What’s in a name?
When I received my BA in English Literature, my dad gave me a computer. I named it (her) Gwendolina. I’m telling you this because naming inanimate objects is an exercise in creative writing. Not only is it a cool way to come up with unusual names, but it also helps me with my writing.
Names are important because they provide a personality to inanimate objects. Think about it, when we meet someone (whether in person or in writing), we make a judgment on his or her name, whether it is conscious, subconscious or unconscious. We associate names with other people we know, or with famous people, or places we’ve visited, or we simply associate it with the connotation of a name. And yes, names have connotations. For example, the name Gunilla is a perfectly good and straightforward Swedish name, but I don’t know any Gunillas, but I immediately imagine a large blond woman dressed in an Oktoberfest outfit (called a Tracht) with a blond plat curled up into a bun on the top of her head. Come to think of it, I would probably name my next Christmas tree Gunilla.
Now it’s your turn:
Try naming an inanimate object. Make or apply a name that you think suits this object. Don’t just give it a random name, give it some careful thought, and weigh different names against each other, selecting the one you think is best.
I’d love to know what you came up with. You can post the name in the comments section, along with the reason for your choice.
Good luck and happy writing!
Sofia
