Doll Names : Orginality vs Characters

I have original characters because I love the freedom to grow on their personalities.

As for names theirs millions of people on the planet and have been more if you count all the past people and theres tons of names created so I've had a lot of occurances where a name I've created was actually allready in existance.

Lyndon - from a book.
Zidane - from a game.
Shiki - from a game.
Trinnculo - from shakespeare but I added another "n".

I just pick whatever suits :

 

Names, no matter how 'ordinary' they sound, have some meaning to both their owners and those owners' loved ones. But, despite all that, I do admit to hating some names if only because they are so over used.

I grew up in a slew of Brittanys and Ashleys and Katies and Lizzes, etc. Not one of my three sisters and I have 'ordinary' names and that's something we've always been quite proud of. Neither do any of us have those trendy 'unique' names that are cropping up so often now either.

I think that name (and character) originality is something that should be celebrated amongst doll-owners. Name them something wonderful if they're going to be original. But on the other hand, make sure it's a name that is close to you and doesn't simply 'sound cool'. I've lost track of how many 'cool' doll names I've heard. Names require originality also. Please forgive me if I'm sick of names based off of Biblical angels, Pagan gods, Shakespearean (sorry Bill!) characters, etc. After the first few dozen dolls christened as such, it gets boring after a while.

Sorry if I've offended anyone with this rambling rant. I mean no harm, only that I'm hoping people put thought and emotion into the naming of their original dolls. It's not only about what sounds cool, but also about what holds sentiment to you. That said, my doll is/will be named Mary, and that name couldn't hold any more power over me than it already does despite its ordinary nature.

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention this...

Dysis, I agree with you whole heartedly. The Asian Invasion now spread through the Western world has made it all too common place for such names to be used. Again, no offense, but it's already lost a lot of its appeal and strength. But, of course, if it makes you happy and means something special to you, kudos. But, if it's simply something you pushed onto your doll because they are Asian in origin and 'Yuki' or 'Mei' sounds cool, then stop and think about the poor doll first. Lol.

 

My doll's name, Zayn, is a masculine Arabic name meaning "beauty." In my opinion I believe this name is perfect for him because I (as his parent) think he is very beautiful even in his soul. Of coarse that is just me and I am his owner so others may not think his name fits lol and that is fine with me.

 

I also am not fond of the Japanese names. I think they are really pretty and fit a lot of dolls, but they just are not my thing. I searched though a lot of baby name sites and even thought of a few myself. I decided that I did not want to name my doll after a character that I made up. then I would feel like I was hugging my story characters and that just wouldn't feel right. So then after a bit a searching I found Naomi. It was Hebrew and meant "graceful and beautiful". I like liked the sound of the name and upon reading the meaning that sorta clinched it. I chose that name. I think it worked out fine.

For the same reason I didn't name my doll after characters I made up, I don't like nameing them after existent characters on television, movie and such.

 

I like the name Naomi. It sounds really pretty and seeing your avatar i think fits your doll very well.

 

Thank you very much, Idelle. Zayn is quite a nice name itself and it also means beautiful. I think that it is great that you found a name that reflects your doll. To me, it sounds like you put a lot of love and thought into naming your little one

 

Thank you. I did put a lot of thought into his name as I think all doll owners do. I also think its cool that both our dolls names mean beauty or beautifal. w00t!! High five! lol

 

I think the dolls sort of make a personality on it's own when you get it. I did have a character for my boy before he got here, then I changed it into something completely different that suited him better. Now his characte evolves on it's own, it's the same for the characters and stories in my comics, they live a life of their own^^

As for names I get insperation from my fathers dogs (he usually has about 12+), they all have short, simple and easily recognisable names. My boys' name is Ravn (it means raven) and the girl I'm waiting for will most likely be named Rim (meaning frost).

 

I love those names Miharu XD

 

For the names, I don't try to steal other dolls names. I see, read, hear or think up a name I like, and I see how it will fit one of my dolls or characters. I would ask permission to use a VERY origonal name, but I haven't seen/used any. Aiden is a pretty common name, and I just liked it. I didn't really steal it or anything. It fit my boys personality. I also just went crazy with the clothes and wig and eyes. I like to draw and RP, and I was into that before I got into dolls. Aiden was my first RP character and I really loved him, so I decided to make him into a doll... And I should stop here cause I'm rambling now.

 

My first doll (paying in parts for him right now) will be an original character. He has his own story and name.

But I would also like to have at least one who is inspired from my favorite game (I already know which one I would use to create him - It's Soren of the strategy game Fire Emblem)

The only problem I have with characters from games, anime or other is, that tastes can change so quick! A few years ago I'm sure I would have bought my favorite characters of my beloved manga series, today it's Soren... And I wouldn't like to sell him or change his character after a while only because I have a new favorite guy.

