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////////////////////// TALES OF SYMPHONIA NAME ORIGINS //////////////////////
/////////////////////////// by Gogeta75 and Cyllya //////////////////////////
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-- Intro
-- Playable Characters
-- Summon Spirits
-- Non-Playable Characters
-- Locations
-- Significant Monsters
-- Misc
-- Stuff We Can't Figure Out
-- Credits
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INTRO
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The people who made ToS put a lot of thought into the characters' names, so
this is a big list of why we think they gave Character X the name they did.
(Or Location Y, for the fun of it.) Sometimes we're positive the developers
chose that name for the reason we have listed; sometimes it's just our best
guess.
This isn't going to list out every single reference to mythology or Namco or
history or whatever that's in the entire game. You all know about Excalibur,
and it's obvious they named that dragon-looking monster "Dragon" without
reading through the worldwide history of dragonkind.
Since the game was originally made for Japanese, we're using the Japanese
version's names unless stated otherwise. (A question mark right after the
name means we aren't positive about the spelling in Roman letters.)
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PLAYABLE CHARACTERS
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LLOYD: from Welsh "llwyd", "gray" This is probably not why they named
IRVING: from a Scottish place name, Lloyd, but it's all we could find.
Celtic for "white", Gaelic for "Lloyd" is such a mundane name
"handsome" or English for compared to some other characters.
"friend" or...? Maybe they wanted to stress that
he was a normal, everyday guy?
COLLET: misspelling of Colette, which First name of Greek origin. Does
is short for Nicolette, which not seem like a coincidence,
is the female version of considering her personality and
Nicholas which means "victory role in the plot.
of the people" Not sure about last name. See
BRUNEL: possibly derived from Germanic Germanic name "Brunhilde" for
element brun "armour, a name with brun, or names like
protection" and the Hebrew Michael, Elijah, Remiel, etc, for
element el "God" el meaning god.
GENIUS SAGE: this one's obvious
REFILL: she refills your HP
SAGE: she got stuck with her
brother's last name.
KRATOS: Greek for "strong" and the Kratos the god is also called
name of a minor Greek god who Cratos.
was one of Zeus's servants in
torturing Prometheus for
giving fire to man.
AURION: Greek for "tomorrow" or
sometimes "future"
ZELOS: Greek for "zeal" and the name Zelos the god is also called Zelus.
of a minor Greek god These two gods have some other
who was a brother of Kratos siblings (from both the same parents)
WILDER: it's a real surname, but they but no charas are named for them
used it for the sake of "wild"
FUJIBAYASHI: used in reference to Real Japanese surname. Happens to
Fujibayashi Suzu from Tales mean "wisteria forest" or something
of Phantasia... She is the only Japanese PC, so I
SHIHNA: used just because it's a figure they wanted to give her a
very common Japanse given realy typical given name. Kanji are
name? normally "oak" and "name"
PRESEA: ??? There's a character named Presea in
COMBATIR: got to be from "combat", Magic Knight Rayerth who's a weapon
Spanish for "to combat" etc smith or something. There's got to
be some meaning behind it, but I
don't know what.
Or maybe her whole name is from
French "Presser ? combattre" (eager
to fight)?
REGAL: from the English word First name and last name meaning
BRYAN: from Brian, believed to be almost the same thing is probably
related to Old Celtic element not a coincidence.
"bre" meaning "hill", or
"high, noble"
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SUMMON SPIRITS
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UNDINE: female water spirit; name from philosophy of medeival scholar
from Latin unda, "wave" Paracelcus, Teutonic folklore
EFREET: kind of Jinn from Arabic Also spelled ifrit, ifreet, afrit.
mythology
GNOME: dwarf-like creature; French, from philosophy of medeival scholar
from New Latin "gnomus" Paracelcus, Teutonic(?) folklore
SYLPH: immortal and souless being from philosophy of medeival scholar
which inhabits the air; Paracelcus, Teutonic(?) folklore
perhaps blend of Latin
sylvestris, "of the forest"
and nympha, "nymph"
VOLT: a unit of electromotive force
CELSIUS: a temperature scale and the
Swedish astronomer who
invented it
ORIGIN: from the English word
MAXWELL: a Scottish physicist who He is the spirit of worldly matter
studied gases and or some such
electromagnetism
LUNA: Latin for "moon" She was formally the spirit of the
moon/moonlight, instead of light
ASKA: from Japanese "asuka" which "asuka" is still pronounced like
can mean "flying bird" "aska"
CORRINE: from Japanese "korin", the He's a fox-thing that wears a bell.
on-readings of the two kanji Also the name of the plush animal
meaning "fox" (ko) and "bell" on Meredy's whatchamacallit in ToE.
