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Question: Names in Harry Potter as clues!?
So this is a question for some hard core fans!.!.!.ever noticed that some of the names acted as major clues for the motivation/back story/future of the character!? Remus Lupin was an obvious one!. And now that the story is done I can see the connection with Snape!. It means to rebuke or criticize sharply!. But also it alludes to the rejection he faced with Lily!. Any other names (even if you are reaching a bit like me:) that you noticed had a clue or an allusion to it!?

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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
All of them have meanings!. They either are based off of English words, or they have Latin or Roman mythology meanings!. JKR did that purposefully because she knows Latin and has studied mythology!. Take "Severus Snape", for instance!. "Severus" is a Roman type name, and "us" is one of the Latin endings for masculine words!. So "Severus" can be seen as meaning "Severe the man"!. The fact that the word "Sever" is in his name automatically shows you that he's not evil-- he's one severed from where he originally was!. A Snape is a rope tool used on ships!. It bends and twists whatever way it needs to in order to fit in-- similar to Snape!.

"Malfoy"!. "Mal" is Latin for "bad"!. "Narcissa" is obviously a reference to "Narcisistic", meaning someone who is love with themself!. "Draco" is a reference to Draco the Dragon (it's a constellation)!. A Dragon symbolically stands for Satan!. So, "Satan/Dragon evil doer" is basically the literal translation of Draco's name!. From the Malfoys' names alone, you can tell what kind of characters they are!.

"Weasley"!. Sounds like weasle!. Weasles are extremely loyal but they love pranks and have rotten tempers!. Fred, George, and Ginny, anyone!?

Sirius!. Sirius is a dog!. Sirius is a constellation that takes the form of a dog!.

Voldemort!. "Mort" is a Latin root that means "death"!.

All of the spells are Latin, too!. My Latin teacher at school has the first two HP books in Latin, and the spells are written in English in the books instead of how they are in the originals so you can see what the literal translations of them are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Quite a few authors use this!. for names of characters they want to be good guys they give them non-threatening sounding names!. same for villains!. i guess they can be used as foreshadowing too!. this is especially true if the character's name sounds more like a word than a name!. the names can be related to the charater's personality tooWww@QuestionHome@Com

The names of the authors of most of Harry's first year textbooks tied in nicely with their subjects, as does Professor Sprout's name!.

Sirius Black was an animagus who could become a dog, and Sirius is of course the Dog Star, and the brightest star in the Canis Major constellation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Actually all the names pretty much have some background to them!. Like Albus Dumbledore means "white beard" or something!? Which just means that he's supposed to be all wise etc etc!? And Hermione means "stone" shich shows more or less how practical, how lasting and true she is, as well as a strong personality, mind etc!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

these were all planned to be here like this, The author actually planned for her books to have insight with each character as you have just stated!. I read a book on the making of the harry potter series and there are a few things in there that were really interesting!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Go here:

http://www!.mugglenet!.com/

It's has a bunch of cools stuff that might help you out!.Www@QuestionHome@Com