The names are as iconic as the franchise they’re associated with. Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness). Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Chewbacca… I dunno, Smith (Peter Mayhew)? AndDarth Vader, aka Anakin Skywalker(David Prowse/James Earl Jones). But if we’re talking only about the movie that started it all back in 1977,Star Wars, sans the subtitleEpisode IV: A New Hope, you would scratch that “aka.“His name actuallywasDarth Vader, or, if he were filling out a tax form — assuming the Empire pays taxes — Vader, Darth, right there between Chewbacca and Din Djarin on the attendance roll call.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
A farm boy from a desert planet becomes an unlikely hero in the fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. Guided by a former Jedi Knight and alongside a rebellious princess, a smuggler, and his co-pilot, he embarks on a mission to destroy the Death Star, a massive space station capable of annihilating entire planets. As he learns about the mystical Force, he discovers his destiny and the true strength within himself.
The Darth Vader Name Foreshadows the Future of the Franchise
How the name came about revealsGeorge Lucas' ambitious, overall plan for the Star Warsfranchise from the start. But before the name, there was the concept. As many fans will know,Lucas' groundbreakingStar Warswas fueled by his passion for feudal Japan, inspired by classic samurai films, most notablyAkira Kurosawa’sThe Hidden Fortress. Darth Vader himself was fashioned after legendaryJapanese warriorDate Masamune, the “One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshū,” with American illustratorRalph McQuarrieand British sculptorBrian Muirworking together to create a look that fit Lucas' vision of Vader as a samurai.
Cleverly, Lucas used the name to foreshadow his plans for the future of the franchise. As he tellsRolling Stonein a 2005 interview, “‘Darth’ is a variation of dark. And ‘Vader’ is a variation of father. So it’s basically Dark Father.“It’s a tip off to one of themost iconic movie twistsof all time,the mind-boggling reveal of (44-year-old spoiler) Darth Vader as Luke Skywalker’s father inStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
The Story Behind Darth Vader’s Name Is as Much Fiction as It Is Fact
The above is fact or, as Obi-Wan says, “… from a certain point of view.” The story behind the concept and design of the character certainly is true, but Lucas' claim of the name “Darth Vader” as having been part of somemaster plan he had forStar Warsfrom the beginning is definitively not. In reality,the name “Darth” was simply the character’s first name from the beginning, and didn’t become a title for aSith Lorduntil years later.
Let’s start first with Lucas' assertion that the name means “Dark Father.“As reported byHuffpost, Lucas' comments led to the popular myth that “Dark Vader” means “Dark Father” in German. This, however, is simply inaccurate. In German, dark is “dunkel,” and father is “vater,” which would give you “Dunkel Vater.” In Dutch, dark is “donker,” and while father is indeed “vader,” the pronunciation is quite different: it’s vaah-der, not vay-der. So, while we could give Lucas a pass on the “Vader” half of the name, neither “Dunkel Vater” nor “Donker Vader” are likely to invoke the fear Lucas sought for the name. AsHuffpostreports, Lucas' original statements about the origin of the name, in interviews given at the time ofStar Wars' release in 1977, area direct contradiction to his later assertions, with Lucas saying:
“The name sort of appeared in my head one day. I had lots of Darth this and Darth that, and Dark Lord of the Sith. The early name was actually Dark Water. Then I added lots of last names, Vaders and Wilsons and Smiths, and I just came up with the combination of Darth and Vader.”
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The Evidence Against Lucas' Claims About Darth Vader’s Name Is Overwhelming
Even if George Lucas' claims about the German/Dutch roots of the namewereaccurate,it would still be more circumstantial than part of a nine-part saga he envisioned from the start. Ex-wifeMarcia Lucas, whoseimpact on the franchiseis much deeper than mostStar Warsfans are aware of,says, “When I was his wife, I never knew there were nine stories. I never knew there weretwostories.” Lucasfilm creative art managerPhil Szostak, who has debunked many of the myths that surroundStar Wars, confirms that, at the time ofEpisode IV’s release in 1977,Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker were, in fact, two different people, and that Darth Vader reallyhadmurdered Anakin years before.
For those who doubt Marcia Lucas and Phil Szostak, the evidence is pretty clear.Huffpostreports thatwhen Lucas wrote the firstStar Wars, not only were the two characters different people, but in some early versions of the script, Luke’s father is very much alive, andin the final version of the script, “Darth Vader” is, in fact, the character’s name.Early drafts ofThe Empire Strikes Backstill indicate that Anakin and Darth are two separate people, with Luke actually meeting his father, as a Force Ghost, while training with Yoda, per the previously citedInversearticle. That same article also talks about how the twist of Darth Vader being Luke’s father was actually a late addition to the film, with screenwriterWillard Huyckjoking, “you’re able to always make Darth Vader Luke’s father” when Lucas was explaining about having hit a creative wall withEmpire’s final act. The fact that Leia is Luke’s sister wasn’t even in the picture until planning forStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, asstated by Mark Hamill.
“Darth” Becomes Something More in the ‘Star Wars’ Franchise
It wouldn’t be until 1999’sStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menacethat “Darth” would come to be a title bestowed upon a Sith Lord, withfan-favorite villain Darth Maul(Ray Park) the first to be referred to as “Darth” in live-action since Vader’s introduction in 1977. To be fair, the idea of “Darth” as a title may have been planted inThe Empire Strikes Back, with Darth Vader being repeatedly referred to as “Lord Vader” in the film. But first name or title be damned:“Darth” has impacted the franchise significantly. The name itself is perfection, with “Darth” having that instant feel of dark villainy Lucas sought, while “Vader” starts a tradition of Sith with threatening names (think “Maul,” “Tyrannus,” or “Sidious”). It also links Vader to a long line of Sith, making him part of a legacy of evil, andnot just a one-off villain, which in turn deepens the franchise as a whole, allowing for projects likeThe Acolyteto explore how that lineage has played a large part in the grand story that isStar Wars.
The films of the Star Wars franchise, includingStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, are available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
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