Ok Everyone,
Need some advice, I have a charcter in my mauscript named The Rainbow Goddess. She is only in the book for a very short period.
I have just done a search to see is the name is taken in other books
I have found that a book has the name in thr title and is about The Rainbow Goddess.

Should I change mine or would it be alright to leave in.

From what I can gather about the other goodess both characters are completely different.
Will that do??

Nancy, at this stage I think you can stick with the name you have.  If the publishers don't like the fact that there's another Rainbow Goddess out there, they'll ask you to change it.  There's really nothing new under the sun, so any title you pick will probably already be used, but putting two common words like rainbow and goddess together is safe.  Picking made up words (like dumbledore or something someone else has already 'invented') is dangerous.  But that's fine.

Sorry it took me a while to reply.  I was away for the weekend.

Just was not sure on that. I have made up words in my manuscript but they are mine.

Thats big help.

Thanks and there was no rush

I often wondered that too. Also when character names are used, a long time ago reading a fiction I came across a character name that of my cousin, the 1st and surname. She laughed when I told her her name was a main character in a novel. Are you best to use made up names rather than risk choosing a name that is of someone in real life? is it a risk if a name is used that happens to be coincidently a real person especially if by coincidence the events are similar to the persons real life? Not on purpose of course. Instead of using say George Black would it be best or safer to use Jorje Blakmertonson? That was just an example
Chantellie

So many people in the world and not enough names!

You can always have something in the front of your book along the lines of "This story is completely fictional and any resemblance to any person, either living or dead, is entirely coincidental."

But... if you use the name of someone you know personally, they could probably argue in a court of law that you've deliberately used them.  If you use a name and don't know anyone with that name, however, I'm pretty sure you're safe.

Hope this helps