Poorly thought out names in Fantasy/Sci-fi

[Branduil]

Everyone knows that when it comes to naming things in a fantasy world, Tolkien is King. What about, however, those whose naming ability just plain sucks? What are the worst names you heard or read?

I would have to say Brooks is one of the worst inventors of names when it comes to his Shannara books.

The Record of Lodoss War anime is pretty entertaining, but a few of the names are poorly thought out. Like "King Kashue"(I was waiting for the appearance of "Prince Penut"). And "Woodchuck" doesn't seem like much of a name for a thief.

The latest Star Wars movies have had some pretty uninspired names too. Jar Jar Binks? Count Dooku? Please.

 

[WayneLigon]

The Record of Lodoss War anime is pretty entertaining, but a few of the names are poorly thought out. Like "King Kashue"(I was waiting for the appearance of "Prince Penut"). And "Woodchuck" doesn't seem like much of a name for a thief.

Anime often uses 'borrowed' words or sounds for a variety of reasons, the chief of which is 'it sounds cool'. A number of anime comedies like Sorcerer Hunters use very obviously borrowed English (and other) names for humorous double-meaning effect (all of the main characters in SH are named after desserts; Carrot Glasé, Marron Glasé, Chocolate Misu, Tira Misu and Gateau Mocha).

Naming is a serious matter, though. A silly or inappropriate name can throw the reader out of the story. One of the best I ever heard of was from an essay on proper naming: 'Urasis Dragon'; on paper it looks like a good decent name. Now sound it out.

 

[Tanager]

There's always the Chinese cult classic film, Inframan, with it's supreme villainess Princess Dragon-Mom

 

[Branduil]

Anime often uses 'borrowed' words or sounds for a variety of reasons, the chief of which is 'it sounds cool'. A number of anime comedies like Sorcerer Hunters use very obviously borrowed English (and other) names for humorous double-meaning effect (all of the main characters in SH are named after desserts; Carrot Glasé, Marron Glasé, Chocolate Misu, Tira Misu and Gateau Mocha).

Naming is a serious matter, though. A silly or inappropriate name can throw the reader out of the story. One of the best I ever heard of was from an essay on proper naming: 'Urasis Dragon'; on paper it looks like a good decent name. Now sound it out.

Yeah, and I can excuse the Japanese for giving us a name like "King Kashue," because I don't expect them to know that a certain name is pronounced the same as the American word for a certain nut.

I can't excuse Lucas though. There's no excuse for "Dooku."

 

[s/LaSH]

Still on the anime theme, every single character has a joke name in DragonBall and its assorted carry-on series, often themed according to race or profession. 'Goku' may be an exception, as it's the name of a mythical character. But everybody else... frex, all the pre-human-bred Saiyajin are named after vegetables - Vegeta, Kakarot (hence frequent use of the nickname 'carrot' when referring to Goku), etc. Saiya means vegetable in Japanese, even. Or Goku's sons, named after meals (this explains a joke in Cell Saga that just doesn't work in English - Goku calls for Gohan to join the fight, and the reporters say, "Did he just order a meal?" - Gohan means rice). Or the Briefs family, whose matriarch is erroneously translated as Bulma - it should be Bloomer, an antique name for underwear - and her children, Trunks, Bra, etc. Or Chichi, whose name, um, let's just say you're not going to get a man with that name unless he's got hormone problems. Or surgery.

No good examples floating to the surface otherwise, sadly.

 

[Richards]

I once read a "Dr. Who" related novel, Harry Sullivan's War (written by the actor who played Harry Sullivan, one of the fourth Doctor's companions in the Sarah Jane Smith era), where the main thug, a burly brawler who was supposed to be a really tough SOB, was named "Rupert Rainbow."

Johnathan

 

[Chain Lightning]

One of my small annoyances & misunderstandings from my childhood was from "Star Wars".

Tarkin says, "I grow tired of asking. Where is the rebel base?"

