Character Creation Problem

[MadHamlet]

So here's the deal.
I'm so not new at this sort of thing and yet....

I make my creator, (race/class/body customization etc) give it a name while at the same time the server list pops up. I choose a server, enter the character name, get asked for a confirmation for the creation of that character which I do and then...!
There's a wooshing sound aaaaannnndddd nothing.

The 'enter name' box is still there, the server list is still there, the 'Back' and 'Create Character' button in the lower right are still there.
Clicking a server does nothing.
Double clicking a server does nothing.

Re-clicking the 'create character' button followed by confirmation gets another 'wooshing' sound.

Clicking BACK undoes EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE!
At this point I've 'made' this character four times.

So here I am, hat in hand.
What the hell is right in front of my face that I'm missing?
 

[MadHamlet]

Never mind. Apparently despite my character's name being acceptable, it wasn't, yet no error message.
Put in a longer name and everything's fine.

Bizarre.