Poorly thought out names in Fantasy/Sci-fi

[trancejeremy]

Oh...almost forgot...back to Star Wars. The WORST named character from the movies has got to be "Elan Sleazebaggano"

Maybe it was just a nickname, like Jimmy the Scumbag from the Simpsons?

 

[demiurge1138]

Example: (one of many) I didn't understand what Obi-Wan said in Phantom Menace until I got to put on the subtitles from the DVD in one particular scene. They're underwater and he says, "You over did it."
Never knew he said that until I had to subtitle it. Then once I found out what he said, I'm STILL confused as to why he said it in that particular situation.

I think what happens is:
Qui-Gon (not a very good name, that) puts his hand on Jar Jar's (worse one) shoulder.
Jar Jar faints.
Obi-Wan (not great, but it's a classic) says the line, assuming that Qui-Gon did some Jedi calming thing.

On topic...
The worst names I've heard are probably from the Star Wars prequels. Elan Sleazebaggano? Dexter Jettser? Count Dooku? Ouch, ouch, ouch, every one of them. And the new Sith (Tyranus, Maul, Sidious) just make me feel ill. I mean, I can take Vader. It's not nearly as "get it?" as the new ones.

Demiurge out.

 

[Darrin Drader]

On topic...
The worst names I've heard are probably from the Star Wars prequels. Elan Sleazebaggano? Dexter Jettser? Count Dooku? Ouch, ouch, ouch, every one of them. And the new Sith (Tyranus, Maul, Sidious) just make me feel ill. I mean, I can take Vader. It's not nearly as "get it?" as the new ones.

I agree. Its like we're being given some alternate universe Star Wars light with the prequels where everything is extra cheezy and lame. But, lets not forget about the campiness of the original -- Oota goota Solo?

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Keven Landwaster from the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Worst. Name. Evar.

 

[mmu1]

I hope I don't get flamed for this, but I thought that "Wormtongue" was a little too on the nose. Why would anyone, ever, put someone named Wormtongue in the position of advisor to a king? The name screams "evil henchling". Of course, in the movie, you add the visuals which makes it even weirder. I guess Saruman was more effective than I had previously supposed...

His actual name is Grima - he wasn't always called Wormtongue. (IIRC)

Gandalf mentions that at some point, he was a true advisor, not Saruman's mouthpiece.

But speaking of LotR - Bilbo, Kili, Fili, Oin, Gloin, etc. - those aren't exactly the greatest names ever, either. (Although most of them are introduced in the Hobbit, which was pretty much a children's book, which excuses much.)

 

[WayneLigon]

His actual name is Grima - he wasn't always called Wormtongue.

(Although most of them are introduced in the Hobbit, which was pretty much a children's book, which excuses much.)

There's probably a special term for it, but it's a common thing in high heroic fiction (and by romantic historians) to give names and nicknames and faux titles to people. When I started the reply, I had a book name on the tip of my tongue but now it's gone.

Sad.

Actually Tolkien lifted most (all?) of the dwarf names from one of the poetic eddas, translated here. This is where Galdalf's name comes from as well.

10.There was Motsognir the mightiest made
Of all the dwarfs, and Durin next;
Many a likeness of men they made,
The dwarfs in the earth, as Durin said.

11.Nyi and Nithi, Northri and Suthri,
Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Nori,
An and Onar, Ai, Mjothvitnir,

12.Vigg and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thrain,
Thekk and Thorin, Thror, Vit and Lit,
Nyr and Nyrath, -
Regin and Rathvith- now have I told the list aright.

And it goes on, and on, and on; the other Hobbit dwarf names appear a few sections down from these.

10. Northri, Suthri, Austri and Vestri are of course the cardinal directions. Alfthjof - 'Mighty-Theif'; Mjothvitnir - 'Mead-Wolf'; Gandalf - 'Magic-Elf'; Vindalf - 'Wind Elf', Rathsvith - 'Swift in Counsel', Eikinsjaldi 'Oak Shield', etc

 

[Assenpfeffer]

But speaking of LotR - Bilbo, Kili, Fili, Oin, Gloin, etc. - those aren't exactly the greatest names ever, either. (Although most of them are introduced in the Hobbit, which was pretty much a children's book, which excuses much.)

The names of the Dwarves come from the Dvergatal, part of the Elder Edda - Tolkien drew those names directly from Norse myth.

 

[Wolf72]

*wolf is still laughing over Urasis Dragon*

 

[Assenpfeffer]

Don't forget the Anime "Bastard!".

Every name is a metal band. The Town is called Metallica(or something very similar), a deadly spell is called Poison or Guns and Rose, and the Paladin that keeps getting beat up is called Bon Jovina.

And people ask me why I can't stand most anime.

 

[Henry]

One of the reasons I like Cowboy Bebop (well, other than the excellent English Dubbing that makes it likeably for me) is that the names are not so over-the-top for Anime. If the worst they did was "Jet Black", then I can suspend my disbelief.

Even the original Star Wars often used names to convey stereotyping. "Luke" is a name evocative in the American South and Midwest of a "Farmboy" name. Han SOLO is pretty much a loner. "Chewbacca" sounds so much like "Chewing Tobacco" it stands out. "Greedo" is obvious. There are more I'm sure in the original movie, but they are escaping me at the moment.

Some authors use the names in a comedy story for humorous (and great) effect. In Robert Aspirin's M.Y.T.H. series, Tananda ("Tanda" for short) is a female Troll. (In the MYTH series, male trolls are ghastly monsters, female trolls are shapely super-model types, both with green hair. Both are insanely strong) A female troll is - you guessed it - a Trollop. "Tanda"s name is used directly because Aspirin's first book publisher said his first novel was a little bland, and could use a little more "T and A". So he gave it to them.