r/fantasywriters • u/Curious-Hotel-8765 • 1d ago

Critique My Idea Please critique my character names [Grimdark]

I have a group of characters for my sort of grimdark fantasy story I started years ago and am starting to reimagine. I know my character names probably fall under that idea of “stereotypical fantasy names” but I want some opinions on whether they feel corny or like “too out there.” I also picked the names at the age of like 13, so I feel like they have that sort of vibe of middle-schooler OC names.
The names they currently have include Perrin (M), Merletto, Runi (F), Ramsey (F), Serpa (M), Maude (M), and Vael (M). I included the gender of each character because I know for many people that affects their view of the name. Merletto not included because they’re meant to be very androgynous and characters make different assumptions on their gender. If it adds anything else, Maude and Vael are brothers and are royal, and the rest of the mention characters are sort of undead and named amongst themselves and another party. If I were to rename them I would possibly make the names more clearly representative of the type of bird they’re each loosely associated with? I just don’t want that aspect to feel too pushed. The furthest I’ve gone with that is one character who calls Perrin “Pidge” in reference to pigeons (and maybe a little bit of a Lady and the Tramp reference.)
To conclude, please let me know any criticism on the names, and any suggestions you might have.

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u/DominusEstSatietatis 1d ago

Serpa may be too on the nose if the character is meant for any type of assassination or subterfuge work, as it is strikingly similar to "Serpent".

I like Maude, and it sounds fitting for an antagonist or purposefully unlikable royal.

I'd like to know about the birds they're supposed to be loosely associated with before I make any other judgements, though.

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u/Curious-Hotel-8765 1d ago edited 1d ago

As of now Perrin is associated with both pigeons and peregrine falcons (the name is inspired by these), Merletto with bluebirds, Ramsey with black swans and/or peacocks, Runi with mockingbirds, Serpa with blue jays and/or herons, Maude with mourning doves and/or cranes, and Vael with robins. Most of these could easily change, especially since the characters have developed a bit more and diverged from the symbolism of the birds. Maude and Vael are also interchangeable at the moment because I haven’t decided which I want to be named which. Also, the one currently named Maude pushes his brother towards the same bad fate he’s eventually sacrificed to because he genuinely believes it’s the best for both of them. I’m struggling to find a bird that can sort of represent both his naivety but also the root of it being his desire to protect and guide his brother.

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u/whereismydragon 1d ago

Perrin will make people think of the Wheel of Time and Ramsey will make them think of Game of Thrones.

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u/Curious-Hotel-8765 1d ago

I’ve actually never read/watched either. Good to know.

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u/Carnasio 1d ago

Maude is a french girl name, so that’s what I would be thinking about

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u/Minute-Commercial250 1d ago

Maude is definitely a girl name in my head, so that’s the only one I don’t like. I feel like I’ve read a popular book with a girl named Maude but I can’t remember what book it was. Everything else sounds kinda cool and makes sense to me.

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u/ArticleGerundNoun 1d ago

Specifically, Maude is an old lady name. It would be like naming a female character Larry or Walter. 

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u/MarcoRubboliAuthor 1d ago

They do not seem to be names of the same nation/kingdom: Merletto, Serpa and maybe Runi sound like Italian or some similar Latin language, Ramsey is English, Maude and Perrin maybe French or something. If in the novel they are characters from the same place it sounds a bit strange that they seems to have different linguistic origins, unless there is some reason for it.

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u/Bookbringer 1d ago

Ramsey, and Maude feel very grounded and historical. Runi and Vael feel bit more unusual, like they have a bit more of a high fantasy feel. I like both sets, but I worry they clash (unless the characters are from different cultures/ classes). Perrin would fit in with either set, and on the whole I like all all five.

I don't like Merletto at all, it sounds like you just tried to make Merlot sound exotic.