My 20 Favorite Names for Male Characters

Awhile back, I did a post about my favorite female character names. I thought I might do the same for my favorite male names, too! (A lot of these are the names of my friends, whoops.)

1. Alexander
The name Alexander is Greek. It means "Defender of men"
Possible Nicknames: Alex, Al, Xander
I love this name, it's classic and, obviously, ALEXANDER HAMILTON. Surprise, surprise.

2. William 
The name William is English. It means "Strong–willed warrior"
Possible Nicknames: Will, Willy (if you're looking for a more southern twang).
I mostly like this name for the nickname, Will. I think it's such a smooth name. (If that makes any sense...)

3. Shawn / Sean
The name Shawn is Irish. It means "God is gracious" or "Gift from God"
Possible Nicknames: I actually can't think of any... Let me know if you have any ideas!
I like this name because of one of my favorite characters, Shawn Spencer from Psych. Haha... whoops.

4. David
The name David is Hebrew. It means "Beloved"
Possible Nicknames: Dave, Davey
David is a very classic name. I think it's a perfect name for any age your character is.

5. Joseph
The name Joseph is Hebrew. It means "Jehova increases"
Possible Nicknames: Joe, Joey
I love this name because of one of my favorite people in the Bible, Joseph of the Old Testament. Very classic, and it comes with some fun nicknames.

6. Aidan
The name Aidan is Irish. "Little and fiery"
Possible Nicknames: Danny ??? Let me know if you think of any.
This is an awesome name because it rhymes with mine. No, really, I have a friend named Aiden and he's one of the coolest kids I know. *finger gun and wink*

7. Nathan 
The name Nathan is Hebrew. It means "God has given"
Possible Nicknames: Nate, Nat
My brother is named Nathon, with an O-N. There are many different ways to spell this name, be creative!

8. Christopher 
The name Christopher is Greek. It means "Carrier of Christ"
Possible Nicknames: Chris, Topher
I FRICKIN LOVE THIS NAME OH MY WORD. I don't even know why. I just... Love it.

9. Samuel
The name Samuel is Hebrew. It means "the Name of God"
Possible Nicknames: Sam, Sammy
I love this name for no apparent reason. It rolls off the tongue so smoothly, and the nicknames are pretty cool, too.

10. Joshua
The name Joshua is Hebrew. It means "Jehova is generous"
Possible Nicknames: Josh
This is the name of one of my favorite singers, Josh Groban. HECK YEAH. WOOT.

11. Matthew
The name Matthew is Hebrew. It means "Gift of God"
Possible Nicknames: Matt, Matty
I've always liked this name... It was the name of one of my childhood crushes, I thought it was a beautiful name. Ever since I was 5... *swoon*

12. Jonathan
The name Jonathan is Hebrew. It means "Gift of Jehova"
Possible Nicknames: Jon, Jonny, Jonny-Boy, Nathan, Nate
This is a classic. It's just so pretty. I love it.

13. Theodore
The name Theodore is Greek. It means "Gift of God"
Possible Nicknames: Theo
I really like this name because of the cute nickname... Theo. I always thought it was adorable!

14. Aaron
The name Aaron is Hebrew. It means "High mountain"
Possible Nicknames: AY-AY-RON. HAHAHA
I love this name because of my favorite Broadway actor, Aaron Tveit. Look him up, he's beautiful.

15. James
The name James is an English variation of Jacob, but it is Hebrew. It means "Supplanter"
Possible Nicknames: Jamie, Jay
This one is so classic, I've already named one of my characters James. I wish I could use it again!

16. Miles
The name Miles is English. It means "Soldier" or "Merciful"
Possible Nicknames: IDK, bruh.
I love this name!! Although, I do have a friend named Miles, and so whenever I use it, all of my other friends are all, "Wait, did you name him after Miles?" "Wow, that is so Miles, lol," or "OMG I could totes see him doing that!" Thanks, guys...

17. Spencer
The name Spencer is English. It means "House steward"
Possible Nicknames: Spence
 I have a friend named Spencer and he's pretty cool, I guess. Just kidding, he's really cool. And he has an awesome name, too.

