From The Mind of Merc - The Doctor's Names

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about the hidden meanings in Doctor Who and, more specifically, those buried in the names given to characters in the show. (Warning: may contain spoilers)

This first occurred to me with the naming of the Runaway Bride – Donna Noble. The name ‘Donna’ literally means ‘Lady’ so ‘Donna Noble’ is a noble lady which – as demonstrated in her later episodes – is shown to be the case as she is (revealed to be) one of the most important people on the planet.

I then started looking at the other names of the companions in the series:

Rose Tyler – ‘Rose’ being a beautiful, stereotypically English, flower (appropriate given she is the one who the Doctor could arguably have been said to have fallen in love with). And ‘Tyler’ – a common labourer’s profession (appropriate for the child of a London estate – casting no aspersions).

Martha Jones – the name ‘Martha’ also means ‘lady’ and, with  ‘Jones’ being a common surname, she could be said to be a ‘Common Lady’ but, as she was selected by the Doctor, also special.

Astrid Peth – generally accepted as being an anagram of TARDIS, the name ‘Astrid’ means ‘divine strength’ – which she undoubtedly found both to defeat Max Capricorn and also in her reincarnation at the end of the episode.

   

The importance of names in Doctor Who becomes even more apparent in Steven Moffat’s era with ‘River Song’ transpiring to be a play on the name of ‘Melody Pond’. (Although, admittedly, this is more to do with the connotations of the word than the meaning of the name.) But the name ‘Amelia’ means ‘industrious’ (appropriate for a Doctor’s companion) and the name ‘Amy’ means ‘beloved’ which she certainly is – particularly by Rory. 

Then, bringing things bang up to date, we have Clara Oswald – ‘Clara’ meaning ‘clear’ or ‘bright’ – both appropriate for a teacher – and ‘Oswald’ meaning ‘Power of God’ (which Clara could be said to have at several points throughout the series)

I will undoubtedly be watching keenly and be eager to know the moniker bestowed on his next companion and what this could infer...