Many of the names for people and places in Ghost Trick are based on actual Japanese words, or have other meanings.

Characters

Sissel - シセル shiseru - dead

Lynne - リンネ rinne - Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.

Ray - クネリ kuneri - Kuneru, to wriggle/flex/bend

Kamila - カノン kanon - Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion. Also a pun on "cannon", according to Takumi on Twitter. She was originally going to be named Ribbon, a pun on "reborn". They however felt that a ribbon wearing character named Ribbon would be over the top. [Source]

Missile - ミサイル misairu - Named after Shu Takumi's pomeranian.

Cabanela - カバネラ kabanera - Kabane, corpse. Also an archaic word used to denote rank and political standing.

Jowd - ジョード johdo - Buddhist pure land.

Yomiel - ヨミエル yomieru - From yomigaeru, to revive. May also be a portmanteau of "Yomi" (Japanese name for hell) and "mieru", to look, meaning "looking into hell".

Sith - シス shisu - to die.

Jeego - ジーゴ jiigo - Jigoku, hell.

Tengo - テンゴ tengo - Tengoku, heaven.

Beauty - ビューティー byuutii - Self-explanatory, really.

Dandy - ダンディー dandii - Same here.

Rindge - リンジュ rinju - Deathbed.

Memry - メメリ memeri - Memento mori, Latin phrase meaning "remember you will die".

McCaw - マッコ makko - Incense powder.

Justice minister - オッチンドル occhindoru - "Osshindoru", a phrase meaning "Oh! He's dead!" His name is not stated ingame, but via Shu Takumi on Twitter.

Emma - エンマ enma - Yama, the lord of death.

Amelie - エイミン eimin - Eternal sleep, in death.

Bailey - ボーズ bohzu - Bonze, buddhist clergy.

Guardian of the park - ダビラ dabira - From cremation (dabi), possibly also birakubari (to hand out leaflets.)

Alma - アルマ aruma - Armageddon. Stated by Shu Takumi on Twitter.


Places

Maison de Amida (Lynne's apartment) - メゾン・ド・ナムアミ mezon do namuami

The name comes from the Japanese phrase, "Namu Amida Butsu", which means "Hail to Lord Amitabha". This phrase is recited by Japanese pure land Buddhists who are seeking rebirth into the pure land after they die.

Dead End Drive - オナクナリ通り - onakunari toori

From the Japanese word onakunari, meaning "passed away".

Temsik Park - アシタール公園 - ashitaaru kouen

From the phrase ashita ga arusa, meaning "there is a tomorrow".

Yonoa - ヨノア号 - yonoa gou

Backwards reading of Ano Yo, the world of the dead.