Naming Fictional Characters

Medieval censuses sometimes provide excellent names for characters.

Others get their names because of the circumstances of their birth. For example, Barr de Montbryce (Finale) is an acronym of several of his ancestors—Bernard, Alexandre, Robert, and Ram.

Barr and his heroine try unsuccessfully to prevent the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket. It seemed only natural to bestow the name Becket on their first born son. (The Montbryce Dynasty, Book One)

The Irish hero of Vengeance is reputed to be the son of a selkie, so he had to be named Ronan.

I tend to favor certain letters when I'm choosing names, so I instituted a list which I refer to each time I have a new character to name. That way every character's name doesn't start with R or M!

Ram de Montbryce's first son had to be Robert (Star-Crossed) because he was named after the eldest son of the Conqueror, Robert Curthose. Robert seems to have been a very popular name in medieval times!

I chose Caedmon for one of my favorite heroes for personal reasons. (Redemption)

Adam de Montbryce (Birthright) bears the name of my eldest grandson.

Baudoin de Montbryce (Star-Crossed) evolved naturally from his father's name, Rambaud.

When King James of Scotland was assassinated in 1433, it was the Robertson clan that brought his assassins to justice. Thus, the hero of Pride of the Clan had to be a Robertson.

I chose Hawke as the surname of my Elizabethan goldsmiths (Ruffled Feathers) because a hawk in flight made a wonderful hallmark for their gold and silver. Also, the men of the family are mostly dominant males, so a hawk seemed appropriate.

Jewel Pendray's hero had to have a suitable name, so Garnet Barclay was born. (Highland Jewel)

Sometimes I like to choose unusual names, like Tavish (Tavish Seeks a Wealthy Bride) or Terric (Terric)

Eala is Gaelic for swan, so Eala Calhoun became the heroine of Highland Swan.

Here's the list I mentioned. Enjoy!

