From the sinister sneakiness of Asajj Ventress to the thematic etymological origins of the legendary Han Solo, Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars’ campy, sci-fi sensibilities have birthed some of the most iconically silly and ridiculously unsubtle monikers in the cinematic landscape. Regardless of their importance, practically every creature in the Star Wars saga has an entire origin story and characterization built into their distinctly flavorful names.
Here are some of the most unmistakably “Star Wars” names in the saga of a galaxy far, far away.
Nute Gunray
Unless one is averse to tiny reptiles, the last thing one associates with a newt is danger. Given his cowardly disposition and scaly, red-eyed face, The Phantom Menace’s Nute Gunray fits this bill to a tee. However, in addition to his interplanetary trade blockade, the Neimoidian fiend’s last name, composed out of not one, but two deadly weapons, makes sure Naboo’s politicians know he’s not playing around.
Bib Fortuna
Bib Fortuna is an outlier in that it’s hard to deduce significance or characterization out of his name alone. Maybe the Twi'lek is like a vulture, preying on the misfortune of others as he lives a life of leisure in Jabba’s palace. Even this is a stretch, but either way, George Lucas blessed Jabba’s slimy majordomo with a name that rolls off the tongue effortlessly.
Elan Sleazebaggano
In case the message behind this Coruscant dealer’s product of choice, death sticks, was too subtle for viewers, his name, Elan Sleazebaggano, makes sure they know he’s not exactly a person of good character. Thankfully, Obi-Wan may have helped turn this sleazebag to a better life by forcing him to rethink his actions using a Jedi mind trick. One can only hope Elan was able to complete his moral rebirth by changing his legal name as well.
Salacious B. Crumb
In a dungeon teeming with exotic dancers of varied species, an extra layer of creepiness is given to this alien monkey-lizard’s perverse laughing habit. Despite his creepy nature, his name, as revealed in the book The Making of Return of the Jedi, simply comes from renowned puppeteer Phil Tippett’s mispronunciation of the word “shoelaces.” Adding in an homage to cartoonist Robert Crumb, Jabba’s tiny jester brandishes a quintessentially 80s name.
Savage Opress
It’s hard not to love a name as bludgeoning to-the-point as Savage Opress. Even misspelled and mispronounced, the burly brute’s name says everything about him by itself. Interestingly, the name would only come to suit him until after being beefed up and brainwashed by Mother Talzin’s magic. Before then, Opress was a smart, benevolent, noble leader, despite the name.
Wat Tambor
Hailing from the Techno Union, Wat Tambor is the kind of name one could only possibly find among the D-listers of the Star Wars universe. It’s everything a Star Wars name should be: blatantly, cheesily sci-fi - down to the sneakily misspelled “watt” - distinct and, most importantly, just a delight to say out loud.
Boba and Jango Fett
It makes sense that the elder, gun-slinging Fett, named appropriately based on the German word for “bold," takes his first name from Sergio Corbucci’s 1966 Spaghetti Western, Django, but Boba is more of a mystery. There’s likely nothing going on beneath the surface of the iconic Boba, but as is the case with another bounty hunter, Cad Bane, it flows briskly and features the unique gibberish Star Wars is loved for.
Pong Krell
The Clone Wars’ Umbara arc houses the undoubtedly darkest storyline in Star Wars, so perhaps Dave Filoni and crew decided to offset its grimness by giving its antagonist one of the goofiest names in the franchise. His name may sound like it belongs to a space clown, but General Pong Krell manages to overcome his unfortunate name through sheer brutality as he mercilessly mows down dozens of unsuspecting clone troopers with his pair of double-ended lightsabers.
Sheev Palpatine/Darth Sidious
A crazy character deserves a crazy title, and Ian McDiarmid’s deliciously palpable scene chewing is easily matched by his onscreen persona’s weird choice of name. While Sidious’ ruthless political plotting certainly earns him his insidious Sith christening, one can’t help but chuckle at the guy’s unfortunate birth name. As hate begets hate, Sidious would go on to pass his parents’ poor naming choices onto the next generation with his imperfect clone, Snoke, a name with arguably even less gravitas than Sheev.
Notluwiski Papanoida
Leave it to George Lucas to take one of the strangest names in the series for himself. There’s not much to say about Baron Notluwiski Papanoida except that it’s a discombobulated mix of word soup and a truly one-of-a-kind name, even by Star Wars’ standards. Lucas’ very blue cameo in Revenge of the Sith may be easy to miss, but his character’s name stands out like no other.