I briefly mentioned this in my mean girls post, but it’s time for a deep dive. Names are for more than just mean girls.

Chapter books tend to be character driven. The majority of titles involve the main character’s name, even. In a world like this, character names can be the strongest tool in your writing arsenal. A name can tell you everything you need to know about a character before they’ve spoken a word. It doesn’t matter how strange or silly it sounds, readers will buy into any name.

It’s All In A Name

Would you be surprised that a girl named Mirabelle Starspell is a witch? Or someone named Frankie Sparks is an inventor? How about Vicky von Evil? Just maybe she’s a super villain (in training). Do you think they’re all main characters? Because they are.

Here’s twenty character names from twenty different chapter book series. Maybe you’ve heard of some, maybe not. See what you think each character’s “deal” is about. Are they a fairy? Another witch? Smart kid? What image comes to your mind when you hear each name? Bonus points if you can figure out if they’re a main character or secondary character. Double bonus points if you can point out the mean girls in the lot. The links link to the series they’re from, so don’t click on those until you see the answers after. Answers are listed below the names.

Click for answers.

Carol Rattinger: Secondary, mean girl
Wiska Wildflower: Main, fairy
Rainbow Tinseltail: Main, unicorn
Mr. Shark: Secondary, good guy
Catty Corner: Main, catgirl
Drake George: Main, dragon master
Sue Clawson: Secondary, mean girl
Dr. Acula: Secondary, teacher
Rosie Revere: Main, inventor
James Edison Moody: Main/secondary, smart kid
Chipper Bunny: Secondary, classmate
Mister Shivers: Main, storyteller
Ellie Squirrel: Secondary, classmate
Baron von Bubbles: Main, pug
King Pouncalot: Secondary, cat king
Sparkleton: Main, unicorn
Super Rabbit Boy: Main, video game character
Jack Frost: Secondary, villain
Eliza of the Elves: Main, just a kid
Blue Moon: Main, bakery delivery witch

The Usual Suspects

Not every name is that telling. Sometimes they’re just weird, or even just… normal. Here’s twenty more names from twenty more series. See if you can at least guess if they’re main or secondary. Mean girls same bonus.

Click for answers.

Ava Lin: Main
Bisby Cross: Main
Juilet Henry: Main
Billie B. Brown: Main
Melanie Maplethorpe: Secondary, mean girl
Melissa Abagail Rose: Main
Gabby Gomez: Main
Rachel Friedman: Main
Lindie Lou: Main
Tinker Bell: Main, secondary
Sarah Ponakey: Main
Samir Chakraborty: Secondary
May Murkee: Secondary, mean girl
Mindy Kim: Main
Kelsey Kline: Main
Joe Hardy: Main
Rita Azul: Secondary, mean girl
Mia Greene: Main
Nancy Drew: Main
Mia Macarooney: Main

But First…

First names! There are plenty of characters that are only referred to by their first name. Usually no mention of last names. Many times they pair with another character, as the two characters are normally seen together. For the final round of this name game, just find the mean girls. There’s two. Guessing main or secondary is a bonus.

A quick interesting note: Even with these series that use first names, eight of them still use the main character’s name in the series title. The rest have titles that convey the big picture or cool concept.

Click for answers.

Jack & Annie: Main
Ivy & Bean: Main
Tuck & Tina: Main
Stella & Marigold: Main
George & Harold: Main
Harper: Main
Pizazz: Main
Hyacinth: Secondary, mean girl
Beep: Secondary
Molly: Main
Zane: Secondary
Mari: Main
Lorenzo: Secondary
Claudia: Main
Lily: Main
Fluffy: Secondary, mean girl
Stella: Main
Millie: Main
Fenn: Main
Wallace: Secondary

Last Call

So now you know the power of names. Anything can work, but it’s something you should really think about before you throw any old name on there. Maybe you were able to draw some other conclusions from the names mentioned above.

I’ll be back next month with more names, but probably not in this much detail.