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Science Fiction & Fantasy

Questions tagged [names]

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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
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Throughout the Harry Potter novels, Rubeus Hagrid is the only character consistently addressed by his last name in a friendly manner. While the trio do frequently address their enemies by their last ...
Paul L's user avatar
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77 votes
6 answers
15k views

Look at the first names of the Hogwarts staff we know of: Albus, Minerva, Severus, Filius, Remus, Pomona, Quirinus, Gilderoy, (Argus), ... Most of these sound like ancient Roman or Greek names. ...
Rand al'Thor's user avatar
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71 votes
2 answers
32k views

The names Sauron and Saruman are very similar in writing and pronunciation. Is it an accident? or having an a forethought reason?
alex's user avatar
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68 votes
9 answers
29k views

I watched Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope for the first time in a while a few days ago (the first step in taking my Daughter through the Machete Order). One thing that stood out was the pre-duel ...
Bogdanovist's user avatar
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66 votes
5 answers
18k views

From The Two Towers, chapter 1, "The Departure of Boromir": Upon their shields [the orcs] bore a strange device: a small white hand in the centre of a black field; on the front of their ...
Rand al'Thor's user avatar
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56 votes
1 answer
10k views

The name Sauron is spelled like, and sounds very similar to the Greek word σαῦρος, or the corresponding Latin word saurus, which means lizard. Is this just a coincidence, or is there a (known or ...
Enlico's user avatar
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55 votes
2 answers
24k views

The title says it all, my question is, has JK Rowling ever commented on why she chose the name Harry for her main character?
Often Right's user avatar
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54 votes
3 answers
4k views

I don't recall any of the characters in Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit calling Sméagol Gollum in his face. It seems to be more of a private epithet. Is this correct? Does Gollum know that others call ...
coleopterist's user avatar
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53 votes
2 answers
5k views

Gandalf goes by many names in Tolkien's works. Gandalf himself says in The Two Towers: "Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir among the elves, Tharkûn to the dwarves; Olórin I was in my ...
Gwen's user avatar
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52 votes
5 answers
70k views

Who came up with the name Darth Vader? According to Wiktionary (apparently Darth Vader now warrants a dictionary entry meaning "a malevolent, dominating and threatening force" :o): Derived from the ...
coleopterist's user avatar
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51 votes
4 answers
26k views

We all know that a blade runner is a detective who hunts down replicants. There is an interesting out-of-universe story of how that name arose during production of the movie.1 However, is there any ...
N. Virgo's user avatar
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50 votes
4 answers
6k views

Chewbacca (Chewie to his friends) is the Wookiee in the original Star Wars trilogy. We know his name because people other than he say his name. Whenever he speaks, it's in growls and other noises, ...
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50 votes
2 answers
9k views

According to the sources I’ve found (for example this one), “Frodo” comes from the Old English “fród”, meaning wise. (Apparently in “Hobbit Language” Frodo’s name is “Maura”, but I don’t know if this ...
Laurel's user avatar
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48 votes
3 answers
12k views

I've been reading answers to the question asking how "Smaug" should be pronounced and I was wondering, is there an authoritative answer to the pronunciation of "Gandalf"? I first read The Hobbit ...
Wallnut's user avatar
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45 votes
2 answers
6k views

In Star Wars: A New Hope, at beginning of the attack on the Death Star, we see the pilots of Red Squadron check in. Luke reports in as "Red Five", however we also ...
Skooba - Stands Against AI's user avatar
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