(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/kupozu]

Harry Potter isn't particularly subtle about it, which is ok since it is a children's book series. But the werewolf guys being named "Remus Lupin" and "Fenrir Greyback" is always hilarious to me. Might as well name the next one "Wolfgang McAwooo"

[u/hopping_otter_ears → u/kupozu]

I got the impression that the grey back name got added after he became a werewolf.

But I always wondered about the idea of Remus Lupin's parents deciding to name their non-werewolf baby essentially "wolfy mc wolf-child"

[u/kupozu → u/hopping_otter_ears]

Why don't wizards just all name their children "Richie Successfulton"? Are they stupid?

[u/sisdom-weeker → u/kupozu]

Livvs Forevah

[u/Notte_di_nerezza → u/kupozu]

This is a thing in traditional Chinese naming, based on what parents want for their children. "Successful," "Wealthy," "Prudent," etc.

And then there's Cho Chang.

[u/hidrapit → u/hopping_otter_ears]

Oh shit, who brought fuckin Moon Moon along?

[u/ScoopyVonPuddlePants → u/hidrapit]

Upvoting for Moon Moon lmao

[u/boccci-tamagoccci → u/hopping_otter_ears]

Fenrir is also the name of a mythical Norse wolf who kills Odin, so the grey-back part is actually less wolf-coded than the first half.

[u/hopping_otter_ears → u/boccci-tamagoccci]

Naming your kid "wolf" isn't that shocking. Wolves are cool. But naming them wolf-wolf doesn't seem likely

[u/Thunor_SixHammers → u/hopping_otter_ears]

I used to think that too about Greyback, but no that's his birth name