Most of the names in my books have secondary meaning. Sometimes they foreshadow; sometimes they tell you about the character's origin or back story.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When a character bears the same name as the author it's just an invitation to have some fun.
There are some characters in 'The Names' who are very much heroes and others who can only be called villains. But generally, as we get to know them, we see most of the characters are, or at least become, quite nuanced.
A lot of names in America and Europe have their roots in Latin and Greek words. A lot of them go back to archetypes and their stories.
I make up names for people all the time - it's part of writing. Very often, the name comes with the character, along with of a sense of who they are and what they do.
Whether you're choosing for yourself or for a character - or for a child - names have baggage of their own.
To understand a name you must be acquainted with the particular of which it is a name.
In both 'Tigerman' and my first book, 'The Gone-Away World,' there are characters who never really get names. They're too fundamentally who they are to be bound by a name, so I couldn't give them one.
In one book, CACHALOT, just for my own amusement, every character is based directly on someone I have known.
I believe it's important that we use names of endearment that reflect a special feeling for the individual involved.
I like straightforward names for my characters. When I get too symbolic with names or places, I start feeling like the characters and the story are less read, and I lose interest.