The origins of Sith names...

Plagueis. From Plague(A widespread affliction or calamity, especially one seen as divine retribution)
Sidious. From Insidious (Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner)
Maul. From Maul (A heavy, long-handled hammer)
Tyranus. From Tyrant (An absolute ruler who governs without restrictions)
*Vader. According to the ROTS Novel, 2 syllables put together than meant "him" (in reference to his chosen one status) However, in dutch meaning father as well.

These Sith names obviously represent something about the person. My question is with the apprent exception of Vader, did the Sith Master name them that because it was an actual characteristic they witnessed in their apprentice, or is it GL just trying to get his point across that the Sith are evil?

EDIT: Title edited for clarity

 

I always thought of the Vader as being father. If so then I think Darth Vader is a personification of evil.

 

*Vader. According to the ROTS Novel, 2 syllables put together than meant "him" (in reference to his chosen one status)

That's simply a poetic way of saying that's his new name. Just like Mace didn't literally 'fall forever'.

Steve: A single syllable that means 'me' for instance. (My name is not really Steve btw)
He was getting used to his new name of 'Vader'.

 

"Plagueis. From Plague(A widespread affliction or calamity, especially one seen as divine retribution)"

If Plagueis knew the secret to manipulating life through the midis, and had a hand in creating Anakin or passed on the knowledge to create Anakin to Sidious, much like the microscopic organisms that caused the plague, he was indirectly responsible for the plague that infected the Republic. The plague on Earth related to microscopic organisms like the midis.

"Sidious. From Insidious (Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner)"

If he took the knowledge of Plagueis, which wasn't his, and created Anakin, then he was acting in an insidious manner, which he eventually writ large on the galaxy, taking over it from within, as he took over Anakin form within (see the dreams about Padme). He used the plague to corrode both Anakin and the Republic.

"Tyranus. From Tyrant (An absolute ruler who governs without restrictions)"

Originally, in Greek, the term "tyrant" or its equivalent, did not imply a bad ruler, but rather one who was given or took certain powers outside the traditional constitutional system. It eventually evolved into its modern meaning meaning dictatorial rule. Much like Dooku, who originally did not cause one to infer a dictaorial or evil personality ("It's not in his nature"), Dooku eventually came to represent an evil attacking and seeking to destroy the Republic.

 

Unique analysis of the names. I like the plague/midis comparison. It's PROBABLY a tad deeper than what it was really meant to be, but it's good thinking nonetheless.

Carnage

 

Just wanted to point out that "Maul" is, as I'm sure you are aware, also a synonym for maim, which could be more in line with why he's named that. Both definitions work, I think. If I'm not mistaken, a maul is also a hatchet-like implement. All of them imply destruction and weaponry, and Darth Maul was essentially a weapon of Sidious'.

 

Going outside the PT, what about Darth Traya, Darth Revan, Darth Sion, Darth Bandon, Darth Nihilus, Darth Bane, Darth Imperius, and Darth Marak.

Actually, come to think of it: Revan and Malak were their names with DArth added to it, so I doubt there's any further meaning.

 

I'm entirely confused by what your saying. Sidious knighted him 'Vader' because in some language, the 2 syllables, Va-Der, meant the word 'Him'. There is nothing poetic about it. In Star Wars from 1977, GL created the name as a play on Dark Father. But the actual meaning of Vader in the star wars films was 'him'.

 

No, it means Dark Father in the story. Not him. That was Matthew Stover being clever while writing. He's going to be a father and he's dark now. Lucas came up with the name because he knew a guy with the last name of Vader. He only applied it as Dark Father later on, once he discovered that's what it is in Dutch.

 

It doesn't neccessarily mean Dark Father either however. We're never told that, in the films or otherwise. We're never told what it means exactly.
As for above, if you really think Stover meant Vader literally = 'him', go ahead and write to Stover himself. I'm apparently not going to convince you. But no one, in the EU or elsewhere (and if it was going to pop up elsewhere that a Darth Him was running around, it'd pop up in Dark Lord). It would also be in the databank for the character (EU section). If you believe it came from GL, it'd be in the databank movie section. It'd definately pop up in one of the RotS documentaries or in the Maing of RotS book.
Also Stover never said anything about Vader being 'him' in another language.
Vader = him in that it = Anakin he was now thinking about his new name.
It is not Darth Him
Darth That Guy
Darth He
Darth Me
Darth You
Darth I
Darth Moi
Or any of the ilk.

He's going to be a father and he's dark now.
Which would be good, but Sideous didn't know Padme was pregnant. If he did, he never said anything movie or book.

 

I don't think I have it in a quote, but I recall someone asking him after ROTS came out and he said that it means "Dark Father". It was an online interview or one in a newspaper, that I didn't collect.

 

A Maul is different from a hatchet. A Maul is more like a big baseball bat...or a club. It MAY have a piece of metal piercing the top, but it's more of a blunt, bludgeoning weapon than a bladed hacking or slashing weapon. Still, it works.

Makes Palpatine's motto when he ran for Chancellor "Speak Softly and carry a big stick."

Carnage

I spoke too soon, A maul is more like a big Warhammer

 

"It was an online interview or one in a newspaper, that I didn't collect."

Well you've been a trusted source for years now and I don't know why you'd lie now, so I'll believe it.
But, did he mean that that's what it means in the films? Because Jinn means spirit, Padme means lotus etc etc etc, but it's not likely they mean that in the film itself. As in, outside Vader means father which gives a cool wink wink nudge nudge to the fans, but I can't see Sideous' reason for the title. You'd think it'd be more Padme-centric or power-centric than father-centric since Sideous showed no signs anywhere of knowing of the children as I've said.

