She’s an art-law attorney in New [name]York[/name] working for one of the auction houses. She was born in the early 70’s so the name should be not be anachronistic (no [name]Isabella[/name] or [name]Olivia[/name], for instance). She moves in a rarified environment but she wasn’t born into it - she worked and charmed her way in. What’s her name?
I’m not an expert on 70s names, but perhaps [name]Rebecca[/name]? It got popular then. Otherwise, I would use something which really transcends class boundaries, such as [name]Catherine[/name] or [name]Elizabeth[/name]. Perhaps her parents call her [name]Cathy[/name] or [name]Beth[/name], but she goes by her refined full name in her new social circles, or by [name]Eliza[/name]. [name]Both[/name] sound serious enough to be a lawyer, but [name]Eliza[/name] is also glamorous and creative.
Good luck! [name]Auburn[/name]
[name]Shannon[/name]!
Great suggestions – please keep 'em coming Berries! What are some 70’s names, besides [name]Jennifer[/name], [name]Heather[/name] and [name]Michelle[/name]?
Other popular 70’s names:
[name]Amy[/name]
[name]Melissa[/name]
[name]Kimberly[/name]
[name]Kelly[/name]
[name]Christine[/name]
[name]Laura[/name]
[name]Susan[/name]
[name]April[/name]
I think any of those would work for a lawyer born in the 70s. I think something classic-ish would work well. [name]Elizabeth[/name] would be a great option. You mentioned she was from a different type of environment. Maybe growing up she was a [name]Lizzy[/name] or [name]Beth[/name] and then when she becomes a professional she becomes the more elegant [name]Elizabeth[/name] or [name]Eliza[/name]. Some other more classic names that could work:
[name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Anne[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name]
[name]Andrea[/name]
[name]Robin[/name]
[name]Julia[/name]
[name]Holly[/name]
I’d name her [name]Lara[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name] Browning, I think! [name]Lara[/name] has the artsy, fun sound, yet it is sophisticated 70s New [name]York[/name] in my mind, too. It has the classic appeal of [name]Laura[/name] with a twist, and I think this spelling and pronunciation is easy on the New [name]York[/name] accent, too. [name]Beatrix[/name] feels a bit uppity and demure, yet it also has that fun, whimsical, artsy quality that I adore. And, Browning sounds sophisticated and lawyer-like to me, and it reminds me of Brownstones!
[name]Lemon[/name] 
[name]Deborah[/name]
[name]Leah[/name]
Top 200 names from 1973
[name]Amy[/name]
[name]Angela[/name]
[name]Christine[/name]
[name]Melissa[/name]
[name]Patricia[/name]
[name]Diana[/name]
[name]Danielle[/name]
[name]Alicia[/name]
[name]Veronica[/name]
[name]Felicia[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name] was definitely not a 70s name. If she is a character in the 1970s, she’s in her 20s?? I just looked up the most popular names from 1954… should help in being more accurate as to what names were more popular for when she would have been born.
Popularity in 1954
Rank Female name
1 [name]Mary[/name]
2 [name]Linda[/name]
3 [name]Deborah[/name]
4 [name]Patricia[/name]
5 [name]Susan[/name]
6 [name]Debra[/name]
7 [name]Barbara[/name]
8 [name]Karen[/name]
9 [name]Nancy[/name]
10 [name]Cynthia[/name]
11 [name]Donna[/name]
12 [name]Pamela[/name]
13 [name]Sandra[/name]
14 [name]Kathleen[/name]
15 [name]Carol[/name]
16 [name]Sharon[/name]
17 [name]Diane[/name]
18 [name]Brenda[/name]
19 [name]Janet[/name]
20 [name]Elizabeth[/name]
I think [name]Janet[/name] would be a cool and clunky name that goes with the time frame, but also where it’s not very popular today.
The novel is set in modern times right? The character was born in the 70s?
Names from my yearbook (I was born in 1978)
[name]Melissa[/name] ([name]Missy[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name] (me)
[name]Nicole[/name] (several)
[name]Brandy[/name] (2 in my class alone)
[name]Jennifer[/name] ([name]Jenny[/name], [name]Jen[/name]. Everyone my age knows like 400 Jennifers)
[name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Amy[/name]
[name]Jody[/name] (yes she was a girl)
[name]Stephanie[/name]
[name]Ashley[/name]
[name]Brandon[/name] (again a girl)
[name]Laurie[/name]
[name]Laura[/name]
[name]Nita[/name] (She’s my cousin and was born in 72. She’s named after her grandmother)
[name]Denise[/name]
[name]Anisha[/name]
[name]Letitia[/name] (spelled varying ways)
[name]Casey[/name]
[name]Allison[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] ([name]Meg[/name])
[name]Leigh[/name]
[name]Adaire[/name] (full name [name]Sunny[/name] [name]Adaire[/name]. I still like that name)
[name]Tiffany[/name]
[name]Debbie[/name] ([name]Deborah[/name])
[name]Janna[/name] (I know two my age)
[name]Cheryl[/name]
o0o you are right! i misread!! hahaha
Oh, you are spot-on regarding the 400 Jennifers!
Lots of great suggestions everyone, thank you. I’ll review them and let you know!
I would say the 50s SSA names list is your best bet, but I went to the 60s for a bit more contemporary feel.