While it’s hard enough to develop an original story for a novel or movie, regardless of the genre, surely it’s just as difficult for a writer to give his characters their names. Sometimes, it’s clearly an afterthought but, since a name can become revered or reveal character, it’s frequently evident that a great deal of thought went into naming the protagonist, villain, and other supporting roles. Whether for comedic effect like the names given to Bond girls (or repeated ad nauseam, from Ward Willoughby to Denny Crane) or to indicate a depth of evil so vast that persons fear the mere mention of his name (Voldemort), the practice continues today. Like many oft-repeated expressions and figures of speech, some monikers have become so ingrained in our culture that their origins are unknown, or they’re used as descriptive labels in lieu of other words (Scrooge). Close your eyes and try to think of some classic movie characters whose names have transcended their films.

Of course, some of the easiest to remember surnames are those which are found in the titles of their movies – from Kane to Kong, Rocky to Rambo, Shane to Strangelove, (Indiana) Jones to (Josey) Wales, Robin Hood to Topper, or even The Wild Bunch. There are those notorious names which conjure up images of evil, cruelty, treachery or acts of horror in one’s mind – Norman Bates, Travis Bickle, Captain Bligh, Corleone, Cruella De Vil, Mrs. Danvers, Johnny Friendly, Eve Harrington, Cody Jarrett, Hannibal Lecter, Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers, Mr. Potter, Rico, Tommy Udo, Uncle Charlie, and Darth Vader – and to a lesser degree – Norma Desmond, J.J. Hunsecker, Harry Lime, Duke Mantee, Commander Queeg, and Willie Stark (some because we pity them).

 From flawed heroes – Harry Callahan, Popeye Doyle, Ethan Edwards, Terry Malloy, The Ringo Kid, and Jonathan Shields – to more genuine ones – George Bailey, Rick (Blaine), Nick and Nora (Charles), Rooster Cogburn, Hans Solo, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia, Klaatu (and Gort?), Father O’Malley, Ripley, Jefferson Smith, Sergeant Stryker, and Virgil Tibbs – and those that are hard to categorize (Inspector Clouseau, Stanley Kowalski) or are inhuman (HAL) or non-human (Lassie and Rin Tin Tin). For the most part, I’ve tried to list names which were made famous cinematically versus those (like Atticus Finch, from Charles Dickens or horror tomes – Dracula, Frankenstein et al) which held a place in our lexicon before their respective movies, and tried to include only those for which the film’s name is quickly recalled vs. those that are familiar but don’t instantly evoke their movies (e.g. Roger Thornhill and Phillip Vandamm, or Christine Vole).

What are some of your favorite iconic (primarily) movie character names which are as easily identifiable as their parent films are (not real people like Gandhi and Patton, but reel people)?