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[Opinions] Renaming twins
Hi!
So I wrote this novel a little while ago. The main characters I have renamed Lillian and James. They are parents to six children. Mercy and Juliette are the oldest and twins. Their younger siblings are Alexander James (he was a stillborn), Angelica, Isaac (Angelica and Isaac are twins too), Mathew and Jane.
The reason why I need your help because of the first set of town's names. Mercy and Juliette. Do they work for 1812 in America? If they don't any other name suggestions? Also are the other kid's names good? If they are not any suggestions?
Thanks!"They can say they can say it all sounds crazy. They can say they can say I lost my mind. I don't care I don't care if they call us crazy."
-The Greatest Showmanhttps://www.behindthename.com/pnl/192681
You should rate my list :)
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I still think Lillian is not the best choice for 1812. 1912, definitely, but you'd be more accurate if Lillian was Eliza or Kate or Martha.
Juliette definitely feels off for the time period too. Julia would be better.
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They're plausible, though unusual enough that people might wonder about the story behind them. You could just make up a reasoning for it (do they fit with the parent's backgrounds? Maybe one is religious and the other loves Shakespeare; or the twins are named after someone) instead of changing them.Julia and Margaret would be more ordinary.

This message was edited 11/20/2018, 2:41 AM

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Juliette, Lillian, and Angelica don’t really go for that time period and location (although it also depends on class and location within America). I’ve grown up fascinated in that time period and I’ve never seen those names used in real life. It’s not to say they wouldn’t be, it’s just unusual.
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I'm also wondering ...If people back then named their stillbirths the way they often do now. At that time, stillbirth and early infant death was very common. Not to say they wouldn't grieve for one, but it doesn't seem especially likely that they'd name one.
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Hi!
Their stillborn brought Lillian into a state of depression so she wanted to name him. Lillian has been used since the 1600s and I really like it for her.
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It might have been used on occasion since then, but that doesn't mean it got a lot of use, or that it got use in America.
It's kind of like Jessica; it was used at least since Shakespeare's time but very rarely got use in the US till the mid-20th century, so while you wouldn't technically be wrong to use it for one of your characters, it would detract from the believability of your character/story.
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I agree! I was reading a fanfic set in historical times once, and she named one of the characters Aria. Needless to say, I didn't get very far with that story. lol
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HAHAHA!(:
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Well, I think she’s lost believability by having two sets of twins in the story already. If you have one rare thing happening in your story you probably shouldn’t keep adding on to the rarities. Having two sets of living twins much less two sets of twins period would also be rare. It wasn’t unusual to name stillborn babies necessarily. I have many in my family line in the 1800s that were named (one had 5 stillborns sons with the same name...the fathers name). Although I would say it was rare since when you walk through a cemetery most are named “Baby Smith” or “Son of Mr and Mrs Smith” for example.
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My great grandmother actually had 5 sets of twins. Only 2 sets survived infancy but it happened.
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It’s still rare, so that doesn’t negate what I wrote.
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Hi!
Thank you!
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"Well, I think she’s lost believability by having two sets of twins in the story already."Hey you take the words right out of my mouth! LOL. In my opinion, the names aren't really the issue here,its the same couple having two sets of twins. I mean if the other set were from a different family, it might be better, more realistic.
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My SO's cousin has two sets of twins. One set of fraternal twin boys, one set of identical twin boys. Granted, it took her seven pregnancies to achieve this. Her first pregnancy was twins, and her seventh and last pregnancy was twins.
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Well putting into account, the time frame that the story takes place in...yeah, not very believable. Back when they didn't have all these technologies and medical advances as they have today (or during a newer generation as opposed to an older one)
Perhaps if time traveling takes part of the plot...LOL!
Twins alone back then would have very likely been a far less occurrence-let alone two sets!
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Actually having twins ups your chances of having another set naturally. My sister just had natural twins and was told due to risk factors in her pregnancy not to ever fall again because the chances of her having twins again is huge.
People having twins through medical intervention wouldn't have the same risk of having them again but it's definitely a factor for natural multiples.
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Hi!
Having two sets of twins is not rare. By having some me set it bothers your chances of having another set.
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I didn't think the 2 sets of twins was unbelievable, especially with the number of kids people had back then. Fraternal twins run in families.

This message was edited 11/20/2018, 1:04 PM

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Hi !!!!The whole sibset is ok for that years :) Your names are classic and evergreen. I would not change Mercy because those years the life was a bit austere right? Naming the firstborn with a virtue name is an eccelent choice. Juliette and Angelica are quite different to the others as Lillian is. I think it goes perfectly as it currently is.

This message was edited 11/20/2018, 12:23 AM

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