(rin).
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NON-PLAYABLE CHARACTERS
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MITOS: most likely derived from mythos Katakana normally uses "S" to
substitute for "TH", but sometimes
it uses "T" instead (wouldn't
"misosu" sound funny?)
YGGDRASIL: named for the Giant Tree in This was the story writers' excuse
Tales of Phantasia, which was to have the Giant Kharlan Tree's
named after the tree in Norse name changed to coincide with the
mythology which held the Tree in ToP. (Why did the
world(s) together translators add an extra L???)
MARTEL: named after the Tales of Don't forget that there are two
Phantasia character; her name characters named Martel in ToS.
is most likely from "mater,"
mother, but could possibly be
from "martyr."
REMIEL: means "mercy of God" in Hebrew.
The Book of Enoch names him as
one of the seven archangels.
DIKE: An embankment of earth and rock Makes sense to have an earthy name
built to prevent floods; A since he's a dwarf, and dwarves are
barrier blocking a passage, associated with Earth.
especially for protection. Dirk in Eng ver.
DIRK: a long dagger with a straight Sounds similar to dike.
blade Dike in Jpn ver.
TABATHA: Tabitha in the New Testament She is for the purpose of restoring
was a woman restored to life Martel to life. ("Tabitha" also
by Saint Peter. means "gazelle")
ALICIA: Latinized form of Alice, which Noble! Refer back to Regal, can't
is the short form of the Old be a coincidence. Could this be
French Adelais, which is a a hint on what Presea's name means?
short form of Adalheidis,
which is Germanic name
composed of the elements adal
"noble" and heid "kind, type"
SELES: It's visually similar to "se" and "ze" look identical except
"Zelos" in both languages. for the two little dots at the top
KUCHINAWA: snake
OROCHI: snake
CHOCOLAT: French for "chocolate" Supposed to be pronounced Shokola(t)
CACAO: French for "cocoa"
MARBLE: as in marble fudge? May be coincidence since it's not
French.
ABISHION?: Abicion or Abyssion. Abyssion in English version.
"abicion curse" is a severe
state of depression that leads
to suicide, from Latin abicio,
"to thrown down"? could also be
from the English word abyss.
VIDAR: Son of Odin and Grid in Norse Vidarr in Eng ver.
mythology who avenges his This is the game's first boss if
father's death by tearing the you forgot.
wolf Fenrir apart.
VHARLY?: from Vali, son of Odin and Vharly can be a mistrans of Vali...
Rind in Norse mythology???
CANDY: from the English word. See info on Thoda Geyser below.
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LOCATIONS
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TRIET: derived from a music term??? Like sonata, trio, etc...?
IZOOLD: from Izolde (Japanese Cyllya is skeptical; Gogs is
romanization)= Isolde= Iseult= certain. Isolde is used sometimes.
part of an Arthurian legend of Isolt/Iseult are the more
Tristan and Iseult. AngloSaxon (English) forms.
PALMACOSTA: Palm Coast Well, there are no palms, but....
ASCARD: from Asgard, one of the nine Could be a random Tales-esque Norse
worlds in Norse myth and home of refrence, but it just happens to be
Aesir, the warrior gods. Located on the same continent as Midgard
on the highest level of the Norse (Norse world of humans) was in ToP.
universe. But it's not the exact same place
and the "gard" part is spelled
differently in Katakana.
HAIMA: from "high mountain" "hai maunton" in katakana, Hima
THODA GEYSER: from "soda" which would The receptionist is named Candy.
be spelled the same as Thoda Soda and candy are both sweets.
in Katakana
BALACRUF MAUSELEUM: from the name of Is that guy's name spelled right?
historian Jeffrey Balacruf?
FOOJI MOUNTAINS: named for Fuji It's next to Mel-Tokyo!
Mountains in Japan
MELTOKIO: tokio part is from Tokyo What's the mel part from? It means
(toukyou), the capital of honey, so is that a joke on Zelos
Japan. calling people "hunny"?