 

I don't see how it could mean Dark Father in the movies. If Lucas does indeed consider the Saga one film, then what Vader's name means comes from the movie ROTS, when he became known as Darth Vader. ROTS Novel is cannon. Sidious knew of the prophecy and named him Darth Vader, reflecting that he would be the greatest force user ever. HIM, it was a better name than something like Darth YourTheMan, Darth GreatestEver, Darth NoOneCanTouchYourPotential, Him just means Anakin is it, the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

You can also look at Vader as Invader, as his first task as a Sith Lord was to invade the Jedi Temple.

 

From www.dictionary.com:
maul ( P ) Pronunciation Key (môl)
n.
also mall (môl)
A heavy, long-handled hammer used especially to drive stakes, piles, or wedges.
A heavy hammer having a wedge-shaped head and used for splitting logs.

I was referring to something along the lines of the last line there, I apologize if it less like a hatchet and more like a hammer and for any confusion I may have created. In either case the point is the same as in the original message.

 

Him just means Anakin is it, the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Which would be great if Vader literally meant 'him' which it does not.
As I said, write Stover himself if you want to be certain. I'm pretty sure you can e-mail him or even snail mail him.
The RotS novel is ful of poetic prose at dramatic moments. This is no different.
Anakin was reflecting on his new name. If it was meant to mean 'him' in another language and be taken literally, Stover would have said 'which meant 'him' in the ancient Sith language' or what not.
Seriously, write Stover.

 

darth vader means dark father, i believe stover used "him" to parallel God's "I am". It's a powerful way to simply state who one is. my opinion though.

 

Why would Sidious name Darth Vader, Dark Father?

That makes no sense.

The best explanation is Darth inVader, just like Darth inSidious.

 

because dutch doesnt exist in the star wars universe, it just means 'darth vader' to him.

 

Back in 1977 when Lucas hadn't fully developed Star Wars yet, Darth Vader was literally the man's name. It had nothing to do with a Sith title. Lucas came up with the idea by using it as a play on Dark Father. Apprently, that's what Lucas is trying to convey with the character. However, we learn in the ROTS novelization that the name Vader is 2 syllables put together that mean Him. As someone mentioned earlier, it would make no sense for Vader to mean Father in the Star Wars Universe. Did Sidious even know that Padme was pregnant? Even if he did, Sidious wouldn't exactly want to celebrate the fact that Anakin was going to be a father.

 

Darth Nihilus: Nihil means nothing in Latin, meaning he has no loyalties except to himself.

Not sure about the rest of the names.

 

If Vader does indeed mean "Dark Father", and Sidious christened (pun intended) Anakin this while aware of his attachment to his wife, as he did, then it is truly one of the most twisted and perverse acts we have seen of his on film, right up there with the smile after he informs Vader he's killed his own wife, simply because Sidious is both mocking Anakin and negating his future possibilities as both a husband and father. Futher, if Sidious knew, on whatever level, that Padme was preggers, it makes his naming of the man he had twisted all the more ironic and diabolical. If he expected Padme to die prior to giving birth, then Sidious reveals the full irony and depths of misery to which he wishes to subject Anakin. If he intended somehow for Anakin's offspring to survive, giving a whole new twist to "If the Emperor knew" line, then Sidious is truly mad, so utterly committed to the Sith principles, such as they are, that he is willing to risk his own existence to see them through. Is that what Vader meant by Sidious foreseeing that Luke would destroy the Emperor? Did Sidious know of the pregnancy and subsequent birth of at least one child, and was he willing to take the risk of the child's existence and threat to his own for the survival of the Sith Order and the Empire? These are just wild thoughts on my part, not fully thought out, but this thread got me thinking about the possibilities.

 

Darth Traya: Based off of BeTRAYAl which is fitting given the character's tendency to do just that.

Darth Bane: bane n.
1. Fatal injury or ruin: ?Hath some fond lover tic'd thee to thy bane?? (George Herbert).
2.
1. A cause of harm, ruin, or death: ?Obedience,/Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth,/Makes slaves of men? (Percy Bysshe Shelley).
2. A source of persistent annoyance or exasperation: ?The spellings of foreign names are often the bane of busy copy editors? (Norm Goldstein).
3. A deadly poison.

it's fitting considering that he brought back the Sith that were all of these things.

Darth Revan: A Revenant is one whom returns from a long absence or one who returns from death. This is fitting considering that for much of KOTOR Revan is absent from any direct impact from a certain point of view.

Darth Bandon: I've always assumed this came from Abandon

Darth Imperius: I always assumed this came from Imperial.

Darth Malak: I remember hearing that Malak was a word for angel in Hebrew but I'm not sure.

 

Lucas, as far as I know was either refering to the character in-universe or the Dutch translation. He didn't mention Dutch, so I would assume he means within the film verse. It is not an unreasonable assumption since he did not go into a long discussion on the name.

As to whether Palpatine knew of the pregnancy, ask yourself this. He knows of the marriage. He knows of the visions of death for her. What makes you think he didn't know of the pregnancy? When Obi-wan said that he and Palpatine knew that if Anakin had children, they'd be a threat, he was refering to the fact that all Jedi/Sith that have offspring will be Force sensitive. Why else would Qui-gon ask who Anakin's father was? Because he knows that the best explaination for his gifts was that a Jedi went out and fathered a child. When Shmi says that this was not so, Qui-gon began to realize that it was possible he was created by the Force.