I’m sorry, but as a writer, I agree that invented names should come from somewhere in a language. Stringing syllables together (often with absolutely no regard to phonetic English) just seems ignorant to me. As a teacher, I meet hundreds of kids with made-up names. Sometimes they are just strings of syllables – like Kequanda – and other times they are mangled versions of real names which the students think are original made up names – for example, Daimeon has no relation to [name]Damian[/name]/[name]Damon[/name] because it is pronounced [name]Day[/name]-mee-ON. Or Samon for [name]Simone[/name]…
[name]Richardson[/name] invented [name]Pamela[/name] from the root for honey, and all the linda names come from the Spanish root for beautiful.
I opted to give my children names that meant something in our family and to me personally. I also looked at their meanings to some degree – for example, I would never name a child [name]Ichabod[/name] because of its meaning. In this day and age when people are prone to cutting ties to the past, I opted for history.
I think the trend for living in the “now” is a mistake.
I think a friend and I made up a name awhile back for a short sci-fi story I had to write, I didn’t end up using it because it was a little silly and people on another naming board agreed. The name was Eurydicette (a play on [name]Eurydice[/name]), it was just a bit much which is the problem with a lot of made up names…You end up having to explain them, spell them out, etc, but I wouldn’t judge anyone who came up with a really well thought out good sounding made up name just because they made it up, if it’s good it’s good no matter what.
I don’t really care for “made up” names, but if someone I know has one, or names their child that, I’m not going to give them a lecture about grammer and “real names.” It’s someones choice, and as long as they’re happy. I personally wouldn’t combine two names, or make one up, but I wouldn’t judge someone for doing so. My sister’s name is made up (my dad saw a colors’ name wrong, and told my mom about it, hence Amris) but I don’t judge my parents. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, I guess.