I keep a list of every named character, along with a brief description, if given (I tend not to over-describe them), and when they were first introduced. Currently the list has grown to over 300 names. Many of these are obviously minor characters or even off-hand references to people who never appear on-screen, but I've tried nevertheless to keep the names distinct.
When adding a new character, the first thing I do (unless I already have a name in mind) is work out the birth year and look up the most popular names for that year. There are many sites that give this information (using census data for the US). For example, here's babycenter's list for 2000, giving the top 200 girls' and boys' names. This is useful for walk-on characters when I don't want a particularly memorable name, or when the background of the character suggests the parents would've picked a popular or conventional name.
If the character has a non-Anglo background, there are plenty of lists giving name suggestions online. Other resources:
- Quirky hippie names for boys and girls
- Unusual baby names
- Traditional baby names making a comeback
- Exotic baby girl names
- Baby names with powerful meanings
Recently I counted up how many names I'd used starting with each letter, and compared this to a list of the most common initials, to see which initials I'd overused and underused. I discovered I had too many S, C, R and T names, and not enough A, J, E, K, I and O names. It gets a little more complicated, though, because I have several major characters with J names (Jesse, Joy, Jenny), so I definitely don't need more. Whereas I only have one "major" S and R character in recent books, so I could choose S or R for my new character.
Anyway, I still haven't found a name for the new character, but for the record here are all the names I've used so far from books 1 to 6 only, with (I hope) non-spoilery descriptions. The dates/books given are when they are first mentioned by name, not when they first appear on the page.
Character
|
Description
|
First mentioned
|
Book
|
Aaron
|
Keira’s little brother,
good at cyberstalking
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Agustina
|
W’s physics group project
partner
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Aiden
|
Wynter’s foster brother
in Olympia
|
Aug 2013
|
3
|
Alexis
|
10th grade English class,
finds Light article
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Alice
|
Jesse’s gf from
Milwaukee
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Alonzo
|
Mateo’s 7yo son
|
Jul 2013
|
2
|
Althea (Amy)
|
teacher at ashram
|
Mar 2014
|
3
|
Alyssa Palermo
|
Katrina’s oldest daughter
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Amanda Whittington
|
beach party 2009 w Caleb
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Andrew
|
bass guitarist for
Chestnut Dreams
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Anita Green
|
high school counselor
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Anke
|
German backpacker
|
Mar 2014
|
3
|
Antonio Toscano
|
security firm owner
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Ariana
|
Mateo’s 8yo daughter
|
Jul 2013
|
2
|
Arlo
|
recording studio
receptionist in London
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Arthur Yu
|
drummer for Clockwork
Toys
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Barry, Mr
|
W’s 8th grade science
teacher
|
May 2013
|
2
|
Beatrice / Bea Hayes
|
Caleb’s gf
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Beck Clifton
|
drummer for Crunch
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Ben
|
vocalist for Wages &
Gifts
|
Aug 2013
|
2
|
Ben Trimmer
|
FBI Special Agent
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Bethany Brighton
|
Mackenzie’s mom at Disney
party
|
Sep 2014
|
6
|
Bill (William) Brown
|
Ellie, Patricia &
Katrina’s father, ran diner
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Blatt, Dr
|
ENT specialist
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Bob
|
sound guy for Calhuun
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Bonnie
|
vocalist for Indio’s funk
blues band
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Brian
|
Wynter’s foster father in
Olympia
|
Aug 2013
|
3
|
Brice
|
works at mini golf
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Caleb Henry Fairn
|
Wynter’s oldest brother
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Calhuun
|
Tim & Stephen’s EDM
band
|
Jun 2014
|
4
|
Calliope
|
email sender
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Castiglioni, Mrs
|
elderly weed dealer
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Cathy Driscoll, Ms
|
music teacher in junior
high
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Celeste
|
receptionist at AZ
retreat
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Charity Thorne
|
singer and preacher’s
daughter from Texas
|
Jul 2013
|
2
|
Charlie Bryant
|
journalist writing about
the Light
|
Feb 2014
|
3
|
Charmaine
|
Harry’s fiancée
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Chloe
|
Caleb’s gf before Bea
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Chris
|
boy shopping for drums
with dad
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Chrissie Salinger
|
17yo who kissed 14yo
Jesse
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Christina
|
Lydia and Rebecca’s
friend at party
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Claire
|
Indio’s UK gf
|
May 2014
|
4
|
Clarice
|
chicken
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Cody
|
Jesse’s friend,
anniversary party
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Colin
|
