Top Ten Character Names, or, These People Would Smell No Differently If Named Steve*

*Referring, of course, to Juliet's lament in Act II Scene I

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I imagine that authors agonize over names for their characters- what name will embody the person they are putting to paper? Below are 10 characters whose authors totally nailed it.

Inigo Montoya from Princess Bride by William Goldman

The name that changed the “Hello, my name is” stickers.

Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

A name as spacey as the character.

Thank you, Cinderella in Combat Boots!

Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Names and what someone is called has a lot of significance to Augustus in this book.  I like that.  And that he calls Hazel “Hazel Grace.”

Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Forever associated with “Bitch, I’m gonna get my way even if I have to walk through you” and a charming southern smile.

Étienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Maybe it’s because I have trouble pronouncing this name, but somehow it really added to this character’s appeal in Anna and the French Kiss.

Even in your strange leather hoodie,
you can't hide your beauty

Edmond Dantes, alias Count of Monte Cristo, alias Abbe Busoni, alias Sinbad the Sailor, alias Lord Wilmore from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Good heavens this man has a lot of aliases!  I think Edmond Dantes is my favorite.

Jean Valjean, alias 24601, alias Monsieur Madeleine, alias Ultime Fauchelevent, alias Monsieur Leblanc, alias Urbain Fabre from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

What is it with the French and multiple secret identities?

Not to much fan-art
of old men, apparently

Leo Gursky from The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Such a perfect old man name.  He warms my heart, this character, he does!

By Happiness-in-Misery

Will Grayson and Tiny Cooper from Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

One name, two boys.  And Tiny Cooper.  I LOVE Tiny Cooper.

Mara Amitra Dyer and Noah Elliot Simon Shaw from The Mara Dyer Series by Michelle Hodkin
Because I love clever authors, and I adore that their names together spell MADNESS.

What made your list?

-Kate