Mistaken Identity
It’s a tricky business naming characters in fiction. You have to sum up your guy or gal for readers in the split second it takes for them to read it, lacking the visual medium as books do (thought I’d like to bring back the centre bits of novels with photos in them, such a thrill to flick ahead).
We Aussies have a habit of abbreviating our names which can add a certain matey cheekiness. Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, becomes just ‘Albo’. I wonder what other leaders are called behind closed doors? Justin Trudeau might be Judo, conjuring up a martial arts / no prisoners image. Perhaps Rishi Sunak is known by his lesser used nickname of Dishy Rishy? Vladimir Putin segways nicely into Glad Vlad. (Side note – anagram of Vladimir Putin is I’m Valid Turnip, which while no shorter seems more appropriate).
You can’t pick a name too similar to real people, but it has to be instantly recognisable as your character. In my novel coming out this January, I have a minor Nigerian character (no relation to the erstwhile Prince) who’s made big money in various ventures. I named him Aliko Dangote, an entirely made-up name, until my editor informed me that he’s real.
Yikes! Is he? I just invented him! It turns out that Aliko Dangote is a real-life Nigerian businessman – the richest man in Africa with a net worth of $16.1b according to Wikipedia. Okay, my character has made a bit of cash which he plans on investing, unwisely as it turns out, but he’s not in that hemisphere. Plus, he enjoys a bit of skateboarding on the side. And I certainly don’t want to get on the wrong side of the real Aliko.
It’s just as tricky in the new virtual AI world, where we’re still tasked with naming our creations. In the UK recently Cottesmore Boarding School announced the appointment of a new Principal Head Teacher, Abigail Bailey, who is in fact an AI visually generated chatbot. Abigail’s key role is to assist the human headmaster Tom Rogerson with supporting staff members, plus formulating ways to help students with special needs. Her high-level teaching skills notwithstanding, Blind Freddy can see that Abigail is very easy on the eye, which could be attributed to what psychologists call the Halo effect. (This is when you associate a bunch of other good traits with that first good trait, in this case physical beauty, which explains why people tend to assume that conventionally beautiful people are also smart, funny, or talented. Attractive people = nice, smart, popular people, apparently, unless you’re the Queen in Snow White.)
The name Abigail derives from a Hebrew name meaning ‘my father’s joy’, while ‘Bailey’ is an occupational surname, deriving from bailiff, or steward. Perfect combo for a new school principal who’s a good sort, without threatening the patriarchy.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Rogerson said, "Sometimes having someone or something there to help you is a very calming influence. Being a school leader, a headmaster, is a very lonely job. Of course, we have head teacher's groups...but just having somebody or something on tap that can help you in this lonely place is very reassuring.” Show of hands who finds that statement a little bit creepy (SHE’S NOT REAL DUDE!)
Picking names for Aussie characters requires a lot of thought – what generation are they? Which part of the world did their family hail from if they aren’t first Australians? How old are they, where did they grow up? Sometimes the first name and surname reflects a generational change. Many people choose to anglicise their first name while retaining their surname. All of which contribute to an all-important visual first impression.
My editor is wonderfully pernickety in so many ways. While I’m merrily bashing out my uplifting heroine’s journey out of penury, I’ve got a scene set in Beechworth Methodist Church, which she informed me does not exist. In my final draft, my fictionalised church made the cut while my Nigerian businessman has been appropriately renamed. There’s a lot to think about but fingers crossed no offence is given to Methodists, Nigerians, and world leaders.