The magical universe of Harry Potter is full of curiosities and secrets, even involving the names of the characters; find out more!
The magical universe of Harry Potter is full of curiosities and secrets, many of which may seem trivial or hidden behind clues scattered throughout the story. One of them is the meaning behind the characters’ names, which relate to each character’s personality and elements present in the story.
1. Harry Potter
The protagonist of the story, often nicknamed “the boy who lived”, appears to have a simple name given to all the achievements and challenges he has overcome throughout the plot. However, the literal meaning of the name “Harry” is deeper than it seems, as it is a version of “Henry” in Middle English, a name widely used by English nobility.
Additionally, the German word “Heri”, meaning “army”, is also relevant, especially considering Harry’s role as one of the founders of Dumbledore’s Army.
2. Hermione Granger
“Hermione” is an exotic name in the contemporary world, but it is rich in mythological value. In Greek mythology, the character’s name is derived from the daughter of King Menelaus of Sparta and his wife, Helen of Troy. The surname “Granger” means “bailiff” in Middle English, which may be related to the character’s behavior, who always took the lead in plans and often reprimanded Harry and Ron.
3. Draco Malfoy
For us, Portuguese speakers, the meaning of the name Draco Malfoy is already evident when reading or pronouncing it. “Draco” comes from the Latin, which means dragon, while “Malfoy” combines the words “evil” and “foe” which, in French, means “faith” or “truth”. Considering the character’s behavior at Hogwarts and in front of Harry and his friends, it all fits together perfectly.
4. Albus Dumbledore
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is another name we don’t see every day, but it encompasses several meanings. “Albus” is Latin for “white,” which may reference the Hogwarts professor and headmaster’s large white beard. “Percival” evokes a legacy of bravery, being the name of one of the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur. “Wulfric” translates to “wolf power”, while “Dumbledore” is an old English word for “bee”.
5. Tom Marvolo Riddle
Those who have read or watched the wizarding universe films know very well the true identity and meaning of the name Tom Marvolo Riddle. “Tom” and “Marvolo” do not hide many secrets, since the first is generally used to define the male version of a character and the second was created to represent the surname of the character’s wizard grandfather.
“Riddle” is the same as “enigma” or “riddle” in English, which makes perfect sense, since that is the baptismal name and the one behind which the greatest villain of the saga hides.
Source: Recreio
