Every character needs a name. Names set up so much in a story. They can tell era, tone, maybe even communicate a backstory. It’s seems like small decisions to pick names but it is not. I’ve come into a story knowing a main character’s name before even writing a single word, or I’ve used placeholders and come back after significant consideration and named a character.
I’ve looked around the room and taken names from items lying around. A name is important. It’s how we, as humans decided to identify individuals. It’s because of that, and Characters need names. That way, the reader compiles the amalgam of your words into a personality that reads true.
I’m curious if other writers have methods to name characters. Do other authors view naming as important or ancillary? What’s some ways you’ve used to name the characters in your stories?