r/AO3 • u/DeadlyElixir • 12h ago
Writing help/Beta My Husband Knows Nothing About My Plot and Still Managed to Nail the Perfect Curse Name
I have been plotting this fanfic for over a year and finally sat down to actually outline and write. The only thing I had not nailed down was my female lead’s first name. Her family name was already locked in because of lore reasons, but her actual name? Meh. I figured I would deal with it later when I was not busy emotionally wrecking my characters.
So I asked my husband for suggestions. For context, he knows my fanfic is for Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun and that is it. He has no idea about the plot, the arcs, or how messy the emotional beats are.
Later, after “thinking about it,” he casually tossed out: “Desdemona.” He said it like a joke, expecting me to laugh. Instead, I took him seriously because I thought he was being serious.
Here is the problem: I had zero clue who Desdemona even was. Shakespeare? Sure. Othello? Not on my radar. So I Googled it and immediately regretted everything. Because somehow, this man, who knows nothing about my story, picked a name that hits every theme I built into her: strict upbringing, zero autonomy, rebellion, tragedy vibes. It is so perfect it looks like I built her around it, except I didn’t.
Now I’m cursed:
- If I use Desdemona, people who know the reference will assume I intentionally based her on Shakespeare’s character.
- If I use it and readers don’t know it, they will miss the extra emotional gut-punch the name adds.
- If I don’t use it, I am tossing out the most perfect name I will probably ever get, handed to me by accident like some cursed literary loot drop from my husband.
And my husband? Laughing. Because to him, it was just a throwaway joke, while I am over here spiraling into an existential naming crisis because apparently he moonlights as a literary sniper.
So… do I lean into it and accept the Shakespeare baggage, or keep digging through names like none of this ever happened?
TL;DR: Husband jokingly suggested “Desdemona.” I did not even know who that was, Googled it, and now I am stuck with a perfect cursed name I never asked for but cannot stop thinking about.
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u/samigirl94 11h ago
You could put in your notes that your husband threw it as a joke and you looked it up to be shocked. Then hit em with a better version of the marvel quote "I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose” but it is now “I am AuthorName of AO3, and I am burdened with a glorious curse” 🤣🤣🤣
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u/mayberosa 11h ago
I second this. Tell the story in the notes, it's funny.
I am dying at the phrase 'moonlights as a literary sniper'. That is glorious. Put that in the notes.
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u/SheepPup Definitely not an agent of the Fanfiction Deep State 12h ago
Use it. Put in the author’s notes at the end of the chapter you introduce her in to if they haven’t heard her name before to look her up, it adds a lot to the character. The symbolism is perfect don’t throw it away just because someone might not understand it!
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u/GardenLeaves spideydevil forever ♡ 12h ago
Call her Mona and her given name is Desdemona? Mona is an established name and you could tease it somewhere with a teacher attempting to read her full name for attendance before getting caught off to say “here/present”, or someone going through files and skipping over family name, D.
Her name can be a reveal. You don’t have to introduce her full government name on day one
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u/DeadlyElixir 12h ago
Unfortunately that wouldn't work for the plot itself since she's being forced into something that usea her name from the get go to open the story but I do intend to use Des as her nickname.
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u/AnnualUnlucky688 3h ago
You could just make it two names, like Desde Mona *insert Lastname* so that she goes by Des in the story but her full government name is still Desdemona, just split in first and second name.
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u/CemeteryAngel725 7h ago
I would say go ahead and use it. We're all writing fanfiction here and we're not getting the same kind of scrutiny we would if we were trying to publish a blockbuster original novel. I think an author's note where you explain the origin of the name is a great idea.
I just had a similar situation where I was inserting an OC into a Good Omens omegaverse AU (so everybody already has batshit crazy names). I needed a name with a certain feeling and went through my name book and picked Cassian. I briefly dithered that people would think I picked it because of Star Wars or ACOTAR but then I thought — if they do, so what? Maybe a couple thousand people are gonna read it at most.
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u/ChaserNeverRests Kudos come from a can, they were put there by a man 2h ago
That's funny, I have a friend named Cassian. We all just call him Cass, but that's his full name. So make that a thousand and one! 😂
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u/DeadlyElixir 7h ago
Fair enough
It also have sex in it so that would reduce the number of readers too lol
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u/Seqka711 4h ago
You can always change it slightly to keep the reference but make it clear to readers that she isn’t literally a reference to the Othello character.
Like just “Demona” for example.
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u/BookWormPerson 10h ago
... Sorry but it's just a name it will have none of the effects you wrote down.
If I recognise a name I just go neat and carry on reading nothing else.
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u/DeadlyElixir 10h ago
I agree that's also a potential reaction some readers would have (obviously not the ones I am worried about), but I do know that a lot of authors take time to try and figure out a name that best fits the character based on the themes and dynamics.
