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Help[Opinions] Imlac & Nekayah
I've just finished reading the conte philosophe "Rasselas" (1759) by Samuel Johnson, and it had some interesting names in it. I wonder how many Johnson made up and how many were actually based on ancient Egyptian/Abyssinian names. I have a feeling that Rasselas was based on "restless," but that's only a hunch.
However, two names struck my eye as being, for all intents and purposes, really cool. The poet-friend of Rasselas, who functions as a kind of mentor for the group, is named Imlac; and the sister of Rasselas, the Princess of Abyssinia, is Nekayah. Both names sound awesome, and I think that a modern-day Nekayah wouldn't actually have any problems with her name. Thoughts?
However, two names struck my eye as being, for all intents and purposes, really cool. The poet-friend of Rasselas, who functions as a kind of mentor for the group, is named Imlac; and the sister of Rasselas, the Princess of Abyssinia, is Nekayah. Both names sound awesome, and I think that a modern-day Nekayah wouldn't actually have any problems with her name. Thoughts?
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I used to know a Nelayah. I forgot about it until I saw this post.
I kind of like the sounds of both Imlac and Nekayah.
I kind of like the sounds of both Imlac and Nekayah.
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And do you recommend the read? :-)
Imlac reminds me too much of Similac, the baby formula. Normally I'm all over "i" names because they sound so exotic and cool. But I can't get into Imlac, sorry. It's very over-the-counter.
Nekayah? The sound is pretty but that spelling looks very juvenile. I realize you didn't make it up -- in fact having Samuel Johnson as the origin of a name is usually cat nip for me. But Nekayah just looks so, . . . so, . . . so, . . . bad. I'm sorry. I really want to like it. I'm just not there yet.
What were some of the other names?
Imlac reminds me too much of Similac, the baby formula. Normally I'm all over "i" names because they sound so exotic and cool. But I can't get into Imlac, sorry. It's very over-the-counter.
Nekayah? The sound is pretty but that spelling looks very juvenile. I realize you didn't make it up -- in fact having Samuel Johnson as the origin of a name is usually cat nip for me. But Nekayah just looks so, . . . so, . . . so, . . . bad. I'm sorry. I really want to like it. I'm just not there yet.
What were some of the other names?
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I'm currently in a literature class on the works of Samuel Johnson and James Boswell (really loving both authors), and Johnson has a knack for assigning memorable names to characters. Some of the "writers" of letters to his periodical(s) have interesting names like Mirella, Tranquilla, etc. (usually symbolize the subject matter).
The other main character in "Rasselas" besides the title character, Imlac, and Nekayah, is Nekayah's attendant Pekuah - whose story arc is the most interesting, imo (she gets kidnapped), but whose name I'm not feeling. :-)
The other main character in "Rasselas" besides the title character, Imlac, and Nekayah, is Nekayah's attendant Pekuah - whose story arc is the most interesting, imo (she gets kidnapped), but whose name I'm not feeling. :-)
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Thanks.
Rasselas is reminding me of Roslindis. I doubt they are related, but I now have a mental note to keep Roslindis in mind more. :-)
I wonder if Rasselas is an anagram for another name / surname. I wouldn't put it past clever minds like Johnson and Boswell to weave in contemporaries as an inside joke.
Rasselas is reminding me of Roslindis. I doubt they are related, but I now have a mental note to keep Roslindis in mind more. :-)
I wonder if Rasselas is an anagram for another name / surname. I wouldn't put it past clever minds like Johnson and Boswell to weave in contemporaries as an inside joke.
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Well, Nekayah could work as it resembles Nikia, which is quite common.
I am more drawn to Imlac. My first reaction was that it was some sort of Inuit name.
I am more drawn to Imlac. My first reaction was that it was some sort of Inuit name.
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