The Ferrett ([info]theferrett) wrote,
@ 2008-05-10 09:55:00
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If you were a fan of Home on the Strange, you'll be happy to know that yes, I'm starting up a new nerdcore webcomic. This is a much more stripped-down comic sans the big storylines, just allowing me to riff on nerd culture whenever I see fit. But I'm a little blocked here, and I need your help.

As anyone who knows me knows, I'm terrible with character names. (I joke that half the reason I wanted to team up with [info]yuki_onna for My Name Is Might Have Been is because I knew I'd get great names like "Bombay Sapphire" and "Ignatius Slim.") And I have three characters that I can't think of a good name for.

The first is a blatant shill for me, a tall guy with a goatee and glasses. He's going to be my voice for speaking on various nerd issues. But I'm not calling him Ferrett.

The second is his wife, a slender Asian. She is the sarcastic straight man to his eternal snarking, and generally gets the better of him. (I am, as I did from HotS, cribbing quite a bit from my own personal life - though thanks to [info]roniliquidity's co-writing, Tom and Karla evolved far beyond what Gini and me are.)

The third is not-Ferrett's buddy, who is the guy he goes shopping for DVDs with - basically, a third character to talk about his wife with.

This isn't the first time I've asked for name help - author Cherie Priest suggested the name "Andy Tanner," and shortly after she received a huge Tor book contract, clearly as a result of suggesting a name for a second-tier webcomic strip. This is the fame and fortune that awaits you should you choose a proper name.

Also, if you're an artist and this sounds like something you'd have fun with, let me know. Unlike HotS, I'm hoping to work with multiple artists on the new project. In fact, I've got a bit of a plan for that, but that's something for another time.

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[info]netmouse
2008-05-10 02:16 pm UTC (link)
Well, if you like taking names from Yuki_onna, why don't you name your slender Asian Yuki?

As for your tall nerd representation, some part of me feels that his name should be John, because there are far too many Johns in geekdom. He shouldn't go by John, however. Perhaps Jax? Jax Wickstrom?

And his friend Patrick Charles Romm would be Pat to some people, but Patrick to others, and something like STURMGHOD to others still.

ideas. do with them, or do not, as you will. :)

Have fun!

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]bec76, 2008-05-10 02:31 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]belgatherial, 2008-05-11 07:36 am UTC (Expand)

[info]bec76
2008-05-10 02:16 pm UTC (link)
Main: Charles (nicknamed Chaz) Fitzgibbons
Wife: Suri (pronounced like "yes siree") Fitzgibbons {Hee hee, yes Suri, no Suri.}
Buddy: Robert (Bob) Kellerman

Hope this helps, but no pressure to use them if you don't like them. This was fun; I like making up names.

On another note, you folks coming by tonight?

(Reply to this)

[info]golden_d
2008-05-10 02:24 pm UTC (link)
Tall guy: Eric Nixon
Wife: Nancy Yiu Nixon (I know so many Asian girls named Nancy.)
Buddy: James (or Jimmy) Salvatore

Names are fun! :)

(Reply to this)

[info]bradden916
2008-05-10 02:30 pm UTC (link)
Yeah...hahah

(Reply to this)

[info]rustymarble
2008-05-10 02:30 pm UTC (link)
You should totally steal from MY life, Jim & Katie for main characters and my best friend is Ann, so your main character could go DVD shopping with Ben (Ann's hubby).
Nice avg American names, all of em. :~D

(Reply to this)

[info]force_of_will
2008-05-10 02:32 pm UTC (link)
Chiyoko - roughly translates to "child of a thousand generations"

"Nao" roughly means honest/straight. So you get Naomi, which is honest, straight, beautiful.

Packy Renaldo

Jeremy Spokes

So my three are Packy Renaldo, Naomi, and Jeremy Spokes, the latter of which everyone calls "Spokes".

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]force_of_will, 2008-05-10 02:45 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]kathrynrose
2008-05-10 02:37 pm UTC (link)
Whatever the guy's real name is, he could go by "Mouse" which would be a nod to "Ferrett," a piece of computer equipment, and the name of one of my favorite characters of all time (from Ladyhawke - how nerdy am I?).

How does Gini feel about your surrogate hooking up with a hot Asian chick? I used to have a good friend named MiVan. I could be misspelling that. Her last name was Nguyn, but pronounced "win." I always thought her name was as beautiful as she was.

I've got nothing for the best friend. Watch, he'll turn out to be my favorite character.

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
I realise this is not a democracy. - [info]the_zaniak, 2008-05-10 03:30 pm UTC (Expand)
Re: I realise this is not a democracy. - [info]prodigal, 2008-05-10 10:41 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]nicked_metal, 2008-05-11 03:34 am UTC (Expand)

[info]zarhooie
2008-05-10 02:49 pm UTC (link)
Joshua MacKillin, called Josh by his wife and Jmac by his friends.

I'm lost on the other two.

(Reply to this)

[info]mattador
2008-05-10 02:49 pm UTC (link)
Rather than being original, let me state that I think Mouse and Suri are both great character names.

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[info]majellen
2008-05-10 02:52 pm UTC (link)
Wow...I think you just described people in my life.

John Kubik - but everyone calls him "cube"

Jason Weir

Jason's wife, Ami. For what's it's worth, they have a son named Sam.

(Reply to this)

[info]lysystratae
2008-05-10 03:07 pm UTC (link)
How about Myong for the wife?