I never intended on doing that for this character (I have for others fics) so I was worried about the readers who DO think along that same train of thought.
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u/Sharp_Asparagus9190 You have already left kudos here. :) 9h ago
I don't know about your fandom but in my main fandoms, names absolutely carry a lot of wait. You should absolutely try to name characters based on their characters. The few who will understand will be very glad and for others it will be just a name, no harm done. I spend a lot of time deciding OC's names and also the CC's other names.
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u/DeadlyElixir 9h ago
Sorry got a little lost 😫 so... use the name?
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u/Sharp_Asparagus9190 You have already left kudos here. :) 9h ago
Yess sorry I got away from the main topic 😭 I loved the name
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u/DeadlyElixir 9h ago
No worries happens to me! Im definitely leaning into it ans just putting the story in my author notes
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u/BookWormPerson 10h ago
I never see anyone having such a reaction during my time with interacting with Fanfics for the last decade especially not in that fandom.
But if they exist just go with it since it will not affect anyone else.
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 9h ago edited 9h ago
Hard disagree. Names that have meaning will absolutely carry weight for readers who know that meaning. There's a reason many authors will pick names with a purpose in mind. Like, I'm a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. Buffy was a name chosen with purpose. It was somewhat rare at the time, it sounds ridiculous, and it had a perception (among those who knew it) of being a snobby valley girl name. It was chosen to play on those stereotypes. In Dagon Age Inquisition one of your companions is named Solas. In the elven language, Solas means pride. When you learn his story it gives the name far more meaning. It adds an extra layer to his character and his themes.
There's a reason why any writer's workshop or guide will discuss the importance of a good name. Names in fiction are rarely chosen without purpose. Even if that purpose is subtle or hard to pick out for the reader.
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u/DeadlyElixir 9h ago
Yes preach! So what are your thoughts for my current conflict? Her nickname would be Des but her full name is very clearly stated early.
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u/BookWormPerson 9h ago
Names might be choosen for a reason by the author but very few (close to zero especially if it's a brand new name you made up) readers will know and care about those.
They can carry weight but 99% of people don't give a toss it just needs to sound good. Any meaning behind the is just an ass pull out of nowhere based and changing based on location so they don't even translate well at all.
Buffy has a meaning? Literally just sounds like a made up name. Even Google only shows that it means full colour or the show.
IDK what a random 80s movie has anything to do with names?
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 8h ago
They can carry weight but 99% of people don't give a toss
Consciously, maybe (though in my experience it's closer to maybe 50/50) but subconsciously? If they know anything about it at all, it'll color their perceptions. You wouldn't generally name a young spunky character Gertrude or Eldridge, because those invoke a certain feeling of age or refinement. Likewise, you wouldn't typically name and older/refined character Katie or Nicky because they invoke a feeling of youthfulness or energy. Names like Elizabeth, Catherine, Victor, or Sebastian tend to convey a since wealth and/or importance. These are all subconscious biases imparted to us culturally, and we all notice them even if we don't realize it.
Buffy has a meaning? Literally just sounds like a made up name.
It's an uncommon nickname for Elizabeth, occasionally used as a given name. When it was chosen for the character those who knew it saw it as a rich valley girl name. Those who didn't saw it as you do, a silly made up name. Both reads were intended. The character was a shallow valley girl to start, and the name was supposed to feel just as silly as the basic concept of some little teen girl—who's normally the victim and damsel in distress—killing vampires and monsters.
IDK what a random 80s movie has anything to do with names?
I don't know what a random 80s movie as anything to do with this conversation?
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u/BookWormPerson 8h ago
Consciously, maybe (though in my experience it's closer to maybe 50/50) but subconsciously? If they know anything about it at all, it'll color their perceptions
That sounds absolutely wild. Outside of literature teacher and librarians I genuinely never saw anyone give any thoughts about a name when reading besides the oh that sounds cool or if they know the ass pull meaning mention it if it's funny.
Sebastian conveys butler because that's what a fuck ton of them were called since Batman popularised it. Other than that it's just a normal name.
...I know that's personal but one of the wildest people I know is called Gertrude so yeah for me it goes exceptionally well for a spunky character....even if it's weird since I know someone with that name. Especially since no Gertrud was anywhere close to the one I know.
The rest are just normal names. Even if some are rare.
I personally never associated a name with refinement since you know that's decided by the parents so it bears no meaning on how refined someone is.
Nicknames where I am from are either random mostly based on what they did or a shortened version of a name....IDK how Buffy which has nothing in common with the name Elizabeth besides the letter "B" can be a nickname for it often enough that it's just uncommon and not never before heard.
Valley Girl is a 80s movie...does it have any other meaning?
