What’s in a name? Well, in theHarry Potteruniverse, it turns out that there’s actually quite a lot. J.K. Rowling didn’t just assign them at random. Instead, she carefully constructed names containing hidden meanings,mythological references, and subtle clues about the characters who bear them.
Whether they’re inspired by Latin, French, or folklore, manyHarry Pottercharacters have names that reflect their personalities, hint at their backstories, and in one or two cases, foreshadow their fates. Behind each of these names lies a secret: some are dark, some are clever, and some are hidden in plain sight.
1Hermione Granger
Hermione is Named After a Greek God Known for Cleverness and Cunning
GivenHermione’s know-it-all nature, J.K. Rowling was worried about children being bullied just for sharing a name with her and so wanted to choose something fairly uncommon. The name she eventually settled on comes from the Greek god Hermes, who is known for his cleverness and cunning. Interestingly, Hermes' Roman counterpart is called Mercury, and, much like Hermione’s initials, the chemical symbol for the element named after the Roman god is Hg.
2Minerva McGonagall
Professor McGonagall Shares Her Name with the Roman Goddess of Wisdom
Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war. She represents intellect, justice, and reason, which are all qualities that are exhibited by thefan-favorite Hogwarts professorthroughout the books and movies. Some have speculated that the name McGonagall may be tied to the Gaelic word conegal, which translates to the bravest. J.K. Rowling has never confirmed this, but it would certainly be a good fit for the head of Gryffindor: a house that’s renowned for its bravery.
3Remus Lupin
Lupin’s Name Hints Strongly At His Darkest Secret
Romulus and Remus were the sons of the Roman God of War, Mars, and also the co-founders of Rome. Legend has it that the pair were raised by a wolf after being sent floating down the Tiber River not long after their birth. Lupin is derived from Lupus, which some may recognize as the Latin word for wolf, further hinting atLupin’s status as a werewolf.
4Fenrir Greyback
Fenrir Greyback Shares a Name with One of Loki’s Children
AsGod of Warfans and Norse mythology buffs should already know,Fenrir is the name of a monstrous wolf. He’s one of Loki’s many children and is one day destined to break free from his chains and kill Odin during the events of Ragnarok. Greyback’s surname is presumably a reference to the color of the character’s fur when he transforms into a werewolf.
5Tom Marvolo Riddle
There’s Much More to Voldemort’s Name Than Meets the Eye
Tom Marvolo Riddle is eventually revealed to be an anagram of I am Lord Voldemort, though some may not realize that the name Voldemort is also hiding a secret. The French term vol de mort can be translated to flight of death, which could be seen as a reference to boththe Dark Lord finding a way to cheat death, and also the death that he and his followers rain down on the wizarding world.
6Draco Malfoy
Draco’s Name is Derived from Both Latin and French
Draco is the Latin word for dragon: a mythical creature that is often associated with evil, pride, and greed, all of which arecharacteristics that Draco exhibits throughout the books and movies. Malfoy seems to come from the French expression mal foi, which translates to bad faith. Given his family’s longstanding connection with the Dark Lord, this too seems somewhat fitting.
7Sirius Black
Sirius' Name Highlights How Different He Is From His Family
Sirius is a star belonging to the Canis Major constellation and is also known as the dog star. This makes a lot of sense given that Harry’s godfather is able to transform into a dog. Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky, which contrasts perfectly withthe Black family name. Sirius was nothing like the rest of his family, although he was still able to recognize that he had both light and dark within him.
8Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix Continues the Black Family Tradition in More Ways Than One
Every member of the Black family has a name that’s connected to astronomy, and Bellatrix is no exception. It’s one of the stars in the Orion constellation, and also the Latin word for female warrior, which seems quite apt given that she’s one ofthe strongest characters inHarry Potter. Lestrange seems to be derived from the French word étrange, which is most commonly translated as strange or weird.
9Argus Filch
Filch Got His Name From an Ever-Watchful Giant
In Greek mythology, Argos Panoptes is a giant that has one hundred eyes. He’s said to be constantly vigilant and ever watchful, much likethe long-serving Hogwarts caretaker of the same name. Filch, on the other hand, is an informal word for pilfer or steal, which is perhaps a reference to the character constantly confiscating contraband from high-spirited Hogwarts students.
10Luna Lovegood
Luna’s Name and Personality Share a Connection with the Moon
Luna is the Latin word for moon, and also the name of a Roman goddess associated with the lunar body. In addition to its mysterious nature, the moon has strong connections to madness, with the word lunatic being derived from the Latin lunaticus, which loosely translates to moonstruck. Lovegood is a lot less cryptic, clearly highlightingLuna’s pure and kind-hearted nature.
