I need a character name with an ambiguous racial/socioeconomic/religious/ethnic background

RondackHiker

Good afternoon ladies! Since you've all helped me so much with my baby name list and always have good suggestions, I thought I'd turn to you for help here.

I'm working on a training program for college students and am drawing a blank. This program will (hopefully) be used all across the country and the group I'm working for wants to include a number of different student backgrounds.

The section I'm currently working on will feature a student named Alison who will appear on screen and she will be talking some about her roommate, who will not be appearing on screen. 

I need a name for Alison's roommate. I'd originally called her Melissa, but the consensus was that sounded too white and middle class, especially since they feel Alison sounds a that way(I know, I know, someone was just flamed for this the other day, but those aren't my words). We have not auditioned for this yet, so Alison very well could be non-white, but they still want a different roommate name and have no suggestions for that name so I'm not 100% sure what they are looking for.

I'm blanking on a name that could hint that roomie could be from any ethnic or socioeconomic or cultural background. 

catahoulatte

Mia?

Alexis?

Sherry?

Those are the names that come to mind of women I've known of various cultura lbackgrounds.

Pearls+Oysters

You want an obvious ethnic name or a subtle hint to background?

I mean, Djamila (Jamilla) is an obviously arabic name, and Sage is a subtle hint to Nature lovers/Eco "green" lifestyle...

RondackHiker

Thanks guys. I'm trying to come up with a list since I'm not sure what they're looking for. Then THEY can pick.

RondackHiker

Pearls+Oysters said:

You want an obvious ethnic name or a subtle hint to background? I mean, Djamila (Jamilla) is an obviously arabic name, and Sage is a subtle hint to Nature lovers/Eco "green" lifestyle...

I didn't get a lot of information beyond Melissa being too white and wanting something else (basically the first post). I'm trying to finish this before mat leave and didn't want to spend a long time asking about this, since I'd rather they give feedback in areas that are more useful and relate to the training itself.

SmileyJay

Alexa

Jordan

Kayla

Marie

I would probably use Alex myself. Alex is the ultimate ambiguous name - use for males and females across all races and backgrounds in the US. It also doesn't hint at a certain amount of femininity when used on a girl. Maybe too close to Alison though. 

Relish1025

Maria
Jasmine
Cheyenne
Shauna
Isabella
Lydia
Tiana
Sierra

Pearls+Oysters

Still unsure what they want exactly but here are some rather obvious ethnic names...

Jamilla
Estrella
Padmina
Lee (score generic, asian, and all socio-economic levels)
Clover
Soleil

HTH

bumpuser9353653

Eve, Brittany, Dana, Jordan, Maria, Shelley, Danielle/Dani, Gabby

Helenahhandbasket

This is harder than I thought-- to come up with names that have no socio-economic connotations.  This is my best shot

Lila

Nina

Renee

Elise

Natalie

Dana

Danielle

Christine/ Kristen

Margaret

Holly

Anna

Mia

 

 

plus12012

CabbageCabbage said:

Maya, Jordan, Lexi, Gabrielle. Those say "generic college aged girl" to me.

Great choices. Maya was the first name I thought of as well.

Pearls+Oysters

Lol I fail at reading comprehension today. Woops?

All of these are great suggestions and I second Maya and will add Sherri/Sherry. Sorry again!

AKB090609

Anna is my first thought as I have known Anna's of nearly every race and religion. My next up would be Sarah or Jessica, likely because there was a Sarah and a Jessica in every classroom I was in from first grade thru grad school!

CarynJeanG

Mila, Alyssa, Ashley, Samantha, Christina, Sophie, Kiana, Danielle, Kate, Jamie, Stephanie, Taylor, Monique, Riley, Jennifer, Gloria, ... This is hard.