What is in a name?
When starting to write my book, I did a lot of research on outlines. This came from a combination of googling and finding online templates and using Microsoft Co-Pilot, which generated and outline based on the book concept I told it. I think had is generate a list of characters based on the outline I presented. I then read all the different outlines and combined them into one I like, so AI was more of a starting point.
I then had it make a list of supporting characters, more for the names vs anything since I originally named everyone after my pets but ran out of animals.
The AI Character Names and what I changed: (Added / Changed)
Main Characters: Lila Harmon (Unchanged). (In the script - I noted her age/relationship status and some information about this, AI was pretty close to describing what I envisioned)
44 year old single female with no kids. She has never been married and several relationships, but the longest lasting just under one year.
Occupation: Industrial Engineer. She has a stable job that pays decent, but there is something form her life missing. (Decided to make her the same kind of engineer as I am)
Traits: Analytical, introverted, creative, loyal, struggles with social cues and sensory sensitivities
Backstory: Grew up with emotionally distant parents and a critical mother; developed a fear of rejection and a deep sense of loneliness
Growth Techniques: Journaling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness meditation, reading romance novels, creative problem-solving, joining interest-based clubs, and exploring her creative side creating Art
The Book Club:
Hannah: (I now need to change, since I met a real Hannah - it is TBD for now) Loves romance novels, helps Lila open up socially as an outgoing social extrovert. Invites her to try new things. (Added this - inspired by the real Hannah)
Josie (AI Used Jamie - but I do trivia with a real Jame so changed it): Being neurodivergent she has similar struggles, becomes a close confidant. Helps Lila realize that she is not broken -her brain is just different.
Olivia: Divorced, single mom of a teen leaving for college so alone for the first time in years…
Marcus: Gay, Pediatrician who is a hopeless romantic. (Was female, changed to male to add some diversity)
Alex TBD (Friend turned Love Interest): works in the evening as a bartender. Encouraging, skilled metal artist, potential romantic interest. Pushes protagonist out of her comfort zone, offers emotional and practical support. (I added the job to fit with the story, rest was generated)
Morgan TBD (Coworker): Colleague at engineering job, unexpectedly supportive. Observant, thoughtful, bridges gap between protagonist’s work and art worlds. Helps protagonist see value in both careers, offers workplace support for her artistic pursuits. Fun fact: I originally had a Morgan as a name, after my dog - so this was a keep
Alice TBD (Coworker): Colleague who doesn’t understand Lila or her differences.
Luke TBD (Friend who she has a Crush on): A friend of Lila’s who she has a crush on, but these feeling are not reciprocated causing an end to the friendship. (I came up with the name, since I added this character. I am in my 40s… Luke as in Luke Perry)
Mother (Antagonist): Protagonist’s estranged mother, source of past trauma. Critical, controlling, emotionally distant. Appears in flashbacks and a pivotal confrontation, representing the internalized negativity the protagonist must overcome.
The Books:
When I came up with the names, I hadn’t decided on what books I was going to feature yet. All the books I had picked on the themes and still changing them out and deciding. Also - I can never remember the names of characters, I give them nicknames.
Examples:
Lord of the Rings (I listened to the Andy Serkis version): For example Gandalf was call “Merlin type Wizard” and Gollum was “Creepy Little Guy”. I think to only names I did remember were the hobbits. One of the original concepts Copilot did name the protagonist Sam… maybe I should change Hannah to Samantha or “Sam” for short.
Star Trek Next Gen: I can’t remember half the names of the characters even after seeing all the episodes - we have the captain, no 2, the counselor, the mom, the doctor, Will Wheaton (I watched Big Bang Theory), reading rainbow guy, and so forth. I do remember Worf, Data and of course Spot. I can sing the song: “Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high, Take a look, it’s in a book, A Reading Rainbow!” but can’t remember the guys name. (LeVar Burton… thanks google)
Why does this matter???
Book 1: The Wedding People. I listed to this via Audio Book and named them - the lady, the bride, the groom, the kid… could not remember a single name. When I went to google the names so I could write about it, I had a surprise when “The Bride” was also Lila. Even had a glanced at the summary, I still wouldn’t have remember the brides name. So this was a first - well that is a sign.
“It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.” ~Goodreads Summary
Book 2: My original plot - Luke was meant to be the “Ex” who dumped her at valentines day, who she saw on Social Media on vacation, a vacation they had planned together but went with his new girlfriend. When they broke up he was “not ready for a relationship” but go over that quickly. I had decided to switch it out to the - failed Friend to Lover and letting go to meet new people. Going with this I picked a Friends to Lover plot line that also had a “Figuring out what I want”. The logical choice was - “The People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry. FYI - Vacation being in the title but actually friend zone when the original concept included a vacation … just occurred to me as I write this (11/26/25). So needless to say I forgot everyone’s name … again. Image my surprise when I see it was Alex … the AI generated love interest in the book. So there is yet another sign.
So in the book these are “Signs” when the names matched … but they legit happened in real life. I guess the change in plot = listening to the universe. I don’t think there are any other reoccurring names.
