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Help[Opinions] Opinions on character names in a story I'm writing
What are your opinions on these names for characters in a story I'm writing?
Ivanna "Iva" Donchankova (main character)
Irina Lunashko (MC's best friend)
Arevik Vardanyan (Irina's friend)
Aleksey "Alyosha", "Lyosha", "Lyokha" Kulak (love interest)
Yuliya Pavlichenko (side character)
Yevgeniy "Zheka", "Zhenya" Pavlichenko (Yuliya's kid)
Zinoviya "Zina", "Zinya" Kerchuk (side character)
Nadezhda "Nadya" Demchenko (side character)
Stepan Kalyuzhnyy (side character)
Ivanna "Iva" Donchankova (main character)
Irina Lunashko (MC's best friend)
Arevik Vardanyan (Irina's friend)
Aleksey "Alyosha", "Lyosha", "Lyokha" Kulak (love interest)
Yuliya Pavlichenko (side character)
Yevgeniy "Zheka", "Zhenya" Pavlichenko (Yuliya's kid)
Zinoviya "Zina", "Zinya" Kerchuk (side character)
Nadezhda "Nadya" Demchenko (side character)
Stepan Kalyuzhnyy (side character)
Replies
What is the setting of the story?
I like all of those names except for Alyosha and Zinoviya.
Alyosha was fine a few decades ago, but it's a meme now.
I've never heard of Zinoviya before, but it sounds too clunky compared to other names on your list. Is it popular in Ukraine?
I also think that Ivanna is prettier without a nickname.
I like all of those names except for Alyosha and Zinoviya.
Alyosha was fine a few decades ago, but it's a meme now.
I've never heard of Zinoviya before, but it sounds too clunky compared to other names on your list. Is it popular in Ukraine?
I also think that Ivanna is prettier without a nickname.
The story is set in Mariupol
Zinoviya is a bit of a rarer name, but it's used in Russia and Ukraine.
Zinoviya is a bit of a rarer name, but it's used in Russia and Ukraine.
Acoording to forebears.com, there are only 28 people named Zinoviya in Russia. I would call it unique rather than rare.
This message was edited 11/30/2024, 8:05 PM
Forebears isn't always accurate
When I look up Зиновия/Зіновія on social media, a lot of people come up, a lot more than that little.
When I look up Зиновия/Зіновія on social media, a lot of people come up, a lot more than that little.
Social media shows people from all over the world. It would be interesting to know the statistics for Russia only.
Your character names are generally very strong and well-chosen for the cultural backgrounds they suggest. The names feel authentic, which helps immerse readers in the world you're creating. You've done a good job balancing common names with less typical ones, giving your characters a sense of individuality while maintaining a cohesive cultural tone.
The variety of diminutives also adds a layer of intimacy and realism to the relationships, making the characters feel more human.
If there’s one thing I’d suggest considering, it might be the balance of the names in terms of how easy they are to remember or pronounce for your intended audience. Some of the surnames and diminutives are relatively uncommon or might be harder for non-native speakers to handle, but that’s just a small concern and can add to the richness of the story.
Overall, I think the names are well-suited for your characters and the world you're building!
The variety of diminutives also adds a layer of intimacy and realism to the relationships, making the characters feel more human.
If there’s one thing I’d suggest considering, it might be the balance of the names in terms of how easy they are to remember or pronounce for your intended audience. Some of the surnames and diminutives are relatively uncommon or might be harder for non-native speakers to handle, but that’s just a small concern and can add to the richness of the story.
Overall, I think the names are well-suited for your characters and the world you're building!
It's written in Russian and Ukrainian so the native speaker issue isn't really a problem
I like Ivanna, Irina, Zinoviya and Nadezhda and I also like the nicknames