• Abraxan (powerful flying horse, mentioned in FB) - Abraxus was the name of a flying horse that pulled Helios, the sun god's chariot through the sky in Greco-Roman mythology.
• Accio (summoning charm) - Latin for "to summon."
• Alastor - Greek God who sought revenge on people.
• Albus - In Latin means white (maybe for white beard). Wisdom. Or.. Governor of Britain at the death of the emperor Pertinax, Decimus Clodius Albinus (Albinus=Albus?) attempted to seize the throne but ended up as Caesar in alliance with another imperial contender, Septimius Severus. After Severus defeated two other rivals (Voldemort and... maybe Slytherin?), the now expendable Albinus was forced into another attempt at usurpation, an attempt that came to an end at the bloody battle of Lyon.
• Aragog - "<i>Ara</i>chnid" means spider and "Gog" was the name of a legendary giant (combined, the name means giant spider). Also possibly derived from the Greek word 'agog', meaning leader.
• Argus - In Greek mythology, Argus was a monster that had a hundred eyes and was ever-so-watchful.
• Arthur - Could represent King Arthur. The legend presents Arthur as a leader in ancient times who defeats the Saxons and other enemies. He thereby unites the people of Britain in peace and harmony.
• Avada Kedavra (killing curse) - Aramaic phrase that means "may it be destroyed." Also similar to "Abracadabra", which is an ancient spell (dates from the second century) used by conjurors to invoke spirits or supernatural powers for protection against disease or aid.
• Avis (spell that Ollivander used to make birds fly out of Krum's wand) - Latin for "bird."

 

This page is a reference as to what some of the names and places in the Harry Potter series mean in other languages, what they might be named after, and some stories surrounding them in Mythology that might have to do with the future of the Harry Potter books (we know JK Rowling used these as inspiration for names and other things in the books; maybe she'll do it again in the future books). The names are in alphabetical order. To find someone, look at their first name, last name, or what it would look like together. For instance, Ronald Weasley would be under Ron Weasley and Weasley, as Weasley and Ron Weasley are different. Titles are behind the character's name (like Voldemort, Lord). I am still adding more, and if you have any other name origins of note, then please send them (along with a reference) to Georgia. Special thanks to Fronskie Feint and MoHPCN for some of these origins, and to Steve from The Harry Potter Lexicon for some help with the spells. Go directly to a certain letter of the alphabet: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z A Titles Abraxan (powerful flying horse, mentioned in FB) - Abraxus was the name of a flying horse that pulled Helios, the sun god's chariot through the sky in Greco-Roman mythology. Accio (summoning charm) - Latin for "to summon." Alastor - Greek God who sought revenge on people. Albus - In Latin means white (maybe for white beard). Wisdom. Or.. Governor of Britain at the death of the emperor Pertinax, Decimus Clodius Albinus (Albinus=Albus?) attempted to seize the throne but ended up as Caesar in alliance with another imperial contender, Septimius Severus. After Severus defeated two other rivals (Voldemort and... maybe Slytherin?), the now expendable Albinus was forced into another attempt at usurpation, an attempt that came to an end at the bloody battle of Lyon. Aragog - "<i>Ara</i>chnid" means spider and "Gog" was the name of a legendary giant (combined, the name means giant spider). Also possibly derived from the Greek word 'agog', meaning leader. Argus - In Greek mythology, Argus was a monster that had a hundred eyes and was ever-so-watchful. Arthur - Could represent King Arthur. The legend presents Arthur as a leader in ancient times who defeats the Saxons and other enemies. He thereby unites the people of Britain in peace and harmony. Avada Kedavra (killing curse) - Aramaic phrase that means "may it be destroyed." Also similar to "Abracadabra", which is an ancient spell (dates from the second century) used by conjurors to invoke spirits or supernatural powers for protection against disease or aid. Avis (spell that Ollivander used to make birds fly out of Krum's wand) - Latin for "bird." Back To Top B Titles Bagman - A person who collects money, as for racketeers. Basilisk - The history and evolution of the myth of the basilisk is detailed in this article. The Greek basiliskos means "little king" or "petty tyrant". Some myths describe the basilisk as a giant bird with a serpent's tail that could breathe fire and kill with its stare. Others call it the king of all serpents, and consider it as powerful as the gods. Beauxbatons - French for "beautiful wands". Bellatrix - A pale yellow star indicating the left shoulder of the constellation Orion, the Great Hunter. Bellatrix is known as the "Female Warrior." Binns, Professor - A bin is what the British call a garbage can. Many students consider boring Professor Binn's information to be rubbish. Bluebottle (make of broomstick) - A type of annoying fly with a loud buzz and iridescent body. Bode - To be an omen. Also, a stop or delay. Boggart - "Baggart" (pronounced the same), an Irish word, means "a threat". Buboter pus - "Bubos" is an English word for an inflamed, tender swelling of a lymph node, especially in the area of the armpit or groin, that is characteristic of certain infections, such as bubonic plague and syphilis.

