I first found this link a number of years ago and it's proven invaluable! Specifically for fiction writers, it's a clear, easy collection of Victorian/Western-era given names compiled from census and other public records. There are additional pages on western saddles, horse sense, etc. that I'm sure I'll be referencing as I continue on in David's Shoulders. All the pages seem well detailed and researched, and are certainly clear and accessible.
Let me know if you find it helpful!
Tell me! Do you have any good character naming links?
Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.
THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe capitals are totally necessary. :-) I LOVE picking out old names, and I'm sure the western slang will come in handy for some of my future projects. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
~Emma
Same as Emma, but for me, the Victorian slang will be handier. :-)
DeleteEmma Jane,
DeleteI'm so glad you love it! Names are AMAZING. And finding the right one is absolutely thrilling. ;)
Naomi,
Oh, good! And yes, without going overboard, sometimes having even one word to mix in adds an entirely different level of authenticity. :)
Love it! And here's a fun one for you: Recollections. It's replica clothing for a host of eras, including Old West, Victorian, and Civil War. Very inspirational :-D
ReplyDeleteHamlette,
DeleteYay! And thank you! I followed the link and I'm looking forward to visiting again when I have time to delve through more pages. :) Very inspirational.
I had to hop in here... :) I LOVE that site. The outfits are very beautiful indeed. I actually have based the cousin-of-a-hero in a western of mine off of one of their models! So, as you said Hamlette, most inspiring. :)
DeleteSweet! I'm glad it's been helpful.
DeleteSquee!! This is great! I LOVE name lists (when I was younger I actually made a "name book" with all the names I and my friends and family could possibly think of) and the fact that it's historical and all that makes it even better. Thanks so much, Heidi! I'm sure I'll be using this soon! Actually I was trying to think of names just the other day for a western story! Yay!
ReplyDeleteNatalie,
DeleteYou're welcome! ;) Name books and lists are so fun.... Baby name books are excellent, too. (Maybe I'll have to do a post listing some of those one of these days. Hmmmm. You're giving me ideas..... ;)) And I can't wait to hear more about your new western story (as you feel like sharing)!!
I know! I love name books, although I haven't checked out one in a looooong time. I also love the meanings of names and their origins and such. So interesting! Especially if the meaning of the name matched the person's personality!
DeleteThanks! I haven't even started the story yet-it's still in the idea/plot-forming stage- but you'll definitely be one of the first I share it with! I want to share some of my Princess and the Pea story with you, but none of it is in word document form yet haha. Right now I do all my writing in notebooks and then (if I reach the end) transfer it to the computer as I edit it....maybe it's not the best method but since I have yet to even finish a story, it works for now. :)
Natalie,
Delete(I apologize, there was a typo on my first reply. :P) But aren't name meanings positively fascinating?? :) And oh, good! I'm so excited about your western story! And your Princess and the Pea. ;) And that's quite all right. Writing a story is an involved process however it comes about---and you just have to figure out what works best for you particularly at any given time. ;) Right now I have various word documents floating around and several packed notebooks here and there (though, actually, I keep the current one in my purse :))....