Why is a name so important

[werdsmith]

Why is a name so important to a masturbation fantasy? I remember being young trying to visualize an experience checking someone out, and remembering how hard it was trying to concentrate to "that blonde girl I saw at the mall on the escalator" vs. how easy it was to get off to "Allison" from my Psych class....

:shrug

 

[cloudy]

Names have associations that are individual to us. For example: if I read a story where the male protag (we're supposed to like him) has the first name Paul, I have to back click the minute I see his name - there's an extreme asshole in my history with that name, so that's what I always associate with it. Someone else may think Paul is a sexy name.

Then again, when you're wanking, that-blonde-girl-I-saw-at-the-mall is just way too much trouble for fantasy.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Heather and Beth always get me interested. I've only ever met one Heather that was unattractive (out of ten or so), and I was in love with a Beth for a year and a half. I'll click on any story I see with those two names, even if they aren't something I would normally read.

 

[slyc_willie]

Names are very powerful. They evoke certain images and feelings based upon your personal experiences. I never thought the name 'Darlene' was particularly attractive, in and of itself, until I met a truly eager young lady with that name.

Other names have an historical appeal and evoke certain ideas and images. Whenever I see the name 'Elizabeth,' I think of a very self-assured, usually matronly, woman who knows what she wants. A woman who would want to watch me strip naked and sit there smoking a cigarette while she contemplated what to do with me.

'Amy' makes me think of a bubbly, giggling cheerleader who calls me 'mister.'

Everyone is different. I happen to like guttural-sounding names like 'Gretchen' and 'Hilde.' They call up images of physically impressive women who are as aggressive as they are accommodating. Others might think of old hags.

And, then, I think, we all make certain subconscious associations between a person's appearance and their name, and vice-versa. A 'Heather,' to me, is a blonde. Same with 'Michelle' or just about any woman whose name starts with a vowel. Women with names like 'Bethany' or 'Carla' or 'Monica' always have dark hair in my mind. An 'Erin' or a 'Margaret' is a redhead, possibly because of the prevalence of such names among the Irish (although the majority of true Irish I have met have been brunetes).

It all comes down to a mix of personal experiences, social stereotypes, and the way phonetics plays tricks on the brain. Ultimately, the question of 'what's in a name?' comes down to, 'what have I experienced?'

 

[angelicminx]

Heather and Beth always get me interested. I've only ever met one Heather that was unattractive (out of ten or so), and I was in love with a Beth for a year and a half. I'll click on any story I see with those two names, even if they aren't something I would normally read.

Keeping that in mind.

 

[werdsmith]

kind of like any name ending in an "i" brings cheerleader/bimbo (Candi, Bambi, etc) to mind...not like that is a bad thing.

 

[werdsmith]

kind of like any name ending in an "i" brings cheerleader/bimbo (Candi, Bambi, etc) to mind...not like that is a bad thing.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I prefer no names to be involved in masturbation fantasies. As I'm alone already, I don't typically find myself in the position of referring to the person I'm fantasizing about. Do you?

 

[CharleyH]

Why is a name so important to a masturbation fantasy? I remember being young trying to visualize an experience checking someone out, and remembering how hard it was trying to concentrate to "that blonde girl I saw at the mall on the escalator" vs. how easy it was to get off to "Allison" from my Psych class....

:shrug

I have never had this problem. A name is not important to me - a fantasy is. If a name happens to be part of it? All the better, yet it is not a necessity.

Are you my twin, Lucky?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Are you my twin, Lucky?

I'll be an honorary twin. Anything closer would be incest. I don't do incest ... and you know how I want you.

 

[CharleyH]

I'll be an honorary twin. Anything closer would be incest. I don't do incest ... and you know how I want you.

It could only be a pleasure!

Edit to add: my nephew is already in love with me - I can't handle any more!

 

[ungenderless]

I think that names can potentially add a stereotype to the personality, like Wordsmith said about any name with an "i" at the end. Personally, an uncommon name attracts me much more than a normal, everyday one does. That's why I don't name any of my characters "Mary" or "Lisa"; they just don't stand out to me.

 

[werdsmith]

I prefer no names to be involved in masturbation fantasies. As I'm alone already, I don't typically find myself in the position of referring to the person I'm fantasizing about. Do you?

yeah, I actually do...its frustrating if I don't know the girl's name dunno why.

 

[rgraham666]

When I give names I quite consciously give the characters everyday or at least not unusual names.

I want the readers to identify with my characters. A guy named Alois or a woman named Alllequerque isn't going to do that.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

yeah, I actually do...its frustrating if I don't know the girl's name dunno why.

