Naming your darlings

A poet once told me that to be a successful artist or writer you must be willing to kill your darlings. The character that is so dear to your heart you spare all hardship to, may, in itself, be hurting your story. So crucify 'em! Um. Well...so back to my point, which I never got to in the first place, before you can kill off your darlings, you must name them. What a pain in the ass! I, and I say this in all seriousness, find it easier to name my children, than "my darlings." There are some wo...