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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40579
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40579
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

It's a good idea to decide early on on a naming scheme. That is, do you want names that sound like they belong to a particular time and place? Particular times and places (plural) for various groups within your story? Do you want names that are almost real, but not quite? (For example Eddart, from G.R.R. Martin's _Song of Ice and Fire_ is almost, but not quite, Edward.) Do you want names that are very clearly not RL names (e.g. Severus Snape)? Do you want names that give a subtle hint about something pertaining to the character?

The reason you want to have a framework early on is twofold: first, within some frame of reference it's easier to pick a name than within the infinite possibilities of letter combinations that could potentially be names. Second, when you have such a frame, the names sound like they all "belong together" - they're all from the same world. Having a mix of regular and irregular names can work (the trope is known as [Aerith and Bob](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AerithAndBob)), but only if it's a deliberate choice.

As for particular names, they come eventually. Don't be afraid to start with something that more or less fits your intention, and then change it later if you find something better. For example, Strider (Aragorn) was originally named Trotter. And Frodo was originally Bingo.

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