How to name story characters? Is it necessary that a name represents the personality or a trait of the respective character or can it be anything? Also, how to a name a character that is from a place where I have never been to? There are so many options on the internet for names, but I am not sure which one's are right.
I went to the library recently and read the jackets... so many Ethan's!! Maybe check out your local library, see what's trending and start a don't use list!
The top baby name lists from previous years can help - so the 1986 list for a 33 year old, 2011 for a 9 year old.
I think names really say a character, so if there's an elderly female relative a floral name could well work as Dora, Doris, Mary etc.
Older male names (British)you can never lose with a Percy, Jack, William or Peter.
The name game is certainly changing, anything can be a name these days! I never like to use more than one name that can sound too similar like female names with an 'ie' Emilie, Katie, Natalie. The country of the name can have such an impact too on the reader such as 'Vivian' or 'Pierre' if French.
I also try to avoid names in the media, Meghan, Harry etc. or prolific names in literature, Hermione, Ron etc.
Hope that helps!
As a children's writer I make up all these wonderful imaginary names, that mostly just pop into my head. If I do need a character for an adult novel then I tend to look at names in my family tree or a name book. I once created a character called Prince Mallar, and the name I just totally made up in my head. But then panic stations alerted me that the name Maller could actually mean something in another language. I am not aware that it does mean anything and as yet this book has not been published. But if I wanted to used a foreign name, then I think I would ask my search engine, may be for a list of French or Spanish names.
The other one is, if I can't think of a character name then I will think of a name as the story is developing, as quite often the story can influence a name. If there's a bit of a mystery in the story then look up your characters surname (if there is one) and find out where the name comes from.
I keep a list. If I come across an interesting Christian or Surname I make a note of it for possible future use. It works for all nationalities because I need Spanish, Portuguese and French names, as well as English.
One of my baddies was named after a convicted paedophile and George Elliot character mixed together :)