C Titles

• Cassandra - The daughter of Priam, king of Troy. She foresaw the fall of Troy. After spurning Apollo's amorous advances, the sun god gave Cassandra the gift of prophecy...with the catch that no one would ever believe her.
• Cedric - Old English for chief or warleader.
• Charlie - A diminutive of Charles, which means manly and strong.
• Cho Chang - Cho is Japanese for "butterfly" and Chang is Chinese for "free" or "unhindered".
• Colin - Means youth, child, or victor.
• Cornelius - See Lucius
• Cruciatus Curse - "Crucio" is Latin for "to torture."
• Conjunctivitus Curse (spell that Krum used to "do something" to the eyes of the Chinese Fireball during the first task of the TWT) - Conjunctivitis is the scientific name for pink-eye -- the illness that children often get that makes eyelids crust together.

   

D Titles

• Deletrius (banishing spell) - Latin for "to erase."
• Densaugeo (spell that Malfoy used to make Hermione's front teeth grow huge) - "Dens" is Latin for "teeth." "Augeo" is Latin for "to enlarge."
• Diagon Alley- Diagonally (a straight line on a slanted angle)
• Diffindo (spell Harry used to cause Cedric's bag to split apart) - In Latin, "Diffindo" means "to split."
• Dolores - Of latin origin. Means lady of sorrows
• Draco - Draco is a constellation that looks like a dragon but is a snake. In Latin, Draco means "dragon." There was also Greek ruler named Draco who developed a system of severe punishments for even the smallest of crimes. Draconian means harsh or cruel.
• Dumbledore - Means "Bumblebee" in Old English. JK Rowling has said that she chose this name because she imagined Dumbledore walking around the castle, humming to himself.
• Durmstrang - "Sturm und drang" is German phrase meaning storm and stress.
• Dudley - An aristocratic surname used as a first name since the 19th century.
• Dursley - A town near J.K. Rowling's birthplace.

   

E Titles

• Ennervate (used to revive someone who has been stunned) - When spelled with two n's, as ennervate, it actually means to add nerve (daring or strength). With one n, as enervate, it means to weaken. The spell in the books is "ennervate," so it makes perfect sense.
• Elphias Doge - Doge was the title of the ruler of Venice from the 8th to 18th centuries. 'Corno' meaning horn in italian, was the cap worn by the doge as a symbol, which is mentioned when Mad-Eye Moody shows Harry the photo of the Order, "Elphias Doge, you've met him, I'd forgotten he used to wear that stupid hat..."(OotP pg 158 UK, 174 US). Also, Magus Eliphas Levi was a French occultist of the 19th century.
• Evanesco ( vanishing spell) - to disappear or vanish in latin.
• Expecto Patronus - In latin, expecto is to await/desire/hope for and patronus is protector.
• Expelliarmus (disarming spell) - Latin combination "to expel" and "arma" (weapon).

