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So I'm working on a project called Subjectivism right now and it's a bit of a sci-fi adventure in which you play as a "soldier" (in a way) and the majority of the plot line is developed around how you try to solve situations that get more and more morally grey-area.

That being said, you can choose between male and female main characters so I want the player to be able to choose from a selection of names as well. Seeing as I'm not the most adept at CYOA-style writing I can't go crazy but I'm thinking maybe 2-3 optional names for each gender would be appropriate?

In which case, what should the names be?

Currently for male characters I have:

Robin

Thomas

Lucas

Currently for female characters I have:

Bethany

Aleta

Maggie

 

Are these good names? Which should I switch/take out? Any other suggestions that might replace some? Considering this is a sci-fi style, do you think these are appropriate?

 

EDIT: I should also mention, part of what may help your character be successful throughout the story is consistent choices. So the variables that can affect the choice options are Charming, Clever, Tough with minor side variables used to trigger certain things such as Dependent, Harshness, and Kindness. All on a scale between -50 and 50. Perhaps the name you chose could add/take away from one of these?

You are never going to please everyone with the names you choose. Focus instead on making someone worthwhile enough so that people who do not care for the name will learn to associate it with something good, and therefore, love it anyway.

That said, I choose names based on how I feel about them, their meaning, and how appropriate they are to the setting--in that order.

For CYA, does it really matter that much to the story? I mean, what are you going to do with the name? Does the reader pick it, then it shows up later when someone addresses the reader? Sure, go ahead and do that if you want, but I'm not sure letting a reader pick a name in a first-person story is really going to be all that significant.