You could use 'Nox the Nightmare'. 'Nox' is short and has a mysterious sound, and 'nightmare' is directly related to scary things. Another name could be 'Zoe the Zombie Queen'. It's unique as it gives a different take on the typical zombie character, making her a queen which implies power and a certain level of organization among the undead. 'Thorne the Tormentor' is also a good choice. 'Thorne' sounds sharp and prickly, and 'tormentor' shows that this character likes to cause pain and suffering.
Aria. This name has a musical quality to it, which could be perfect if your story has some sort of musical or artistic element. It gives the impression of a creative and free - spirited character. Another unique name is Zoe, which means life in Greek. It can represent a character full of vitality and energy.
If you want a really unique name, consider something like 'Kairos' which has a philosophical meaning related to the right or opportune moment. For a female, 'Lyra' is not very common and has a celestial feel to it. And for a male character who is a bit of an outcast, 'Rogue' could be a unique name.
Consider 'Eclipse' which has a sense of something being hidden or obscured, just like in an eclipse. 'Whisper' is a name that implies secrecy and mystery as if the character has secrets to tell. 'Grimoire' could be a name for a character who has knowledge of secrets or magic in the mystery story. It's a name associated with books of magic and spells, adding an element of the unknown.
Try 'Zephyr' for a character who is free - spirited and quick. 'Aurelia' is a beautiful and unique name for a female character. For a male character, 'Caspian' gives a sense of mystery. These names are not too common but still easy to pronounce and remember.
You can start by looking at different cultures. For example, in Japanese culture, names like 'Haruki' or 'Sakura' can be unique and add an exotic touch to your story. You can also combine words that are not usually put together. For instance, 'Moonbeam' or 'Starwhisper'. Another idea is to use names that have a special meaning related to the character's personality or role in the story. If the character is a brave knight, a name like 'Valor' could work well.
For a unique character name, you could consider 'Zephyr' which gives an airy and free - spirited feeling. 'Lyra' is also a great choice as it has a musical and celestial connotation. 'Caspian' brings to mind a sense of adventure and mystery, like the sea. These names are not very common but can add a special touch to your short story characters.
Take inspiration from mythology. There are countless names from Greek, Roman, Norse, and other mythologies that can be tweaked. For example, from the Greek god Apollo, you could create 'Apollian' or 'Apolliana'. You can also mash - up different words from different languages. Combine a French word like 'Bleu' with an English word like 'Sky' to get 'Bleusky'. And don't be afraid to make the name a bit of a mouthful if it suits the character's grandeur or complexity.
For a male, Orion. It's a name associated with the stars, which can give the character an air of mystery. For a female, Lyra. It has a musical and celestial quality. Another option for a male could be Zephyr, which is a bit unusual and gives the impression of something light and free - spirited.
Zephyr. It has an otherworldly feel, like a gentle but powerful force that could be a glimmer of change in a dystopian world. And Nyx. Nyx was the Greek goddess of the night, which suits the often dark and gloomy atmosphere of a dystopian setting.