F Titles

• Fawkes (Dumbledore's phoenix) - Guy Fawkes was an English Catholic who, in 1605, tried to blow up the House of Parliament as an act of rebellion against the new Protestant government. In England, November 5th is now known as 'Guy Fawkes Day' (or 'Bonfire Night') where Guy Fawkes is burned in effigy. Every year he is resurrected to burn again. It can also be noted that he is known known as one of the most infamous traitors in English history.
• Felix Felicis (Chapter 14 HBP) - Latin for lucky, fortunate or happy.
• Figg, Mrs. Arabella - "Fig" means "not literal" and a fig leaf is something that conceals or camouflages. Hmm...
• Filch - To "steal."
• Firenze - Italian name for the city of Florence.
• Flitwick - A town in England. It could also be interpeted as the movement of a wand, ie: flit (to move quickly from one spot to another) - wick (a stick shaped cord of woven fibres).
• Fleur Delacour - Means "Flower of the Court" in French. It could also be a clever play on the similar French word 'coeur' meaning heart (Veela's capitivate men's hearts).
• Fluffy - "Cerberus" the three-headed dog was the guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology.
• Fudge - "Fudge," besides being a delicious chocolate confection, can mean nonsense. As a verb, it means to evade or to falsify. In technological jargon, it means "to perform in an incomplete but marginally acceptable way."

   

G Titles

• Gilderoy - A highwayman known for being handsome. May also come from the word "gilded," which is defined as having a pleasing, showy appearance, which covers something of little worth. The name "Roy" is old Old French for "regal one" or king.
• Ginny - "Ginevra," Italian female, woman of the people. There is an old myth about a bride named Ginevra, who playfully hid in a trunk on her wedding day. The lid fell, burying her alive; and eventually her skeleton was discovered. This could relate to Ginny being taken into the Chamber of Secrets where her 'skeleton would lie forever'. However, JK Rowling has also said that she picked the name because she wanted something different and special for the only Weasley girl!
• Grindelwald - A well known hotel chain in Germany. (Many theories in which the Dark wizard Grindelwald is compared to Hilter have been explored by Harry Potter fans in the past, especially since the date of his demise (1945) is the same as the end of WWII.)

   

H Titles

• Hagrid - Possibly be related to the word haggard (Grawp calls him "Hagger!") which means hidden or to hide.
• Harry - J.K. Rowling's favourite boy's name. The name Harry is of anglo saxon origin and means 'power'. There was also a magician named Harry Houdini in the 1900s.
• Hedwig - A saint that lived in Germany in the 13th and 14th centuries Means "refuge in battle."
• Hermes - The Greek Messenger.
• Hermione - Means well born or stone. Feminine version of Hermes. In Greek Mythology, she was the daughter of Helen of Troy and King Menelaus of Sparta. Hermione is also a character in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale.

I Titles

• Impedimenta (used to slow down attackers) - "Impedio" is Latin for "to hinder."
• Imperius Curse - "Impero" is Latin for "to control" and "imperium" is Latin for "absolute control."
• Inigo Imago (author of Dream Oracle, a Divination text book) - "Inigo" is a male name meaning ardent or fiery and "Imago" means image.

   

K Titles

• Knockturn Alley - Nocturnally

   

L Titles

• Lily - A flower symbolizing purity and innocence.
• Lockhart - Town in Australia near Wagga Wagga ("Compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf"?).
• Lucius - A latin male first name. Also possibly a connection to the similar sounding 'Lucifer' (the devil).
• Ludo - "I play" in Latin.

  A Roman General named Lucius Cornelius Sulla was usurped by the people of Rome, but defeated them and seized control as a dictator. After doing so, he removed most of the popular say in the government and returned it to the Senate of Rome, which controlled the people, and founded a firm Republic. (Thanks to Rosemary for this great theory!)

• Lumos (used to make a wand emit light) - "Lumen" is Latin for "light" and "luminous" means "emitting light" in English.
• Ludo - Latin meaning to play.
• Luna - The Roman goddess of the moon. Also, it is a term for silver in alchemy, and means 'moon' itself in both latin and italian.
• Lupin - Lunar means moon. Lupin means wolf-like. Canis Lupus is the scientific name for wolf.