18. Thomas
The name Thomas is Aramaic. It means "Twin"
Possible Nicknames: Tom, Tommy
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I LOVE THIS NAME SO MUCH BUT I DO?! No, but it sounds super cool for some reason. I don't know... I just really like it. Bye.

19. Maxwell
The name Maxwell is Scottish. It means "Great stream"
Possible Nicknames: Max
I honestly like the nickname better than the actual name itself, but Maxwell's pretty cool, too.

20. Adam
The name Adam is Hebrew. It means "Son of the red earth"
Possible Nicknames: legit none
I like this name because it's not very common. You don't hear it unless you're in Sunday School, and I think that's why it stands out to me. (Plus, I know a guy named Adam and he's so sweet!)

Well, my friends, this is my Top 20 Male Names. I hope you enjoyed. Let me know a few your favorite male names! (no one reads this. Like, ever. So, whateves you don't have to, fam)

Happy Writing, folks! ^-^

MY FRIEND IS DOING A GIVEAWAY!

Well fellow internet–lovers, I hope you love books just as much as you love the internet!

My friend, Emily's, blog, For the Bookish, has reached its second birthday! To celebrate, she's hosting a giveaway! But she's not just giving away one thing, but two things!

-Thrift Books Gift Card
-Mini Book Necklace

I don't know about you, but I want the book necklace!

Go on over to Emily's blog to enter!

My 20 Favorite Names for Female Characters

Me again! Today, I'll be discussing my favorite heroine names for your characters. I, myself, am trying to decide on a name for my leading lady in a story on Wattpad, I figured this might help not only you, but me too! So, in no particular order...

1. Amanda
The name Amanda is a Latin name. It means "Lovable" or "Worthy of love".
Possible Nicknames: Mandy, Amy
I think this name would be so cute for a redhead! Although, no matter what the hair color, it's a cute name on its own.

2. Katherine
This name is Greek. It means "Pure".
Possible Nicknames: Kathy, Kate, Katie, Kat 
The name of one of my favorite roles on the stage, Katherine Plumber from Newsies. It's a gentle name with a whole bunch of cute nicknames to use!

3. Amelia
The name Amelia is a Latin name. It means "Work".
Possible Nicknames: Amy, Millie (<my personal favorite),  Mia
Again, this would be such a cute name for a redhead, and not just because of Amelia Pond from Doctor Who! It just sounds like such a ginger name to me. And this is my favorite name for a girl nicknamed Millie.

4. Julia 
The name Julia is a Latin name. It means "Youthful".
Possible Nicknames: Jules, (<I love that one!)
This name is a classic in my opinion. It sounds so lovely and sophisticated.

5. Beth
The name Beth is English. It means "God is my oath"
Possible Nicknames: Bethy 
I know a girl named Beth, and she goes by Bethy. Also, my middle name is Beth, I might be a little biased. XD

6. Lucy 
The name Lucy is an English name. It means "Light".
Possible Nicknames: Lulu, Luce
Lucy is a cute name and a classic one, too. This name would suit a blonde, although some people think of Lucille Ball, who is a redhead.

7. Roxanne
This name is an English name. It means "Dawn"
Possible Nicknames: Roxy, Annie, Rocky, Ro 
This name would be very cute for a spunky and fiery character, I think. Maybe a redhead? ;)

8. Elizabeth
This name is Hebrew. Like Beth, it means "God is my oath"
Possible Nicknames: Lizzy, Liz, Beth, Eliza, Liza, Ellie, Betty
This name is definitely a favorite of mine. Plus, it comes with a lot of adorable nicknames! It's very classy. :)

9. Emily
The name Emily is an English name. It means "To strive" or "To excel" or "To rival".
Possible Nicknames: Emmy, Emma, Millie
I know a few girls named Emily and they are some of my favorite people. They're all so sweet!

10. Lauren/Laura
The name Lauren is American. It comes from the name Laurel, so that's its actual meaning.
The name Laura is Latin. It also means "Laurel"
Possible Nicknames: Laurie, Ren (for Lauren)
The name Laura is the name of one of my favorite actresses on Broadway, Laura Osnes. She is the perfect little cupcake with the best buttercream icing and she has a beautiful voice! And, I really just like the name Lauren.

