For a lot of writers, naming characters is a huge challenge. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration. The mountain of advice on this topic is gargantuan. Character names: shouldn’t be too similar, should fit the character, highlight some virtue or flaw, be ironic or misleading, revelatory, be lived up – or down – to, show relationship…the list is endless. And the reasoning is sound. The right name can deepen characterization, add foreshadowing, irony or mood all while expanding the plot. The name Stan, for instance, is close to “stand” and might indicate personality traits of determination or stubbornness. It might also suggest that, when the climax comes, Stan will not run away. Or, if Stan does run away, his name provides an ironic plot twist.

Character names are among the author’s  most subtle, yet effective, tools in communicating with readers, so finding the right one is important. Having just…