Need suggestions what do think are the most sexually ambiguous names (I don't mind lists, have had 3 kids am used to them). I have a piece of flash fiction I really like and deliberatly don't want the reader to know if it is two women, two men or a man and a woman. I am leaning to Sam and Charley, but I think together they may be seen as male.
Alex, Avery, Blair, Casey, Chris, Corey, Drew, Jean, Leslie, Morgan, Nicky, Taylor... *closes name dictionary* Heh, lists indeed.
hmm wondering about Sam and Morgan or Sam and Chris. It is because I am taking something with my usual characters I just can't see them as anything other than Socrates and Nate lol I am just going to write it then change the names after.
I've seen "Tiny" used as a nickname mispronunciation of Tina and as a nickname for a 6 foot, 6 inch, 300lb weight lifter. Nicknames such as "Pookie" could be anybody. If they are your central characters, I'd suggest coming up with names that are unusual, memorable and unique...especially if your story turns out to be popular and publishers end up wanting to buy it. Having marketable character names could lead to everything from bumper stickers, T-shirts to movie deals in the future...but then, I'm probably getting ahead of myself A Name to avoid: Richard Biggerstaff Badcock IV. My friends call me Big... ...well you get the idea
LOL I know what you mean, it is for a story competition I had given up on. I was not succeeding well enough with my flash fiction. However last night looked at the start of my third novel and thought hmmm that could work, but whilst I am not expecting to win, don't want to mess up my chances of getting my third novel published if I did well enough. Needs tweaking so OK I need something as distinctive as Socrates and Nate but sexually ambigous. It is a conversation between a parent and child about marriage problems so not sure he would refer to his partner as pookie in those circumstances.
Riley, Sydney, Devon are also androgynous names. But if you're leaning towards nicknaming/terms of endearment... "Sweetie" or "Honey" could work. As in, "My sweetie's been acting strange lately." Diminutives of names could also be ambiguous. "Charlie" for "Charles/Charlotte" has been mentioned, but "Pat" for "Patrick/Patricia" works, as do Ari, Al/Alex... you get the picture. Good luck!
Andrea is pretty distinctive. It's usually a girl's name, but the Greeks use it as a boy's name. Also Nicola. Sounds feminine, but it's a boy's name in Serbia.
Which do you think are the most ambiguous together? My concern is I don't want them giving anything away. I am contemplating Sam and Robin?
Sam and Robin would work. Guys, lots of these "amiguous" names you're mentioning are going to be seen as girls' names. Leslie, Jan, Kim, Ashley, I mean sure there are a few boys out there with names like that but still, come on. The iconic Pat is also a good one. Same with Riley and Devin.
For me Pat is a postman with a black and white cat called Jess lol I'd be singing the whole time whilst writing. I quite like Hilary and Lindsay but they are going to be seen as female primarily. Ainsley may work as well.
There used to a be a Hilary in government and I know a Lindsay very posh guy incredibly sexy My son is Gabriel which has been known to be seen as a girls name (not helped by his cherub face and long blonde hair).
Gabriel is a guy's name, with Gabrielle or Gabriella as a female variation. Hillary and Lindsay are definitely girls' names here in the US.
hmm it is actually harder than I thought most names lean one way or the other guess its back to Sam and Chris lol I think they are most truly ambiguous. Names are interesting at one point boys could be called Hyacinth and girls Douglas
You could always invent two names that you think could be interpreted as either male or female. For me, that would be the easiest solution. If not, I would choose Pat and Sam, which, in my opinion, sound very ambiguous. Good luck!
LOL Sam I will be using. However I have kids so Pat is out (check youtube for Postman Pat and Pat and Stan) - I could never take it seriously. It will have to be Morgan, Chris or Charley for the other one.
Can you use last names or titles? Robinson reached for the glass. Across the table, the Doctor cooly scanned the crowd and leaned forward, motioning for Robinson to do the same with a crooked finger. Robinson could smell the tea on the Doctor's breath.
Good point, Heinlein. My main character's last name is Clark, and I call her by last name when I refer to her in the story, and she's a woman.