   

M Titles

• Malfoy - "Mal foi" means "bad faith" in French. The similar French phrase "Mal fait" can be interpeted as 'badly made' or 'evil deeds'. Similarly, In Portuguese, (JK Rowling taught English in Portugal for a few years) "Mal foi" means "was
  bad" or "is bad". In Arthurian legends, Lancelot (King Arthur's greatest knight and his betrayor) is sometimes called "Le Chevallier Mal Fait" (the 'mal fait' knight).
• Marietta - "Little Bitter."
• Minerva - The Roman counterpart to the Greek Goddess named Athena. Both women in their respective mythologies represent War, handicraft and practical reason or wisdom.
• Mirror of Erised - Erised backwards is desire (as in "you'll see what you desire"). The inscription around the top of the Mirror of Erised, if shown backwards with the spaces rearranged, says: I show not your face but your hearts desire.
• Moody - Not in a good mood.
• Morsmordre (makes the Dark Mark appear in the sky) - Combination between "mors" (Latin for "death") and "mordere" (Latin for "to bite"). Death bite? No -- Death Eater.
• Mundungus - A stinking tobacco.

   

N Titles

• Nagini - "Naga" is snake in Sanskrit and "Nagin" means female snake in Urdu.
• Narcissa (Malfoy) - "Narcissism" means the excessive love of oneself.
• Neville - Old French for "from the new farmland."
• Nicholas Flamel - was a real alchemist, and supposedly DID create the Philosopher's Stone (not "Sorcerer’s"). The tale was that he had spent decades of his life trying to create the Philosopher's Stone, which could turn any metal in to gold and unlock the secrets to immortality, but could not figure it out.
• Nimbus - A rain or storm cloud. Nimbus was also a god in Greek Mythology.
• Norris, Mrs. - A character in one of J.K. Rowling's favorite author's (Jane Austen) books.
• Nox (cancels out Lumos) - "Nox" is Latin for "darkness."

   

0 Titles

• Orchideous (makes flowers spring out of the tip of a wand) - Orchid is a type of flower.

P Titles

• Padma - Means "lotus" in Sanskrit. In Hindu myth this was another name of both the hero Rama and the Goddess Lakshmi. "Patel" (similar to Patil) is a common Indian last-name.
• Parvati - Parvati is a Hindu Goddess married to Hindu God Shiva the Destroyer. She gave birth to a baby boy named Ganesh, who Siva beheaded, but replaced the old head with an elephant head after Parvati reamed him out. Sister of the Goddess of the Ganges, Padma. "Patel" (similar to Patil) is a common Indian last-name. There was a character named "Parvati the Witch" in Salman Rushdie's novel 'Midnight's Children', in which the names "Padma" and "Patil" were also significant.
• Patronus (dementor defense spell) - "Patronus" is Latin for "protector."
• Peeves - "Peeve" means "little devil" or something that gets on your nerves (like a pet peeve).
• Pensieve - Perhaps a combination of the English words "pensive" and "sieve". To be pensive is to be wistful or thoughtful and a sieve is utensil of wired mesh used for sifting.
• Percival - One of the legendary Knights of the Round Table. The name itself means "pierces the valley" or "destroyer."
• Pettigrew - Pettigrew could be interpreted two ways. 1. "Petty - grew" meaning he grew into a petty (unimportant/narrow-minded) person or 2. "pet - I - grew" foreshadowing the incident where Peter grew out of his rat form and back into a man in the Shrieking Shack.
• Petunia - A trumpet shaped flower, with white or purple blossoms. The petunia symbolizes anger and resentment.
• Potter - "Potter's Field" is often the name given to a cemetary where a city, town, etc., buries those who have gone unclaimed or unwanted (a community's orphans)
• Pince, Madam - Pince-nez is french for "pinch [the] nose". They are a pair of glasses with no side ear temples, but just lenses and their frames. They clip on the bridge of the nose. This type of eyeglasses is sometimes seen on stern or bookish people in literature, movies, TV, etc.
• Privet Drive - Privet is a type of leaf found on a bush in the UK. The street name could possibly be derived from the word 'private'. It also means 'hi' in Russian.

   

Q Titles

• Quibbler - To quibble means to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial distinctions and objections. A quibble is an archaic term for a pun.
• Quietus (cancels out "Sonorus") - Obviously "quiet" means to be silent, and "quietus" in Latin means to be quiet.
• Quirrell - Perhaps derived from the word squirrel, for a group of nervous, nut-eating rodents that live in trees. The professor was a scared, shaky man who behaved a lot like one, later an act to cover up his allegiance to Voldemort.
• Quidditch - JK Rowling has stated that the origin of this name is entirely made up (she wrote 5 pages of "Q" words until she found one that she liked), but it is still interesting to the note that the word 'quiddity' means the essence or real nature of a thing.

