A good name for a female villan - Writers Forum

Saltydoghayden · 02-26-2005, 07:38 PM

I need a good name for a female villan in a fantasy story ive wrote.

In my story there is a good witch named Babi yaga...the character comes from the story hansel and gretel i think and can also be found all through folklore. The villan is this characters sister...what would be a good name for her?

thanks

Philo · 02-27-2005, 02:10 PM

I did a google search on Babi Yaga because it rang a bell and it seems there is a story about Babi yaga and she's an evil witch if I read the different sources correctly. I would caution against using a name that has character traits associated with it already if you're going to change them. Babi yaga may not be common but you may have trouble with some of your readers.

As far as the name goes, if they're sisters then they should have names in the same language and tradition. Assuming they were named by their parents, its hard to believe they would have known their daughter would turn out evil, so that leaves the possiblity of an adopted name. A name this evil witch gave to herself. If that the case then I would look into her past and examine how she sees herself and what she would like to project with her name.

You might try figuring this out in english and then looking at translations into whatever language Babi yaga is. Those words can then be taken apart and the roots put back together to form name ideas.

Saltydoghayden · 02-27-2005, 08:19 PM

Well, Babi yaga was the witch from Hansel and gretel. She had a small body, a big fat head and a big fat nose from what i gather.
My Babi yaga however, is a good character and its her sister that is bad...So should I maybe make Babi yaga the Villan and changethe good sister's name?

crzywriter · 02-27-2005, 08:21 PM

yeah, i think that would be best. isnt baba yaga in Russian folklore? i think so. anyway, it'll confuse people if you attribute different character traits to a well-establishd character

~Crzy

blademasterzzz · 02-27-2005, 08:53 PM

Baba Yaga it is indeed in russian. The bad witch with one bony leg, usually. Like children. Also likes to fly around on brooms.

Anyway, thousands of russian books have made all these bad characters quite adorable.

Especially one was good where these characters (baba yaga, Zmei Gorinich (like a three-headed dragon), and others had to attend a school. Really funny.

I've seen so many takes on these russian characters from different angles... I don't think it's so bad making them good.

Saltydoghayden · 02-27-2005, 09:19 PM

I thought she was originally a bad woman...mines not really a copy of the russian character....I kind of based some of her traits on her.

Saltydoghayden · 03-07-2005, 05:35 PM

Ive decided to keep the name babi yaga...but what could I use as a name for her twin sister? i Jhad Blare but does anyone have any better ideas?

Aevin · 03-07-2005, 05:44 PM

Baba Yaga was also the villain in Orson Scott Card's "Enchantment," a book that takes the basic premise of the sleeping beauty fairy tale and turns it into a very unique and involved story.

I didn't think the book was especially good; it's one of the few books I've ever stopped in the middle for.

Ajax · 03-07-2005, 06:55 PM

Off the top of my head, I'll spew a few names for you. I doubt these are anywhere in folklore since they're products of the randomly generated crap store in the back of my brain.

Assuming "Yaga is the last name"

Yidgee Yaga
Idvey Yaga
Haerga Yaga
Vadya Yaga

or, if Yaga isn't the last name.

Nara Kara
Agra Vael
Haelmay Nadyl
Valnyha Chaka

Mike C · 03-08-2005, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltydoghayden

Ive decided to keep the name babi yaga...but what could I use as a name for her twin sister?

Alice.

mammamaia · 03-08-2005, 10:08 AM

twins?... only one possibility:

babi yaga
yagi baba

Saltydoghayden · 03-08-2005, 05:01 PM

I know yagi baba seems the obvious choice...but what about babi Yagaand Blare as her evil sister?

Dunyasha · 03-08-2005, 08:08 PM

Baba Yaga...I'm not into fairytales, but yes that is a Russian folktale. A very popular one too, the story plot has been modified so much times. She is a very popular character...I think Baba Yaga would be on my grandma's list of 'Scary People to scare my little brother with at night.'

Wouldn't you think?