Leia answers, "Dantooine. They're on Dantooine."

But for the LONGEST time, I thought she said, with a pseudo euro-accent, " that-a-way...they're all that-a-way." Or rather, "Dat-a-way...they're all dat-a-way."

You may now pause to laugh if you wish..heh heh.

Okay, back to my point. I guess Lucas was trying to go for some kind of cultural naming convention in that part of the universe. Tatooine, Dantooine, etc, etc. I figure he was trying to make '-ooine' some sort of suffix or something. But it comes off kinda of silly to me. Its not like we named our planet 'Earth', then named the next red planet "Purth", then named the next "Kirth", and so on.

Anyways, let's say that was an applaudable way to name that region's planets. You still need to keep in mind sometimes what actors have to say out loud. It's sounds too close to Tatooine, so even if you heard it right...you might get confused and think she might've said Tatooine and not Datooine. In which case you're thinking, "Hey.....the star destroyer was just there!" Plus, because of Leia's reluctance and emotional state...she mutters the planet's name under her breath. Now its twice as bad to understand.

Anyways, my little gripe. I'm sure there are plenty of you who understood it the first time....but I didn't. Actually, the Star Wars movies has THE most misunderstood lines in any movies I've watched. For me personally.

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.

Okay, back on topic.....

Even though I don't find the Sword of Truth stuff all that bad (only on second book so far - - but I've heard really bad reviews on it), I think Terry Goodkind's names take me out of the fantasy mind-set.

---Richard Cypher? (I keep thinking Gibson Cyber-Punk or Matrix, although I read Wizard's First Rule before that movie came out...still felt Cyber-punky
)
---Zed? (I keep thinking Billy Bob Thorton)

Oh...almost forgot...back to Star Wars. The WORST named character from the movies has got to be "Elan Sleazebaggano"
http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/elansleazebaggano/

<sarcasm on> Oh I get it...clever clever...he's a drug dealing sleaze bag...clever clever....<sarcasm off>

C'mon Lucas! You're not even trying now! Obviously using the same creative engine that came up with "Biggus Dikkus". But at least that Monty Python character's name fit with the story/tone.

 

[Kai Lord]

One of my small annoyances & misunderstandings from my childhood was from "Star Wars".

Tarkin says, "I grow tired of asking. Where is the rebel base?"

Leia answers, "Dantooine. They're on Dantooine."

Anyways, let's say that was an applaudable way to name that region's planets. You still need to keep in mind sometimes what actors have to say out loud. It's sounds too close to Tatooine, so even if you heard it right...you might get confused and think she might've said Tatooine and not Datooine.

Yep. For years I thought she said "Tatooine."

Actually, the Star Wars movies has THE most misunderstood lines in any movies I've watched. For me personally.

Yeah, it wasn't until I was in high school (and I first saw Star Wars on the big screen in '77 when I was three years old) that I realized that the X-Wing leaders said "Lock S-Foils in attack positions." Up to then I always thought they said "Luck as falls...attack positions."

In the original Star Wars I also finally learned while watching with subtitles that Gold Leader says "Cut the chatter Red 2..." instead of "Cut the shadow Red 2..." I assumed "cutting the shadow" was some kind of fancy X-Wing evasion maneuver.

And don't get me started on what I thought "Lost Tiree, lost Hutch, they came from behind!" was supposed to be, because I didn't have clue. All I could ever make out was "bla-bla-bla-behind!" BOOM!

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 read some fan speculation that Qui-Gonn did some kind of Jedi Mind trick to calm Jar Jar down but that Obi-Wan thought went too far.

 

[guedo79]

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.

 

[Particle_Man]

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...

In a campaign, shortly before I joined, the DM named an NPC Paladin "Lord Pederast" -- he honestly did not know that it was a real word (he was going for something like footman, I think). I suppose if your mother named you that the only thing you could do to salvage your reputation would be to become a Paladin. Or, well, change your name of course.