OSSA TRAIL: Osa = Long/Chief/Head? Long trail? This is a wild guess.
RUIN = from the English word Kratos says the city was named that
because it was destroyed and rebuilt
in the past (says it's a word in the
"ancient language")
MIZUHO: Japan is sometimes called This is the Ninja town. Ninjas
"Mizuho no Kuni", which loosely originate from Japan. Japanese
translates to "Land of Abundant people eat rice.
Rice".
ALTAMIRA: from Spanish alta, "high, There are tall places with nice
tall" and mira "look/view" views, i.e. upper stories of hotel.
HEIMDALL: From Tales of Phantasia. One of Phantasia's random Norse
(Originally Origin's tablet, references.
not the village itself.)
Heimdall/Heimdallr in Norse myth
was the watchman of Bifrost,
the only entrance to Asgard.
EXIRE: from "exile" It's not a mistranslation.
TREANT FOREST: inhabited by tree Ent means "giant" and was used as
monsters called treants, which the name for a giant tree creature in
are from tree + ent. Tolkein's 'The Lord of the Rings'.
From Tales of Phantasia. "Torent" in English version x_X
YMIR FOREST: From Tales of Phantasia. One of Phantasia's random Norse
Ymir, father to the frost references.
giants in Norse mythology.
Created Niflheim.
WELGAIA: Well Gaia = Good Earth??? Wild guess. (Not pronounced with V
sound according to katakana)
MORIA: From Tales of Phantasia, the Moria is that place you can't go in
mine inhabited by dwarves in Toize Valley Mine, if you forgot.
the past. From the Mines of Toize is in the same place Moria is
Moria in Tolkein's 'The Lord in ToP.
of the Rings'.
TETHE'ALLA: From Tales of Phantasia. Note that it's also the name of the
The name of the smaller moon, moon which is visible from the world
meaning unknown (gold?). of Sylvarant. Gold/orange in color
Maybe derived from Tethys,
name of a moon of Saturn???
SYLVARANT: From Tales of Phantasia. Is it also the name of the moon as
The name of the larger moon, seen from the world of Tethe'alla?
probably from the word "silver" It's silver/blue in color
DERRIS-KHARLAN: From Tales of I've had dictionaries show katakana
Phantasia. The name of another "ka-ra-n" as "Kharan" (a city in
planet (?). Meaning unknown. Pakistan) or "Koran" (holy book of
Islam). I'd say it was a mistrans
of Kharan if I could think of a
reason they'd name it that.
VENTHEIM: the heim part is "home" or Not the name of one of the nine
"place" in many Norse terms worlds unless it's an uncommon
varient. Vinheim in English ver.
NIFLHEIM: one of the worlds from Norse
mythology; dark and cold,
associated with hell; "house
of mists"
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SIGNIFICANT MONSTERS
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FENRIR: a wolf-like being in Norse
mythology
CTHUGHA: from Cthulu Mythos; an alien Ktugatch in Eng ver.
being associated with fire
NODIS?: from Nodens, from the Adulocia in Eng ver.
Cthulu Mythos; a god
associated with water
VOONITH?: from Cthulu Mythos? From Voormis? Or something else???
Amphitra in Eng ver.
SHATAG?: from Shantak, from the It's something from Cthulu Mythos,
Cthulu Mythos; some evil but it may be something other than
creatures in Dreamlands, the Shantaks.
hunted by Nodens. Windmaster in Eng ver.
HASTURL?: from Hastur, from the Iapyx in Eng ver.
Cthulu Mythos; one of the
nicer gods.
AZATHOL?: from Azathoth, from the Iubaris in Eng ver.
Cthulu Mythos; a god
that is above Cthulu.
AMPHITRA: from Greek goddess Voonith(?) in Jpn ver.
Amphitrite, a nereid?
Wife of Poseidon/Neptune
IAPYX: Latin for "a west-northwest Hasturl(?) in Jpn ver.
wind." Also name of the healer of Aeneas
in the Trojan war, Greek mythology
IUBARIS: Latin for "beaming light, Azathol(?) in Jpn ver.
radiance" or "heavenly body", (Iuba can also mean "mane")
esp. the sun.
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MISC
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NECRONOMICON: from Cthulu mythos,
Greek for "Book of the Law
of the Dead" or similiar
phrases.
