TLC Forum

For me, one of the delights of the Chronicles are the wonderfully evocative (and onomatopoeic) names that Lewis created for his characters. I mean, really, how perfect is Pattertwig for a squirrel? It sounds like the quick light movements of a squirrel in a tree. And I also love the name Glenstorm for a centaur. The stress on each syllable gives the name a powerful feel -- I can just see a Centaur stamping his hooves like thunder to that name. Glenstorm! simply evokes images of these majestic creatures in the wilds.

What are some of your favorite character names -- and why?

Trufflehunter is a nice, soft, cuddly, snuffly sort of name, which not only goes with the kind of creature he is, but also his character.
Nikabrik has a hard kick to his name, just like his personality. Trumpkin is softer, so it kind of has a hard dwarvish feel without the harsh personality feel, plus it's got a hint of... humour? to it.
Ramandu has a sort of Gandalf-like solemnity to it.
And can I just say that I like the sound of Caspian and partly because it sounds good both as a kid's name and as an adult's?

Ooh, good subject. I like Lasaraleen because it's ridiculously over-the-top.
Aravis feels very... tomboyish. It definitely suits her.

I like Cor cuz It has a very simple, yet a strong, friendly ring to it. And Corin is the same but the "in" part adds a little bit more fun and younger-person feel to it.

I like looking to the meanings of a lot of the characters' names. For instance, Aslan means lion and Lucy means light-bearer.

However, I was rather scandalized to learn that name of the bully in SC, Adela, means "noble, kind." Go figure.

Would anybody be able to tell me whether there is any significance to the girl Lucy saw gossiping about her in Coriakin's book having the same last name as Dick Devine's lordly title in the Space Trilogy? Could he be some kind of kin of hers, or does the difference in last names cross that out? I'm terribly uneducated on how English nobility works. :p But I have this recurring thought of wondering how the Featherstone family reacts to Edgestow.

Isn't he "Feverstone", not "Featherstone"?

I... Shall need to do a spot of re-reading. I was pretty sure it was the same, but it's possible I was mis-remembering.

Puddleglum! Both that and the name he has in the first Czech translation, Šklíblatík, is absolutely perfect for the character. (The translator, Renáta Ferstová, is also most fond of it; in an interview with her I read around the time the second translation was coming out, she said she was willing to admit she'd made many mistakes in the translation, but she wouldn't give up Šklíblatík for anything.)