Hi, glad I found this forum to post this. Big fan of the show. Sometime last year I was watching and this idea hit me. Most if not all the characters' names contain some hint about the character. Some of these are better than others but I think overall the theory is pretty solid. Let me know what you think.. if anyone is still reading this!

Sam Malone. "Alone". Despite all his babes, etc. he is lonely.
Ernie Pantuso. Pantuso means "stupid one" in Calabrian.
Woody Boyd. "Woody"- another word for dense or stupid.
Norm Peterson. "Norm", i.e. normal, the average joe.
Diane Chambers. "Chambers".. of the heart. Speaks to her level of emotion. Perhaps even Diane to sound like 'dying', which would work. Dying heart, 'like a strangling sparrow' to quote an episode.
Frasier Crane. "Crane", short for cranium.
Lilith Sternin-Crane. "Stern". Yes she is.
Cliff Clavin. More of a stretch, but it sounds a lot like "craven", and he is indeed cowardly despite all his bluster.
Carla Tortelli. Back to Italian and the root of 'tortelli', i.e. turtle. Her gruff exterior is the shell that protects her.
Robin Colcord. Robin="robbing". Yes, he is a thief after all isn't he.
Evan Drake. "Rake". Fashionable wealthy man of promiscuous habits.. look it up!
Rebecca Howe. Struggled with this one then remembered 'Backseat Becky'.. gonna go with "Ho". lol.
Kelly Gaines. "Gains".. like, of money?
Eddie LeBec. "Bec" means "beak" in French, I guess he did have a big nose!

I'm sorry but I think you're really reaching there. I just don't see it. But I guess it's cool if you do.

Ed.