What's with the naming?

[Chosen Enemy]

Joss is known for giving uncommon names to his characters, names you don't see everyday. At least not back then when he chose them. Like Buffy, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Winifred, etc. Those names are fimiliar, but not very common.

Do you think Joss did this on purpose, like he wanted to stand out?
I did hear that he gave Buffy her name because he wanted the situation where someone says that name and will straightly think of his show and the character of the vampire slayer. But what about the others?

 

[BuffyElevated]

I do think he chose lesser known names for the purpose of trying to be unique. I always loved this though... I liked the "weird" names 🙂

 

[sisterofmercy]

I guess by choosing obscure names Joss was making the statement that it wasn't going to be just another teen centred drama. There are no Rachels, etc. if that makes sense. Plus I guess names like Xander kind of go with the sci-fi genre.

 

[The Unspoken]

Buffy's name is supposed to contrast the mundane with the mystical, genre subversion and all that.

As for Xander:

Xander's name was chosen due to its similarity to the fish species zander, as zanders look very similar to pikes, Pike being Buffy's sidekick in the non-canon film.

 

[mayfever]

I always thought Buffy was called Buffy because there was supposed to be a contrast between the cutesy name and the actual kick-ass heroine.

 

[prophecygrrl]

Cordelia is also the name of a character in King Lear. I don't know if it's a *deliberate* reference on Joss's part, but I'm pretty sure it is...they're both known for being very honest and telling it like it is.

 

[Username]

Drusilla is an uncommon name right, the only other Drusilla I know is Caligula's sister..

I kinda like that Joss gave 'em names like that 😀

 

[MinwaraYana]

Willow is also known as a girl who likes to whip her hair back and forth. 😀

And yeah, I think Joss meant it.

 

[Ianigsy]

I used to work with somebody who nearly married a woman called Buffy in a drunken Vegas wedding.

Weirdly enough, he's called John.

 

[Willow My Love]

Tara's not a weird name. Neither is Jenny.

 

[Icarium]

Tara's not a weird name. Neither is Jenny.

True, but Jenny's real name is Jana. Which is common enough in some countries, while not in the USA, though.

On the subject of names I remember a quote from a fanfic - "We've battled Angel, Faith, Adam, and now there's this Glory beast. Who's next"”the Virgin Mary?"🙂

Joss seems to have predilection for names who can also be used as common nouns - Willow, Faith, Harmony, Spike, etc.