That's odd to me. I guess when I'm fantasizing, there need be no parameters. My fantasies can be pretty unrealistic at times ... and other times be within the realm of possibility. I suppose I place less value on the un-real ... or it could just be that I'm too busy imagining that my soft middle finger is actually a gorgeous woman's tongue manipulating my clit to fuck around with keeping names straight.

 

[werdsmith]

That's odd to me. I guess when I'm fantasizing, there need be no parameters. My fantasies can be pretty unrealistic at times ... and other times be within the realm of possibility. I suppose I place less value on the un-real ... or it could just be that I'm too busy imagining that my soft middle finger is actually a gorgeous woman's tongue manipulating my clit to fuck around with keeping names straight.

interesting, nice visual.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

When I give names I quite consciously give the characters everyday or at least not unusual names.

I want the readers to identify with my characters. A guy named Alois or a woman named Alllequerque isn't going to do that.

So true. Sometimes I click on stories by Indian authors, and I just can't get passed the names. It's not a racism thing, really, it's just that I can't read those names because I'm so not used to them. Same goes for some Sci-Fi stories as well.

If they aren't typical american/english (even German) names I just can't enjoy myself as much.

Sad, I suppose, that I can't get pased that, but it really does rip me out of the mood.

 

[Alessia Brio]

interesting, nice visual.

Innit, though?

 

[ungenderless]

So true. Sometimes I click on stories by Indian authors, and I just can't get passed the names. It's not a racism thing, really, it's just that I can't read those names because I'm so not used to them. Same goes for some Sci-Fi stories as well.

If they aren't typical american/english (even German) names I just can't enjoy myself as much.

Sad, I suppose, that I can't get pased that, but it really does rip me out of the mood.

i suppose that there's a balance to be made. Original names that aren't too strange should be alright. I've never had anyone complain about the name "Amelia", for example, even though it's not nearly as common as something like "Jennifer". But i can understand names that are too strange taking you out of the moment. Anybody see that movie "Stay Alive"? Throughout the movie I just kept thinking, "Who names their daughter 'October'? Or their son 'Swink'?"

 

[slyc_willie]

i suppose that there's a balance to be made. Original names that aren't too strange should be alright. I've never had anyone complain about the name "Amelia", for example, even though it's not nearly as common as something like "Jennifer". But i can understand names that are too strange taking you out of the moment. Anybody see that movie "Stay Alive"? Throughout the movie I just kept thinking, "Who names their daughter 'October'? Or their son 'Swink'?"

I dated a dancer for a while whose name was Jupiter. She showed me her license; it really was her given name. On stage, she went by 'Jupie.' Her brother's name was Saturn.

Now, obviously, if I used such names in a story, I would have to include some anecdote as to why the characters had such a name. But I feel that would just increase the mystique of the character, don't you?

 

[rachlou]

I'm lazy and tend to use the names of people I know alot... Of course this could back-fire on me, should my up-tight neighbour ever read my one of my stories and find out that she was portayed as a total slut!!

There are some names I hate - if I click on a story and the male protag is called Kevin - thats it, no way can i get excited about that. Sorry if your name is Kevin... It reminds me of a bloke I knew and ... well, lets just leave it there shall we.

 

[ungenderless]

I dated a dancer for a while whose name was Jupiter. She showed me her license; it really was her given name. On stage, she went by 'Jupie.' Her brother's name was Saturn.

Now, obviously, if I used such names in a story, I would have to include some anecdote as to why the characters had such a name. But I feel that would just increase the mystique of the character, don't you?

*I* do, yes. I love unique names; but I'm aware that many others don't (hence some responses on this topic). So that's why I try to find a balance.

 

[slyc_willie]

Some unusual names can greatly enhance the reader's enjoyment. Others detract from it.

If I wrote "Anastasia slid her full lips down my cock, staring up at me with a look of passion," wouldn't that seem more erotic than "Bula slid her full lips down my cock . . ." ?

 

[tanyachrs]

When I'm writing a story, the character comes first. Then I have to figure out the name that matches that character. When I'm reading a story, I don't much care except I hate names I can't figure out how to pronounce. I always wonder if people writing Sci Fi really understand that the reader experiences a twing of aggravation each and every time they read Sh'n'ant'z or whatever the hell.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Some unusual names can greatly enhance the reader's enjoyment. Others detract from it.

If I wrote "Anastasia slid her full lips down my cock, staring up at me with a look of passion," wouldn't that seem more erotic than "Bula slid her full lips down my cock . . ." ?

Not if Beulah was a dark-skinned gal in a white teagown, who had just set down her lace parasol and drawn off her long gloves before getting down to business. And if all of this was taking place in a bordello in the French Quarter...

Beulah becomes a very erotic name!

I mean, I know waitresses named Anastasia. (and one butch dyke)