Monday, February 7, 2011

Top Ten YA Characters I'd Name My Children After

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.  It's a simple and absurdly fun meme featuring one of my favorite things ever: lists.  About books. ..  OK, two of my favorite things.  So check it out if you haven't already.  
This week the topic is Top Ten Characters I'd Name My Children After.  I'm somewhat infamous for wanting to name pets after characters from Greek and Egyptian mythology or nerdy movies (ie the cat becomes Bast, and the horse Epona or Shadowfax), but as for favorite YA book characters as namesakes... 

1.  Katniss from the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I know a lot of people actually dislike this name and thought it was kind of random, but I positively adore it and most of the other unusual, futuristic Hunger Games names.  To me, Katniss is such a brave and admirable heroine and really the kind of person girls could strive to be like.  Maybe it's the similarity to my own name, on second thought... Kat... Katniss.  OK, I see it now.  ;) 

2.  Felicity from the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

Felicity is a name from Victorian times, proudly borne by Gemma's headstrong, outspoken best friend in the fabulous Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray.  Felicity is by far my favorite character in the series, and her name is just beautiful.

3.  Ethan from Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

The only somewhat common name on this list.  Ethan is one of my favorite male narrators in YA.

4.  Lyra from the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman

 Lyra is such a brave and clever little heroine.  I always loved these books when I was younger.  Lyra is also the name of a harp constellation... go figure.  Her daemon's name is Pantalaimon... now there's a male name with possibilities... (Kidding! ;)

5.  Luna from the Harry Potter series

I wish my name was Luna.  It's so beautiful, what with the moon and moon goddess connotations... and the Luna Lovegood ones, of course.  Luna is just awesome-- her wackiness and quotes are all priceless.


6.  Zane from the Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

 Uglies has some pretty bizarre character names running through it, but every once in a while Scott Westerfeld hits on a futuristic name that actually sounds pretty cool.  Zane was one of my favorite characters.  *sobs* Scott did wrong by him.  Honorable mention from Uglies: Shay (girls name).
7.  Rue from the Hunger Games Trilogy 

Another Hunger Games name.  Rue is named for a herb, not 'you'll rue the day you met me'.  I like the simplicity and uniqueness of it.

8.  Isabelle, Jace, or Alec from the Mortal Instruments series

I cheated.  I love all the names from the Mortal Instruments series.  Honorable mentions are Maryse (pronounced May-ris, I believe), and Clary.  Alec is a particular favorite.


9.  Hermione from the Harry Potter series 

This isn't the kind of pop culture-inspired name where you could get away with people not realizing your kid is named after a character.  Everybody knows Hermione, but I love the name and her character so much that I honestly don't care.  Realistically, I'd probably name a cat this rather than a kid, but still... worst thing would be the inevitable nickname 'Hermie'.  *Shudders*

10.  Morgaine from The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (or Arthurian legend, really)


The Mists of Avalon is technically not YA, but it's one of my favorite books of all time, so I had to include it.  Morgan (aka Morgana le Fey) was the half-sister of King Arthur in some legends, and a misnomer for a Celtic goddess in others.  I really love the strength and androgynous sound of the name, but this spelling would be for a girl, obviously.


So, any thoughts/comments? What favorite character from a book would you name a kid after?

     

12 comments:

Alison Can Read said...

I'd go with Hermione. Also, Cassel of White Cat.

Lucia (iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books) said...

I'm not a fat of Katniss... but I do like Kat. Not Cat. I don't like hissy, furry animals. Haha.

Katy said...

Jace is on my list too, so is Cassel lol.

Ashley @ Bookaholics Anonymous said...

The Hermione comment cracked me because that's what my cats name is. I didn't name her though I got her from a co-worker whose kids named her. :)

Nic @ Irresistible Reads said...

Rue would be definitely on my list, such a beautiful name and a beautiful character. And Katniss too. Great picks :)

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I love names. I'm actually finished with the naming of real offspring, but I love to contemplate could-ofs and would-ofs.

Katniss, eh? As in, "Katniss, stop fighting with your brother! I mean it! Stop it. Now!"

Jennifer said...

Lyra made my list, too. :) I love the name Felicity.

Two Bibliomaniacs said...

Ethan has always been one of my favorite names. I also like Jace and Rue.

Birdie said...

Great list--Lyra made mine too! And Luna is made of win.

http://featherednest-birdie.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-ten-tuesday-naming-your-children.html

Kat said...

@Birdie-- Awesome list! Lyra has to be one of my favorite names.

@Deb Nance-- Ha ha, well, the name does remind me of cattail reeds, for some inexplicable reason. Granted it's unusual. :)

@Nic-- I love(d) Rue, too. She is surely one of the most iconic and beautiful characters in the Hunger Games, and I don't think any reader could forget her anytime soon.

@Alison, Kat-- Cassel is another good one! I liked the White Cat.

@AngelicNytmare-- Hermione is great for a cat! (Better than Crookshanks, even:)

Mrs. DeRaps said...

Great choices! I was thinking Finnick, too...Could call him "Finn" for short and have a reference to Mr. Huckleberry Finn. Two in one!

No biggie about the mailing of the package. I have enough on my TBR to keep me going for a long, long time. I'll start this series once I get them and let you know what I think! Thanks for the heads-up.

Anonymous said...

I'm seeing Jace a lot so far! I haven't read the books yet but the name is starting to grow on me

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