 20.
  • JennyJenny
    Maybe what's needed is a name associated with someone famous who's reliable. That cuts it down quite a lot!
  • LizLiz
    And Fergus always sounds reliable... I don't know why!
  • BillBill
    Robin (reliant)
    Robin (Hood)

    Charles ?
  • StirlingStirling
    Jack. I had an Uncle Jack. A real gent.
  • LizLiz
    Jack the Lad? Jack the... Ripper?
  • CarolCarol
    Jack never strikes me as a reliable person, but it is also a diminutive of John- sort of two sides to a name I always think.
  • StirlingStirling
    I like Jack the lads. Probably why my character is called Jack (that kind of personality).

    My new character is called Blake. I thought creative/unusual.
  • NutmegNutmeg
    The name William has been over used...in books, movies and well in history...i have a william in my book but i couldn't change his name...it just wouldn't work...

    I like Dave...or David...
  • doradora
    Christopher

    Stephen

    Andrew
  • candycandy
    Before you choose a name, you should think carefully about your character. Is he going to play a minor role in your story or a major one? Is he an ordinary guy or some kind of superhero. Names are really important, so think carefully.
  • CarolCarol
    Good point Candy.
  • mcbemusedmcbemused
    Dave. Good old Dave. Sound as pound, is Dave.
  • LizLiz
    Isn't Dave the name of white van man? David is better...
  • Celtic CCeltic C
    Dave, definitely DAVE!
  • Stan2Stan2
    Dave makes me think of someone a bit dubious - never quite breaks the law, but comes close. Full of promises he never keeps. And he drives a white van.

    lexia - no Stanley's in your list. Perhaps we are in earlier lists. I was named after my father.
  • heatherheather
    edited July 2008
    I was going to say John or Thomas - but not both together!
  • salwritesalwrite
    I genuinely think Stan, I read the question, thought of Stan and then saw his comment after, how embarassing is that, other than that Ted, my dad's name although Father Ted has spoiled that idea, what part of the country does he live in?
  • Jay MandalJay Mandal
    Stanley's heyday was in 1925 according to The Guinness Book of Names. Not many after 1950.
  • salwritesalwrite
    That surprises me, anyone remember the children's book called Flat Stanley - I think I will google it - just remember it being one of the first books I read
  • JennyJenny
    I think Stanley is making a comeback. I've seen the name included in recent birth announcements.
  • LizLiz
    Stanley is no 22 in 1925 Stan. In the list of LIZ, LIZ, LIZ. I'm beginning to feel invisible...
  • JennyJenny
    edited July 2008
    It's probably the effect of the Don't Bother Opening thread!
  • LizLiz
    Something like that spreading on this sort of group site could be catastrophic. Invisible posters! Invisible discussions! INVISIBLE WRITING! Where's the lemon juice...
  • Jay MandalJay Mandal
    Am I the only one not to have read the Don't Open This thread?
  • heatherheather
    No Jay I didn't either.
    Does that make us the goody two shoes or just the only people not to have a clue what's going on in half the other threads now?
  • Jay MandalJay Mandal
    :-)
  • carocaro
    Thanks, everyone! Candy, you're quite right and I should have thought of that.
  • salwritesalwrite
    Flat Stanley is now international literacy project - useless info I know
  • Stan2Stan2
    Quite useless!!!!
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