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[[File:Muppet Name Etymology.jpg|thumb|300px|Muppet Name Etymology by CollegeHumor]]
  
[[File:Muppet Name Etymology.jpg|thumb|300px|Muppet Name Etymology by CollegeHumor]]
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[[file:Jerry and jerry.jpg|thumb|300px|Jerry Nelson and Jerry]]
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==Characters named after their performers==
  
  +
⚫
[[file:Jerry and jerry.jpg|thumb|300px]]
  
  ⚫
==Characters named after performers/crew==
 
===The Muppets===
  
===The Muppets===
 
* [[Betsy Bird]] - named after [[Betsy Baytos]]
  
* [[Betsy Bird]] - named after [[Betsy Baytos]]
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* [[Jerry]] - a [[Jerry Nelson]] lookalike
  
* [[Jerry]] - a [[Jerry Nelson]] lookalike
 
* [[Jim]]- a [[Jim Henson]] lookalike
  
* [[Jim]]- a [[Jim Henson]] lookalike
  +
* [[Joe the Armadillo]] - named after [[Joey Mazzarino]]
 
* [[Lou]] - named after [[Louise Gold]]
  
* [[Lou]] - named after [[Louise Gold]]
  +
* [[Roger (Muppet Show)|Roger]] - named after [[Roger Knight]]
   
 
===Sesame Street===
  
===Sesame Street===
 
* [[Big Jeffy]] - named after [[Jeff Moss]]
  
* [[Big Jeffy]] - named after [[Jeff Moss]]
 
* [[Jeffy]] - named after Jeff Moss
  
* [[Jeffy]] - named after Jeff Moss
−
* [[Calypso Calloway]] - named after [[Northern Calloway]]
 +
* [[Wet Paint (Pottle/Axlerod)|Calypso Calloway]] - named after [[Northern Calloway]]
 
* [[Little Jerry and the Monotones|Chrissy]] - named after [[Christopher Cerf]]
  
* [[Little Jerry and the Monotones|Chrissy]] - named after [[Christopher Cerf]]
−
* [[Little Chrissy]] - named after [[Christopher Cerf]]
 +
* [[Little Chrissy]] - named after Christopher Cerf
 
* [[Davey Monkey]] - named after [[David Rudman]]
  
* [[Davey Monkey]] - named after [[David Rudman]]
 
* [[Fran]] - named after [[Fran Brill]]
  
* [[Fran]] - named after [[Fran Brill]]
−
* [[Miss Fran]] - named after [[Fran Brill]]
 +
* [[Miss Fran]] - named after Fran Brill
 
* [[Farmer Frankie]] - named after [[Frank Oz]]
  
* [[Farmer Frankie]] - named after [[Frank Oz]]
−
* [[Frances Oznowicz]] - named after [[Frank Oz]]
 +
* [[Frances Oznowicz]] - named after Frank Oz
 
* [[Little Jerry]] - named after [[Jerry Nelson]]
  
* [[Little Jerry]] - named after [[Jerry Nelson]]
 
* [[Mr. Jerry]] - named after Jerry Nelson
  
* [[Mr. Jerry]] - named after Jerry Nelson
−
* [[Joe Marley]] - named after [[Joey Mazzarino]]
 +
* [[Joe Marley]] - named after Joey Mazzarino
−
* [[Joe Marley|Joey Dickens]] - named after [[Joey Mazzarino]]
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* [[Joe Marley|Joey Dickens]] - named after Joey Mazzarino
−
* [[Joey Monkey]] - named after [[Joey Mazzarino]]
 +
* [[Joey Monkey]] - named after Joey Mazzarino
 
* [[Louisey]] - named after [[Louise Gold]]
  
* [[Louisey]] - named after [[Louise Gold]]
 
* [[Richard]] - named after [[Richard Hunt]]
  
* [[Richard]] - named after [[Richard Hunt]]
−
* [[Rockin' Richard]] - named after [[Richard Hunt]]
 +
* [[Rockin' Richard]] - named after Richard Hunt
 
* [[Pammy]] - named after [[Pam Arciero]]
  
* [[Pammy]] - named after [[Pam Arciero]]
 
* [[Diva D'Abruzzo]] - named after [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]]
  
* [[Diva D'Abruzzo]] - named after [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]]
  +
* [[Mrs. Turow]] - named after [[Cathi Rosenberg-Turow]] (performed by [[Stephanie D'Abruzzo]])
−
* Frank and Jerry - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGqENBjC4RE In this sketch] {{eka|1090}}, two Muppets are named Frank and Jerry, in reference to their performers, Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson, respectively.
  
