Tyler

@Lethologica: I guess I don't really want a surname to depend on the description of the woman, because that doesn't seem particularly realistic to me.. Anyway:

Around 25 years old, the main character has a little crush with her and one of her parents is of Asian descent, the other is white. I haven't figured out which parent is of Asian descent and which is white yet, but that doesn't matter much. I don't have much more of a description yet, since I want to describe her by her actions rather than a standard description. She's definitely something of an inspired dreamer. An all-round nice girl otherwise.

There will be some time jumps back and forth, but she's around 25 on the current page :-)

Patel.

Assuming she is Indian.

Hmm, might work, not sure..

Remember, since the father might be of English/American/western descent as well, a normal English name is a possibility too.

What's her nationality? And how long does this thread have to last before you settle on calling her Rose McSteephie?

The easiest way is to just steel names from your family tree. That way you get realistic names that don't sound made up, like Silvanus Manhenet, Absolem Youden, and Marguerite Jamineau.

Rose McRoseface

I'm gonna go with English for now, but I'm leaving some things flexible for myself on purpose for now. You don't want all questions answered on page one, after all.

I'll go with Patel for now, but still looking for other ideas.

I see what you did there, Maniac.

Rose Whitehouse, Rose Redman,

A woman growing up in UK with given name Rose in today's society is more likely to adopt Rosie as her name IMHO. I don't know if book is set in uk or has modern setting, just saying.

Modern setting yes, UK I'm not sure.

Thanks for the note though. I'll stick with Rose, but I'll mention the question why she didn't go with Rosie somewhere as well.

Rose Patel sounds too much like rose petal. That is a name that carries meaning which should be avoided unless it's intentional

I noticed. It's not intentional, but it can be played with I guess. Bad flirt moves, etc..

I disagree with with Maniac completely. I know a Rose, but Rosie sounds very Beatrix Potter

Royce. Rose Royce.

Rose Yerboat
Rose Andrachel
Rose Butyoucantpickyourfriendsrose
Rose Tbeef
Rose Manicpixie

I like the notion that you are writing a whole book and the one thing you need creative help with is a character's name.

"@Lethologica: I guess I don't really want a surname to depend on the description of the woman, because that doesn't seem particularly realistic to me."

It's a fair impulse, but surnames and appearance both come from family, so there's no getting away from it. For instance, with a possible Asian dad in play, you start considering Asian surnames.

Anyway, some Anglo options:
Alexander
Breckenridge
Collingwood
Dawson (shout out to Titanic)
Fletcher
Hewitt
Ingram
Palmer
Tindall
Walker (shout out to Sandman)

I know. Names are just not an intuitive thing to me, I guess. Sometimes a name 'feels right', but most of the time I can't remember them and I can't think of them either.

Plots are a second nature for me.

That was a reply to uclabb, although it sort of applies to Lethologia as well I suppose.

Chatte.

For that sophisticated continental feel?

Or perhaps Chatterley if your set on having an anglo name.

Fiedler, Rose Patel is awesome. Use it, Steephie!!!

Chapter Four: Chariots of Fire

"Oh larks", cried Rosie in despair. "Here I am, a highly intelligent inspirational female role model about town, yet I'm being held back from achieving my full potential because of inherent confusion over my mixed cultural and ethnic heritage. What's a girl to do?

I know, I shall consult with my differently abled friend, David O'Wong. He is so wise with his unique perspective that stems from his inspirational life in a wheelchair, although in no way should differently abled people be viewed solely as tools to inspire the majority. Oh look, here he is now".

"Top of the morning to you", said Dave in his French accented Northern Irish twang. "Alac, I fear I cannot help you today, for I am depressed in a colloquial and non medical sense. I wish to run a marathon, yet cannot overcome the fact I have no legs after losing them when a rabbit/fox/badger hole collapsed on me".

"Don't worry, Dave. I shall push you, for nothing can stop a determined person from achieving their goals. Hang on, I have just learned an important lesson for my own predicament! We have all helped each other! Hurray!"

Thinking of names for use in fiction is hard for me, also. Octavious is right, names that have meaning can distract, but I think if you absolutely never explain or give attention to the name it allows the reader to kind of discover the meaning of the name for themselves.

@Octavious:
That's awesome. I was going to say something clever now, but I'm too busy smiling.

Oh, by the way: I'm probably sticking with Patel for Rose, but more names will be needed in the future, so do not worry if I did not use your suggestion and you want it in your book :-)

Rose Dunbar.

you want it in my book*

Only rose i know has the surname pallister. Im sure she wouldnt mind if u borrowed it.