Ciarán finally has a surname. A Google search reveals that my character shares his name with a long-running UK soap opera character who was created a few years ago.
Jackal character: Ciarán MacCarthy
Coronation Street character: Ciaran McCarthy
Head. Wall. Bang.
I really like both the meaning (Ciarán means ‘little dark one’ and MacCarthy means ‘loving person’) and the sound of this name. I had already planned on using ‘Mac’ instead of ‘Mc’ but it’s still probably too similar. Should I revert to the Gaelic ‘Mac Carthaigh’ or find another surname entirely?
I’m resisting now but I’ll probably end up finding another surname. I don’t want to have to deal with readers’ previous association with this name.
Whaah.
Playing in Puddles 