John Dallman
Hero
I'm not good at improvising names, so I go to some effort to pick names in advance for everyone I can foresee the players talking to. Kate Monk's Onomastikon is very useful for picking culturally appropriate names.
I use the GRRM method of combining two common names.
Thomas + Ryan = Tymas
Paul + John = Palun
Samantha + Lauren = Laurantha
Etc
Every GM has been there. We've improvised a character, given them a colorful description, and even adopted a slightly-different vaguely-British accent for the occasion. The RP is flowing naturally, and everyone seems invested in the fiction. Then a player asks the dreaded question.
"What's your name, friend?"
Cold panic sets in. The mind goes blank. In that horrid moment, all you can think is, "Don't say 'Bob.' Don't say 'Bob.'"
So how do you personally combat this problem? Do you always have a tab open to a name generator? Do you brainstorm names ahead of time and add 'em to improvised NPCs at need? Or is there some trick to getting good at improvising appropriate names?
(Comic for illustrative purposes.)