HERO/HEROINE LIST

1.     Adam de Montbryce (BIRTHRIGHT)

2.     Adrien de Montbryce (ADRIEN)

3.     Aidan FitzRam (STL) (LOVE’S SWEET STING)

4.     Alexander Harcourt (UNKISSABLE DUKE)

5.     Alexandre de Montbryce (JEOPARDY)

6.     Alvin West (THE HELLRAISER AND THE SPY)

7.     Ambrose Pendray (HIGHLAND SWAN)

8.     Antoine de Montbryce (DEFIANCE)

9.     Barr de Montbryce (FINALE)

10. Baudoin de Montbryce (STAR CROSSED)

11. Becket de Montbryce (BECKET)

12. Benedict Hawke (DIAMOND IN THE RUFF)

13. Blair Robertson (ROSES AMONG THE HEATHER)

14. Blaise de Wolfe (HUNGRY LIKE DEWOLFE)

15. Braden Ogilvie (HIGHLAND TIDES)

16. Brandt Rödermark (LOYAL HEART)

17. Broderick Maxwell (KILTY PLEASURES)

18. Bronson FitzRam (FORBIDDEN)

19. Bryk Kriger (VIKING BOLD)

20. Caedmon FitzRam (REDEMPTION)

21. Callum Ogilvie (HIGHLAND TIDES)

22. Craig Robertson (ROSES AMONG THE HEATHER)

23. Darroch MacKeegan (KILTED AT THE ALTAR)

24. Denis de Sancerre (BIRTHRIGHT)

25. Dervenne de Roure (UNKISSABLE KNIGHT)

26. Dieter von Wolfenberg (CARRIED AWAY) (THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CAPTIVE)

27. Dominic Hawke (RUFFLED FEATHERS)

28. Ewan Mackinloch (KILTY SECRETS)

29. Gallien de Montbryce (INFIDELITY)

30. Gabriel Smith (EVERY EARL)

31. Garnet Barclay (HIGHLAND JEWEL)

32. Grainger Pendray (HIGHLAND RISING)

33. Griffith Halliwell (WILD EARL CHASE)

34. Hugh de Montbryce (DEFIANCE)

35. Ingram MakNab (MAKNAB’S REVENGE)

36. Izzy de Montbryce (CRESCENDO)

37. Johann von Wolfenberg (LOYAL HEART)

38. Julian Hawke (RUFF JUSTICE)

39. Keith Starkey (HIGHLAND DAWN)

40. Konrad von Wolfenberg (FAITHFUL HEART)

41. Lute von Wolfenberg (COURAGEOUS HEART)

42. Magnus Kriger (VIKING BETRAYED)

43. Marshall Robson (KILTS AHOY)

44. Matthew de Rowenne (PASSION’S FIRE)

45. Maximiliano Aguero (MAROONED)

46. Morgan Pendray (HIGHLAND BETRAYAL)

47. Munro Pendray (KINGSLAYER’S DAUGHTER)

48. Nicolai Morgan-Lloyd (SLOW AND STEADY)

49. Niven King (NIVEN MEETS HIS WATERLOO)

50. Payton King (PAYTON AND THE PASSIONATE PARTISAN)

51. Peter (KNIGHTLY DREAMS)

52. Philip Fortescue (UNFORGIVABLE DUKE)

53. Ram de Montbryce (CONQUEST)

54. Reider Torfinnsen(WVP)

55. Rheade Robertson (PRIDE OF THE CLAN)

56. Rhodri ap Owain (CONQUEST)

57. Rhun ap Rhodri (ALLEGIANCE)

58. Rhydderch ap Rhodri (ALLEGIANCE)

59. Rhys ap Rhodri (ALLEGIANCE)

60. Robert de Montbryce (STAR-CROSSED)

61. Rodrick de Montbryce (FORBIDDEN)

62. Roland de Montbryce (ROLAND)

63. Ronan MacLachlainn (VENGEANCE)

64. Rory Blair (KILTY PARTY)

65. Santiago Velazquez (THE MARAUDER) PIRATE ROGUE

66. Shaw Drummond (KILTY PARTY)

67. Sibrán of Coruña (THE TAKING OF IRELAND)

68. Sigmar Alvarsen (BANISHED)

69. Spenser McDool (KILTS IN THE WIND)

70. Tavish King (TAVISH SEEKS A WEALTHY BRIDE)

71. Terric de Quincey (TERRIC)

72. Torstein Kriger (VIKING DEFIANT)

73. Warrick Farrell (UNCOUTH DUKE)

74. William de Montbryce (TERRIC)

75. Wulfram Sigmarsen (THE VIKING’S GIFT)

1.     Adelina de Quincey (ROLAND)

2.     Agneta Kirkthwaite (REDEMPTION)

3.     Aislinn of Inisfail (THE TAKING OF IRELAND)

4.     Alba Castillero (PAYTON AND THE PASSIONATE PARTISAN)

5.     Amelia Saxton (UNCOUTH DUKE)

6.     Annalise de Vymont (ALLEGIANCE)

7.     Anne Smith (HUNGRY)

8.     Audra Fingalsdatter (BANISHED)

9.     Aurora de la Londe (HIGHLAND DAWN)

10. Blythe FitzRam (CARRIED AWAY) (THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CAPTIVE)

11. Brigandine Lordsmith (PASSION’S FIRE)

12. Caitlin Blair (KILTY PARTY)

13. Carys verch Rhodri (STAR-CROSSED)

14. Cathryn (VIKING BOLD)

15. Charlotte Tremayne (HIGHLAND TIDES)

16. Claire de Ferrers (TERRIC)

17. Devona Melton (DEFIANCE)

18. Dorianne Giroux (STAR-CROSSED)

19. Eala Calhoun (HIGHLAND SWAN)

20. Elayne Dunkeld (JEOPARDY)

21. Eliza Saxton (UNKISSABLE DUKE)

22. Emma Crompton (EVERY EARL)

23. Faith Cameron (HIGHLAND RISING)

24. Farah (Maria Sancha Tarazona) (CRESCENDO)

25. Fiona Drummond (KILTY PARTY)

26. Francesca di Cammarata (COURAGEOUS HEART)

27. Glain verch Llewelyn (ALLEGIANCE)

28. Grace de Cullene (FORBIDDEN)

29. Hannah Kincaid (HIGHLAND BETRAYAL)

30. Heidi Jakobsen (MAROONED)

31. Hollis de Moreville (FINALE)

32. Isabel MacRain (KILTED AT THE ALTAR)

33. Isolda verch Llewelyn (ALLEGIANCE)

34. Jane Lockie (KILTS IN THE WIND)

35. Jenny Saxton (UNFORGIVABLE DUKE)

36. Jewel Pendray (HIGHLAND JEWEL)

37. Judith de Valognes (VIKING BETRAYED)

38. Kristina Halden (LOYAL HEART)

39. Kyla MacKeegan (KILTY PLEASURES)

40. Lexi Hepburn (HIGHLAND TIDES)

41. Lorraine de Ferrers (TERRIC)

42. Luisa Bertolli (RUFFLED FEATHERS)

43. Mabelle de Valtesse (CONQUEST)

44. Madeline Traverne (DIAMOND IN THE RUFF)

45. Margaret Ogilvie (PRIDE OF THE CLAN)

46. Marguerite (BECKET)

47. Marissa d’Ascq (ADRIEN)

48. Nolana Kyncade (STL)(LOVE’S SWEET STING)

49. Patsy Crompton (SLOW AND STEADY)

50. Paulina Lallement (BIRTHRIGHT)

51. Peridotte de Pontrouge (INFIDELITY)

52. Pippy Letourneau (THE HELLRAISER AND THE SPY)

53. Priscilla (Piper) Graham (TAVISH SEEKS A WEALTHY BRIDE)

54. Ragna FitzRam (WVP)

55. Rhoni de Montbryce (VENGEANCE)

56. Rhonwen Dda (CONQUEST)

57. Rosamunda Lallement (BIRTHRIGHT)

58. Roswitha of Pershore (THE VIKING’S GIFT)

59. Ruby Buchan (MAKNAB’S REVENGE)

60. Sara Morcant (RUFF JUSTICE)

61. Sarah North (KINGSLAYER’S DAUGHTER)

62. Shona MacCarron (KILTY SECRETS)

63. Sonja Karlsdatter (VIKING DEFIANT)

64. Sophia von Wolfenberg (LOYAL HEART)

65. Susan Crompton (WILD EARL CHASE)

66. Susanna Glazebrook (ROSES AMONG THE HEATHER)

67. Susie Jones (KNIGHTLY DREAMS)

68. Swan FitzRam (FORBIDDEN)

69. Sybilla de Sancerre (DEFIANCE)

70. Teagan MacCray (KILTS AHOY)

71. Timothea Bradshawe (ROSES AMONG THE HEATHER)

72. Valentina Melchor (THE MARAUDER) PIRATE ROGUE

73. Victorine de Toeni (UNKISSABLE KNIGHT)

74. Willow Halstead (NIVEN MEETS HIS WATERLOO)

75. Zara Polani (FAITHFUL HEART)