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Help[Opinions] Phosyne, Traila, and Voyne
I'm currently reading/listening to The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling, and these are the name of the three main characters. All three are women. The narrator uses a generic English accent in the audiobook and says the names like this:
Phosyne - fo-szeen
Traila - tray-luh
Voyne - voyn
I'm two thirds the way through the book now and, having been hearing and reading these names for a while, decided to finally search them up here and to my surprise not a single one was in the database lol I at least expected Traila to be in the submitted names database lol I will say I'm impressed the author came up with names that are so unique but feel real, and especially feel fitting for the book setting (fantasy 12th/13th century Europe).
I quite like all of the names in a way, though I'm coolest towards Traila, which just reminds me of "trailer", but when said with an English accent it's actually not that bad and almost pretty? I did hear "Tayla" at first when listening to it, and it wasn't until I got the ebook and read the name that I realized it was Traila.
Voyne is usually called Ser Voyne, as she's a knight, which means it's likely her last name, though I don't think I've heard her first name so I think of her simply as Voyne. It feels more masculine to me but I like it tbh
Phosyne is my favorite. It reminds me a lot of Phryne (https://www.behindthename.com/name/phryne/submitted) and Phoebe, as it has that same Ancient Greek feel to it. I mean "phos" does mean "light" in ancient Greek, with a French feminine ending of "ine", it could almost be some romantic Medieval name for real. It also reminds me of a chemical or something, like phosphine, which is fitting because she's an alchemist in the story. The name feels bright and pretty to me.
Just a little aside but I googled Phosyne to see if I could find it literally anywhere other than the description or review for the book - I found a single example of a real person with the name! https://www.onegreatfamily.com/fh/Elmira-Hoffman/567470069 It's also the occasional username on random websites lol
My PNLs = http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/37275
My ↑ Faves: Remy and Eseld
List ↑ Rated: Henry and Alice (main) / Caspian & Guinevere (GP) / James & Charlotte (top25)
List ↓ Rated: Calhoun and Venla (main) / Bedwyr & Oniria (GP) / Thane & Eydis (top25)
Phosyne - fo-szeen
Traila - tray-luh
Voyne - voyn
I'm two thirds the way through the book now and, having been hearing and reading these names for a while, decided to finally search them up here and to my surprise not a single one was in the database lol I at least expected Traila to be in the submitted names database lol I will say I'm impressed the author came up with names that are so unique but feel real, and especially feel fitting for the book setting (fantasy 12th/13th century Europe).
I quite like all of the names in a way, though I'm coolest towards Traila, which just reminds me of "trailer", but when said with an English accent it's actually not that bad and almost pretty? I did hear "Tayla" at first when listening to it, and it wasn't until I got the ebook and read the name that I realized it was Traila.
Voyne is usually called Ser Voyne, as she's a knight, which means it's likely her last name, though I don't think I've heard her first name so I think of her simply as Voyne. It feels more masculine to me but I like it tbh
Phosyne is my favorite. It reminds me a lot of Phryne (https://www.behindthename.com/name/phryne/submitted) and Phoebe, as it has that same Ancient Greek feel to it. I mean "phos" does mean "light" in ancient Greek, with a French feminine ending of "ine", it could almost be some romantic Medieval name for real. It also reminds me of a chemical or something, like phosphine, which is fitting because she's an alchemist in the story. The name feels bright and pretty to me.
Just a little aside but I googled Phosyne to see if I could find it literally anywhere other than the description or review for the book - I found a single example of a real person with the name! https://www.onegreatfamily.com/fh/Elmira-Hoffman/567470069 It's also the occasional username on random websites lol
My ↑ Faves: Remy and Eseld
List ↑ Rated: Henry and Alice (main) / Caspian & Guinevere (GP) / James & Charlotte (top25)
List ↓ Rated: Calhoun and Venla (main) / Bedwyr & Oniria (GP) / Thane & Eydis (top25)
Replies
Phosyne is also my favorite. It does look Greek inspired to me - I associated Photine and Euphrosyne (both of which I like).
Voyne gives me a surnamey type impression and reminds me of Rhoyne from GRR Martin books.
Traila does remind me of trailer but also of names like Vaila, Treasa, Trula.
Voyne gives me a surnamey type impression and reminds me of Rhoyne from GRR Martin books.
Traila does remind me of trailer but also of names like Vaila, Treasa, Trula.
This message was edited 6/8/2025, 8:07 AM
I'm reading that too! How are you finding it? I'm not very far through and was really busy this week, so I haven't been in the mood to do any reading. I'm going to try to get back into it next week.
I was reading Phosyne as something like fo-seen-eh / fo-see-ney or something like that, three syllables either way. I'm a bit disapointed by fo-szeen if I'm honest. I wonder how her 'nun name' Sefridis is said, cos I thought that was quite pretty.
I'm not a fan of Treila (name, or the character just yet - no spoilers -not sure how far in the book you are, and maybe I'll change my mind about her - but I get her motivation 100% but she's giving me really creepy unhinged vibes). It looks nicer than it sounds, and I don't think there's any way to make it sound nice spoken aloud.
Voyne isn't an attractive name, but it definitely suits the character.
I was reading Phosyne as something like fo-seen-eh / fo-see-ney or something like that, three syllables either way. I'm a bit disapointed by fo-szeen if I'm honest. I wonder how her 'nun name' Sefridis is said, cos I thought that was quite pretty.
I'm not a fan of Treila (name, or the character just yet - no spoilers -not sure how far in the book you are, and maybe I'll change my mind about her - but I get her motivation 100% but she's giving me really creepy unhinged vibes). It looks nicer than it sounds, and I don't think there's any way to make it sound nice spoken aloud.
Voyne isn't an attractive name, but it definitely suits the character.
I'm liking it so far! I'm about 70% of the way through the book and it was around 50% that things really picked up. I felt like it was a bit slow in the beginning but now that I'm near the end, it's getting exciting and terrifying. I'm looking forward to how it ends and am hoping for an appropriately gruesome ending lol
Ah, you're quite a bit ahead of me. I'm probably about 20% through... where the "saints" first show up. I'm enjoying it, but it's more world building and it obviously hasn't really kicked off yet. Sounds like I should keep with it!
Voyne looks + sounds like Slavic word for "war" :( [voyna, voy-nah] and Russian "воин (voin)" a term for soldier
I wouldn't be surprised if the author got the name from that, given the character is a knight/soldier!