What’s In A Name?

In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare wrote:
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Spoken by Juliet, of course.

But Juliet knew the truth… there’s a lot in a name—especially when you’re a writer trying to name a new character.

I sometimes wonder if Shakespeare ever wrestled with what to name his characters. Maybe he stared at a blank parchment, quill in hand, just as frustrated as we are with blinking cursors and scrolling name generators.

Right now, I’m struggling to name two of my newest leading men. One in particular is a gargoyle—a strong, masculine, ancient-yet-sexy romantic lead. And trust me, this has taken me down quite a few rabbit holes.

So first I had to ask:
Where do you find gargoyles?
Because location matters. A French gargoyle might have a different name than one perched on a crumbling cathedral in Greece, or lurking above a dark alley in Philadelphia.

And what kind of gargoyle is he?
Apparently, there are various types of gargoyles. Who knew?!
(Well, now I do. Thanks, research spiral.)

My personal gargoyle preference?
Think 7 feet tall.
Built like a warrior.
Strong jaw.
Sharp ears.
Long claws.
Wings so big they could block out the moon.
And… well… other things that will develop as the story unfolds. 😏

So, he needs a name worthy of that presence.

Here are a few I’m considering:

• Thorne – Rugged, mysterious, and edged with danger
• Malric – Old-world charm with a deadly allure
• Ravik – Primal, magnetic, almost Viking in tone

I love them all for different reasons. But which one fits him? That’s what I still have to figure out.

And while I’m at it, I’ll be naming my Mothman too. Yep… I’ve got quite a cast taking shape.

But first, I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks full-on control-freaking out to get my first novel out into the world. (If you know, you know.)

So for now, I’ll keep this short so I can actually get something done. Maybe even get to bed early. (No promises.)

Have a beautiful week ahead, and may it be filled with hugs, love, laughter, and just the right names finding you.

✨ With blessings,
—Dorey