KUSANAGI NO TSURUGI: Grasscutter A replica of this is one of Japan's
Sword, very important in Three Sacred Treasures.
Japanese mythology like
Excalibur is to Britain
YATA NO KAGAMI: Yata Mirror, the One of Japan's Three Sacred
mirror used in Japanese Treasures
mythology to scare the sun
goddess Amaterasu out of
hiding so the sun would
shine again
YASAKANI NO MAGATAMA: Yasakani One of Japan's Three Sacred
Jewel Treasures
AQUAN: from "aqua" (water) Water-going protozoan
AEROS: from "air" Flying protozoan
EARTHIS: from "earth" Land-going protozoan;
arshis in Eng ver.
FENRILRA: from fenrir (see significant Humanoid protozoan who hunts
monsters) evil.
PROTOZOAN: single-celled organism doesn't evolve like that in
real-life
ASHURA: Asura, group of deities in One of Shihna's weapons.
Hinduism who oppose the devas. Asura in Eng ver.
One of the realms of existance
in Budhism
KONGOU: Vajra, Buddhist symbol of the One of Shihna's weapons.
indestructible truth; Vajra in Eng ver.
thunderbolt weilded as a weapon
by the Hindu god Indra; means
"diamond" or "thunderbolt" in
Sanskrit.
FUDOU: "Immobility", from the name of One of Shihna's weapons.
Hindu god Fudoumyouou, "The Fudoumyouou is the Japanese name
Immoveable One" for Acalanatha. Acalanatha in the
Eng ver.
YASHA: Bat-like female demons from One of Shihna's weapons.
Japanese mythology. Also Yaksha, Yaska in English version.
a demigod who serves Kubera, the
Hindu god of wealth.
FAFNIR: man in Norse mythology who Devil's Arm (the dagger)
turned into a dragon to guard
his treasure. Slain by Sigurd.
FLAMBERGE: based on a real weapon but
used based on Tales of
Phantasia where it was still
one-half of the Eternal Sword.
SIGURD: Hero of the Norse legend the A helmet, a set with Brunnhilde
'Volsungasaga', in which he and Arredoval.
slew Fafnir and later rescued
Brunhild. From Germanic
elements "victory" and
"guardian"
BRUNNHILDE: Brunhild or Brunhilde; Armor, a set with Sigurd and
Queen of the valkyries in Arredoval.
the Norse legend 'Volsungasaga'
who was rescued by the hero What's Arredoval???
Sigurd. Queen of Iceland and
wife of G?nther in Germanic
legend 'Nibelungenlied'. From
Germanic elements "armor" and
"battle."
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STUFF WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT
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Here's some stuff we want input on:
Lloyd Irving, Presea, Noishe, Yuan, Botta, Desian, Tethe'alla, Vinheim,
Welgaia, any excluded towns, anything else you think might mean something.
Some vague scraps of info in case it helps you:
Noishe (noishu) - Surely a name this stupid has a meaning. My dictionary
keeps pointing me to Neustadt, a city in both Germany and Tales of Destiny. A Noishe-related file from the official Tales Japanese site had his name as
Neusch....
Yuan (yuan) - Don't know anything, but one translator put it as Ewan. That's
a real name, but it means either "well-born" or "born from a yew tree" so
unless Namco makes that prequel we want and it reveals that Yuan was born
well from a yew tree, let's count that out....
Desian (dezaian) - Design?
Tethe'alla (teseara) - gold?
Iselia (iseria) - from aseria? (As in ToP's Aselia Calandar)
Flanoir (furano-ru) - Maybe if it was supposed to be Franor and derived from
Fenrir (a name of the same location in Tales of Phantasia)?
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CREDITS
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-- Zoran, Lunar Eclipse, Sonius, Kassad, Abicion from tales.namco.com forums
-- TheFreeDictionary.com
-- Encyclopedia Mythica (http://pantheon.org)
-- BehindTheName.com
-- Majestic Fantasian (http://www.din.or.jp/~albion/tales/)
-- WWWJDIC (http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/breen/wwwjdic?1C)
-- Glossary of Latin Words (http://www.bible-history.com/latin/)
-- Babelfish (http://world.altavista.com/tr)
-- Neko no Yakai (http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~QI3M-OONK/index.htm)
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