Buzz
The enduring appeal of the Star Wars saga lies in its ability to blend futuristic elements like starships and lightsabers with deeply relatable human emotions and struggles. George Lucas, the mastermind behind the franchise, drew inspiration from real-world sources to craft names for his diverse array of characters, from alien species to robotic companions and dark Sith lords. Many iconic names in Star Wars are rooted in earthly languages, classic cinema, and even historical figures.
1. DARTH VADER
The title Darth is derived from the word dark, and Vader originates from the Dutch term for father. Interestingly, the pronunciation in the films leans closer to the German word vater, which also means father. While it might seem like Lucas hinted at Vader's familial ties to Luke and Leia from the start, the decision to cement Darth Vader as a Skywalker wasn't finalized until the production of The Empire Strikes Back. Lucas has claimed that the Skywalker family narrative was always part of his vision, though other accounts suggest otherwise. Regardless, if you were familiar with Dutch or German before watching the original Star Wars, you might have had a head start in unraveling the saga's biggest twist.
2. R2-D2
The iconic name R2-D2 was born during the editing process of George Lucas's 1973 coming-of-age film,
3. BB-8
When it came to naming BB-8, director J.J. Abrams opted for simplicity, drawing inspiration directly from the droid's appearance. “I called him BB-8 because it felt like onomatopoeia ... The way he looked, with the number 8 and the two B’s, just made sense," Abrams revealed.
4. CAPTAIN PHASMA
The gleaming chrome finish of Captain Phasma's armor played a key role in shaping her name, which also draws inspiration from a beloved horror film. “I chose the name Phasma because of the incredible chrome design created by Michael Kaplan’s costume team,” Abrams explained in an interview. “It reminded me of the sphere in Phantasm, and I thought Phasma had a really striking ring to it.”
5. NUTE GUNRAY
Nute Gunray, the unscrupulous Viceroy of the Trade Federation, appears to have borrowed his first name from Newt Gingrich and his last name by reversing the syllables of Reagan. While Lucas has never confirmed this theory, fans and media sources have been analyzing the name since its debut in 1999's The Phantom Menace.
6. EWOKS
The endearing (or irritating, depending on your view of weaponized teddy bears) creatures from 1983's Return of the Jedi owe their name to a clever linguistic twist. Lucas derived the term Ewok by rearranging the syllables of Wookiee and rhyming it with Miwok, the name of a Native American tribe that once lived in central California, near the location of Skywalker Ranch.
7. WOOKIEES
If Wookiee sounds like a made-up word, that’s because it is. The term first appeared in Lucas's 1971 sci-fi film THX 1138. During a car chase scene, actor Terry McGovern improvised a line of radio chatter: "I think I ran over a Wookiee." McGovern coined the word as a nod to his friend, Bill Wookey, and the name stayed with Lucas, eventually becoming the species name for Chewbacca.
8. JEDI
The origin of the word Jedi is debated, with two leading theories. The first ties it to Jidaigeki, a Japanese term for historical dramas, which aligns with Lucas's heavy influence from samurai films by directors like Akira Kurosawa. The second theory links it to Jed or Jeddak, titles for tribal leaders in Edgar Rice Burroughs's John Carter series, which also inspired the adventurous tone of Star Wars.
