What's In A Name? The Symbolisms Of Names: 'Luke'

One of the most creative aspects of the Star Wars universe is the naming of the various worlds and characters. From planets to people, the names are always creatively constructed. In fact there was a website dedicated to making sure each name is unique by checking it against all previously used Star Wars names. However, there are a few, glaring exceptions. What is just as interesting as the creatively imagined names is when the creators choose a “normal” name, one known to us in our galaxy. Arguably, by looking at the meanings behind the names they use from our galaxy, we can learn more about the characters themselves and the roles they symbolize in the storyline as a whole. (https://www.gq.com/story/luke-skywalker-could-be-gay-if-you-believe-he-is)

So why name the main character of a space fantasy world “Luke,” rather than another name or an imagined name? Luke is an Anglicization of the Latin name Lucius, which roughly translates to “light.” It can also come to mean “one who is of light,” or “one who is born at dawn,” which is relevant since Luke Skywalker represents the “new hope” which the rebellion needs. On a perhaps unrelated note, the Star Wars novel that covers the formation of the rebellion through the meeting of Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla is titled “A New Dawn.”

Though it is tempting to think that George Lucas simply named the main character of his movie after himself, it is difficult to imagine that he did not consider the connotations of the name “Luke,” itself biblical, when creating the character of Luke Skywalker.

Article by: Mohammad "Grand Master" Abou-Ghazala