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 think this depends on the story. I try to think a bit about the character I am about to create. That helps give a name. I also write up a biography of all the main characters. This may be all at once or as the story, and the characters, develop. I don't keep them in alphabetical order but in groups. Husband and wife plus children together. Work clusters and so on.
When naming a character you really need to think about there history. Are they named after a dead relative? Or anything like that. Think about there parents history as well which can really help you come up with the right name for you to use.
You may find it helps to define some of your characters with signpost-name.
There are many good examples out there. Thomas Hardy names a character Gabriel Oak. The name defines the character as a strong, hard working, honest, loyal, religious man.
Another of Hardy's characters is called Alec D'urberville. His first name, Alexander, suggests the conqueror, as in Alexander the Great, who seizes what he wants regardless of moral propriety. You can make the word Devil out of D'urberville.