It has depended on the character. I've had a theme that all my characters are related somehow. That's why most of them have the last name Canterbury. Hehe
So for my first character, since this was a Japanese theme site, I took my favorite anime character, Trowa from Gundam Wing, and the last name of that Japanese admiral that said "I feel we have done nothing more than to awake a sleeping giant."
Trowa's wife is inspired by my own wife. Her name is Starliner and she's from the Dominican republic. So I called her Estrella, Spanish for Star, Hoshi, Japanese of Star.
So then when I made Sanda, Estrella's sister she had the last name Hoshi. Sanda is Japanese for Thunder. Although, given her latina heritage, I probably shouldn't have given her such a Japanese name.
Sanda and my only non Nepleslian character Setsuna we're both inspired by my other favorite anime, sailor moon. Jupiter and Pluto we're my favorite scouts so Sanda is based of Jupiter (hince the lighting tattoos) and Setsuna was sailor Plutos name in the show so I just used it.
Let's see, all my characters are pretty much named after where I got the inspiration for. Jack Canterbury from the Aubrey/martin series. Thomas Canterbury from Tom Dodge from the movie Down Periscope.
Caffran and Vana are inspired by characters in Dan abnetts Gaunts Ghost books. Although Vana's name is little more complicated. In Gaunts Ghosts there is a deaf sniper named Nessa. Nessa is also the name of one of the Valar in Tokens work. Nessa's sister in law is named Vana. Thats where I got the name from.
Simple no?