Question about using real people's names in fiction prompts

I keep seeing people post prompts here where they use names like 'David' or 'Sarah' and treat them like generic stand-ins. But if I write a story about a character named David who runs a shady business, and my neighbor David reads it, he might think it's about him even if it's not. I had a buddy last year write a short story about a 'Jenny' from the local coffee shop, and the actual Jenny there got super weird about it. Am I overthinking this or do other people worry about naming characters after strangers?

2 comments

2 Comments

wendy_bell8315h ago

My neighbor Bill wrote a book where a character named Phil was a total creep, and you know what? I know three Phils, not one of them got mad. Here's the thing - names like David or Sarah are so common that your neighbor would have to be a narcissist to think a story about a random David is about him. Last year I had a student named David and another one in a different class, nobody batted an eye. If you're really worried, slap a last name on there or pick a name that's not remotely close. Honestly, people who get weird about this need to get a life and stop making everything about themselves.

blake_cooper9h ago

You really think three Phils not getting mad proves anything? That's like saying nobody got food poisoning from the same restaurant so it must be clean. Word gets around, people. I knew a guy named Jerry who flipped out when his boss used that name for a villain in a company newsletter, and he had every right to be annoyed because it was clearly based on him. And honestly, @wendy_bell83, saying someone is a narcissist for being bothered is a bit much. Some folks just don't want to see their name dragged through the mud, even if it's common. It's not about making it about themselves, it's about basic respect.