−
* Kevin and Kathryn - In a [[Professor Grover]] sketch about school {{eka|2626}}, two classmates are named Kevin and Kathryn, in reference to their performers, [[Kevin Clash]] and [[Kathryn Mullen]], respectively.
 +
* Frank and Jerry - In a sketch about measuring {{eka|1090}}, two Muppets performed by Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson, respectively. {{SSvideo|ac8e0525-1548-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac25b65b}}
  +
* Kevin and Kathryn - In a [[Professor Grover]] sketch about school {{eka|2598}}, two classmates named after their performers, [[Kevin Clash]] and [[Kathryn Mullen]], respectively.
  +
*Lara and Matt - In the video ''[[Learning is Everywhere]]'', two friends Elmo and Abby meet at the park are named after their performers, [[Lara MacLean]] and [[Matt Vogel]], respectively.
   
 
===Fraggle Rock===
  
===Fraggle Rock===
  +
* [[Balsam]] - named after [[Philip Balsam]] (performed by [[Lee Armstrong]], [[Jerry Nelson]] and [[Karen Prell]])
  ⚫
* [[Gillis Fraggle]] - named after [[Don Gillis]] (performed by [[Richard Hunt]])
 
* [[Phil Fraggle]] - named after [[Philip Balsam]]
  
* [[Phil Fraggle]] - named after [[Philip Balsam]]
   
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==Characters named after other people==
  
==Characters named after other people==
−
*[[Bert]] and [[Ernie]] - ''See [[Are Bert and Ernie named after characters from It's a Wonderful Life?]]''
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* [[Bert]] and [[Ernie]] - ''See [[Are Bert and Ernie named after characters from It's a Wonderful Life?]]''
−
*[[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew|Bunsen Honeydew]] - Named after chemist Robert Bunsen (of bunsen burner fame), and the honeydew melon.
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* [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew|Bunsen Honeydew]] - Named after chemist Robert Bunsen (of bunsen burner fame), and the honeydew melon.
−
*[[Donny Dodo|Donnie]] and [[Marie Dodo]] - Named after [[Donny Osmond|Donny]] and Marie Osmond.
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* [[Donny Dodo|Donnie]] and [[Marie Dodo]] - Named after [[Donny Osmond|Donny]] and [[Marie Osmond]].
  +
* [[Ferlinghetti Donizetti]] - Named after poet [[Wikipedia:Lawrence Ferlinghetti|Lawrence Ferlinghetti]].
−
* [[Fozzie Bear]] - names as an homage to [[Faz Fazakas]]<ref>[[Ask Henson.com]]</ref>
  
  +
* [[Fozzie Bear]] - ''see [[Fozzie's name]]''
−
*[[Humphrey]] and [[Ingrid]] - Named after Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
  
−
*[[Kermit the Frog]] - ''See [[Was Kermit named after a childhood friend of Jim Henson?]]''
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* [[Humphrey]] and [[Ingrid]] - Named after [[Humphrey Bogart]] and [[Ingrid Bergman]].
  +
* [[Kermit the Frog]] - ''See [[Was Kermit named after a childhood friend of Jim Henson?]]''
−
*[[Miss Piggy]] - Named after Peggy Lee<ref>"[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/atm-qa-200810.html# The Woman Behind Miss Piggy]", Anika Gupta, ''Smithsonian'' magazine, October 2008. </ref>
 +
* [[Miss Piggy]] - Named after Peggy Lee<ref>"[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/atm-qa-200810.html# The Woman Behind Miss Piggy]", Anika Gupta, ''Smithsonian'' magazine, October 2008. </ref>
⚫
*[[Mokey Fraggle|Mokey]] - named after a childhood friend of [[Jim Henson]].
  
−
*[[Prairie Dawn]] - named after an actress named Prairie Dorn.
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* [[Mokey Fraggle|Mokey]] - named after a childhood friend of [[Jim Henson]].
−
*[[Rizzo the Rat|Rizzo]] - named after Ratso Rizzo from ''Midnight Cowboy''.
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* [[Prairie Dawn]] - named after an actress named Prairie Dorn.
  +
* [[Ricardo Monsterban]] - named after actor [[Wikipedia:Ricardo Montalban|Ricardo Montalbán]].
  +
* [[Rizzo the Rat|Rizzo]] - named after Ratso Rizzo from ''Midnight Cowboy''.
  +
* [[Salvador Dada]] - named after [[Salvador Dalí]]
  +
* [[Svengali]] - named after a character in George du Maurier's novel ''Trilby''.
   
 
==Characters named after places==
  
==Characters named after places==
−
*[[Astoria]] - named after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in [[New York City]].
 +
* [[Astoria]] - named after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in [[New York City]].
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*[[Belmont]] - Named after the horse racing track Belmont Park.
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* [[Belmont]] - named after the horse racing track Belmont Park.
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*[[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]] - Named after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
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* [[The Bouncing Borcellino Brothers]] - named after the Italian hat company Borcellino.
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*[[Wembley Fraggle|Wembley]] - Named after Wembley Stadium.
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* [[Statler and Waldorf|Waldorf]] - named after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
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*[[Signor Baffi]] - Named after Signor Baffi's Italian restaurant.
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* [[Wembley Fraggle|Wembley]] - named after Wembley Stadium.
−
*[[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]] - Named after the Statler Hotel in New York City.
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* [[Signor Baffi]] - named after Signor Baffi's Italian restaurant.
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*[[Oscar the Grouch]] - Named after Oscar's Tavern in Manhattan.
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* [[Statler and Waldorf|Statler]] - named after the Statler Hotel in New York City.
  +
* [[Oscar the Grouch]] - named after Oscar's Tavern in Manhattan.
   
