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Is Taryn okay for a main character's name?

I've finished my ms (I'm on re-write #3) and now I'm second guessing my main character's name (Taryn). Will people know how to pronounce it? Is there some kind of hidden rule that you shouldn't use hard to pronounce/unusual names for main characters? My other con with the name is that is doesn't really have a good nickname for someone to call her in a loving way. In real life, a nickname would be Tar (except with a long "a" and not the short vowel of the black stuff like "tar and feathers". It looks odd to me to do a re-spelling like "Tare" where I have to add a letter to make a nickname.

So, my question: Should I rename her? If so, I need ideas! She's tall and skinny with pale skin, dark hair, and blue eyes (in my head, she looks like a tomboy-ish version of Alexis Bledel--you can google that name for an image if you've never heard of her). The problem is that I don't want to give her a feminine name because it doesn't fit her personality, BUT... I've written it in first person, and in the beginning I don't go right out and say that she's a girl, but I want people to KNOW she's a girl by her name (I had one person read it and she didn't pay attention to when her name was first said. She read the first few pages thinking it was a boy, and then she was really confused when "he" turned into a girl).

Any tomboy-ish sounding names (that won't have her mistaken for a boy) that fits her image?

Thanks for the help!

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I think it's a brilliant name ! If I read it in a book I'd pronounce it Tar-in ..

    I wouldn't change it if I were you, it really is a good name.

    Don't worry about the names though, they aren't THAT important, just focus on your writing ! :)

    Good luck

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    FIRST influence photographs that got here to brain - - Kendal or Colleen for the woman - be certain you continually preserve her very curious however incredibly wary and female - Mac (quick for Mac Intosh) for the peacekeeper, and Grayson for his son. You are relatively going to need to cross in to element approximately WHAT grew to become this global fully round - with out that element, the tale is incomprehensible.

  • ?
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    I like the name :) Personally, it wouldn't bother me! :D

    But if you're really worried, how about Alexandra? You could call her Alex if you wish :)

    Bethani.

    Skye.

    Cheryl.

    Summer.

    Aria.

    Just some ideas :)

    I would keep it, but it's your story =)

    Good luck! :D

    Merry Christmas & New Year :)

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