Questions tagged [names]
For questions about names: of characters, including titles, nicknames, and honorifics; of in-universe locations, e.g. countries or planets; or of objects, e.g. vessels, weapons, etc. Questions can be in-universe or out-of-universe, about topics such as origins, meanings, usage and pronunciation. For questions about the title of a work of sci-fi or fantasy, use the [title-explanation] tag instead.
323 questions
17
votes
1
answer
981
views
What inspired the name Shrek?
Simple question: is there any information about the inspiration or thought process behind the creation of the name Shrek for the eponymous film and franchise?
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Where are the other schools of magic beyond the seven already named?
With the new Pottermore site and the upcoming release of Fantastic Beasts film, JK Rowling has been awesome and given us new writing on the schools of magic in the world.
In the introduction it is ...
27
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Where did the name Smaug come from?
So I was wondering what the origin of this name is for the dragon? Is it a known word from a language with a meaning or is it a completely made up word?
Or perhaps it evolved from another word... its ...
2
votes
1
answer
246
views
In Age of the Five, what are the names of the Gods?
In Age of the Five, by Trudi Canavan there Circlians have 5 gods.
What are their names?
The Pentadrians also have 5 Gods,
what are their names?
The names of the Gods are not in the glossary, and are ...
26
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Star Trek story (possibly a Blish or Foster novelization) in which Kirk refers to Spock's aunt and gets the name right by accident
For some reason, I'm thinking of a moment in a Star Trek book quite possibly something added by Blish or Foster to an episode novelization. Kirk and Spock are having a mildly heated discussion and ...
26
votes
2
answers
19k
views
Why didn't Snape recognize the Marauder's Map?
When Harry was in the corridors trying to find Peter Pettigrew at night, Snape came. Snape took that map, and had a few attempts at revealing it. When he told the map to reveal itself in the name of ...
25
votes
4
answers
14k
views
Why were the twins named Luke and Leia?
In G-Canon, it is not revealed that Padme is pregnant with twins until she is in the medical bay ready to give birth. When asked what they should be named, she immediately responds without much ...
18
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Was each turtle's name meant to have a significant meaning?
When the TMNT creators named the turtles after Renaissance artists, was each name meant to say something about the turtle it was given to, or where they more or less chosen randomly?
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Origin of the name 'James T. Kirk'
How did the name 'James T. Kirk' originate? I heard it might have come from the fact that Gene Roddenberry once lived in New Jersey and the name of a mayor from Elizabeth, NJ was James T. Kirk.
26
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Did Frank Herbert explain why he used the word Harkonnen for his antagonists?
I learned to speak Finnish and, watching the current version of Dune, thought it was interesting that Herbert used the word for his antagonists. You see, Finnish can convert words from verbs to nouns ...
5
votes
1
answer
345
views
Was the name "Angharad" in The Blue Sword an homage to the Chronicles of Prydain?
The Blue Sword was a children's fantasy novel by Robin McKinley, published in 1982. The main heroine is known as "Harry" through most of the book, and although it is clear from early on that that is ...
21
votes
6
answers
11k
views
In the Dune series, how was Paul Atreides' choice of the mouse's name of Muad'Dib a natural choice?
Considering the messiah prophesy which was also Muad'Dib, I don't get it - how could he choose that name, and not be calling himself the messiah? The context of when he chose his name to be that of ...
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
What were the first humans with alphanumeric designations?
In The Force Awakens, we meet this guy, FN-2187 (Finn)
,
and it's a plot point that the Stormtroopers in this era don't have given names besides the corps and a number.
However, aside from that, they ...
8
votes
2
answers
497
views
The Ander family in Tepper’s A Plague of Angels: who are they?
There are four families in the Place of Power, and Sheri Tepper appears to have named them after various well-known institutions:
Ellel — Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Mitty — Massachusetts ...
17
votes
4
answers
18k
views
What was Count Dooku's first name?
I've been searching the Internet for this for a long time, but couldn't find anything. Is his first name mentioned anywhere (maybe in the Expanded Universe)?
I've read some comments where people say ...