Well, I love [name]Sherlock[/name] [name]Holmes[/name] and [name]Agatha[/name] [name]Christie[/name], and I decided it would be fun to try my own hand at mystery writing. This idea popped into my head, and now all I need are names. The main character/detective is a teenage girl who is very intelligent. She loves to read and studies a lot. Her first case concerns her neighbor, and she was sort of thrown into the case. Her partner is her best friend. He’s a reporter for the (school?) newspaper, which gives him cover for asking police questions. He’s also great at disguises. Then we’ve got a bald, slightly overweight police chief and his skinnier, brainier, pimply assistant. So, here’s some names I’ve been considering:
Main character:
It needs to be intelligent, but unique.
[name]Violet[/name] [name]Grey[/name]: First name that I thought of. [name]Grey[/name] would be the last name.
[name]Chess[/name]: A word name I’ve been crushing on. Thought it might work, but I’d need a mn and last.
Margeaux: I think it’s really cool, but it’d need the right middle and last names.
[name]Magnolia[/name]: Sorta iffy on this one
Best friend/Partner:
Most of the ones I thought of I didn’t like. It needs to go with the MC’s name but not too matchy-matchy.
[name]Phoenix[/name]/[name]Nix[/name]: [name]Just[/name] thought of this! I like it!
[name]Oliver[/name]: Seems a little too trendy
[name]Peregrine[/name]: Doesn’t seem to go with any of my MC names
Police Chief:
It needs to be awkward and big sounding.
[name]Humphrey[/name]: Top pick.
[name]Hugo[/name]: Something about the Hs …
Assistant:
It needs to be geeky-ish.
[name]Elmer[/name]: Top pick.
[name]Clarence[/name]: Maybe too classy-sounding?
So, any you really like? [name]Do[/name] you have any suggestions? What about middle and lasts? Thanks everybody!
Main Character
[name]Violet[/name] [name]Gray[/name] is too much colour. [name]Chess[/name] could be a nn for [name]Frances[/name] or [name]Francesca[/name]. Personally, I think [name]Frances[/name] “sounds” more intelligent than the frilly [name]Francesca[/name]. What about [name]Frances[/name] [name]Grey[/name] nn [name]Chess[/name]? The [name]Margot[/name] spelling “looks” more intelligent than the trendier looking Margeaux in my opinion. I’m not feeling [name]Magnolia[/name] “fits” your character description but [name]Maggie[/name] sure would.
Partner/Best [name]Friend[/name] Character Name
If you’re going with a longish “Mc” surname, I would suggest you choose something Celtic or one-syllable. [name]How[/name] about [name]Jude[/name], [name]Griffin[/name], [name]Dylan[/name], [name]Tristan[/name], [name]Finn[/name], [name]Trevor[/name] or [name]Reid[/name]?
Police Chief Character Name
[name]Humphrey[/name] is a good choice for a big and awkward guy. I also think [name]Walter[/name], [name]Cornelius[/name] and [name]Oscar[/name] would fit the bill.
Assistant Character Name
[name]Elmer[/name] is certainly a good name for a geek. [name]Dexter[/name], [name]Lionel[/name], [name]Dunstan[/name], [name]Bernard[/name], [name]Hubert[/name] or [name]Gerald[/name] would be other suggestions.
Sounds a lot like [name]Nancy[/name] [name]Drew[/name]–like almost exactly…so I’d steer clear of names that feel similar.
Main character:
[name]Minerva[/name] nn [name]Minnie[/name]
[name]Jill[/name] - this name has always sounded smart to me for whatever reason, could be from [name]Jillian[/name]
[name]Shell[/name] - from [name]Shelley[/name]
[name]Olive[/name]- also sound quirky and intelligent to me
You could get to [name]Chess[/name] with [name]Chelsea[/name] or [name]Cherise[/name] (also [name]Cherry[/name])
Or you could name her [name]Grace[/name] and have her nn be [name]Gray[/name]
Margeaux and [name]Magnolia[/name] both seem very soft and frilly
Best friend/Partner:
Most of the ones I thought of I didn’t like. It needs to go with the MC’s name but not too matchy-matchy.
[name]Wally[/name]/[name]Wallace[/name]
[name]Roddy[/name]/[name]Roderick[/name]
[name]Lennox[/name]/[name]Nix[/name]
[name]Lachlan[/name]/Lach/[name]Lock[/name]
[name]Angus[/name]/[name]Gus[/name] also [name]Fergus[/name]
[name]Finnegan[/name]/[name]Finn[/name]
[name]Andy[/name] from [name]Evander[/name] or [name]Leander[/name]
[name]Duncan[/name]/Dunk
Police Chief: [name]Humphrey[/name] works also [name]Murphy[/name]
Assistant: [name]Wilbur[/name], [name]Sherman[/name], [name]Melvin[/name]
OK, here are a few names for your characters;
Main Character
[name]Tara[/name] O’[name]Hara[/name]
[name]Greta[/name] [name]Quinn[/name]
[name]Magdalena[/name] ([name]Magda[/name]) [name]Love[/name]
[name]Penny[/name] [name]Clarke[/name]
Best [name]Friend[/name]
[name]Wilson[/name]
[name]Ryder[/name]
[name]Jarvis[/name]
[name]Thatcher[/name]
[name]Bennett[/name]
[name]Barnaby[/name]
[name]Roderick[/name]
Police Chief
[name]Gordon[/name]
[name]Roy[/name]
[name]Herbert[/name]
[name]Frank[/name]
[name]Terry[/name]
[name]Jerry[/name]
[name]Walter[/name]
Assistant
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Clifford[/name]
[name]Webster[/name]
[name]Stanton[/name]
[name]Duncan[/name]
[name]Mortimer[/name]
[name]Norbert[/name]
Thanks everybody! I think I’m going to go with [name]Chess[/name] for the main character’s name. I like Franchesca as a fn, but does anybody have any other ideas? It’s nice to have a variety. As for the best friend, I like [name]Finn[/name] and [name]Thatcher[/name]. And [name]Quinn[/name], though it might be a little too trendy. Grr. Hes definetly the one I’m having the hardest time with. [name]Walter[/name] is a good one for the chief, and [name]Webster[/name] is awesome for the assistant. As for it sounding similar to [name]Nancy[/name] [name]Drew[/name]: this is just a preliminary sketch of some of the main-ish characters and a little bit of the plot. It’ll probably change a lot. 
[name]Violet[/name] [name]Chess[/name]!!! She definitely suits either of them.
Hmmm : [name]Felix[/name]??
[name]Hugo[/name] definitely
[name]Clarence[/name]
GL!!
[name]Violet[/name] [name]Irene[/name] McIntyre (For [name]Irene[/name] Adler?)
[name]Julian[/name] [name]Daniel[/name] [name]Kelly[/name]
[name]Hugh[/name] O’[name]Malley[/name]
[name]Ralph[/name] Boyle
Okay, so I’ve settled on a name for the main character: [name]Violet[/name] [name]Chess[/name]. But she will go by [name]Chess[/name]. I really like the idea of [name]Kelly[/name] for the last name of the friend, and O’[name]Malley[/name] is great for the chief. I’m also going to use [name]Roderick[/name] for another character. Thanks everybody!