OOP What's in a name?

[dudemom_2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 66663

Just a tongue in cheek thought about the names JK picked for her 
characters and how they may or may not reflect what that 
person/personality is like. I looked through my dictionary (huge old 
Websters) and looked up several sites for name meanings. The best 
one I found was  http://www.20000-names.com/index.htm  

Ok, now on to some names:

Minerva (McGonagal): Goddess of wisdom, of war and of liberal arts 
also Greek means Athena. We have seen McGonagal be wise, fight well 
when she has to and seems to have wide ranging talents.

Harry: English meaning army power, ruler of the army. Hmmmm.

Hermione: I found several interesting things - it is the feminine of 
Hermes meaning messenger. Websters mentioned a Shakespeare 
play 'Winters Tale' where the name Hermione is for a woman who is 
the example of dignity without pride, love without passion,and  
tenderness without weakness. Hermione loves her friends but doesn't 
lose her head, she is kind but not weak with them, she has a dignity 
but isn't too proud to do what she thinks is right (SPEW). Hermione 
is often a messenger of sorts - generally you can believe what she 
says or observes about something.

Cassandra Trelawney: a seer doomed to make dire predictions that no 
one believes. This is an odd name for someone who was known as a 
great seeress. I'm wondering if this is somehow an inside joke for 
JK by giving the one with talent this name and her great great great 
granddaughter the name of someone who is usually believed.

Sibyl Trelawney: seer who makes predictions. Again odd, because she 
is actually more of a "Cassandra" who isn't believed. (She's made 
two BIG predictions and somehow I think she's got at least one more 
in her which is why Dumbledore is keeping her around!)

Molly: Irish meaning bitter. I guess she is bitter about some 
things - Fred and George not succeeding the way she wants, Percy's 
behavior.

Petunia: flower but of the genus of the nightshade family (often a 
poison) Another interesting item.

Narcissa: self love, excessive interest in ones own appearance, 
comfort, importance and abilities. From what little we have seen of 
her this seems to be the case.

Ron: Scottish for mighty, powerful ruler - Ronald - Old English 
meaning counsel power. Not sure about this since usually what he 
jokes about is what comes true.

Fred: German for peaceful ruler (doesn't seem like Fred huh? 
possibly Fred is more of a make jokes not war kind of guy)

George: English for farmer, tiller of soil (also not like George but 
he is very inventive and works hard at making jokes.)

Neville: french meaning new town or settlement. Again not sure. 
Maybe Neville is for a new beginning.

Albus: latin for white (definitely significant)

Argus Filch: Greek for a giant with 100 eyes who was placed by Hera 
to guard Io. Definitely aptly named.

Possibly others can come up with some thoughts on the meanings of 
these and other names in the books (tongue in cheek or not) and how 
they symbolize the person or personality of the characters. 
Obviously I had too much time on my hands at work today!!!!!!


*****\(@@)/*****

Dudemom_2000