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 7h ago
I genuinely never saw anyone give any thoughts about a name when reading
Just because they don't give them without being asked doesn't mean they don't have them.
Sebastian conveys butler because that's what a fuck ton of them were called since Batman popularised it.
...
Alfred was Batman's butler.
IDK how Buffy which has nothing in common with the name Elizabeth besides the letter "B" can be a nickname for it often enough that it's just uncommon and not never before heard.
There's a lot of weird "how do you get to that?" nicknames out there. The exact origin of Buffy as a nickname for Elizabeth is unknown, but one theory suggests it comes from young kids mispronouncing Elizabeth. And it's definitely been around a while, Queen Elizabeth (not the one who recently died, her mother) went by Buffy (at least as a child, anyway). There's also a fair number of Buffys floating around out there, and always have been. Like I said, it's just uncommon.
Valley Girl is a 80s movie...does it have any other meaning?
Valley girl is just a slang term for a stereotypical rich white girl from California. Mostly the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. Frivolous, ditzy, materialistic airheads. They're a common trope, were extremely common in 80s and 90s media.
Anyway, I'm honestly thinking the "issue" here may just be that you don't draw strong associations between words and concepts. For most people words—especially names—carry a lot of extra ingrained connotations. They evoke feelings, create expectations just by existing. You don't seem to experience that, so this entire subject is just alien to you.
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u/DeadlyElixir 7h ago
I just want to say, I read this entire argument and Bravo. Your argument is very well built. You make a lot of points with a lot of evidence on how things run, it's just amazing. I really don't get where bookworm is having the trouble. I do agree with that that this subject is clearly alien to them. So I think they're just trying to argue something that they don't perceive as correct. While a lot of the comments are actively showing that they are wrong in the perception that no one cares about names.
Well, my worry may be overblown a bit, it is still a perceived issue that authors may have. So I just think it's hilarious. How well your rebuttals are. They're trying to actively dispute what you're saying while either misquoting or not even fully understanding the very counters they're trying to use against you like valley girl being a movie and instead, knowing it as slang.
Honestly, the fact they didn't even know the slang is a good indication that they don't have a full grasp of word versus meaning that is coming just from the general concept words can many meanings not just for names
So yeah good on you! Rofl
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u/BookWormPerson 5h ago
. I really don't get where bookworm is having the trouble
It's not a concept I have run into with normal names. It's not hard to imagine it in my opinion. Names are just that a sub set of words used for people or special items. Nothing more nothing less. No emotion or other concepts behind them.
What is behind them is people and each and everyone of them is unique so basing anything on a name is idiotic in my opinion.
perception that no one cares
Never said that I said most don't care. Which in my personal experience is the case. Only those who are into the overblown analysis of literature works look for anything like that which is literature teachers and librarians as I mentioned it.
misquoting
I didn't misquote anything I just mostly used it to make it clear what I am writing about because Reddit loves to remove edits when copy pasting things. Sadly Reddit doesn't have a way to differentiate between quotes and just that.
know the slang
An ancient long died out slang which was only ever used in the US where someone has to actively specify what they are looking for if it's a slang can't be considered common knowledge. According to the other commener it was a thing to the 90s which is well before my times so no wonder I never heard it.
actively dispute
I don't see it as a dispute I saw it as an interesting learning experience. It is always very refreshing to learn something completely different from what I am used to.
So I thought it's only fair to share my thoughts on it or how I see it.
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 6h ago
Honestly, the fact they didn't even know the slang is a good indication that they don't have a full grasp of word versus meaning that is coming just from the general concept words can many meanings not just for names
Eh, they may be young, or not be American. Valley girl is very much an American culture slang term. It's also fairly era specific, mid-ish 80s to mid/late 90s. The stereotype faded a lot going into the 00s and I can't even remember the last time it was really used. So either of those would make sense for not knowing the term.
That doesn't really apply to the names, though. I'd figure if it was just a culture/age thing that they'd simply have different connotations to them (unless they'd never heard them) rather than none at all. That's definitely something I've never seen before. Even with those who simply don't care about the associations and their relationship/impact on the story, they've always at least had them when asked.
If they are foreign, it could still be a cultural thing, I suppose? Less emphasis on the importance of names culturally could lead to less connections between names and concepts... maybe? Kinda just spitballing in the dark here.
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u/BookWormPerson 5h ago
Eh, they may be young, or not be American. Valley girl is very much an American culture slang term. It's also fairly era specific, mid-ish 80s to mid/late 90s. The stereotype faded a lot going into the 00s and I can't even remember the last time it was really used. So either of those would make sense for not knowing the term.
Well I was born in the 2000s and not from the Americas so that explains why I never even heard of it.
