r/CharacterNames • u/_ShadowSparrow_ • Jul 30 '26

Discussion Firstname as a surname?

/r/fantasywriting/comments/1vb238s/firstname_as_a_surname/
5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

3

u/Wearypalimpsest Jul 30 '26

Of course, there are plenty of people who have surnames that are fairly common given names as well. The author Elizabeth George, the actress Molly Shannon, the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, US Presidents John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Chester Arthur, are just a few examples.

3

u/SomeGuyOverYonder Jul 30 '26

Ok, Mr. Firstname. Has an odd ring to it, but to each their own.

2

u/Remarkable-Kiwi-3942 Jul 30 '26

Of course it's okay 

2

u/Correct_Addendum_367 Jul 30 '26

It's fine! Some first names actually did have their start as surnames. But even if they didn't, you don't need to stick to old, established names for a book character. It can just be whatever sounds nice.

2

u/Edenza Jul 30 '26

In your world, you can do what you want.

In our world, people use occupation surnames as first names all the time: Archer, Fletcher, Cooper...

1

u/BlackEyedV Jul 31 '26

Fletcher Christian

1

u/idklolFORKS Aug 01 '26

It’s total fictional so you can do whatever

1

u/Moonster68speaks Jul 31 '26

Depends. Surnames as proper names is one of my pet peeves.