They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, ‘Can he name a kitten?’ ~Samuel Butler
Have you had the pleasure of naming some kittens or cats? Maybe a dog? Or best of all, a sweet new baby in your arms? With those babies, you have months and months to debate the perfect name and get your spouse to agree. When I had my babies it was before you could know the sex months ahead, so back then you had to think up names for both a boy and a girl. Just in case. I had two sons and one daughter. My husband and I picked the daughter’s name before we married. We were planning ahead, I suppose. 🙂 My husband had seen the name Tarasa on a book or maybe in a movie. When he mentioned it, I latched onto it right away. We just had to wait a few years until that sweet girl came our way. The boys were a little different. The first son we named after my dad and my husband. The second son and third child had a much debated name. My husband would mention a name and I’d frown and shake my head. I’d mention a name and he’d frown and shake his head. I can’t remember now if we agreed on a girl’s name or not, but we did finally agree on Daniel as a boy’s name. When he was born, he didn’t have to go nameless while we did more debating.
Whatever name you pick for a baby or even for a dog or a kitten, does fit after a while. You might have to say it a few times. Maybe convince the grandparents or your siblings that it’s the right name, but a few weeks or months down the road and the name generally works.
If I’m gonna tell a real story, I’m gonna start with my name. ~Kendrick Lamar
If I’m going to tell or write a story, I have to start with a name too. The name of my character. Over the years, I’ve named many, many characters. Sometimes I pick a name and work with it a while and then realize that no, this person is not named that. Right now, I’m in the process of bringing some characters to life – at least trying to – for the book I’m working on. The right name is very important to my character becoming real to me. In this new story I’m tiptoeing around the edges of right now, I’m struggling to find the right name for my female main character. I started out with Marcella, shortened to Marci. Somehow, even though I’ve been thinking about the story for a while and about her too, that didn’t seem right. So I tried Martina or Marla. No, not right either. So how about Lisbeth Jayne? I thought I had it then, but no, it didn’t fit. I tried Margaret Jayne. I sort of liked it, but for some reason my character didn’t seem to like it at all. She just lay there on the paper and didn’t show the first sign of life. Sigh. At this point, I’m thinking of going back to Marci. Or beginning to think I might need a new character who is willing to let me name her!
So I got out my very old, falling apart baby name book and leafed through the pages. Not a “S” name. Not a “J” name. Not a name that sounds too much like the names I’ve used in other books. I did finally decide on a name. Well, maybe I decided on a name. We’re a long way from having this story written and much can change. But, right now anyway, my girl is Piper Jayne. So what do you think? Do you think you’d like to read a story about a girl name Piper? Or should I pick up that name book again?
My book giveaway is still going on. You can enter by leaving a comment. If you left a comment on Wednesday’s post, then you’ll get another entry if you leave a comment on this post. You do have to be at least eighteen to enter. The deadline is midnight December 15, 2018. You might win your choice of one of my books.
Let’s have fun with your comments and tell me what you would name that cat up top. That will test your literary power.
So what is the kitten’s name?
Comments 62
I think that the name Piper Jayne is a great name and makes me want to read her story! Our youngest cat was abandoned by his mom as the runt of the litter, and found his way into our heating vent. I had the experience of pulling boards apart to rescue him in beside the register. He was so tiny and only around 4 weeks old and we still aren’t sure how he managed to climb up in there. I had to dropper feed him. I was saying a bunch of names to call him and when I got to Henry, he meowed….so that is his name! He is 2 years old now and so funny and still sleeps with a tiny teddy bear that we gave him when we found him. I thought of the name Grayson for the cat you have pictured. He looks distinguished, so I thought he needed a fancy name. 🙂
Author
Love the story about your kitten/cat, Hope, and how you rescued him. Fun too that he “picked” his own name. Henry is a very practical name for a cat. Grayson might work for this cat. He’s a rascal though. My sister’s granddaughter named him something crazy like Fluffamonagus or something along those lines. But trust me, he’s no Fluffy. My sister just calls him “CAT!” most of the time. Sometimes “THAT CAT!” LOL
Funny story about your sister! We have a total of 3 cats and they are all indoors. I never thought we would have three, but Henry showed up after his mom wouldn’t take care of him (she was our neighbors outdoor cat) and won our hearts. Our cat Allie is almost 14 and our daughters cat Zoey is 8. They all drive us crazy at times and we can sympathize with your sisters “THAT CAT” because we have THESE CATS! ha ha! We love them though.