   

R Titles

• Reducio (shrinking charm) - "Reduce" means "to make smaller" in English and also"Reduco" in Latin means to reduce.
• Regulus (Sirius' brother) - The name of a star in the Alpha Leo (lion) constellation. Although this might seem odd at first, considering he was not a Gryffindor - lions in mythology are often used to symbolise those fierce or pure of heart (pure blood?)
• Remus - Brother of Romulus (founder of Rome). They were raised by a female wolf. He was killed by Romulus.
• Riddikulus (spell used to transform a scary Boggart into a humorous shape) - "Ridiculous" means "absurd."
• Ron - Interesting when taken in conjunction with Arthur: advisor to the king.
• Ronan - An Irish saint.
• Rubeus - 'Ruber' is latin for red.

S Titles

• Salazar (Slytherin) - António de Oliveira Salazar was the fascist dictator in Portugal at the same time that Mussolini, Franco and Hitler. He had the same extremist right wing ideology as the others, exercised great prejudice and ruled using fear.
• Severus - Sever means "to cut off". Severe also means cruel, strict. In ancient history, Lucius Septimius Severus restored stability to the Roman empire after the tumultuous reign of the emperor Commodus (See Albus) and the civil wars that erupted in the wake of Commodus' murder (if you watched "Gladiator" then you should know this).
• Sibyll - Sibyll comes from the Sibyls, who were famous prophets in ancient mythology.
• Sirius - Named after the star, Sirius, also known as the Dog Star. It is the brightest star in the sky, often called 'scorching', which quite suits his personality.
• Sinistra, Professor - The latin 'sinister' meaning on the left. In ancient cultures (such as the Babylonians) the left side was often associated with evil, black magic or bad luck. We wonder what this means for our dear Astronomy teacher!
• Skeeter, Rita - "Skeeter" is short for "mosquito." As most people can attest, mosquitoes are among the most annoying life-forms on this planet.
• Sonorous (spell used to magnify a voice like a loudspeaker) - "Sonorus" is Latin for "loud."
• Sprout, Professor - A suitable name for a herbology teacher. Sprout means to spring up and grow.
• Snape - A town in England, also based after a person JKR knew.
• Stupefy (spell used to make someone unconscious) - "Stupefy" in English means "dull the senses of; daze."

   

T Titles

• Tom Marvolo Riddle - If you rearrange the letters it spells: "I am Lord Voldemort." The name Tom means twin.
• Toujours Pur (Black family motto) - French for "Always Pure". Remember that most of the Black family consider half-bloods to be below them.

   

U Titles

• Umbridge - Sounds like "umbrage," which is a feeling of anger caused by an offence. 'Umbra' means "shadow" and can also be interpreted as "jealous or suspicious of another" or "standing in one's light or way."

   

V Titles

• Vector, Professor (Arithmancy teacher) - A vector is a mathematical quantity completely specified by a magnitude and a direction.
• Veritaserum (truth potion) - "Veritas" is Latin for "truth" and a serum is a potion.
• Viktor (Krum) - His first name means the "victorious one," appropriate for the best seeker in the Quidditch World Cup.
• Voldemort, Lord - There was a dark wizard in medieval times named Voldermortist. In another language, Voldermortist means "Lord of Evil" or "Dark Lord". Legend has it that Voldermortist once tried to destroy Merlin before the time of King Arthur (Mr. Weasley?), by bewitching good people, and simply bribing those who already were evil. Legend has it that Merlin destroyed Voldermortist by using a simple paralyzing charm (full body bind?), fed him to the many-headed-beast (Fluffy?) of the lake, the Lady of the Lake's pet (Giant Squid?), freed the bewitched people, and destroyed the evil men. That was maybe twelve, thirteen years before Arthur (how long it was from Voldemort's destruction until Harry started Hogwarts). In many European languages 'mort' or 'mord' refer to death or evil. In French, Voldemort means "flight of death" (meaning escaping death).

   

W Titles

• Weird Sisters, The (band) - The Weird Sisters were three witches in Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth' who could forsee the future, and elicited evil in Macbeth by means of equivocation.