sound guy at Only Tony’s
gig
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Corey
|
Roman’s “friend” in
Eugene
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Curtis
|
mini golf owner
|
Apr 2014
|
2
|
Daisy Palermo
|
Katrina’s youngest
daughter
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Danny / Dan
|
drug dealer in Beacon
Hill
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Dante
|
Mateo’s 2yo son
|
Jul 2013
|
2
|
Darlene
|
Curtis’s wife
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Debra
|
Wynter’s foster mother in
Olympia
|
Aug 2013
|
3
|
Deedee
|
Wynter’s teddy
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Delilah
|
Jesse’s gf, dumped over
ethics issue
|
Nov 2013
|
3
|
Diamond
|
Jessica’s friend
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Diane
|
Beck’s gf
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Dickie
|
druggie from Bonnie’s
band
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Dimiti Dime
|
Indio’s comic strip
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Donald
|
Doris’s husband
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Doris
|
elderly woman at
retirement home
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Dusk
|
Jesse’s hippie gf
|
Oct 2014
|
6
|
Dwayne Orion
|
media mogul in Seattle
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Eduardo / Eddie
|
drummer for Blunderbelly
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Edwina
|
chicken
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Effie Gavras
|
Jesse’s girl from laser
tag
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Eleanor
|
pink-haired trigger-happy
groupie
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Eliza
|
keyboardist for Mail
Order Chicks
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Ember Morant
|
Xay’s mother
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Emilia
|
10th grade English class,
finds Light article
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Emmanuelle
Heathcote-Brown (Ellie)
|
Patricia & Katrina’s
sister
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Eric
|
Marcus’s brother, W’s
first bf
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Esmeralda Grey
|
Indio’s girlfriend at age
8, with goldfish
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Ethan Burke
|
bass player for Clockwork
Toys
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Eve Whittington
|
beach party in 2009
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Evita
|
student who sells Jesse
brownies
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Felicity
|
online “friend” with PI
uncle
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Fiona
|
Sarah’s friend, in W’s
music class
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Frances Feeny
|
Indio’s gf in junior year
of high school
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Frankie
|
E Sharp owner
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Gareth
|
Turk’s friend, guitarist
for Wages & Gifts
|
May 2013
|
2
|
Gerald, Ms
|
W’s 8th grade music
teacher
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Giselle
|
buys Indio’s guitar
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Gladys
|
chicken
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Gwen
|
Alice’s friend whose
party Jesse missed
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Hal Brimley
|
sound guy, Scott’s cousin
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Harry Fairn
|
Miriam’s first husband
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Hatendi, Mr
|
W’s 10th grade physics
teacher
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Heather
|
Curtis’s younger daughter
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Heidi
|
owner of dive bar in
Longview
|
May 2013
|
2
|
Helen
|
guitar buyer
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Hillary
|
Danny’s friend at drug
house
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Howard Dromaine
|
deputy sheriff
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Hunter
|
guitarist for Clockwork
Toys
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Hypatia
|
goat
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Ian Dietrich
|
criminal lawyer at FBI
interview
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Idette
|
German backpacker
|
Mar 2014
|
3
|
Indio Fairn
|
Wynter’s older brother, Joy’s twin
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Isabella
|
Jesse’s gf from Seville
|
Feb 2014
|
3
|
James Robinson
|
couple who bought Seattle
house
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Javel
|
driver in London
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Jenny Leung
|
Indio’s gf
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Jeremiah
|
bass player for Crunch
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Jesse Walter Fairn
|
Wynter’s older brother
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Jessica Palermo
|
Katrina’s
second daughter
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Jilly
|
Bea’s daughter
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Joey Clifton / Rosie
|
tattoo artist
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Joy Fairn
|
Wynter’s older sister, Indio’s twin
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Kamala
|
Jenny’s photographer
friend
|
Oct 2014
|
6
|
Karel
|
Wynter’s stuffed robot
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Kathryn Hayes
|
Bea’s mom
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Katrina Heathcote-Brown
|
Patricia’s sister
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Keira Grantwell
