Start with the version spoken at the table
A DND name lives in conversation. Put each candidate into ordinary calls such as 'Thalen, check the door' and 'Ilyra, you are up.' If players hesitate every time, the spelling is working against the game.
A formal elven name can still appear on a character sheet. Give it a short form that the party would naturally use. The full name then has a purpose in court, family, or ritual scenes instead of becoming weekly pronunciation homework.
Let background do more work than class
A ranger and wizard from the same town may share local name habits. Their classes do not have to dictate every sound. Ask who named the character, where they grew up, and whether they kept the family form after leaving home.
A sailor might use a translated nickname in port. A disgraced noble may retain the house name because it still opens doors. These details give the Dungeon Master people and places to bring back later.
Choose a surname that can start a scene
House names are useful when they imply a place, trade, or debt. Bellward suggests an inherited duty. Ashweaver suggests a craft. Lastbridge hints at an event someone may remember differently.
A one-shot character may not need a surname at all. For a campaign character, write one sentence about what the family name grants and one about what it costs. If neither answer matters, keep the personal name and move on.
Check the party list before session one
Set the proposed name beside every other player character. Similar initials and rhythms cause more confusion than unfamiliar fantasy spelling. Change the newer or less important name first.
Also check common abbreviations. If the table will shorten your careful choice into something you hate, select the nickname yourself and introduce it with the character.
Treat generated meanings as prompts
A generated meaning is an English story cue, not a translation from an official DND language. Rewrite it with a person, place, or event from the campaign. 'Keeper of dawn' becomes useful when the character's family actually guarded an eastern gate.
You do not need to explain the meaning during the first introduction. Keep it in the notes until another character has a reason to ask.