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I was just considering the character of Quark and what an unusual name it was. Of course a quark is a sub-atomic particle or the German word for cottage cheese, but it seems peculiar that a Ferengi, a race focused on profits, should be named after a sub-atomic particle.

The Ferengi have their own language of course which led me to wonder does the name 'Quark' have any significance in Ferengi culture? If there is no evidence regarding this in-universe, I would alternatively be interested in why, out-of-universe, it was decided to name a member of a species interested in profits after a sub-atomic particle.

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    Surely you mean "isn't it strange that a Ferengi is named after the German word for cottage cheese".
    – Eike Pierstorff
    Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 11:48
  • @EikePierstorff I wasn't aware of quark referring to cottage cheese - thank you for that point!
    – Often Right
    Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 11:52
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    Brunt, Nog, Zek and Rom don't seem to have any common meaning other than sounding vaguely futuristic
    – Valorum
    Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 11:53
  • @Richard Quite true. I guess you could kind of say 'Rom' might have been a reference to a CD ROM? Just a thought!
    – Often Right
    Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 11:54
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    @Richard: why do you say so? If we're discussing that Quark means cottage cheese then surely it is relevant that Nog means spiced egg drink.
    – ThePopMachine
    Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 19:30

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A smattering of Ferengi words and their meanings have been crystallized due to TNG, DS9, and various Star Trek novels, but unfortunately "Quark" is not one of these.

It is easier to find out-of-universe information regarding Quark's naming. It seems that he might have been named after a 1970s television series:

Quark, who often served as the show's comedy relief, may have been named after the 1978 television series Quark, which frequently examined science fiction themes from a humorous or satirical perspective.

(Source)

In particular, Quark — which was set in the 23rd Century — would frequently satirize Star Trek. (See here for episode descriptions.)

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