CHARNAME (n.) — The combination of "character" and "name". The name of a character in a narrative, such as, Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Batman, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Buggs
Bunny, Dr. No,
James Bond, Spock, Captain
Kirk, etc.
By giving a character a name that sounds like something, the writer can hint at or emphasize a character's trait(s). Character names (charnames) let writers say things indirectly. A character's name can be political, sexy, musical,
funny, or anything else, and accomplish any intended purpose. Any word can be a person's name, and any first name can be paired with any last name. A middle name can be one letter, as in "Johnny B. Good". Letters alone are also effective, as in "J.R.", or "U.R. Ugly" or "U.R. The Best" or "Dount B.A. Fool"—the possibilities are endless. The letters B (be), C (see),
G (
gee), O (oh), P (
pee), R (are), U (you), and Y (why) sound like a word. Letters also sound like and remind
people of things. For example, the letter X reminds
people of sex, and is often used in brand names, as in "Exxon". "Spok" sounds like "spook", "spooky", or "
spike". "Kirk", sounds like "quirk". "Poppins" says or hints at "pop in" or "pops in". "Colonel Klink" reminds
people of "kink" or "kinky". Though individual members of audiences make certain subconscious connections between character's names and the things they imply, most
people never ask themselves what might be behind, beneath, or connect to a character's name.