|
Stacey’s friend
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Kevin Tsang
|
Jenny’s high school bf
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Klementine Turk
|
Turk’s middle sister
|
Nov 2013
|
3
|
Koshava
|
Miriam’s attendant
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Lachlan
|
Eliza’s brother
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Lavinia
|
Keira’s mother’s friend
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Lawrence Heathcote
|
Patricia’s uncle
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Lawson, Mr
|
Indio and Wynter’s art
teacher
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Led
|
Turk’s kitten
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Leonard Yu
|
Arthur’s older brother
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Les “Buckaroo” Donovan
|
Jenny’s grandfather
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Lewis Shanck
|
boy that Indio beat up
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Lexie
|
Harry’s dog
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Lia Turk
|
Turk’s oldest sister
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Linda
|
Althea’s sister
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Ling, Mrs
|
W’s 8th grade homeroom
teacher
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Lisa Truman
|
Jesse’s 11th grade gf
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Liu, Dr
|
Caleb’s doc
|
Feb 2014
|
3
|
Loretta Robinson
|
couple who bought Seattle
house
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Lottie / Goldilottie
|
Jesse’s 8th grade gf
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Lucy Gerarchi
|
Jesse’s wealthy gf
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Luke Casiano
|
security firm, highwayman
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Lulu
|
chicken
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Lydia
|
Jesse’s gf for costume
party
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Mackenzie
|
birthday girl at party where
Jesse DJs
|
Oct 2014
|
6
|
Madeline
|
foster sister in Olympia
|
Aug 2013
|
3
|
Maggie
|
vocalist for Crunch &
Mail Order Chicks
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Malcolm Leventhal
|
Miriam’s second husband
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Malika
|
Neil Hester’s assistant
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Marcus
|
Jesse’s best friend
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Marshall
|
Keira’s cousin
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Martha
|
music teacher at
Frankie’s
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Martinique, Mrs
|
childhood neighbor of the
boys
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Mason
|
W’s physics group project
partner
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Mateo
|
Caleb’s colleague, Fourth
July bbq
|
Jul 2013
|
2
|
Matilda
|
chicken
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Meg Whitfeld
|
Jesse’s first gf that
counts
|
May 2013
|
2
|
Meghan
|
realtor
|
Feb 2014
|
3
|
Meisa
|
bass player for Mail
Order Chicks
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Mick
|
guy at Halloween party
|
Oct 2014
|
5
|
Mikaela
|
Stacey’s friend, plays
violin
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Miriam Wild
|
Wynter’s mother
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Munroe, Mr
|
dance committee member
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Myra
|
admin office in junior
high
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Natalie
|
Jesse’s gf when Wynter
first meets him
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Nathan
|
W’s foster brother in
Olympia
|
Aug 2013
|
3
|
Neil Hester
|
Copper Beach Records
producer in London
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Nessie
|
van
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Neville
|
Patricia’s older cousin
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Neysa
|
Jesse’s gf before Wynter
met him
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Nguyen, Councilman
|
Rosa’s councilman
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Nico
|
Miriam’s attendant
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Nicole
|
Caleb’s date at Japanese
restaurant
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Nilusha
|
Tai chi instructor at
ashram
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Nora Lakatos, Mrs
|
singing teacher
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Okeanos
|
yoga instructor at AZ
retreat
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Olivia
|
Caleb’s gf who brings
lemon tree
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Oscar Ozolins
|
vocal coach in Monroe
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Paige Palermo
|
Katrina’s third daughter
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Paislee / Paiz
|
Marcus’s gf, comes to
costume party
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Patricia Brown
|
owner of Patty’s
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Paul
|
Bea’s fiancé
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Pavel
|
Dusk’s stepdad
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Pearl
|
chicken
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Penelope
|
proposed previous owner
of W’s overalls
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Pennington, Mr
|
vice principal of junior high
|
May 2013
|
2
|
Perry, Mrs
|
W’s 9th grade math
teacher
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Piper
|
Turk’s gf / Indio’s
encounter
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Rachel Orlev
