9 replies to this topic

[Kristi18]

I need help naming the main character of a story I am working on. Here is the premise...

Setting - USA, 1889. MC born in Virginia. Moves to Kansas and story takes place there.

Family of MC:

Mother - Mamie Pearl (died giving birth to MC)
Father - Isaac Theodore (dies at the beginning of the story)
Sister - Nellie Catherine (9 years older than MC, married, lives in Oregon with husband - Joe and three kids - Joey, Peter and Danny.)
Sister - Alice Rebecca (7 years older than MC, Married, lives in Kansas with husband - Alfred and five children - Amanda, Emma, Clara, Laura and Stella.)
Sister - Esther Mae (4 years older than MC, died at age 14.)
Sister - Lydia Kate (2 years older than MC, lives in Boston with husband - Henry and one child - James Henry)

Other characters:

Owner of the Double M Ranch - Marshall Brooks McAllister
Ranch Hands - Dewey, Ellis, Frank, Lloyd and Carl
Mother of Marshall - Grace Lillian McAllister
Father of Marshall - Benjamin Brooks McAllister

Naming dilema - MC is the youngest of five sisters. Her mother died in childbirth and her father always wanted a son. When he finds his last daughter is not a son, he decides to give her a masculine name anyway. MC grows up out on the farm with her father. She has all kinds of farming and ranching skills. But, no cooking or household skills. When her father dies, MC decides to seek employment out west on a ranch. She hopes to earn enough money to buy her own ranch. She cuts her hair, buys men's clothing and heads west; counting on her name and disguise to earn employment. So, I need a masculine name for this daring young lady. She is 17. Her name is NOT a feminine name with a masculine nn. It really is a masculine name. I'm hoping to find a name that would lend to a feminine nn towards the end of the book. Listed are some I have considered, but really have not jumped out at me yet. Also, I could use help with her middle name and surname. Thanks!

Aaron
Amos - feminine nn later on of "Amy"
Ben or Benny
Charlie
Everett - feminine nn later on of "Eve, Ever or Evie"
Francis - feminine nn later on of "Frannie or Fran"
George
Jack
Jay
Jesse
Marion - feminine nn later on of "Mary"

Please remember the story is set in 1889. Thanks!

[-TebowTime-]

Aaron - No, use Erin
Amos - I know a boy name Amos, not the best connection, ALL boy
Ben or Benny - This is always related to Benjamin, which aint a girls name at all
Charlie - I could see this as a nickname for Charlotte
Everett - No
Francis - YES
George - NO
Jack - NO
Jay - Its ok
Jesse - NO Jessie is ok
Marion - feminine nn later on of "Mary" - YES

Also, in 1889, girly names were used, Laura, Mary, Caroline, Grace. A girl with the name of George would be VERY out of place

[ImaginationGirl]

Your story sounds great!

I like the name Matthew, and she could maybe be called Mattie at the end of the book. (Sounds pretty feminine)
Out of the names your looking at, I like: Aaron and Jesse--although I think they should have just gone ahead and named her Erin or Jessie.

BTW, once I made a little story where these crazy parents had twins and named their boy Bonnie Cailyn (Which means pretty girl) and their girl Jason. They eventually switched names. (Wouldn't that be terrible to have to live your life with either of those names if you weren't the right gender??)

Good luck and great story!

[Kristi18]

O-Ryley,

In the story the MC has a masculine name. Not a feminine name with a masculine nn. With her mother dead and her father always wanting a son, he gives the MC the name he would have given her if she were a boy. Nothing feminine or girly sounding at all. It really is key to the plot.

ImaginationGirl,

I kind of like Matthew, later on with the nn "Mattie." Still not sure if that is "the one." It certainly makes the short list though!

Thanks! Please keep the ideas coming. I know it is a strange request. But, for the story to work, she MUST have a boy's name!

[-TebowTime-]

What about:
Henry
Luke
Vincent
Franklin
Abbott
Whitney (Traditional boy name)
Aubrey (" ")
Meade
Gordon
Cassius
Peter
Patrick
Solomon

Try biblical names, lots of them were used back then:
Josiah
Joseph
Adam
Joshua

[Kristi18]

Oooh, I kind of like Josiah, later in the book she could go by Josie!

My "short" list is now...

Amos - later nn of Amy
Matthew - later nn of Mattie
Josiah - later nn of Josie

What do you guys think? Other suggestions?

[-TebowTime-]

Not Amos, it makes me think of a Moose sorta.... like A Moose....

[Elena Mae]

Quick brainwave, though I probably know more:

What about Elias/Elijah? I think it's the right kind of time zone, but considering that both names are used in the Bible (though more often Elijah), they could fit. And as for the femenine nickname thing, you could always use Ellie.

[Kristi18]

Thanks for all the help guys! I have decided on...

Josiah Philip Peterman

Later on in the story, she will go by "Josie". Philip was chosen because of it's meaning "lover of horses". It just seemed to fit her!

Thanks again!

[ImaginationGirl]

Oh, that is a great choice! I love it! Good job choosing.