#urc

Stephanie:

The name "Stephanie" has Greek origins, deriving from "Stephanos," meaning "crown" or "garland."

This is a good name for a main protagonist - could indicate her central role within the story, especially regarding the mystery and investigation.

Ben:

"Ben" is often a short form of "Benjamin" or "Benedict," (it's the latter in this case), and both mean the same thing - "son of the right hand" or "blessed."

This name could suggest a significant role in the life of other characters, like Stephanie.

Also indicates what a genuinely kind, good person he is, especially in contrast with some of the other folks in this story lol. Like his wife.

Dylan:

"Dylan" is a name of Welsh origin, meaning "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean."

This name might symbolise his adaptability or fluidity in relationships and life circumstances. He's known for being very chill and easygoing, even in tense moments.

Alice:

"Alice" is often associated with the meaning "noble" or "of noble birth."

Also could be a reference to Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" story (about an ordinary girl finding herself in a magical world).

In the story, Alice could represent a character with a strong sense of honour or nobility, perhaps dealing with issues of loss and relationships (which she does in this sequel... mild spoiler alert).

Bret:

The name "Bret" could be a variation of "Brett," which is short for "Bretton," meaning "man of Britain," or "a native of Brittany."

In the context of the story, Bret's character might have elements tied to his origins or background. Doesn't really say much about him as a character (unfortunate, as there is a lot to his character! Especially in the sequel).

Elise:

"Elise" is a name of French origin, derived from "Elizabeth," meaning "God is my oath."

This name could signify a character with a strong sense of faith or determination. This suits her a lot... it's strongly suggested that El and her family are religious, and she as a character is very determined, strong and principled, and she passionately stands up for herself and what she believes in, even if her views aren't popular with others.

Connor:

"Connor" is an Anglicized form of the Irish-Gaelic name "Conchobhar," meaning "lover of hounds." Or dogs in general.

This name could hint at loyalty or association with dogs, which might relate to his role as a supportive friend. Dogs are loyal companions, and he is a good friend to Elise when they're in Cambridge together, so I'd say that definition fits.

Daisy Sommer (Connor's lecturer):

"Daisy" is a flower name, often symbolizing innocence and purity.

The surname of "Sommer" (German for summer) might evoke a sense of warmth or positivity, reflecting her character's disposition.

Daisy is a warm, bubbly person, and she has a lot of enthusiasm for her work (and just life generally) that makes her stand out to Connor in the story. It also rubs off on people a lot, so people generally just enjoy spending time with her.

Rachel:

"Rachel" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "ewe" or "innocence."

This name represents purity or vulnerability. And she's very vulnerable in book 2, so that fits well too.

Gordon:

The name "Gordon" is of Scottish origin, associated with a place name meaning "spacious fort."

It might convey stability or a strong presence in the story.

Gordon is the opposite of "stability" lol. But he has kind of a strong presence in the story (though I will say, since there's soooo much going on in the story, he probably hasn't got that strong of a presence lol), and in Rachel's story especially.

Charlie:

"Charlie" is often a short form of "Charles," which means "free man."

This name showcases Charlie's sense of freedom or independence. Which... in the first book, there was a specific part where Elise said that was a similar reason why she fell for Bret... his freedom, his desire to live for himself and not conform to what others want from him. All that to say, the girl's got a type.

Mary:

"Mary" is another Biblical name (woohoo!) of Hebrew origin, meaning "beloved" or "bitter."

Could also be a reference to the Mary in the Bible... Mother of Jesus (as well as this pure, good and dutiful woman who always does what God asks of her. Blessed and highly favoured. Mary Johnson isn't perfect by any means, but she's known for being the "good" twin, and she is also academically gifted)

Everybody loves Mary. And she can be rather bitter at times, I suppose. This definition fits well, too! (Oh, and, no spoilers or anything, but Mary in the sequel goes through a lot... it's sad what happens to her)

Angel (Charlie's cousin):

"Angel" is a word often associated with heaven, divine messengers or goodness.

In the story, this character may symbolise a positive influence or aid.

This girl is honestly not important until like halfway through... when the summer formal plot comes in. She couldn't find herself a date, so Bret agreed to go with her (not for the best of reasons... but still a nice gesture from him). They don't end up together or anything (they don't even go together in the end), but in the short time they spend together, she leaves a huge impact on him. Some people just have that effect on others, you know?

Isn't this cool?

Let's make this a tag game!!

Rules for Character Names + Meanings Tag Game:

Make a list of your main OCs and find out the meanings of their names. Then write down their definition and whether or not you think the definition fits their character.