11. Eve
The name Eve is Hebrew. It means "Life"
Possible Nicknames: Evie, Eevee, Evvy, Vi
Eevee is the name of the girl in my favorite book, Now That You're Here. It's sweet and innocent, and it has a nice ring to it. I just love it.

12. Audrey
The name Audrey is English. It means "Noble strength"
Possible Nicknames: Audie, Drew, Aud
This one might have something to do with Audrey Hepburn. Oooh! You could also call her Holly, or Gollightly! (Hahaha.)

13. Rose
This name is English. It means... Well... "Rose"
Possible Nicknames: Well, considering this is a nickname, here are some names you could use for her: Rosalyn, Rosemary, Roseanne, Rosemarie.
I really like this name because of Rose Tyler from Doctor Who, but it sounds lovely and sophisticated, too. Perfect for a blonde, I think!

14. Ava
Ava is a Latin name. It means "Like a bird"
Possible Nicknames: It is pretty short, but here's what I've gathered: Avy, Avi, V
I think this is such a sweet name. Though it is popular, it sounds unique and sophisticated.

15. Kelly/Kelley/Kelli/Kellie
Kelly is an Irish name. It means "Bright-headed"
Possible Nicknames: Kel, Kay
This is the name of my mother, and she'll probably hate me for putting this on my list, but I love this name! A lot of pretty middle names can go with this, too. (Lynn, Anne, etc.)

16. Noelle
Noelle is French. It means "Born on Christmas Day"
Possible Nicknames: Ellie, Elle, Nelly
I love this name so, so much! Perfect for a blonde in my opinion. If your character was born in December, this is the name for her!

17. Kathleen
This name is Irish. It means "Pure"
Possible Nicknames: Kathy, Kat, Kate, Katie
I know a girl named Kathleen and she is probably the coolest, sweetest person I have ever met.

18. Fallon
The name Fallon is Irish. It means "Of a ruling family"
Possible Nicknames: Fal, Lynn
This name is perfect for a fierce or a sweet character. I'm actually using it right now in a story I'm writing! I'd imagine Fallon as a brunette.

19. Annabeth
This name is Hebrew. It means "God is my oath" or "God is gracious"
Possible Nicknames: Annie, A.B., Bethy, AnnaB
I would love to name a child or character Annabeth, but when I do, I'll only receive comments talking about Percy Jackson. But I still love this name!

20. Kara
The name Kara is an Italian name. It means "Dear"
Possible Nicknames: Kari, Kay, KK
Also a name of one of my favorite Broadway Actresses, Kara Lindsay. I'm using this name in a story of mine, and I think it's the cutest name!

Well, those are my 20 favorite female character names. I hope you like them as much as I do! But they're mine! Just kidding! :)

Happy writing!

Much Love, Hayden Beth ^-^

Top 10 Romantic Duets

Guess what? It's time for another Valentine's Day post! I love making these lists. It combines a few of my favorite things: showtunes, lists, and romance. YAY!

Today, I'll be discussing my top ten romantic duets from my favorite Broadway musicals. So, we'll just jump right into it.

(Prepare for a whole lot of Sutton Foster...)

10. Accident Waiting to Happen - The Drowsy Chaperone - Troy Britton Johnson & Sutton Foster

 

This song is just too cute! Janet and Robert singing about being so clumsy, (or an accident just waiting to happen), while Robert stands in a pair of roller skates with a blindfold tied on his head. The music is so sweet, and the voice of Sutton Foster makes it even sweeter!

9. What You Mean to Me - Finding Neverland - Matthew Morrison & Laura Michelle Kelly

 

The writer, J.M. Barrie and his inspiration, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, finally realize how much of an impact they made on each other's lives and much they mean to each other. The angelic voices of Matthew Morrison and Laura Michelle Kelly only make it more beautiful.

8. Small Umbrella in the Rain - Little Women - Sutton Foster & John Hickhok

Even though Jo March and Prof. Bhaer fight and disagree on everything, they cannot deny their love for each other. There isn't much to say about this song... Just listen to it, and you'll see why it is loved by so many people.

