Transfan Fanfic Rants

Number Seven: Cybertronians With Human Names

Rant Number Seven: Cybertronians With Human Names

So . . .

Pretty self-explanatory, right? 

It seems pretty obvious, honestly. But, well, this happens. And it drives some people absolutely INSANE when they see a Cybertronian with a human name. Honestly? I'm definitely NOT a fan of these moments.

Honestly, Stay is a actually a fair example of changing these things. Tracy. She doesn't keep her human name when she shifts from human to Cybertronian. She changes it to something more appropriate for a Cybertronian. JewelBlade. During her bout as a 'Decepticon', it was Blade-Runner.

The point is, she doesn't just go, 'Oh, keep calling me Tracy even though I'm now a gigantic alien robot.'

Um . . . No . . .

So, just one question: why do people do this? It's just . . . inappropriate . . . It really is.

Why? Just why?

What inspires people to go 'Even though this name sounds like it's meant for a teenage girl, it'll be great for a robot from another planet!'

Wait . . . what? Okay . . .

To be fair, some human names are a bit . . . eccentric. And actually fairly fitting for Cybertronians. Like Robin. Robin actually wouldn't be bad. What comes to mind when I hear Robin for a Cybertronian, though?

A small, delicate femme. Fairly shy. I may or may not use this name in the future . . . Dunno.

But a name like, say, Mary? (Made up as far as I know, at least as it pertains to a Cybertronian OC.)

Please. Spare me. Just no.

If you're going to do a human name for a Cybertronian, pick an eccentric name that already sounds kind of odd by human standards. Like, say, um . . . Patience. Okay, please don't actually use this name for an OC. It's just . . . a really weird name by Cybertronian and human standards. But I actualy knew a girl whose name was Patience. I shit you not.

She was an amazing, beautiful, talented girl, and the sweetest damn thing on the planet. Fun to talk to, tall. The whole nine yards. Like, she was the kind of girl guys would be too scared to approach because she's just that amazing.

But her name is . . . well, it's out there. And kind of odd. And begs for a bit of teasing. But she's awesome.

Anyway, back on topic. Pick a name that can actually sound like it BELONGS to a Cybertronian. IronHide. BumbleBee (actually, that one makes me laugh a little. Sounds very . . . delicate compared to some of the others, and yet he's got a lot of grit), Jazz, BlackOut, KnockOut, SoundWave, ShockWave, Megatron/Megatronus/D-16, Optimus Prime/Orion Pax, etc. You get the idea. These don't sound like human names. There's a distinct line to be drawn, and while there is some gray area, it should be ventured into with caution, not just crossed without a second thought.

Please. Just please, please, please, name your characters with thought and caution. If they're human, give them a human name. If they're Cybertronian, give them a Cybertronian-esque name.

It's kind of like superheroes. You have a distinct difference between a civilian name and the superhero's name. You don't see a civilian named Joker, nor do you see a superhero named Carl. It's just not done. And for a good reason.

"Hey, Joker! Did you get those papers done for the presentation today?"

"Look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's CARL! We're saved!"

See the problem? It doesn't work for a reason. It's just . . . almost painful to see. Do you know how long it's taken me to come up with some names for OC's? I put quite a bit of thought just in naming the Cyberwolves. And even then I wasn't entirely sure about the names.

Please, just . . . Don't just pick the first name that sounds half-decent. Pick a few and think it over. Have criteria. Have standards. And for the love of Primus, don't name your Cybertronian OC Sharon or George or something. It's weird as all get out and kinda creepy  . . .

Do your research if you're going to get involved in the transfan universe, and name your OC's appropriately. Please and thank you.