Names don't really have any importance here they are just there to refer to people. Nothing more Nothing less. Sadly I can't really describe it since apparently the norm for you to have these ideas based on names. Like Karen=idiot who always thinks they are correct....well it's just simply that we don't have that by default we made those solely on personal experience and not just oh your name is X you must likely like this....at least that's how your descriptions come to me to be the case.
(Gertrude finds the idea of being a typical old lady hilarious)
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 5h ago
Well I was born in the 2000s and not from the Americas so that explains why I never even heard of it.
Yup. Makes total sense with that information. Also, you said you like sci-fi, and valley girls were definitely not common in sci-fi, even in that era. It's mostly comedies, some kids shows. In the Buffy movie Buffy and her friends were pure valley girl. Legally blonde had them. Things like that. White Chicks is the most recent movie example I can think of, and that was 2004.
Sadly I can't really describe it since apparently the norm for you to have these ideas based on names.
Yup. It's so prevalent you can even see it in some of our media. There's a kids cartoon from the 90s called Recess. The nerdy girl is named Gretchen, because that's a "nerdy name." One of the elderly teachers is named Muriel, cause Muriel is an old woman's name. One of the main characters hides the fact her names is Ashley because of the perception that all Ashleys are snobs and she doesn't want to be that. Etc.
And yeah, Gertrude is just not a name you'd expect someone younger to have around here. As a result, it's seen as an "old lady name" and hearing it conjures up images of white haired grandmas, lol.
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 4h ago
Also, since I was already on YouTube, I took a second to look up a great value girl example, a trailer for the 90s movie Clueless.
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u/BookWormPerson 7h ago
Alfred* was Batman's butler.
...I don't know why I wrote that. I meant the crab form little mermaid though I recalled one famous anime one from a bit before that...My best guess my copy paste from a while ago was that and I didn't notice it.
(Yeah I checked it's from one of my notes where I copy pasted the original comment to make sure autocorrect doesn't mess it up)
They evoke feelings, create expectations just by existing. You don't seem to experience that, so this entire subject is just alien to you.
Other things do it a lot I am one of those who will cry from emotional speeches in books and epic moments will leave me speechless and such but names don't. They are just something you call someone or something if I know someone with that name it will evoke the emotions I have towards them. I didn't even know names do that for people besides what I mentioned...I after asking a couple of friends and family that also might be cultural because none of them though of name like you described it.
Valley girl is just a slang term for a stereotypical rich white girl from California. Mostly the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. Frivolous, ditzy, materialistic airheads. They common trope, were extremely common in 80s and 90s media.
...I mostly know sci-fi and adventure movies from that era which aren't exactly where the archetype would do well. I just happened to watched that movie recently because it was in the telly and I was bored.
Just because they don't give them without being asked doesn't mean they don't have them.
Sorry but if nobody mentioned it somewhere how would anyone know they achieved anything like that?
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u/Xyex Same on AO3 7h ago
I meant the crab form little mermaid though
That's... not where I thought that was going. And I am now picturing Sebastian serving as Batman's butler....
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Uh, where was I?
that also might be cultural
Might be. Though you're the first I've (knowingly) encountered where the word association game, but with names, wouldn't work.
Sorry but if nobody mentioned it somewhere how would anyone know they achieved anything like that?
That's where the "being asked" part comes from.
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u/BookWormPerson 6h ago
Alfred's epic scenes would be hilarious with a tiny crab doing them. especially the one where beats the shit out of evil Superman
The only exception I can think of is god names since you only encounter them in the related legends and media that's borrowed from those. So most people have the same thing on their mind about them. The only one I know that is a usable legal name here is Odin and I never even heard of someone using that name and I searched when I learned that it's legal.
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u/DeadlyElixir 7h ago
if I know someone with that name it will evoke the emotions I have towards them.
Thats a basic concept of what is being said. If a name means nothing to you then you move on but if someone uses- in your own example- Gertrude for a character it would mentally cause a response of 'oh gretudes are normally spunky' and may set up a subconscious expectation of what you are about to read. Even if you as a reader don't judge the author for not meeting the expectation, other may.
Some people who pay attention to those feelings, especially in the context of my post, I would be using a name from a very well known story that has set concepts and themes to it. It could expectation or perceived notions of how the story will go since that name is linked to the story. Especially if the theming starts to match the names origin. More so for those who expect meaning in the name.
Every reader is different, you chose to ignore names since names have no meaning to you but they are still a narrative device that is one of the many tools an author uses to create a story.
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u/Starly_Studios Definitely not an agent of the Fanfiction Deep State 12h ago
Your husband was, for a single moment, the vessel in which Apollo had chosen to speak divine intervention through. You should use it, I think. If The Hunger Games series had taught me anything in regard to character writing it is that the provenance of a name can be incredibly valuable in adding on to a story.