[Opinions] Re: So-called "romantasy" names (from article)
in reply to a message by erb816
Alaric is fine. It's quite nice. I wouldn't ever use it irl, it's so obviously fantasy coded.
Aries feels horoscope-girly to me. The god is actually a second association. I'm not a fan.
Athena is ok, but very overused. I know of about eight people with the middle name Athena, a kid called Athena (or with the middle name Athena), or a relative called Athena. As a first name it seems to be having a bit of growth, there's a few young nieces/cousins named Athena. As a goddess, Athena is OK but not my favourite, and I think this tints how I see the name tbh.
Azriel. Eh. Feels like they were going for Azrael but didn't know how to spell it and just thought it sounded 'deathly and edgy' or something. Nah.
Briar. Absolutely not.
Casper. Cute, I like it. I do not see romantasy potential in it at all, but I don't like romantasy so I don't care. It's a nice name.
Cassian. Very fantasy coded. It's ok. I'm not a fan of the sound, the look is ok.
Castiel. Eugh.Supernatural. A show I did not watch, but the name goes hand in hand with the show enough that it's clear that's where the inspo is. I'm not a fan of the sound or look.
Ceridwen. Absolutely not. Strong dislike for the look and feel of the name, plus I've known two or three Ceridwens who've all gone by Ceri and all been absolute main character mean girls cosplaying the manic pixie dream girl trope... that is, absolute nightmares. That alone is enough to ruin the name, but the name was clunky and blocky and unappealing to begin with.
Dorian. I picture The Picture (lol) of Dorian Gray and a pale, anaemic, frail young man with floppy hair. Not a 'strong and dashing' kind of name, but something less sporty. I quite like it as a name, I'd never use it irl as a first name though.
Echo. Cool. As a name, I have mixed feelings, it's GP but also just cool. As a character name, it's a bit cringe and trying too hard yet still falling into the trap of cliche.
Elowyn. Why? When Elowen is perfectly pretty and right. there.
Freya. Burn it with fire. Freya is worse than Ceridwen for mean girl energy. Every Freya I've known has been vile. Every -pet- (dog, cat) I've known has been lovely, but people... awful. The sound's not my fave, and it's very boring in general... and so boring as a character name.
Godric. Ew. No.
Leander. Fine. Nice sounding. Makes an ok middle name. Just a bit... predictable.
Manon. Clunky and frumpy and the most interesting in the list so far just because I do not think Manon when I think 'romantasy heroine'. Sound and look-wise, it's a no for my personal taste, in terms of a character name...maybe.
Nesryn. No. Don't like Nesrin and that y is horrible.
Persephone. Super dull. Also not a fan of the name.
Rowan. Nice enough. I quite like it as a name, and it's fine as a character name if a bit predictable. Only for a boy though, for a girl absolutely not.
Rhys. Lol. One of the least attractive names I can think of. Thinking of this in a romantasy setting is just making me chuckle.
Soraya. Pretty, but I'm growing a bit bored of it. It's on my name list because it's pretty, but it feels a bit artificial. Depending how you say it, someone pointed out it's a bit like psoriasis and that's put me off a bit too.
Veda. Nah. Makes me think of Darth Vader.
Vesta. Nah. Makes me think of sweater vests.
Zelda. Nice. I like. Does feel video game coded though, in this particular situation.
All in all, I've discovered... romantasy names are really, really not for me!
Aries feels horoscope-girly to me. The god is actually a second association. I'm not a fan.
Athena is ok, but very overused. I know of about eight people with the middle name Athena, a kid called Athena (or with the middle name Athena), or a relative called Athena. As a first name it seems to be having a bit of growth, there's a few young nieces/cousins named Athena. As a goddess, Athena is OK but not my favourite, and I think this tints how I see the name tbh.
Azriel. Eh. Feels like they were going for Azrael but didn't know how to spell it and just thought it sounded 'deathly and edgy' or something. Nah.
Briar. Absolutely not.
Casper. Cute, I like it. I do not see romantasy potential in it at all, but I don't like romantasy so I don't care. It's a nice name.
Cassian. Very fantasy coded. It's ok. I'm not a fan of the sound, the look is ok.
Castiel. Eugh.Supernatural. A show I did not watch, but the name goes hand in hand with the show enough that it's clear that's where the inspo is. I'm not a fan of the sound or look.
Ceridwen. Absolutely not. Strong dislike for the look and feel of the name, plus I've known two or three Ceridwens who've all gone by Ceri and all been absolute main character mean girls cosplaying the manic pixie dream girl trope... that is, absolute nightmares. That alone is enough to ruin the name, but the name was clunky and blocky and unappealing to begin with.
Dorian. I picture The Picture (lol) of Dorian Gray and a pale, anaemic, frail young man with floppy hair. Not a 'strong and dashing' kind of name, but something less sporty. I quite like it as a name, I'd never use it irl as a first name though.
Echo. Cool. As a name, I have mixed feelings, it's GP but also just cool. As a character name, it's a bit cringe and trying too hard yet still falling into the trap of cliche.
Elowyn. Why? When Elowen is perfectly pretty and right. there.
Freya. Burn it with fire. Freya is worse than Ceridwen for mean girl energy. Every Freya I've known has been vile. Every -pet- (dog, cat) I've known has been lovely, but people... awful. The sound's not my fave, and it's very boring in general... and so boring as a character name.
Godric. Ew. No.
Leander. Fine. Nice sounding. Makes an ok middle name. Just a bit... predictable.
Manon. Clunky and frumpy and the most interesting in the list so far just because I do not think Manon when I think 'romantasy heroine'. Sound and look-wise, it's a no for my personal taste, in terms of a character name...maybe.
Nesryn. No. Don't like Nesrin and that y is horrible.
Persephone. Super dull. Also not a fan of the name.
Rowan. Nice enough. I quite like it as a name, and it's fine as a character name if a bit predictable. Only for a boy though, for a girl absolutely not.
Rhys. Lol. One of the least attractive names I can think of. Thinking of this in a romantasy setting is just making me chuckle.
Soraya. Pretty, but I'm growing a bit bored of it. It's on my name list because it's pretty, but it feels a bit artificial. Depending how you say it, someone pointed out it's a bit like psoriasis and that's put me off a bit too.
Veda. Nah. Makes me think of Darth Vader.
Vesta. Nah. Makes me think of sweater vests.
Zelda. Nice. I like. Does feel video game coded though, in this particular situation.
All in all, I've discovered... romantasy names are really, really not for me!