Refer to generally accepted terms that identify persons, places or things: characters, cities, space stations, et al. Nicknames can also be relevant.
5
votes
1answer
132 views
Where did the name “The Borg” — as in Star Trek — come from? [duplicate]
How did the creators of Star Trek's biggest bad guy -- the Borg Collective -- come up with its name?
4
votes
1answer
178 views
How was Hodor named as so?
We know that he can only say his name. I observe from the series that whenever he is spoken to, he replies with (and I quote):
Hodor!
or
Hodor.
Is this how he was named? Or did someone ...
0
votes
0answers
69 views
Why is Franklin named that but all other young animals are named for their types of animal? [closed]
In the book and television series about a turtle named "Franklin", just about all the young animals are named only "Bear", "Snail", and so on — after their own species or types of animal — ...
7
votes
1answer
293 views
Is there an astronomical name given to the Ewoks' ''Forest Moon of Endor'?
'Endor' is not the actual name of the satellite that the Ewoks dwell(ed?) upon.
It's actually the second moon orbiting the planet named Endor, and not Endor itself.
In any Star Wars canon, were there ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Why “Laurie” in “Laurie (Strange Things Happen)”?
In Dickey Lee's "Laurie (Strange Things Happen)" (1965), the narrator danced with a seemingly living girl, Laurie, who had, in fact, died a year prior. While the basic idea is not a new one, I'm ...
7
votes
1answer
235 views
Did the Federation actually have consistent naming conventions for their ships of the line?
In the Star Trek franchise the Federation had several classes of vessels, i.e. Miranda-class science vessels, Constitution-class cruisers, Exeter-class starships, Galaxy-class starships, etc.
Were ...
10
votes
1answer
271 views
Why isn't Mr. Fantastic known as Dr. Fantastic?
Why isn't Mr. Fantastic known as Dr. Fantastic? This just struck me as a little strange. I am sure he has a doctorate.
Dr. Doom, and Dr. strange are happy to advertise theirs. Yet Mr Fantastic is ...
3
votes
1answer
121 views
What does “Turambar” mean?
Why was Túrin called "Turambar" (Master of Fate/Doom)? Is it something to do with the Second Prophecy of Mandos?
31
votes
2answers
1k views
Does Gollum know that others call him Gollum?
I don't recall any of the characters in LotR or The Hobbit calling Sméagol Gollum to his face. It seems to be more of a private epithet. Is this correct? Does Gollum know that others call him Gollum?
9
votes
2answers
518 views
Why were the twins named Luke and Leia?
In G-Canon, it is not revealed that Padme is pregnant with twins until she is in the medical bay ready to give birth. When asked what they should be named, she immediately responds without much ...
17
votes
3answers
913 views
Does Emperor Palpatine have a first name?
Has the first name of the Emperor Palpatine been mentioned in any of the Extended Universe Star Wars works?
9
votes
2answers
451 views
Why the name changes for Janeway?
According to Wikipedia, Geneviève Bujold wanted Voyager's Janeway's first name to be changed from Elizabeth to Nicole. Later, Kate Mulgrew requested the name to be changed again to Kathryn. Why did ...
7
votes
1answer
560 views
James T. Kirk: Why “Tiberius”?
Considering the relatively exotic nature of "Tiberius", is there a story behind James T. Kirk's middle name? Do we perhaps know what the professions of his parents were?
5
votes
1answer
114 views
Why is Jon Vander's nickname “Dutch”?
In the Star Wars universe, there's a pilot named Jon Vander whose nickname is "Dutch".
I'm assuming that the Netherlands doesn't exist in Star Wars - or is at least sufficiently far away from the ...
5
votes
0answers
202 views
Has JMS ever revealed the meanings of names in Babylon 5?
I like to read the various series wikias and guides as I go through a series I'd seen before, to pick up on stuff I may have missed. I ran across this on The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 for A Voice ...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
Origin of Darth Vader's name
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
188 views
How do you pronounce 'Tej'?
