(( Powderfan,
For your use, here's how some of my characters got their name. Well… here are some of the dumb stories for how my characters (Champions, heroes, wizards, priestesses, etc.) earned their name.
Albrect von Metzger, my Elector Count. Not sure where I got the "Albrect" from… but I think "Metzger" means "Butcher"… and I like the idea that my self-proclaimed Elector Count (as he's from Marienburg), is the son of a butcher. (I use the old Empire Pegasus Hero mounted on the old, metal griffon (the smaller one))
Pegias the Survivor… Spearman Champion. I like the sound of "Pegias"… and he earned the title "Survivor", as he has a miscast foot, that I didn't notice till it was too late. It makes it look like he has a hob foot. And… when I was painting him, it was during my "I-suck-at-painting-eyes" phase. I got so frustrated with his one eye, that I just gave him a big, eye patch to cover it. And, at that point, I figured I'd give him a black ribbon, to represent him being a plague survivor. So.. Pegias the Survivor. ( I use the old champion with sword-arm stuck straight out figure for him)
Cossette the Touched. I've always enjoyed the anime Le Portrait de Petite Cossette, and the name "Cossette" grew on me. So… I named one of my sorceresses Cossette. "The Touched" came about from her background story, in that the other Brets thought she was a bit "touched" in the head as a child. I would love to find out what "Touched" might be in French... but I don't want to use something lame like "Le Foul" or something like that, as she's not mad. Just... child-eccentric. She's only supposed to be in her late tweens, but has tremendous ability with Heaven's magic. (I use the "Finecast" remolding of a Bretonnian sorceress on foot.)
Issabella von Hauptmann. My other sorceress. Issabella is a full-blood mage and nobility. I decided she'd be from Estalia, in the vein of a "Dispossessed Don". That is, she technically is a landed noble, but has long had her lands taken from her, by force. Anyway, while Cossette tends to be level 1 or 2, Issabella is level 4. She would not stand to use anything less than level 4 magic, as anything less would be unbecoming to one of her upbringing and lineage. (For her, I use the Lucrecia Belladonna model for Issabella).
Hauptmann Janus van Fleet. My BSB. "Hauptmann" I think means "Head man" or something like that. Janus is more supposed to be Dutch or Danish, not German… so I figured "Van" over "Von". And so Janus van Fleet was born. I guess, technically, I should try to use something Flemish or whatnot instead of "Hauptmann". (I use the bannerman from Brangaza's Besiegers model for Janus).
Other names in my army:
Thomas of Haddelburg… and HIS MIGHTY CANNON.
Kampfmechanicus Weiss, Rocket Cart Officer
Combat Engineer Michal Krueger
Flashy Dan
Warrior Priestess Paetricia Senitoriae
Warrior Priestess Katarina Friez
Greggor Bloggosh, Master Marksman
Siegfried von Vanheim (Okay… this one I took from GW, but the name is pretty awesome.)
Cardinal von Kolt
Unit Names for some of the units I tend to use:
19th Issenguard Militia (Spearmen)
Vanheim's 75th Cavalry
Von Kolt's Marshalls
Gyr's Falconers
Long-and-the-short of it, just come up with names you like. The story will often grow outside of the name anyway. Just as Thomas… AND HIS MIGHTY CANNON. Anyway, hope that helps you some with ideas.