Naming Character Help

Choosing names for characters can be a challenge. I need to consider, age, nationality, region, ethnicity among other things.

One can almost tell the generation based on names: My grandmother in the late 1800s was surrounded by Florences, Ediths and Graces.

My mother Dorothy born 1917 had Madelines, Ruths, Evelyns, and Eleanors. Dorothy was number three in popularity.

I was surrounded by other Donnas, Marys, Susans, Annes, Patricia, Dianes and Carols.

My daughter from the 60s/70s had Lauries, Jessicas and Jennifers. I named her Llara with the second L to make sure she was the only one. Her father vetoed Star and Cloud. Those names were never used in any of my writing, but if I'd had a hippie couple name a baby girl, I might have used one or the other.

The next generation introduced Madisons and Mackenzies.

I was amused at the list Massachusetts just posted for the most popular girls' names. There's a couple of throwbacks to earlier times, but there's not a Donna on it. I'm glad. In fact, none of the names for the year of my birth are on the 2023 list.

There are lists of names on the internet from other countries by year as well including Japan (with translation). 

I found some names were popular in several countries such as Olivia, Emma, Isabella and Mia. Some lists showed whether the name was gaining or losing in popularity.

My great grandmother's name Medora did not appear on any of the lists I checked but I will use it for the family saga I'm just beginning.

There are even lists of the 17th century and for Colonial times for those writing historical novels. Charlotte was the most popular back then and was last year as well.

Top 25 female baby names of 2023 in Massachusetts

1. Charlotte
2. Olivia
3. Emma
4. Sophia
5. Isabella
6. Mia
7. Amelia
8. Nora
9. Chloe
10. Evelyn
11. Maeve
12. Sofia
13. Isla
14. Grace
15. Lily
16. Luna
17. Lucy
18. Ava
19. Eleanor
20. Maya
21. Zoe
22. Madison
23. Aurora
24. Penelope
25. Emilia