George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron

True, it came from the Victorian list.

Possibilities:

Byron Phillips
Byron Adams
Byron Lewis
Byron Taylor
Byron Williams

Other ideas?

Carpenter works with Johannes and would be a good monks name considering Christ was a carpenter.

Every one of those violates your 2 or less and three or more rule.

Remember, he's going to be a modern day African-American so keep that in mind for his name.

Byron - Hard B 2 syllables Phillips - soft F 3 syllables
Adams - soft A 3 syllables (last s is soft but still a syllable)
Lewis - soft L 3 syllables (again, the s)
Taylor - does break the 2-3 mold, but I threw it out as an option
Williams - 4 syllables (again, the soft s)

Byron is a present day character, right?

Byron Kennedy
Byron Fitzgerald

I like Byron Fitzgerald - that sounds good and I've met a lot of Fitzgerald African-Americans.

Phillips, Adams, Lewis, and Williams are only 2 actual syllables. You are stretching to say Will-iams is Will-i-am-s. S is not a syllable.

Yes, two actual syllables but three sounds which is the more important part. The rule goes more by sounds than syllables, but you are right. Fitzgerald is a much better fit and sounds more crisp.

From dictionary.reference.com

Williams [wil-yuhmz] - 2 syllables

OK, if everyone likes Fitzgerald, Byron could also be called Fitz by his friends like Duncan McLeod called Hugh Fitzcairn.

Okay Draugnar - you win. I agree with Fitzgerald anyway. Byron Fitzgerald is my vote.

I'm pedantic that way. :-)

Okay, so a recap of where we are at (though we still need the others' votes)

Selina Dawes
Byron Fitzgerald
Faustus Domitius
Johannes Godfrey OR Nicolas Bennett

Unknown modern woman
Unknown future scientist
Unknown future sidekick

"For the 'brilliant' modern girl, I suggest the following names:

Brianna
Arianna
Lillian
Hannah
Sophie
Alyssa"

These were the original suggestions. Any thoughts? Thucy liked Alyssa which I agree is a good name. Surname thoughts?

@Thucy - Your input is more than welcome here, please.

Future names: Take current names and twist the spellings (like Selina became Selena nowadays) or even take traditionally ethnic names (Fitzcairn, McLeod) and add a new ethnic twist to them (Mecklenburg becomes McLinburgh).

Jamez

Every time I think of an Alyssa, I think Alyssa Milano... Of course, Brianna Banks pops into my head when I hear Brianna, which is even worse considering she's a porn star.

Devon is a good modern name. My good friends daughter is Devon Elise McLastname (protecting her identity).

I could live with Alyssa, though.

Alyssa Karr

Interesting thought Draugnar. I'll see what I can come up with there.

Modern names

Male:
Jaymz
Marq
Ender (I always liked Ender Wiggins name)

Female:
Valentine/Valentyne
Kat
Mystie

Sorry, that should have been Future names, not Modern names

Here's my hand at culturally mixing things up as you suggest.

Stifan McGomes

I like your suggestion of Devon for the modern girl's name. No 'porn' attachments there that I've ever heard of, LOL. But I can't deal with the surname. Devon McLastName just doesn't have a ring to it. :P

Well, her actual last name is Scottish, but not a McAnything.

Of course, we could have a character named Colonel Runaway (Doctor Who joke)

How about Devon Bailey, Devon Richards, Devon Walker, Devon Simmons

Thoughts?

I am not as bent up over the names but I do want to srongly vote in favor of Johannes Godfrey - Nicolas Bennett makes me think of santa claus. lol.

Name the modern woman Alyssa Perry.
Name the future scientist Marden Wakes
Name the future sidekick (a main character, the other dies) Phalos Dorsey.

I actually think mythological-ish sounding names strongly evoke "future" to me. You know the Protoss in Starcraft? Like that. Anyway whatever. I just mainly insist on Johannes.