Unoriginal protagonists name. A problem?

[Deathsquito]

I’ve had a vague idea for a book (don’t we all?) and have a lot of spare time coming up, so figured I’d finally give it a go.

The problem is that my heroine has an extremely common name. I love it and think it fits her perfectly (a very ordinary girl who gets to do extraordinary things) but everything I have read says it ideally needs to be unique and catchy.

I’ve googled it, it’s got about 5 bazillion people with the same name on Facebook, and is the name of one bit character on a not very well known tv show from the 80’s which in no way resembles my child protagonist.

Should I start trawling websites and graveyards for ideas? Or leave her as she is?

Who says it has to be unique and catchy? It needs to be appropriate & fitting imho rather than unique …

but everything I have read says it ideally needs to be unique and catchy.
Not at all.

Less common surname, or are you talking the whole name? I rarely remember the names of book characters, so unless it's in the title personally I think its pretty irrelevant. If it suits the character, it suits!

I don't think Amy and Nick are particularly unique and catchy, but that wasn't a problem in Gone Girl.

I wouldn’t say it’s a problem at all. Imagine how many fictional Janes/Johns there are. As long as it suits the character I don’t see the problem.

Nah, don't worry about it - if it suits her, go for it!

Harry Potter?

I think an unusual name doesn't fit.

Unless you want to use Gwendolyn?

I hate “unique and catchy” names in books. Unless it’s set in some fantasy land/space where language is completely different! It needs to suit the character, and not be out of kilter with the overall setting (No “Moon Fairies Sky Dancer” if it’s set in rural Victorian England)

Ah thank you everyone! I’ll stick with it then!

@SummerHouse it is ‘Gwen Surname’. Is Gwen massively overused at the moment?

In Rebecca, the protagonist is nameless until she is married and then only known as Mrs DeWinter

@Deathsquito

Ah thank you everyone! I’ll stick with it then!

@SummerHouse it is ‘Gwen Surname’. Is Gwen massively overused at the moment?

What a strange coincidence! I was suggesting that as a really unusual name. I can't think of any Gwens. It's fate. She is meant to be called Gwen! Good luck with it. I expect a mention in the credits.

Of course @SummerHouse!

I expect you could argue a name the readers are familiar with would be as much an argument as an unusual name. The only minor issue I can think of is if all the characters and the book title are mundane or used elsewhere then you might struggle for social media and web search but a well-written book will cut through.

If your agent then editor/publisher have strong views and deep pockets then you are a few MS Word find and replace's away from a change.

Good luck.

Well, 'Harry' and 'Potter' aren't very unique, original names.

If your agent then editor/publisher have strong views and deep pockets then you are a few MS Word find and replace's away from a change.

Yes - let the professionals be the final judge and go with your instincts. 'Gwen' sounds fine. I thought you were going to say she was called 'Kate' which seems to be the name that's en vogue with writers at the moment.

Also, as you're only at the first draft stage, if you find a name that suits her better, you can easily replace yourself it in your later drafts.