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Using Well-Known Names in Fanfiction

Posted: 2005-07-07 11:09pm
by Battlehymn Republic
I've often thought that fanfics that use famous characters' names (Luke, Ryu, Hermione, etc.) are falling into the fanboi-trap which make the writers look like absolute unoriginal prepubescents.

What do you think of that practice?

Lately, I'm thinking about naming a secret organization "Sephiroth", now, my questions about that:

1. Is it unoriginal?

2. Even though the well-known Sephiroth isn't an organization, does my using of that name sound unoriginal?

3. Aren't names sometimes "recycled" in anime? I think I recall "unique" names sometimes being used, in a borderline cliche way. I'll post when I can remember what it was in.

Posted: 2005-07-08 12:46am
by Duckie
It depends on what you're trying to accomplish. [Warning: I cannot resist the urge to meddle in naming things. That said, if you want something that sounds the same, name them "Seraph" or "Seraphim" if they're religious fundamentalists secret organization types.]

1- No, unless you're deliberately drawing a parallel with Final Fantasy or any other well known Sephrioth. [Speaking of which, what does Sephrioth mean? Google shows some archaic looking quotes from the Qabalah and that's it.] However, if it is subjected to review by internet goers, you'll get people who think it is unoriginal because they cannot get past the Sephrioth=Final Fantasy connection.

2- See #1, however, as the name of an organization, it really depends on what sort of Organization they are. Sephrioth, IMO, sounds like a name for some sort of vast global conspiracy to rule the world. Is that what you're intending?

3- If they're recycled too much, they by definition aren't unique. However, unusual names like Hermione or any gemstone name except Amber are used over and over as if they were common ones it does get to be cliched.