Author
I’m guessing my sister loves hers too, or she would have long ago booted him out. LOL.
I like Piper Jayne. And the first name I thought of for the kitten was Sahara. I don’t know why, but it just stuck in my mind! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Author
Sahara? That’s a very creative name, Kathy. And different. Don’t know that I ever met a cat named Sahara.
Glad you like the character’s name. I think it’s going to work although I’m still in the learning about here stage. I need to be in the writing stage, but Christmas is a time stealer. Well, I should say, getting ready for Christmas at my house is a time stealer. Christmas itself is joy!
I love the name Piper Jayne so unique. How about Shadow for the cat? Thanks for the chance to win your book. God bless you & yours
Author
If I add a cat, maybe I’ll make him gray and then Shadow would be a great name, Patti. I may add a cat and definitely going to have some dog buddies in this story. I’m back to the Frontier Nursing Service and Mary Breckinridge liked naming all her animals.
Glad you like the name Piper Jayne. Maybe all of you liking the name will help it stick. 🙂
The cat is very regal looking. I would name her Princess or Prince. 🙂 I do like the name Piper!! Thanks for having contests.
Author
Loretta, I love it when I have giveaways and I get to hear from all of you. So much fun. This cat is a guy so it will have to be Prince. That would fit since he thinks he’s the prince of the place at my sister’s house. 🙂
I love it! Piper Jane sounds like a person I would love to get to know! I hope Piper Jane cooperates all the way through to the end of the book and decides to keep her name.
Author
We shall see, Nancy. One book, I don’t remember which one, I wrote quite a bit of the story and then changed the name. But usually I have the main characters names in place by the time I type Chapter 1 and begin.
Maybe Emerald because the cat’s eyes are green? I think Piper is a great name for your character,Ann! 🙂 🎄Psalm 103🎄
Author
Emerald. That’s a nice name for a cat, Emily. Very elegant. Glad you are thumbs up on Piper. Of course, I may change it again yet. LOL.
I like Piper for your character. I would call the kitty Fluffy.
Author
Glad you think the name may work, Darlene. Interesting that you thought of Fluffy. This is my sister’s cat and when she got it her granddaughter named it Fluffamonagus, or something like that. 🙂 Because the cat is so bad, my sister mostly calls it “Cat!!”
Hannahjewel I love the name Hannah because she gave herself
to prayer in the temple and jewel because are the jewels in His crown.
Author
I like Hannahjewel, Virginia. And very good reasons behind your name picking. I used to look at the meanings of the names when I was searching for character names. Sometimes that helped me figure out the kind of person I was naming when I would read that this or that name meant whatever. Then I could decide if that fit my character or not.
I am going to cheat and copy off of you , but with a different spelling and name the cat Pypurr .
Author
That’s cute, Lisa. Not sure it would be easy to say if you were calling the cat, but then cats only come if you start up the can opener or rattle the food sack anything. LOL. It could be nicknamed Pippy.
Name the cat Woody
Author
Woody is a good name for a cat, Julie, but not one I could use in a book, since one of my major characters in These Healing Hills was name Woody. Variety is the name of the game in naming characters.
When we adopted our most recent cat, the shelter had named him Pongo. I just couldn’t say THAT every day. Something about his attitude made him seem like Leo, and that’s what we named him.
Author
It’s great to find those new pets from those that have been turned in to the Humane Shelters, Tammy. When I got Frankie, somebody was adopting a cat. And they do name them all. I’ve forgotten what they had named Frankie, but I didn’t like it. Since he’d only been there a couple of weeks, he hadn’t had time to get used to whatever they called him. He knows he’s Frankie now.
I’m with you on nixing that Pongo. Leo seems to work much better.
How about patches for the kitten. It can go for a girl or for a boy. I love the name you picked.
Author
Patches is a good name for a cat or for a dog. I think horses end up as Patches sometimes too, Tammy. Glad you liked my character’s name. Now if I can just get her to like. 🙂
Your pretty kitty looks like a Princess Pattie ! Have a very Merry Christmas !