 
==Characters named after filmmaking techniques==
  
==Characters named after filmmaking techniques==
−
*[[Gobo Fraggle|Gobo]] - Short for "go between"; a lighting term used in film, television and theatre.
 +
* [[Gobo Fraggle|Gobo]] - Short for "go between"; a lighting term used in film, television and theatre.
−
*[[Traveling Matt]] - From "traveling matte," a technique used in television and film to insert a foreground object into a prerecorded background image.
 +
* [[Traveling Matt]] - From "traveling matte," a technique used in television and film to insert a foreground object into a prerecorded background image.
−
*[[Waldo C. Graphic|Waldo]] - After the [[Waldo]], the electronic device used to perform him.
 +
* [[Waldo C. Graphic|Waldo]] - After the [[Waldo (remote manipulator)|waldo]], the electronic device used to perform him.
   
 
==Characters whose names are puns==
  
==Characters whose names are puns==
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* [[Professor Hugh Mungous|Hugh Mungous]] - a play on "humongous"
  
* [[Professor Hugh Mungous|Hugh Mungous]] - a play on "humongous"
 
* [[Hypocritic Oaf]] - a play on "hippocratic oath"
  
* [[Hypocritic Oaf]] - a play on "hippocratic oath"
  +
* [[Ida Nomer|Ms. Nomer]] - a play on "misnomer"
 
* [[Lotta Chatter]] - a play on "lot of chatter"
  
* [[Lotta Chatter]] - a play on "lot of chatter"
 
* [[Mr. Mason Dixon]] - a play on "the Mason Dixon line"
  
* [[Mr. Mason Dixon]] - a play on "the Mason Dixon line"
 
* [[Dr. Nobel Price]] - a play on "Nobel Prize"
  
* [[Dr. Nobel Price]] - a play on "Nobel Prize"
−
* [[Phil Harmonic]] - a play on "Philharmonic
 +
* [[Phil Harmonic]] - a play on "Philharmonic"
 
* [[Sal Minella]] - a play on "salmonella"
  
* [[Sal Minella]] - a play on "salmonella"
 
* [[Sopwith the Camel]] - a play on "Sopwith Camel"
  
* [[Sopwith the Camel]] - a play on "Sopwith Camel"
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==Other name origins==
  
==Other name origins==
−
*[[Beaker]] - named after the piece of lab equipment.
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* [[Beaker]] - named after the piece of lab equipment.
−
*[[Boober Fraggle|Boober]] - named after an angry cow encountered by one of Jim Henson's daughters in Devon.
 +
* [[Boober Fraggle|Boober]] - named after an angry cow encountered by one of Jim Henson's daughters in Devon.
  +
* [[Kermit the Forg]] - scrambling of the letters in "frog"
  +
* [[Kermit the Gorf]] - scrambling of the letters in "frog"
  +
* [[Kermit the Grof]] - scrambling of the letters in "frog"
  +
* [[The Teppums]] - "Teppum" Muppet backwards
  +
* [[Oznog]] - "Gonzo" backwards
  +
* [[Timrek the Gorf]] - "Kermit the Frog" backwards
   
 
==Sources==
  
==Sources==
 
<references />
  
<references />
  +
⚫
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
  
 
[[Category:Character Lists]]
  
[[Category:Character Lists]]
 
[[Category:Rumors]]
  
[[Category:Rumors]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Self-References]]

Revision as of 07:18, 16 July 2013

File:Muppet Name Etymology.jpg

Muppet Name Etymology by CollegeHumor

Jerry and jerry

Jerry Nelson and Jerry

Characters named after performers/crew

The Muppets

Sesame Street

Fraggle Rock

The Animal Show

Other

  • It was originally suggested that Zoe on Sesame Street be named after her performed, Fran Brill. Fran didn't want a puppet named after her, so she suggested naming the puppet Zoe after the J. D. Salinger novel Franny and Zooey.[1]

Characters named after other people

Characters named after places

Characters named after filmmaking techniques

  • Gobo - Short for "go between"; a lighting term used in film, television and theatre.
  • Traveling Matt - From "traveling matte," a technique used in television and film to insert a foreground object into a prerecorded background image.
  • Waldo - After the waldo, the electronic device used to perform him.

Characters whose names are puns

Abbyflies

Other name origins

Sources

  1. ↑ Sesame Street Unpaved, p. 87
  2. ↑ "The Woman Behind Miss Piggy", Anika Gupta, Smithsonian magazine, October 2008.
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