Could someone please explain how you should choose a host name for the server.

For me, I just call it places I enjoy visiting. Some uses name of planets or star signs or name of ships or anything. There is no science in this.

You can use what ever you like. As Eddy stated so people use names, Planets, Car names, etc..etc... I use the Greek Alphabet

RooK

alphabets are boring

I'm currently trying to decide between vegetables and heavy metal bands, cant decide which though...

Should I use a domain that I wiil be asigning a hosting account to, or should I use a domain that will not be used for any accounts.

It really doesn't matter. If you are running a hosting business for end users or your own sites, you would probably want to base the hostname on your corporate website as it would be reflected in the email headers. if you are offering resellers accounts then you might want to use some generic name or else your resellers may not have as much anonymity.

i use secure.mysitename.com for my host name..

then i give my clients https://secure.mysitename.com:2083
to login to there controlpanel..

have fun

greek gods as am a fan of mythology.

A servers hostname typically doesn't have a website associated with it but is usually a subdomain of the hosting company. i.e. server1.hostdomain.com. This subdomain can be anything you want to name the server that you don't expect to be used for a website.

I pick female names...

Like buffy, bunny, ... or maybe you mean like bertha, gurtrude, ...?

I name them after old pets, specificly ferrets. I'll run out one day though

a good excuse to get some more then

I've named mine after women, pets, planets and as of late, types of fish (don't ask, it was a personal joke with a friend.)

Basically, you can name your server anything and everything... I just try to avoid the offensive and special characters as a rule.