r/TopCharacterTropes • u/dream_monkey • 13h ago

Lore (Loved Trope) Aptronyms

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Aptronyms are characters whose name is heavily symbolic or represent them as a character. Sometimes it is a subtle play on words, sometimes it’s just a clunky transliteration. Either way, it can help characterize a character and provide more allegorical depth. Authors must be careful not to delve into the realm of cliche, though.

  1. Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter series) His name means Evil Dragon, and he tries really hard to live up to his name.

[Many commenters have pointed out that Darth Vader is not a true aptronym. I stand corrected .]

  1. Darth Vader (Star Wars series) His name means Dark Father, which cleverly conceals one of the biggest reveals in cinema history.

  2. Cthulhu (Lovecraft mythos) Cthulhu may just sound like a nonsense syllable, unpronounceable by a human mouth. The name is derived from the word “cthonic” which means a being that lives under the earth or in the underworld, so an ancient and terrible god that lies dreaming in death at the bottom of the ocean would definitely fit the description.

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290

u/AncientSignature1505 13h ago

She named the black guy Kingsley fucking Shacklebolt!

119

u/BeduinZPouste 13h ago

I feel like that was more about him being a cop than black guy. 

150

u/TheCoalitionOfChaos 12h ago

Problem is he's the ONLY wizard cop named that way. Everyone else is named after their other character traits.

-104

u/Abject_Research_3770 13h ago

Yanks always assume everything is about race. They are exhausting.

-76

u/BeduinZPouste 12h ago

I want to formaly state and have it in the record that I absolutely agree with you, and I am willing to go, if not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell with you. 

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u/vingerInJeAnys 7h ago

Weirdo

-2

u/BeduinZPouste 5h ago

For what? American more about race than other. 

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u/Lopingwaing 7h ago

Get a room!

12

u/Dry_Outside_3493 13h ago

He's named after his job.

1

u/vingerInJeAnys 7h ago

None of the others are

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u/5Hjsdnujhdfu8nubi 7h ago

He's named after his job, and it's a real surname.

-36

u/Abject_Research_3770 13h ago

Absolutely nothing to do with race.