Despite a negative review in their paper, the Chicago Sun Times has a good interview with George Lucas, Hayden Christensen, Rick McCallum, and Samuel Jackson. Here's a sample with Lucas:

One thing Lucas loves inventing for his ''Star Wars'' films are the names of the characters and the worlds they inhabit. Where does he get those ideas?

''I have this little book. It's filled with all the themes I want to touch on and I make lots of lists in there. Sometimes my kids will just come up with something and tell me, 'That's a good name, why don't you use that one.'

''But often it's a simple as me just seeing a billboard or a sign--I especially have had good luck with signs that are ripped in half. It will just hit me and I'll think, 'Oh, that's a good name or a few letters that I can work into something later. Sometimes, a name just pops into my mind.

"Mace Windu [Samuel L. Jackson's character in 'Episode I,' greatly expanded in 'Episode II'] was the very first 'Star Wars' name I ever thought of, but I didn't really find the right character for it until we made 'Episode I.' ''

Visit the link above for more. Thanks to Kukbacca for the alert!