I wrote this quickly off the top of my head a few weeks ago off the back of a conversation expressing the idea that certain names create certain… expectations in a character and can sometimes be used by an author as a shortcut to do some character developmental heavy lifting. The female name especially highlighted in this matter is the one I have used below. ;) What’s in a Name? “Freeze, demon spawn!” “Why, hello dear. Whatever is the matter?” “Oh, give it up, your sweet little old lady act is fooling no-one! We know it was you that released the hell hound into the football stadium!” “Hell hound? Oh no, dear, I’m much more of a cat person. See here, on the tea cosy? And my cushion covers? And the little knick-knacks on the mantlepiece, now that one on the left is my favourite, isn’t his face the sweetest thing?” “I don’t care about your… oh, it is quite sweet, look at that little smile, bless , what a…hey! Stop trying to distract me with cats!” “You seem very angry, dea