|
principal in junior high
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
Rafael
|
Lucy’s Filipino maid
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Rain Legates
|
Joy’s Aussie roommate
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Raya
|
girl from ashram who
moves to Thailand
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Rebecca
|
Indio’s blind date
(Lydia’s friend)
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Renata
|
Mateo’s wife
|
Jul 2013
|
2
|
Richard Palermo
|
Katrina’s husband
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Ricky
|
guitarist for Crunch
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Ripley
|
goat
|
Jul 2014
|
4
|
Rob
|
Jesse’s friend/bandmate
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Roberto, Mr
|
W’s 9th grade homeroom
teacher
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Roman
|
Xays’ best friend
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Rosa (Dr Rosamund Meyers)
|
foster mother in Richland
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Rosie
|
Joey’s nickname
|
Jun 2014
|
4
|
Ru Shi
|
Jesse’s study partner
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Rubylynn
|
Jesse’s hair stylist
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Ryan
|
Madeline’s ex-bf
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Sally
|
Turk’s girlfriend
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Sam Hawthorn
|
guitarist mentioned by
Arthur
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Sarah
|
Hunter’s gf
|
Mar 2013
|
2
|
Scott
|
sound guy, Jesse’s friend
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Sean
|
Joy’s husband
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Serena
|
Jessica’s friend
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Sharmila
|
Stacey’s friend
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Shelley Lysterfield
|
promoter
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Shona
|
journalist in London
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Skar
|
boys’ childhood dog
|
Feb 2013
|
1
|
Sokolov, Mr
|
Jesse’s high school counselor
|
May 2014
|
4
|
Stacey Abrams
|
W’s 8th grade friend
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Stefan
|
Jenny’s actor bf
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Stella
|
Joy’s friend from Light
|
Dec 2013
|
3
|
Stephen Calhuun
|
musician in London
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Steve Wensel
|
guitarist option for
Soggy Breakfast
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Stubby
|
sound guy at 3rd gig
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Suki
|
Eleanor’s friend at
Rule212 gig
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Suzanne Norris
|
Caleb’s 10th grade dance
date
|
Mar 2014
|
3
|
Svetlana Verenich
|
W’s social worker in
Olympia
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Sylvia Heathcote
|
mother of Ellie, Patricia,
Katrina
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Tabitha
|
Lucy’s friend
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Taiya Wiseman
|
writer for Seattle
Song
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Tamara
|
Stacey’s friend at
sleepover
|
Apr 2013
|
2
|
Tanesha
|
Alice’s friend, psych
major
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Theresa
|
W’s swimming instructor
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Thomas
|
librarian in Burlington,
VT
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Thu
|
works at mini golf
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Tien
|
teaches at dojo
|
Nov 2013
|
3
|
Tiffany
|
Curtis’s elder daughter
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Tim Calhuun
|
musician in London
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Timon
|
previous owner of Nessie
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Tina Campbell
|
social worker
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Tony
|
owner of Only Tony’s
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Trevor Flemming
|
old friend of Harry’s
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Tubbs, Mr
|
Jesse’s stuffed rabbit
|
Aug 2014
|
5
|
Turk (Anže Turk)
|
Indio’s best friend,
guitarist for Blunderbelly
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Vanessa / Nessie
|
van
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Varpu
|
Heathcotes’ au pair
|
Nov 2014
|
6
|
Veronica Moretti
|
FBI Special Agent
|
Dec 2014
|
6
|
Vince
|
vocalist for Soggy
Breakfast
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Vivienne Benedict
|
Instagram influencer,
Marcus’s cousin
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Walter Heathcote-Brown
|
Ellie, Patricia &
Katrina’s brother
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Wellesley, Mr
|
high school librarian
|
Mar 2014
|
4
|
Wigney, Mrs
|
W’s English teacher in
senior year
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
William (Bill) Brown
|
Ellie, Patricia & Katrina’s father, ran diner
|
Sep 2014
|
5
|
Willow
|
yoga instructor at AZ
Retreat
|
Apr 2014
|
4
|
Wilma
|
mother goat
|
Jul 2014
|
4
|
Wynter
|
girl from ashram
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Xay / Xavier Morant
|
W’s friend from ashram
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Yannis, Mr
|
W’s 8th grade math
teacher
|
Jan 2013
|
1
|
Yvonne
|
session singer for
Calhuun
|
Jul 2014
|
5
|
Zack
|
Madeline’s older brother
|
Oct 2013
|
3
|
Zeppelin / Zep
|
Turk’s kitten
|
Sep 2013
|
3
|
Zoe
|
Harry’s first Seattle gf
|
Feb 2013
|
2
|
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