Name
Meanings in Sailor Moon
Hey, you can't say I didn't
warn you!
As a fan of Sailor Moon
who was brought in by the DiC dub, I'll always have a soft spot for the
NA version. Even if it
is hacked to incoherency at times.
One of the main objections
other fans have had to the NA version is that the meanings of the names,
a subtle-yet-obvious commentary on the character, was lost.
However, English names
also have meanings, a fact a lot of people often forget, mainly because
written English is phonetic, not pictorial. A little bit of research has
shown that the commentary's still there.
But I wouldn't want to
meet the person who came up with these names on Hallowe'en!
Serena
"Serena" means "she who is serene";
the dictionary defines the word "serene" as meaning "calm; peaceful; tranquil".
I challenge you: think of this meaning, think of Sailor Moon's character,
and don't giggle.
Darien
"Darien" is an English corruption of the
name "Darius", which means "guardian" or "protector". It
is perhaps worth noting that in Persia, where this name originated, it
was so associated with the royal house that it was actually cited as a
use-name for the Emperor rather than as a given name.
Amy
"Amy" means "Loved". Considering
that, apart from Sailor Moon, she's the only Sailor Scout who has a romance,
I think it very appropriate.
Raye
Because "Raye" can be a shortened form
of either "Regina", which means "queen", or "Rachael",
which means "guardian", it has a hybrid meaning of "royal guardian".
When the chips are down, Raye is Serena's most faithful and determined
protector - that she has a name signifying this is only appropriate!
Lita
"Lita" has no separate meaning as a name,
but is often added to other names, especially in Italy and Spain, to make
a childhood nickname, and so may be thought of as meaning "little".
As she's the tallest scout, this name is so inappropriate it's funny.
It became popular as a
name in its own right during the 1950s but has been rarely used since.
"Lita" has links
to two figures of Greek mythology. It is a shortening of "Hippolyta",
the Queen of the Amazons, who loved Hercules, one of the sons of Zeus,
who was known to the Romans as "Jupiter". It is also aurally very
close to the name "Leda", the name of one of Zeus' lovers (she was
also about the only one who managed to escape being turned into anything
by Zeus' long-suffering and righteously indignant wife). They had two children,
one of whom was Helen of Troy.
Mina
"Mina" is one of the prettier feminine
forms of "William", and shares its meaning of "will/mind of steel".
As Mina's element is metal and she is the de facto leader of the
Scouts (until Serena grows up into it) the name is very accurate.
Greg
"Greg" is short for "Gregory", which
means "Watcher". As his gift as a Rainbow Crystal carrier was Second
Sight, it's a very accurate name for him.
Andrew
"Andrew" means "faithful man". As
he remains Darien's best friend through thick and thin, even when Darien's
acting
completely wacko, it's very appropriate.
Molly
and Rita
"Rita" and "Molly" are both forms
of "Margaret", which means "pearl". As Molly is the daughter
of a jeweller, and Rita is the holder of a Rainbow Crystal, a gemstone
name is appropriate for both.
Melvin
The name "Melvin" means "of the trees".
Like Molly, Melvin is a perennial victim-of-the-week. But it's worth noting
that, more often than not, he's in a park, around trees, when he runs afoul
of the youma!
Chad
The name "Chad" comes from the Welsh and
has been in use so long nobody now knows what it exactly means. It has
been cited as meaning "battle" but its earliest recorded use was
as the use-name of a very famous and skilled eighth-century Welsh bard
and so it may be a masculine version of "Ceridwen", the Old English
goddess of poetry and music.
As Chad is a failed musician
who is learning martial arts from Raye's grandfather, both meanings are
appropriate.
Serena