"Darth Vader:" What does it mean?

[MisterPL]

Rick McCallum has said that Anakin will not only receive the "Darth Vader" monniker in Episode III, but he'll learn what it means. Let the speculation begin!

I think it's safe to assume that "Darth" is simply an abbreviated form of "Dark Lord of the Sith." But what about "Vader?"

I'm guessing Palpatine will tell Anakin "Vader" is from an ancient Sith dialect meaning "survivor." Personally I think it means "gullible tool" or simply "slave for life" considering the poor guy's never been without a master.

Any other ideas?

[Mister Skeezler]

I always thought the Sith names (from the movies) are based on what Palpatine uses the particular Dark Lord for, or what they do.

(You may need to scroll a bit for more applicable definitions, particularly "Maul" and "Tyrannus")

Darth Maul: (maul) seems pretty straightforward. He just attacks. He's like a hunting dog.

Darth Tyrranus: (Tyrranus or tyranny) Dooku is a Count, which pretty much makes the name relevant. But also, Palpatine uses Dooku to gain absolute power. So perhaps the name is more relevant to how Palpatine uses his pawn.

Darth Vader: (invader) We know that Anakin helps the Emperor "hunt down and destroy" the Jedi. The name seems applicable here too. Palpatine, it seems, uses Anakin to conquer or invade the Jedi Order.

Darth Sidious: (insidious) This also seems very straight forward. I feel like Darth Sidious isn't even Palpatine's true identity, but rather just a persona he uses as a means to an end. Palpatine is Palpatine's persona. He uses the Darth Sidious persona just as he used Maul, Tyrannus and Vader. Also, in the old Star Wars books, the text always mentioned the Old Republic rotting from the inside out. Palpatine is obviously the cause of this "insidious" disease...

Anyways, that's my theory. Maybe it just means "Larry" or something.

[Famine]

Darth (Dark) Vader (Father).


I remeber reading that Vader meant father in the newspaper way back when E1 hit theaters...


Kevin

[DarthStiffler]

Darth means shadow warrior. I think vader means libarator.

[dustrho]

These are all great ideas, but I can't wait to actually learn what they mean when EP3 comes out.

[P'dubs]

Darth (Dark) Vader (Father).


I remeber reading that Vader meant father in the newspaper way back when E1 hit theaters...


Kevin

Ding ding, we have a winner. Vader mean "father"

[Morbius]

 Vader is Dutch for father. Luckily I didn't know thatuntil after ESB- my grandfather's Dutch and he told me then!

[Famine]

Vader is Dutch for father. Luckily I didn't know thatuntil after ESB- my grandfather's Dutch and he told me then!

See. I win.

Kevin

[BobaShek]

Yeah, but what's the context within the realm of the story? I doubt Palpy spoke Dutch.

[Mister Skeezler]

Yeah, but what's the context within the realm of the story? I doubt Palpy spoke Dutch.

Agreed.

[Vator]

I'd say the same things the others mean:Lord of the sith *insert name conveying feeling of fear*

[Famine]

I'd say the same things the others mean:Lord of the sith *insert name conveying feeling of fear*

Darth Mange is my name.



Kevin

That, and back in the day, Darth Raptoris.

[Boba Binks]

According to websters-

Vader-
vader, WA (city, FIPS 73780)
  Location: 46.40278 N, 122.95565 W
  Population (1990): 414 (179 housing units)
  Area: 2.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 98593

All will be revealed in E3.

[Darth Moribund]

  Darth Vader means "Dark Father." One word is Gerrman and one is Dutch i think. I read this in a figure/book set called," Anakin Skywalker; The story of Darth Vader." The set was cool. It came w/ a 12" figure of Anakin from the end of "Jedi." The cover was half Vader's helmet and half Anakin's face when the helmet was removed.

  That's that.  Darth Moribund  (Dark Death)

[Mister Skeezler]

Well, I can understand that's the symbolism behind Lucas using the name (though I'm still not so sure he originally intended it), but Palpatine doesn't speak German, Dutch or even English. We hear the characters speaking English and know that they're speaking "Basic", just as we hear the Soviet characters in The Hunt For The Red October speaking English with a Russian accent and know that they're speaking Russian.

Also, we can't be entirely sure that Palpatine knows that Anakin is a father. Obi-Wan says that the Emperor knew that if Vader had any offspring, they would be a threat to him. Why then, would the Emperor be like "congratulations on the twins, you proud Dad! Or should I say Dark Father?" [wink, wink, nudge, nudge].