7. Ten Minutes Ago - Cinderella - Santino Fontana & Laura Osnes

This one is so sweet. When the Prince meets Cinderella. *happy sigh* Everyone loves this story of this show, but I especially love the music! The lovely tune is so lovely, and they sing about love at first sight. How can you not love that?

6. Falling Slowly - ONCE - Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti

I can't help but be in love with this song. All of the music in this show is astonishing, but this song always stands out to me. It's the first time Guy and Girl sing together, and begin to slowly fall for each other. (Also, Josh Groban rocked this song, too. If you want to listen to his version, it's here.)

5. It Takes Two - Into the Woods - Joanna Gleason & Chip Zien

This song is such a cute one, when the Baker finally realizes that the help of his wife is just what he needed all along. The interaction between the two characters is what really makes this song what it is, but it's just as adorable when you listen to it.

4. It's De-Lovely - Anything Goes - Colin Donnell & Laura Osnes

The classic forbidden love story... They meet in the night, sing a soothing tune, and dance a freaking awesome waltz number! The angelic vocals of Laura Osnes make this song even more lovely than it already was. It's such a classy song, loved by many!

3. Something to Believe in - Newsies - Kara Lindsay & Jeremy Jordan

Just the OTP singing about how much tHEY LOVE EACH OTHER. Woah. Sorry. I just got a little fangirl-y there. Whew! Okay... Anyway... What makes this song so great is... Well, I don't really know, I can't pick just one thing. The actors, the interaction they have, the story. It's all good!

2. Sunrise - In the Heights - Mandy Gonzalez & Christopher Jackson

AHH. I'm in love with this song. The Act II opening when Nina teaches Benny Spanish, and they... And I... And UHHHH. I love it. Lin Manuel-Miranda is a genius. I. Can't. Even. Just listen to the song, and you'll fall in love with it, too.

1. I Turned the Corner/I'm Falling in Love With Someone - Thoroughly Modern Millie - Gavin Creel & Sutton Foster

Millie has always been my dream role, and this song just makes me want to play her even more! This particular song is one of the very under appreciated, and commonly forgotten song, but is easily one of my favorites from the show. The melody is so lovely and the words are so clever, and of course, the singers are spectacular. #SUTTONISQUEEN. It's kinda hard not to love this song!

~*~

Well, folks, there you have it! My 2nd Annual Valentine's Day Post!

If you want to hear some of my other favorite romantic showtunes, you can follow me on Spotify: littlemissbroadway. Until then, I'll see you next time! 

Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Hayden Beth ^-^

I'm a little obsessed.

I have a confession to make. I'm obsessed with MBTI personality types.

A few months ago, my friend made me take a test to figure out what my personality type is. My result? ENFJ. But I recently re-took the test and my result was different. ENFP. I took it once more, and I was given ENFP again. So, I did some more research on ENFPs, and found that personality type suits me all too well.

So, if you were wondering, my personality type is ENFP. You guessed it! I'm going to share a few things I came across whilst researching ENFPs.

Some of the famous ENFPs include...

Robin Williams

Jennifer Aniston

Shia Labeouf

Carly Rae Jepsen 

Jerry Seinfeld

And it turns out, some of my favorite fictional characters are ENFPs, too! (Mostly Disney Characters though, haha XD)

Ariel from The Little Mermaid

Marty McFly from Back to the Future

Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music

Phoebe Buffay from Friends

Olaf from Frozen

(Anna is an ENFP, too!) 
















Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls

Dory from Finding Nemo

The Eleventh Doctor from Doctor Who

Did you know? ENFPs are natural leaders, but they don't like controlling people.
Did you know? ENFPs are most compatible with INTJs and INFJs.
Did you know? ENFPs are the ultimate Ambiverts.
Did you know? The most common traits of an ENFP are creative, enthusiastic, independent, energetic, caring, curious, supportive, and friendly.
Did you know? Studies have shown that ENFPs are quite possibly the cutest thing in the world.
Did you know? ENFPs are the world's best procrastinators. (All too true ^-^)

An ENFP in love: Super excited! They will go out of their way to make you feel special.
An ENFP as a child: Wildly imaginative, and every kid refers to them as their "best friend".
An ENFP when they're down: Usually denial about their feelings. They try to surround themselves with people.
The worst insult to an ENFP: "You're boring."
What angers an ENFP? Disrespect toward themselves, their friends, and their leaders.
An ENFP at their best: Enthusiastic and warm. They bring light into the world of anyone they meet.

