(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/OneTrueClassy]

The Decepticons - Transformers

[u/mildlyannoyedlizard → u/OneTrueClassy]

Tbf some times it’s retconned they put deception in their name because they thought they were being deceived by the higher society of cybertron

[u/Greengiant00 → u/mildlyannoyedlizard]

Also apparently in some continuities they were called that by others and adopted it as a show if defiance.

[u/Extra_Wave → u/Greengiant00]

"wait that slur is fucking sick lets adop it"

[u/IcedJack → u/Extra_Wave]

So decepticon is their version of the N word?

[u/Extra_Wave → u/IcedJack]

Decepticon with hard C

[u/ConsiderationNew3337 → u/Extra_Wave]

does that mean we cant use it any more since it's their word?

[u/Ok-Acanthocephala-81 → u/ConsiderationNew3337]

They prefer to be called Cybertronian-Americans