Emotional Names (Tip #55)

“What’s in a name? Possibly everything…One of the most difficult and important things to do in film is to make internal qualities apparent. Some writers choose names that suggest emotional or psychological characteristics for this reason. These names often have a mythical air about them. George Lucas utilizes them throughout  Star Wars: Luke Skywalker’s destiny is apparent in his title, and Hans Solo’s name encapsulates his aloof and distrusting personality.”
Laura Schelhardt
Screenwriting for Dummies 

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.” 
Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) in Gladiator

Here are several great movie character names that come to mind:

James Bond
Indiana Jones
Buzz Lightyear
Vito Corleone
Peter Pan
The Terminator
Rocky Balboa
The Wicked Witch of the West
Edward Scissorhands
Donnie Darko
Blade
Juno MacGuff
Dracula
Darth Vader
Scarlet O’Hara

And it’s worth noting that actors and musicians have long understood the power of an emotional name that rolled off the lips better than their give name. (Or in some cases just to avoid a conflict in the Screen Actors Guild.)

John Wayne (Marion Morrison)
Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag)
Tom Cruise (Thomas Cruise Mapother)
Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)
Michael J. Fox (Michael Andrew Fox)
Cary Grant  (Archibald Leach)
Lauren Bacall (Betty Perske)
Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean Baker)
Audrey Hepburn (Audrey Ruston)
Woody Allen (Allen Koniegsberg)
John Barrymore (John Blyth)
Louis B. Mayer (Lazar Meir)
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (Douglas Ullman)
Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman)

And did you know that Tiger Woods’ given first name is Eldrick? Eldrick Woods has a totally different feel than Tiger Woods. And speaking of sports, I should mention the name currently more popular in Google searches than Britney Spears or Justin Bieber and that’s Tim Tebow. What’s in a name? Just mention that name Tim Tebow at the water cooler today and watch the emotions swirl.

Related Post: Movie Titles (Tip #32)

P.S. The three biggest name searches that brought people to Screenwriting from Iowa this year…Frank Gehry, Mark Twain and Walker Evans. An architect, a novelist/humorist, and a photographer—all dead. You have to go down the list of names a little bit before some screenwriters pop up—Pete Jones, who’s followed by Woody Allen and Ken Nolan.

Scott W. Smith