 

Oh well the name that I want for my doll isn't based off a character. However, I'm more than certain that other people have dolls with the same name. >D The one name that I want to use is Cecilia.

 

My doll, and future dolls are all characters I have played and Rped with for several years. Nanashi being my more prized Rping tool.

Their names as follows:

Aiyoku Nanashi: Aiyoku was meant for Nanashi's mother in actuality. A family name meaning "Lust" in Japanese. They were obviously created for the seven deadly sins and Nanashi's half-blooded Siren entity.

Nanashi on the other hand was a fluke. I was a huge fan of Kakashi and wanted to make an OC to have as a "child" in an old RP. So I replaced Ks with Ns and made it what it was. Only later did I learn that there are characters in the series MAR as well as the original name of Trowa Barton being Nanashi or "Nameless." This changed his story and allowed me to give him a true name. That being his birth name, Okashi [Candy] which added irony to his rather...*cough* large waistline.


The others I will get into more about as I collect their doll counterparts.

However, I will answer the question.

As for originality, I have really no qualms with it. I actually feel honored that people mock me. It says I did something so awesome that everyone else had to mock me. <<; Don't know, all I do know is that I have a big head. And being honored like that is endearing.

 

My boy is an original character. :3 His personality formed when he arrived. I didn't plan it or anything. I wanted it to match him, so I waited. ^^ And it worked great. I enjoy having an original doll because of just that: it's original. xD Mmm, considering Matthew isn't the most popular/well known doll around DoA I have yet to experience this... But I don't think I would really care. As for names... I think it's dumb to play "keepsy" over them. They are free for the choosing :P Besides... Matthew is a very common name. It'd be idiotic of me to pout over someone else having a doll by the same name. xDDD

 

My daughter named her doll Coppelia, which turns out to be quite a common name on this List. For her, though (and for all the other Coppelia-mums) it was creative, because it occurred to her as a story which connects the age-old metaphor of the "living doll" with the real life experience of loving a complex character who is real in the beholder's eyes only. What I admire about the people on this List is that, for each other, we willingly and generously suspend our disbelief and enter with eager acceptance into each other's "make believe". Most of the world hides these inner worlds as though they were evidence of some terrible flaw, as opposed to reflections of the tenacious creativity of the species. I wouldn't have called her "Coppelia", but she's not my doll.

 

My dolls are pretty much original (apart from Sitri who is intended to be the demon), although some have elements from other pop culture characters creeping in:

Sakura - has a touch of Jekyll & Hyde.

Vincent - was intended to be Zatoichi-esque until I wimped out a decided to make him blind in only one eye.

Faustina13 - is sort of a cross between Mathilda from Leon and Max from Dark Angel.

Yves - is sort of a right wing John Constantine (guess I should write him some redeeming qualities!).

They weren't intended to be partially based on characters. I just wrote them then realised who they reminded me of. The rest are sort of cliched but original. I did think twice before naming Acheron & Styx in case people thought they were based on the Tuesday Next characters, but they suited them so... meh.

 

I don't have any character dolls ~ they are their own personality (whatever it is that presents itself) ....however am in the process of having a doll work through cosplaying a character based on a manga character and he knows full well that he's doing this at my bidding and resents it every step of the way ...much to the amusement of the other dolls.

I think each person gets pleasure from playing with their dolls in individual ways and there are those who love the challenge of recreation while other's prefer simply creation ~ and there are doubtless those who do a bit of both.

To answer you question: Why original? Because I don't like bandwagons ~ and part of the pleasure I get from dolls is the comedic aspect ~ in this case the clash of my will and that of the dolls.

As for the rest of it....not been there yet.

 

Why do you enjoy original dolls? Do you find it distressing or upsetting when people emulate your original doll or copy his/her name without asking? Or do you feel names are just names and are up for grabs.

I didn't want to give my dolls popular names. I don't find it upsetting if people want to copy my dolls name without asking. I don't even know how I would find out if someone stole one of my doll's names really. Names are up for grabs. Now if someone steals my doll's social security number that's a different story. Just kidding...lame joke.

 

Even though originally Wednesday was supposed to be based on the character Wednesday Addams, she ended up something original. I guess I realized that the fun of these dolls, is that you can make them tottaly unique. And I bilieve that the dolls that you made to be completely unique, will stay with you in the long run. You might not like an already existing character in a few years, while your original dolls can change along with your changing likes and dislikes.
My dolls DO have qualities that an already existing character might have, because I like that certain quality about that character. But I try not to make it horribly obvious.

But ofcourse, everyone is allowed to do whatever they want with their own dolls