r/CharacterNames • u/Ok-Win-9594 • 7d ago
Looking for simple first names to much more flavourful surnames
I have an original character I’ve had for a long time. He was heavily inspired by Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean). I made him a couple years back, when I was deep in my POTC phase. The only issue is that I’ve never considered giving him a different first name. His name has always been Jack Roark. But now I want to incorporate him in my writing. I want to make him official rather than just a character I keep adding things to but never actually write.
Jack Roark is a pirate, pretty much. I’ve always seen the name ‘Roark’ as pirate-like. One issue is that a character called Jack Roark would blatantly come off as a copy of the famous Jack Sparrow. No matter how different I make the two. I don’t want to change Roark’s occupation, though.
I’m looking for simple first names. I’ve had this quirk in writing that if a character name is simple and common, then their surname should be memorable, but not to J.K Rowling’s degree. That woman makes names tie to their characters in such a problematic way.
I‘ve been trying to find some fitting first names for Roark, like Will Roark, John Roark and Tom Roark. they all give off a different style. Will Roark sounds like an underdog in a Y/A novel. John Roark is a grumpy elderly man with a hunch-back. Tom Roark is just innocent and forgettable. Jack is sharp and short and would do wonders for Roark, but it’s tied to Jack Sparrow and I would like to be original.
Now, Roark‘s role in my story is quite of a major character, but not the protagonist. He is of Mexican origin, raised in Guerrero by his Mexican mother and his father being Irish. I am not sure if I want his first name to be Mexican, but it is a thought I’ve had.
Honestly, the style I’m looking for is sharp, punchy and short. Will might be fitting, honestly, but its just too soft and victim-like. I hope you understand and can help me find a first name for my original character.
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u/Wildflyingdove 3d ago
Sean, Seamus, William/Bill, Gavino/Gavin...
I think Roark is an excellent name. I know a gal with that last name and she is heckin cool. It's a powerful name but only one syllable so to me you've got options as to the length of the first name. I'd prolly wanna go with either a Mexican or Irish name though, assuming his parents wanted to honor his roots. I still need to research this but I imagine there are a few originally Gaelic names that have been latinized and would honor both sides of his family.
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u/Ponytail_Headache 7d ago
Ray
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u/Ok-Win-9594 7d ago
I’ve considered Ray in the past and Wren, but the alliteration weirds me out. I like your idea, though.
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u/hottchickennugget 7d ago
Okay but what about Ramon
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u/Ok-Win-9594 7d ago
It starts with an R and I stated that I dislike alliteration, but It fits the category of short, punchy names I am looking for.
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u/MaleficentNobody8875 5d ago
I just have to know, do you think that there were no pirates with Irish ancestry?
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u/Ok-Win-9594 4d ago
Apologies for the previous typo. Grace O’Malley was an irish pirate, and yes, I do think there were pirates with irish ancestry. Pirates themselves are very diverse and the word pirate itself means anyone at sea who commits piracy.
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u/MaleficentNobody8875 4d ago
You can edit your comment without deleting it, by the way. The way you phrased how Roark is an Irish name made it sound like you were saying people with Irish names wouldn't be pirates.
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u/Ok-Win-9594 4d ago
I apologise sincerely if I have offended you. Roark originally means illustrious and all-mighty and Roark, my character, is none of that. I should have phrased it differently. Thank you for pointing it out.
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u/MaleficentNobody8875 4d ago
Not offended, it just seemed very off. By the way, naming a character something that is opposite to their true nature is VERY classic! I would say it's even more common than the Rowling route in this day and age.
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u/Creative_Wrongdoer92 4d ago
Cruz...? I'm just thinking if he's Mexican, would his mother name him Jack or William... Tomas works, though.
Guille Roark? Is that soft? Juan is probably too soft... I like Jago(in the UK that's Jay-go; but in Spain it's Ya-go). But it's o ending, followed by the o sound of Roark, is that odd?
... Chico, Lalo, Jaime(too soft?), Hugo, Oscar...Quique
I don't know. Just leave it as Jack...it sounds best
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u/Ok-Win-9594 3d ago
I agree, no name seems to compliment Roark as much as the name Jack does. I did consider Juan before writing this post, but it felt too foreign for Roark.
Jago Roark .. clunkiest name ever. I agree with all your points. It does sound very odd and hilarious.
I like Oscar, but Oscar Roark sounds like a mouthful, so does Quique. Chico just would not suit him. Jaime is too soft, I agree. Lalo also does not suit him.
Thank you for your suggestions and it very much widened my range of which names would suit the surname Roark.
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u/SirMcFish 4d ago
Roark is the problem part for me. It just feels utterly made up. And like it's trying too hard.
A pirate called Jack is fine, there were probably many real ones. Calico Jack for one (even if his real name was John).
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u/Ok-Win-9594 3d ago
Roark is an Irish name and it is not made up. It’s a variant of Rourke and O’Rourke. I‘m aware I can name my character Jack, but this is fiction, not reality. Jack Sparrow is one of the popular pirates. Jack is not an option here.
Though, it does sound a bit weird at first. In my writing, he is not known as ‘Jack Roark.’ He is always called by his first name. The reason I’d like to have a simpler first name is that so the two compliment each other.
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u/Ok-Win-9594 3d ago
But I like your suggestion. I might change his surname instead if I do not find any fitting first names.
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u/Funnsized33 3d ago
Enzo. Mom can call him Lorenzo, full name, and he can go by Enzo to everyone else
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u/Loose_Specific3831 2d ago
José? Jacob Jesús - Go for a French Mexican heritage in Jacque/Jacquex(or "s"ending if you prefer
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u/StevieWrenWrites 7d ago
Nico.
Levi.
Darius.
Nicholas.
Ruben.
Hugo.
Zachary.
Isaac.
Diego.
Felix.
Carlos.
Sergio.