A Question of Devotion

I am having name issues. This time, it is person names.

When I choose a name for a character in anything I write, I either feel utterly devoted to it or completely indifferent. I write the details to get the personality out, but often, it starts as a name and I visualize what that name means to me first.

I named the best friend of the main character in my WIP, Kira, short for Kiranda. I never met a Kiranda, but a few Kiras. Recently, I've been seeing Kira in books. Seeing that this was one of the names I am indifferent to, I am thinking about changing it. But to change it, I would feel more comfortable if I changed her.

She is my MC's best friend.  But with this new name I have come up with, I see her change in appearance, race and if I keep writing her up as I have been in my notes, her personality.. which would change my MC, who I am at that devoted stage with, seeing as she is my MC.  I changed the last name of one character a few months ago and that only made him French in name as well as nationality, so why is this so much more? Maybe because Kira's such a strong personality already, I am scared to mess with her. Or perhaps I am more devoted to her than I thought.

I am not on a deadline here. I can completely change things up and maybe I'll feel better about the character once known as Kira. It will only take, what, a few weeks?

One thing I remind myself of a lot is that it's my book and I can do whatever I want to. Heck, if I can name a town Detroipia, I suppose I can do anything. Eventually, I will have to be happy with the piece, but when will that ever be?

Ah, I guess that is a post for another time.