'You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.'
James A. Froude
English historian (1818 - 1894)

Have you created a character before, only to find him or her devoid of vitality? A flat, two dimensional character that is not distinct in any way? A fictional character is easy to create, but as many writers can testify, a character is difficult to bring to life as a living, breathing being. Thus in order to make one's creations seem that more lifelike, one should observe certain aspects of a character that are found in any normal human being.

Name
Normally the first introduction you would make to the reader, the name of the character is important as a component of the life of your character. It should reveal certain traits, certain attitudes, and certain images of the character you are trying to portray.

Let us say that you are trying to create an Italian mafia crime lord, and then you name him...Bob. ( No offense to Bobs)
Or a male medieval knight whose name was Timmy. (again, no offense)
Now Bob and Timmy are names portraying a (mostly) softer personality, and its usage would bring about a less intimidating image than say a name like Don Antonio Salieri the crime lord or Sir Reginald the knight.
Another point would be the ethnicity and the time period to which the names refer. The name Bob could scarcely be perceived as an Italian name, and the name Timmy would seem to be more appropriate for a more modern setting due to its more informal tone.
Also, you might want to check the significance of the names, perhaps as a plot device, or as an illustration of the character's attributes. Antonio in this case, means 'beyond price' while Reginald means 'king', a symbol of royalty.
Of course, you could choose to make the character contrast his or her name. Take Little John from Robin Hood for example. This would further enhance a character's attributes when juxtaposed against his or her name.
In general, however, you might want to stick to normal trends when choosing a name, and find or create one that is unique, distinct, and fits well with your character.

Character

The character, of well, your character. As well as the outward appearance and behavior of your character.

Personality

The first and foremost aspect you should look at is the personality of your character. In a book, only the personality of your character is evident in the text, and the roles and impact of your character

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