Sparkly idea: pick a name that sings the personality you want. I like thinking in pairs — a given name plus a tiny nickname — because that gives a cartoon character room to breathe and grow.
Here are some names I would try, grouped by vibe: for spunky and bright: 'Pip', 'Lumi', 'Zara', '
moxie' (nicknames: Pip-Pip, Lumi-Lu); for whimsical/magical: 'Fleur', 'Nova', 'Thimble', 'Seren' (nicknames: Fleury, Novie); for retro/cute: 'Dotty', 'Mabel', 'Ginny', 'Rosie'; for edgy/cool: 'Jinx', 'Nyx', 'Riven', 'Echo'. I also mix first-name + quirk for full cartoon flavor: 'Pip Wobble', 'Nova Quill', 'Rosie Clamp', 'Jinx Pepper'.
When I name a character I think about short syllables that are easy to shout, a nickname you could say in a tender scene, and a last name that hints at backstory — like '
bloom', 'Quill', or 'Frost'. Try saying them aloud in different emotions: excited, tired, scared. 'Lumi Bloom' makes me smile, and that's the kind of little glow I want from a cartoon girl. I'm already picturing her walk cycle, honestly.