Behind the Book: Main Characters' Names

I once owned this fantastic reference book, the specific title of which alludes me now, but I believe it was titled something along the lines of Baby Names from Around the World. Each chapter was dedicated to a specific country or tribe, and it was a cornucopia of authentic names that dated back centuries. I adored that book. It’s how I came up with Creighton’s name, after all. I was thumbing through the specific chapter dedicated to Scotland (because I have a terrible weakness for Scottish heroes, and though Creighton was to be an American, in my mind he was going to be second or third generation Scots-American), and I read the name “Creighton” and bam! I instantly knew that would be my hero’s name. I can’t remember its meaning now, but I do remember that it had been around for a few centuries. It might have even originated from a family surname, but I honestly can’t remember the specifics. Unfortunately, I loaned my reference book of baby names to a friend of mine who was pregnant, and I never saw my lovely little book again. It was mislaid somewhere, or she loaned it out to someone. Hey, sometimes things like that can happen with pregnancy brain, and it’s no one’s fault. Either way, adios, that was the end of my reference book.

I obtained Mae’s and Owen’s names from the same book, although I can’t remember the specific section anymore. Odds are it was either the British or American section. In case you’re wondering why my brain is so fuzzy about their origins, I wrote the first draft of Clingstone eight years ago! Sometimes it’s hard to believe I’ve been fine-tuning this book, in way or another, for so many years now. I wanted my heroine’s name to be simple and only one syllable since my hero’s name was a bit more unique. I loved the simplicity of her name, and that’s why I chose it; the same logic applied to Creighton’s ornery little nephew, Owen. It’s all about the balance. Ironically, my friend who borrowed my book named her son “Owen.” How’s that for serendipity?
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As for the origins of all those secondary characters…I’ll save that for next week’s post, but here’s a hint to tide you over until then: It involves cemeteries!
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