Interesting question, this.  I think the ML should talk about it, it's a
valid writing concern, IMO.

How do you pick out new Japanese names for your fanfics (first name and
surname)???  Can you give me a list (of sample first, then surnames)?

I don't know about everyone else....

I used to just pick something that sounded good.

But what I NOW go for is the same trick I believe a lot of manga/anime
writers go for - have the name represent something about the character.
This is not to say I don't still do the above, I just try to make the name
mean something as well.

Here's a bunch of examples:

(family name first)

In Mirai Muyo!:

Ikamono Ai (Fake love) - Tenchi's ex-girlfriend
Tansei Tsurai (Noble Heart Breaker) - The "casanova" of the high school
Gen'you Takeshi (Empty Name, Brave) - The school bully

>From Shieldsman:

Akasei Kaneda (Red Star of Steel) - Mars' Shieldsman and True Love...his
British name ended up to be Ares Steele.

>From Tenchi Muyo - The One:

Ichi (One, oddly enough) - Washu's many-times-great grandson and the result
of a breeding experiment.

>From Turn the Page:

Akuma (Demon) - son of Ryoko/Tenchi
Yosho (???? - named after Tenchi's grandfather) - son of Ayeka/Tenchi
Kesshu (devotion/concentration) - son of Washu/Tenchi (busy guy, ain't he?)
Toraneko (tabby cat) - daughter of Ryo-Ohki/Ichi

--
Christopher "God-boy" Angel
c_j_angel@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/7040/
"I'm your worst nightmare - a manga
nut with a power ring."  Green Lantern