Well, this probably wasn't very entertaining. Researching this stuff is super fun. If you want to keep up with my MBTI obsession, go follow me on Pinterest! www.pinterest.com/gingersgnnaging

Yours Truly, Hayden Beth ^-^

♪ I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it! ♪

Tonight, I come home to the theatre. I can't even begin to say how thrilled I am. So, I'll express my excitement in the one way I know how to... GIFs. ^-^

#slightlydramatic #itsacftthing

10 Tips for Picking Your Character's Name

As some of you may know, I am a writer. Whether it be stories on Wattpad, the script I'm writing, an assignment for school, or even just a shopping list, I'm always up for the task. ^-^

But one of the things that drives me CRAZY, (besides reading other peoples' work and finding 80,234 grammar mistakes), is picking a name for my character. It may sound easy, but it is probably one of the hardest things to do. So, I have come up with a few rules and guidelines to picking a name for your next character...

1. Make sure it goes with your character. 
For instance: this is Amelia. In my opinon, Amelia is the perfect name for a redhead. And not just because of Doctor Who. I imagine the name Alexandra to go to a brunette, or the names Emma or Rose to go to a blonde. But it also has to match her personality. See what I mean?


2. Get your era right! Very important. One of my characters is named Corinne, but she's in 1899. Good job, Hayden. But If your story is set in the 20s, you might pick a name like Millie, or Dorothy. 

3. Check your initials.
Honestly, I think it depends on what kind of story you write, but I find many names that are alliterative and many that are not. Usually it would be a fantasy story where you find names with alliteration. Example: Serverus Snape, Bilbo Baggins, etc. Amelia above is called Amelia Abney. I love that name, it just rolls off the tongue. And that is what you're looking for, right? 

4. Look it up.
It's always so cool to find out what a character's name means. It always makes so much sense. We all love the series, The Chronicles of Narnia, right? It includes our favorite lion, Aslan. Well, his name definitely gives him justice. Aslan means Lion. Cool right? C.S. Lewis never fails to blow my mind.


5. Be sure to make it age-appropriate.
His/her birth name can be whatever you want it to be, but as a child, did he/she have a nickname? Or do you have a little girl in the story? Instead of Elizabeth, why not call her Lizzie? One of my friends' names is so pretty, but she goes by her middle name instead, that is, until she gets older. (Hey, Grace!! :D) 



6. Pair one of your names with another.
If you're having trouble choosing between two names, try and pair it with your character's best friend, spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend. 

Liza and Amelia v. Eevee and Amelia
Liza and Thomas v. Eevee and Thomas 

I don't know about you, but it helps me! 


7. Know the difference between a unique name and a common name.
You don't see a girl named Yuilsheozeagh walking around every day, do you? No! That's a weird name. But the thing is, you also don't want a name that's very common either, like Anna or Emma. Those are too famous. You'll need some thing right in between. Like maybe, Essa. That's a pretty name, and it's unique!


8. Avoid names of famous people or popular characters.
Example: I LOVE the name Annabeth, but if I name my character that, everyone would think of Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series. Ugh. But if I name my character Hermione, my readers will automatically think of Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. #thestruggleisreal

9. Help really helps. 
Whether it be on social media, or one of your roommates, it's always good to hear the names you've chosen, or ask for suggestions. All you need is a good description of your character and some really helpful and creative Facebook friends!

10. Open up.
Who knows? You could find your inspiration watching the ending credits on your TV screen, or maybe the waiter at your table? Or perhaps a name could catch your eye while you read a new book? Inspiration is everywhere. You just have to open your eyes.

I really hope this helped. Finding a name is really hard, but I know you can do it! 

QOTD: What's your favorite character name? 
AOTD: Annabeth (Percy Jackson) or Eevee (Now That You're Here)

While you're still here, why don't you look at my Wattpad profile? It's pretty cool!

Much Love, Hayden Beth ❤