(Loved Trope) Aptronyms

[u/dream_monkey]

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.

[u/Shed_Some_Skin]

Man I love how often I can post Judge Dredd as an answer in these threads

Funnily enough though, he's named after Judge Dread, a reggae musician. He was a fat jolly bloke, and very much not someone who inspired dread. Funny how the same name can take on a very different meaning in a different context

[u/dream_monkey → u/Shed_Some_Skin]

Not what I was expecting

[u/Shed_Some_Skin → u/dream_monkey]

Funny story, the first time he went to gig in Jamaica, neither were the audience. They thought he was a roadie when he first walked on the stage, apparently everyone was stunned when he started singing

[u/Colossal_Squids → u/Shed_Some_Skin]

He performed once at a nightclub in England where my grandmother was working at the time. Apparently he is exactly the person the song suggests he is, if not the name.

[u/mid-random → u/dream_monkey]

Judge Dread - Big Six

Caution: NSFW topless background dancing women.

https://youtu.be/yt0YrfjRMB4

[u/Colossal_Squids → u/Shed_Some_Skin]

I defy anyone to listen to Big Seven and take Dredd seriously afterwards.

[u/Shed_Some_Skin → u/Colossal_Squids]

I mean, given some of the deeply silly stuff that's happened in the comics, you're really not supposed to take him very seriously at all times anyway

This is immediately before the devil shows up and Dredd kicks his ass whilst butt naked except for his helmet

[u/phenotype76 → u/Shed_Some_Skin]

i bet dredd's got a massive hog just out of frame

[u/Shed_Some_Skin → u/phenotype76]

[u/Cela84 → u/Shed_Some_Skin]

“The worst he can say is no.”