Author
Merry Christmas to you too, Evelyn. My sister’s cat appreciates the fine name you gave him, but he doesn’t wear crowns well.
It does not look like a “kitten” but how about Minnue.
Author
Definitely no longer a kitten, Judy, but I couldn’t find a kitten picture in my photo file. There was one little kitten that was very cute, but I couldn’t remember if the picture was mine or if I had downloaded it from somewhere. Since I didn’t have the info on that, I was afraid to use it. You have to have permissions to use some pictures these. Minnue is an interesting name. Not sure if you meant Minnie.
This stone and white colored cat is beautiful, and looks so fluffy. A cat you could really cuddle up to. If this cat belonged to a pi, and it was a female cat I would name her Prissy. If it was a male cat, think I would name him Waldo. I don’t believe these are normal cat names. And if I were writing this story, I would have a very unique relationship between the cat and the pi. Cat for example, getting into everything and finding unusual things. Pi would not want it known how close his relationship is with the cat. But he would talk to it as an aqual.
I named my first daughter Timpia Charmaine. Look hard if you like , but I think there is not another child anywhere in the world with the same name. Similar, but not quite the same. My second daughter, I named Alida Tyshella. If I’d have had a son, I’d have named him Timothy Wayne, but give him a nickname of Bucket. There’s a lot you can do with a nickname like that.
A female dog, I’d name Cleo, and a male dog I’d name Bollaro. Because I love Great Danes!
Author
You’re reasons for naming the cat Prissy or Waldo are interesting and creative, Bessie. Not sure Waldo would be a common cat name, but I would think there are some cats named Prissy out there. Unfortunately this cat that belongs to my sister is not a cuddling cat. He’s one of those cats that needs watching. The first time I petted him I came away with some scratches to prove I’d tried. 🙂 If I ever write another cozy mystery, I’ll have to remember about your cat that gets into everything. Might add to the story line.
I’m guessing you’re right about the unusual names you gave your daughters. Do they struggle with them at school? They do look as if they would confound that trying to spell them. But they do have some poetry in their sound. Now if the girl had been a boy, Timothy Wayne wouldn’t have been the same kind of unusual name. Fun names for your dogs if you ever get those Great Danes.
I really like the name Piper Jayne! I love how you spelled Jayne!
I might name this kitten, Simon – not sure why – it was the name that came to mind when I looked at him!
Merry Christmas, Ann!
PS I recently read River to Redemption b/c my friend, Barbee highly recommended it! I agree that it’s one of your best works!
Author
Well, thanks for the nice compliment about River to Redemption. I think the story worked and I’ve been pleased that many readers, including you, Betsy, have agreed. Hope you will recommend the book to your reading friends and tell your friend Barbee thanks for recommending the book to you.
Simon, that is an interesting name for a cat, but a pretty good one. Merry Christmas to you too, Betsy.
I think she looks like a Francie.
Author
Francie the cat. Hmm, I couldn’t use that in a story since my girl in These Hidden Hills was Francine/Fran. But I like it for a cat name, Paula.
I like the name Piper…I picture a girl with class, but spunky too. Is this a character in your new Shaker book, or the one set in Appalachia? Either one, I think Piper Jayne is a fine name.
The cat? Well, when I saw it I immediately thought of Sparkle…or Sparky if it’s a boy. It’s just the way the light is glowing on it.
Have a blessed week Ann. 🙂
Author
Class but spunky may fit. This is for the new book I’m working on that, if I get it written, would be released in 2020. Wow! Doesn’t that sound like a way off in the future date? And here not even a full 2 years away. The book is a back to Appalachia story. My Shaker heroine is named Darcie. That book, The Refuge, comes out the end of April. I’ve been happy to see some readers have already pre-ordered it. That’s such a compliment.
Sparky might be a pretty good name for this guy. He can be a rascal.
And a name for the cat – maybe Stony as he seems to be a bit of a stone face. ; 0
Author
This is my sister’s cat, Nancy, and he can be a mean one. He starts twitching that tail then you better be jerking that hand back from petting him. But I like the name Stony.
I like both Piper and Jayne, but I’m not sure I like them together.
Author
You could be right, Nancy. But I’m not going to have her go by both names. She gets the name Jayne from an aunt who is quite a character too.