Escapists Uncensored: Fictional Characters and Their Names

Escapists Uncensored

Escapists UncensoredIn which I rant about fictional characters and their names

There’s that famous Shakespeare quote about a rose by any other name is still being a rose. The typical reaction to that quote is, “Duh. A rose is a rose.” (Or at least, that was the reaction in my middle school English class, by several students.) But what if it was called a Violet? Or That Red Thingy? Would it still be a rose then? Names give value and meaning to objects and people. And we associate names with certain thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, that can bleed into our reading.

I’ve heard many fellow readers complain that they can’t read books with characters with certain names. For example, this one woman couldn’t read anything where the heroine shared the same name as her sister. Another woman couldn’t read anything where the name of the hero was the same name as her son. For them, there was too much of an ick factor when reading about these characters having sex. It was like seeing their sister/son/brother/mother/father/cousin-in-law having sex. I understand where they’re coming from, (because EW!) but I don’t have that problem at all. For me, a fictional character is a fictional character, even if they share a name with one of my family members. It does happen more often than not.

One of Lauren Dane’s character’s name is Joe Harris – which just so happens to be my dad’s first name and my mom’s maiden name. Did I freak out when he had sex? Nope. If anything, I kept thinking, “He totally needs to have a baby and name the baby Casey and then I will be part of this Lauren Dane universe!!” (Lauren Dane has used several of my family members’ names throughout her books, and I seriously think it’s time for my name to appear. I mean, come on! Casey isn’t an uncommon name.)

Okay, granted, there have been times when a character’s name just so happens to be my ex-boyfriend’s name and I’m slightly tempted to kick him between the legs. (The fictional character, not my ex. Though…let’s not go there.) Luckily, he usually ends up being a bad guy or a cheating boyfriend (I think all these books were trying to tell me something), so it’s okay for me to hate him. But when he’s the hero? I get over my hate within the first two chapters. (Because the hero is a good guy who redeems himself.) Sometimes thoughts of my ex will pop up in my head while I’m reading, but if the author is good enough to suck me in their world and keep me entertained, then those thoughts will vanish. 

On the flip-side, there have been times when I meet someone in real life and they have the same name as one of my favorite fictional characters, I befriend them instantly.  Like my new best friend whose last name is Bilbo. No, really. That’s why we became best friends – so I can go around telling people, “I’m going on an adventure with Bilbo!” (Luckily she has the same sense of nerdy humor as me, which makes this friendship work. If she didn’t…well, I don’t know if we could be friends. But I’d always say, “I knew someone named Bilbo!”)

And if I ever meet someone named Hermione, we’re also becoming best friends and I will drag her to the library. Because where else would you go with Hermione?

How about you? Do names bother you? Have you befriended anyone because their name is the same name as an awesome fictional character?

About Casey 203 Articles
Casey is the founder of Heart Full of Ink, Director at Reading Until Dawn Con, and a full time cheese addict. She's been ranting and reviewing for Literary Escapism since 2010, and is part of the trio #3Bloggers1Series podcast. When she's not reading, looking for new books, or stalking authors online (waiting for more books), she can be found binge watching Netflix. But really, her life is all about DEM BOOKS!