Renaming characters in JRPGs

[Heath]

This needs to be an emoticon.

I always keep them with the names they have and really hate being pushed to give them a name myself. Occasionally I've renamed characters with their real names, for instance Garnet or Red XIII. Actually, I tend to keep Garnet as Garnet because I really dislike Dagger.

[Roogle]

I have never renamed a character in a game that provides default names for the character.

In the event that there is no default name, but there is a widely-used name from the fan community, I will use that name for the character in question. For example, Tir and Riou from Suikoden I and II, respectively.

[Depression Moon]

With the exception of Final Fantasy IX and Legaia 2 Duel Saga if the character's have defualt names I'll keep them the first time around.

Afterwards and in other games I create names either by naming a main after myself or things that just spark in my mind. I can only recall that happening with Poke'mon, or I would create a respectful mutual and nostalgic intermingling by naming them after my own figures that were inspired by those characters.

[ljkkjlcm9]

I have three male name made up, and then my actual name
Leonard- mage type character/smart person
Jackel- the hero/badass
Kaine- the huge guy
my name- the martial artist or ninja

Females
my gf- the main heroine
skylash- female mage
Kailah- my other favorite female, usually the warrior type

example
FFIX:
Leonard = Vivi
Jackel = Zidane
Kaine = Steiner
my name = Amarant
my gf = Garnet
Skylash = Eiko
Kailah = Freya

THE JACKEL

[Mirage]

I keep the names the first time around. Sometimes I change them when I replay the games.

[MrNash]

I used to change character names back in the 16-bit days like in Phantasy Star II, and Final Fantasy IV, but nowadays I don't bother. It's more a matter of being too lazy to do so than any feelings that I'm sullying the developer's creative vision by even changing the names of the characters in his/her game.