Ivan's book is finally here, and there's a new character named Akuti Tejaswini Jyoti ghem Estif Arqua, or Tej for short. I don't think I even want to attempt that mouthful of a full name, but I need a ...
0
votes
0answers
121 views
A demon by any other name? Peter V. Brett's corelings, Tolkien's balrogs, who else coined a new term for demons? [closed]
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but Peter V. Brett seems to have invented a new name for demons: corelings. I don't think balrogs existed as such before Tolkien named them... What are other examples of ...
5
votes
1answer
251 views
Are female super heroes often referred to by their common names?
I know from my childhood I heard of Jean Grey before I heard of her as Marvel Girl. Emma Frost is rarely referred to as The White Queen.
Is this confirmation bias on my part, or is this a real trend?
...
23
votes
1answer
476 views
Was the original hobbit name of Bilbo and Frodo “Bilba” and “Froda”?
I am reading the appendices to the LotR and in particular Appendix F, part II "On translation".
Tolkien writes "To their man-children they usually gave names that had no meaning at all in their ...
6
votes
1answer
141 views
Does the Big Guy have a name?
In the TV series Sanctuary, he's pretty much always called "the big guy" or "biggie" by everyone else, and as far as I know "Bigfoot" is one of the names for his species - not his name.
Has he ever ...
8
votes
1answer
324 views
Which came first, the “S” or the Superman?
Disclaimer: I have not read many Superman Comics.
In the Superman Movies and in the TV Show Smallville, Superman's iconic S was used as The El family crest.
Was this original intention?
I ...
3
votes
1answer
400 views
Name this children's sci fi show from my childhood
I am trying to remember what this show was from when I watched it in my childhood (I grew up in the 90's).
It was a sci-fi television series with a crew of children/young adults that were stranded in ...
3
votes
2answers
723 views
Is there any significance to Lily Luna Potter's middle name?
All of Harry's other children played a serious part not just in his life, but in the second wizarding war: James Sirius Potter, and Albus Severus Potter.
Whereas Lily Luna Potter takes her middle ...
9
votes
2answers
964 views
When did Obi-Wan change his name to Ben?
In the fourth episode of Star Wars, "A New Hope", Obi-Wan tells Luke that he hasn't used "Obi-Wan" since a long time before Luke was born.
But in the third movie, "Revenge of the Sith", Obi-Wan uses ...
-4
votes
2answers
119 views
Finding an acronym for an astrophysics code based on sci-fi culture? [closed]
I am a Phd Student, and I work on a C++ mesh refinment code for Cosmology, and General Relativity.
I currently search for an accronym for my code, but I don't find a convincing one. Maybe someone ...
1
vote
1answer
222 views
Why is the name 'Beauregard' used so often?
In a lot of TV shows, the name 'Beauregard' is used, is it a coincidence or is there some reason for it?
Recently, it has been used again in 'American Horror Story' for the disfigured kid in the ...
11
votes
3answers
541 views
In the Dune series, how was Paul Atreides' choice of the mouse's name of Muad'Dib a natural choice?
Considering the messiah prophesy which was also Muad'Dib, I don't get it - how could he choose that name, and not be calling himself the messiah? The context of when he chose his name to be that of ...
5
votes
1answer
260 views
McKay/Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge name reference to real world
It seems likely to me that the McKay/Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge is a reference to the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge or Freeway given the similarity in name and the show's Canadian connection.
...
4
votes
5answers
4k views
Is there a name for a vampire werewolf hybrid in mythology?
Inspired by the recently closed question.Most modern media call a vampire/werewolf cross breed 'hybrids'. Do these hybrids exist in mythology or ancient literature at all? If they do what are they ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Significance of the name “Iffspay”
I've been reading and thoroughly enjoying the anthology I, Alien edited by Mike Resnick. In particular I liked the story “Hi, Colonic” by Harry Turtledove, though you possibly need to have studied ...
