A thought on names:
Notwithstanding the aforementioned, a basic determination to be made (other than the general cultural setting of the character) is "Do I want to convey or implicit something with the name?"
A name like "Par Cival" for example, or Glance A'Lot for that matter <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />, would, in the western culture at least, insinuate a knightly warrior - and if the hero is not such a character, it would irritate the reader.
Therefor any name chosen should be checked against this question, whether it does or does not imply, trigger, or else pre-set the reader's imagination, and if yes, whether the author intends this or not.
