Several days ago, Rabia asked us to help come up with a female sleuth’s name for a mystery novel. Here is the message:
I know this is unrelated but I need help with writing the novel I’m working on. I was trying to come up with a name for my female protagonist and wanted to come up with a name that hasn’t really been used in the cozy mystery genre or a name that isn’t that frequent like Charlotte or Kate. This was on my mind and I was wondering if you could help me. Thank you very much.
Kathryn responded with this really good suggestion:
I like the name Jacqueline. Pronounced jacque-lean. You can shorten it to a variation of Jackie for a nickname.
Can any of you Cozy Mystery readers think of some other really good names Rabia might be able to use in her Cozy Mystery?
Thank you!
Anita says
Good Day!! I like the name Bonnie. It is not at all very common and you could have a blast with her last name!!!
Hope all works out well on the novel.
Rabia says
Thank you very much for your suggestion. I never thought of the name Bonnie and you are right it’s not very common at all. It’s not even in the top 100 names for girls!!! I also like that I can have a blast with the last name. I’m a huge fan of Spanish/Hispanic culture not only because I have family that are Spanish but because it’s such an interesting culture. Most of the last names I’ve tried with the name Bonnie actually seem to fit. Thank you so much for your input…it’s very much appreciated.
laura says
Alcia (Al-SEE-a)
Shawn says
I know Shawn has never been used that I know of. What about Hunter, Gabby, Amber, Opal and Frankie?
I have others but don’t want to post a huge list. LOL
Kerry says
How about the name Kerry?
Dianne says
Good Morning Everyone, I like the names Eva and Mia. Please keep us updated! I cannot wait to read it ! Dianne
Rabia says
Hi Dianne, I love those names…those are great suggestions. I’ll try and keep you all updated. I’m really excited right now because I’m following through with a goal I’ve had for a while. Thank you and everyone else for your suggestions they have been very helpful.
Thank you so much, again!!!
– Rabia
Michelle says
I think the my name “Michelle” would be nice. It is never used in movies or books.
karen says
I’m fine with any name as long as there is no question as to the pronunciation. It’s no fun to read a whole book and wonder each time I read the protagonist’s name if I’m pronouncing it correctly!! I would not have pronounced “Jacqueline” as indicated unless the author made a phonetic note. Since I think everyone becomes a “friend” to characeters in stories (especially the protaganist), it’s nice to be saying their name correctly : )
Denise Z says
I like Angeline, which of course she hates and everyone calls her Ms. _______ and Angie to to her friends 🙂 Fun share today.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Ah, yes, the troublesome names! I bought myself a…baby names book so that I can name my characters!
It has a great feature of telling you what the name means, where it was derived (or if several cultures use it and the various meanings.) It’s been very helpful when I get stuck on character names.
Doesn’t help a whit with last names however!
Ann says
I look up meanings of names so that they fit with my character’s personality.
Ann
sidney says
How about the name Sloane?
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Or Sidney. Sidney is a great name for a character. :>)
MJ says
I doubt any of us know the names of everyone in every book, so it is difficult to come up with something totally different.
Jasmine (Jazz)
Dorinda (Dori)
Talia
Karsyn
Delia
Ilyse
Londa
Combine some letters to come up with your own name:
Shain
Laren
Railey
you get the idea……………….
KeLLy Ann says
Piper Maeve.
Rabia says
Thank you so much for your suggestion I like it. The name Piper Maeve seems to be a very unique combination. When I say it out loud it sounds great!! Thank you again
Anne says
You could look online for the year that the character was to have been born and find the most popular name of that year or the least popular name…
Rabia says
that’s a great idea thank you very much for sharing it with me…you’ve been so helpful
Julia says
For what it’s worth, I would pick a name that doesn’t easily lend itself to diminutives, like the aforementioned Piper, or Talia or Kerry. It’s a pet peeve for me when I read a book jacket and see the heroine is Cassidy “Cass” Smith or Melanie “Mel” Jones. It makes it seem like the author couldn’t decide between the two, or that the author is so enamoured of his or her own creation he or she just had to create a nickname for it too.
As I said, it’s a pet peeve, so please forgive me if I sound snarky about it.
Rabia says
I understand what you’re saying. It’s sort of the same way with me. I do get a bit irritated to see as you say names such as Cassidy “Cass” or Melanie “Mel”. Although I am a fan of the Twilight saga I was irritated to find out that Bella’s real name was Isabella “Bella” Swan. I truly understand and I appreciate your opinion. A name like Remy I think could work not sure if I’ll use it but I will use a name like that that doesn’t lend itself to dimunitives. Thank you
nikki says
i like the name tia and willow or even zoey
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rabia, WOW, that’s a whole lot of suggested names for your sleuth!
Rabia says
Yes it is!! Thank you so much for your help. Just know that when I am done and eventually published that there will be a special place in the thank you’s for you and everyone here on the site.
For now thank you very much
Mary Ann says
Now here’s a different name—-Glendola– with the nickname Glenny. This was my grandmother’s name and she was the wisest, sweetest and most clever old lady I’ve ever known. She loved baseball. How about a series about a female sports writer?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Ann, a Cozy Mystery series with a female sports writer would probably be a first.
Rabia says
Wow I’ve never thought about that…that is a great idea. Thank you and your grandmother’s name is unique I like it!
Rabia says
I would like to thank you all for your suggestions and to all those who reply in the future thank you, thank you, thank you very much. All the suggestions and advice is very much appreciated.
Regina says
I just finished “Farewell Miss Zukas” and I feel very sad.It is as if I have lost one of my friends. The whole book was a great story but the ending was outstanding. Farewell Miss Zukas I will truly Miss you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I have been so impressed by Cozy Mystery site readers who have told me about how much they enjoy Jo Dereske‘s books – that I have decided to add her to my TBR book shelf. I am really looking forward to reading Miss Zukas and the Library Murders…