(Reply to this)

[info]ebonypearl
2008-05-10 03:17 pm UTC (link)
Main male character: Don Easley, aka Duzit (as in easy does it)

Main female character: Kazuo Matsuri (nickname: KazMat)

Best Male Buddy: Andrew Lerch, aka Andy Lerch whom everyone calls Lerch - it would be good if he looked nothing like the Addams Family Lurch. Lerch is a good sidekick name.

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]tisonlyherself, 2008-05-10 04:51 pm UTC (Expand)
I was sorely disappointed.
[info]the_zaniak
2008-05-10 03:29 pm UTC (link)
The Asian wife should definitely be called "Lulu". The first girl I ever knew called Lulu was Asian, and as such I assumed it was an Asian name.

Then I saw To Sir, with Love, which I was aware had a singer in it called "Lulu". I don't know how familiar you are with that movie, but one of the background characters (she has absolutely no lines) is Asian, and so I was waiting for the moment that this minor, minor character would burst out and sing the title theme song.

So if you choose Lulu, then my interesting backstory can become woven into the fabric of your fictional universe!

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[info]twfarlan
2008-05-10 04:01 pm UTC (link)
"Weasell," to maintain your extra letter tradition.
What extraction of "Asian?" You wouldn't likely have a Chinese lady named "Hoshi," so...
For the DVD buddy, I'd say "Jack," or "Jake," anything that would be shortened to simply "J."

(Reply to this)

[info]transversecity
2008-05-10 04:37 pm UTC (link)
So, about advertising with you...

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]theferrett, 2008-05-10 04:54 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]transversecity, 2008-05-10 04:59 pm UTC (Expand)

(Anonymous)
2008-05-10 04:51 pm UTC (link)
Is it going to be the same slender Asian that gave you a handjob at the massage parlor?

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]theferrett, 2008-05-10 04:53 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]tisonlyherself
2008-05-10 04:53 pm UTC (link)
Oo, I didn't know you were interested in working with multiple artists... In that case, I am still interested. Some samples of my work can be found at http://onehitwnderbard.deviantart.com

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]theferrett, 2008-05-15 08:22 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]tisonlyherself, 2008-05-15 08:50 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]theferrett, 2008-05-15 09:06 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]tisonlyherself, 2008-05-15 09:56 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]ona_tangent
2008-05-10 05:36 pm UTC (link)
An Asian from Asia or an American with an asian heritage?

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]netmouse, 2008-05-10 08:43 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]styfen
2008-05-10 06:05 pm UTC (link)
I'd just like to see a McNulty in amongst the surnames. Well McAnything really, I always enjoy a good Mc.

(Reply to this)

[info]etain
2008-05-10 06:06 pm UTC (link)
Molly help too!

If you want normalish names that sound kinda cool, I'm a fan of the noun/adjective last name, like Powers, Hunter, Swift, etc. Colors can also work well; Black, Greene, White. I think "Furrow" might be an okay last name, if you want a nod to yourself. ("Furo" being the species part of the bi-nominal nomenclature for ferrets.) Recently I've noticed that different names show up a lot in different parts of nerd culture. I know a lot of gamers named Sean, a lot of coders named Eric (or Erik), a lot of writers named Michael, etc, etc. (Wow, this is becoming a long comment.)

For the wife, the name Barbra always makes me think of slim, snarky Asians and people's moms. Jin is a fairly safe name if you're going for generic Asian name not-specific-of-heritage.

For the friend, I suggest Gavin. Gavin Caste.

If you want ridiculous names that are still somewhat believable: Constantine "Gizmo" Hammerschlag, Citadelle Hammerschlag (she's Chinese, this was the name she picked when she was given her English name. Long cultural note if you're interested), and Neill Whitley.

(Reply to this)

[info]scarfman
2008-05-10 06:30 pm UTC (link)

Sorry. Why do you think I only write fanfiction?

(Reply to this)

[info]jfargo
2008-05-10 07:36 pm UTC (link)
My sisters (Korean) are Cora and Anna. Not Asian names, but I'm not sure what you're going for. Both fit the bill of small, thin Asian women, so that's what popped to mind.

Cora Woo Ree
Anna Sung Mee

For the guys, I'm partial to Mark, Andrew, and Jesse.

And for the record, Fargo is an ultra-cool last name.

Okay...too far?

(Reply to this)

[info]sageautumn
2008-05-10 08:27 pm UTC (link)
Hmm.

Main guy: James Ray Hart

Secondary: Daniel Patrick McKinney

Hrm.. the wife... I've never known an Asian female, other than the one I'm related to... which is "Journey".

(Reply to this)

[info]candiedheart
2008-05-10 08:38 pm UTC (link)
I can't really help you with names... but I CAN say I will be a loyal reader if it's a nerdcore comic.

I haven't been able to get into your new one as much as HOTS sucked me in.

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]majellen, 2008-05-11 01:35 am UTC (Expand)

[info]zillah3
2008-05-10 09:04 pm UTC (link)
Hurrah! More nerd couples in comics! Thank you!


That said, my husband has one of the most generic names I know of: Chris Johnson. So to be different, he only capitalizes the H's. cHris joHnson. Have fun- you could use it and he'd never know it was him- unless you did the H thing. After all, it might be the Chris Johnson on the FAA Watch List... ;) (Would it help if I mentioned his large... geekiness?)

For the fun of it, let's throw a few more out there: Cyan Montgomery, Kate Fu, Cid Shaw (pronounce the C as if it were an S). Ok, I'm done. Time to get up the geeklettes.

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]zillah3, 2008-05-10 09:05 pm UTC (Expand)

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