writingbox:

I hear a lot of writers saying that they have trouble naming characters, but there are loads of places to go for inspiration;

• Online name generators; such as Seventh Sanctum, Serendipity, etc
• The census; there are census name generators online like this one
• The phone book
• The credits on tv programmes/movies
• The thank you list in books/CDs
• People you went to school with

Just remember to mix these names up (trust me, naming your villain after your ex is not a great idea!) Also, Google the names to make sure you’re not naming your characters after someone well known.

When you find a name you like, say it out loud. Make sure the first and last name sound alright together. Introduce your character out loud, introduce them to your other characters. Let your ears hear the sound of the name.

Also, check out my post 5 Things to Avoid when Naming Characters