I am at such a conflict right now

[Guest]

So, my MC has a love interest names Kainaat. To add some spark to their slow-burn, at a very vulnerable moment where he is expressing himself, I make him speak to her by a sort of a nick name. I wanted him to keep a name for her that no one else uses. And so, he calls her as "Kai"...

Now, the other day, I was watched a bookstageam reel where this character Kaito is called by their love interest as "Kai" and this is also a special moment of that name.

I do not want to change the name of my female lead. Does this sound like a situation where I should think of a different name? This is purely coincidental. I have had this name for four years now in my book. Just disappointed it existed as "Kai" in another book as a nick name for a love interest as well.

Will appreciate thoughts from a reader's perspective. Thanks!

[Nathan]

My (male) main character's love interest is a Prince named Lucian, and he calls him "Luce" (pronounced ”loose”).

I had this idea before The Owl House came out, and that show has the main character named Luz, pronounced the same way.

[JJ Alleson]

I discovered that one of my sexy male characters had the same name as a six-year-old American actress. My own name is the same as several male Korean pop stars, actors etc. What can you do? Leave it as it is.

[Nikki]

Since Kai is actually not that uncommon a name, I wouldn’t worry about it. It undoubtedly has been used in other places like this. Just make this moment special in your book.

You can check also: I need last name ideas…

[Sapphire]

I wouldn't worry about it or be too disheartened by it. No matter what name you choose it will undoubtedly be featured elsewhere as well. Keep your chin up. You have no need to alter a four year investment because someone had the same idea as you. Great minds think alike.

[Larae]

If the name were JoAnn and you used Jo for short and then saw it elsewhere you wouldn’t think twice. Because the name is common. I think you are fine. Good luck with your book! Hope you have a great day.

[Becky]

I think there will be tons of books out there with a similar if not same nickname/name.

If we worried about it we would never get anywhere.

Is this book mainstream? If its hugely well known then yeah, I would maybe look at it but not otherwise x

Don't forget to take a look at: For my high-school thriller I need a name for an elite clique

[Lennart]

You say this like there aren’t billions of books out there on the market. *Every* name has already been used. So if that is something that bothers you, you wouldn’t be able to have any characters at all. Accept that you’re not the first person that’s ever written a story and keep writing yours.

[Courtney]

Kai is a fairly common name both as a nickname and full name. No reader is going to care. If no one has ever called her that in your world, then it would still be special and notable to your characters in that world.