Earlier today I was thinking about what to rename certain characters for my english fandub. So just curious. If you could rename any characters from sailor moon then what characters would you wish to rename and why? It can be names from the english dub or the japanese or whatever else. Also, what did you think of the japanese names versus the english dub names? Did you hate certain names? I'll post my thoughts later since I'm a bit busy. In the meantime, let me hear your thoughts. I don't think anyone posted something like this. If so then let me know.

Okay! So their japanese names were pretty perfect for them, but I also think that some of their dub names fit pretty well, too!

The Good
Mina - Diminutive form of Wilhelmina. English. Means Strong-Willed Warrior - Could any name be better for her?
*Lita - Spanish. Manly. Poor Lita! but it could fit based on first impressions
Amara - Sanskrit. Eternal. - You know what? Sure
Michelle - French. Who is Like God? - I'd say she's several of the senshi's personification of a perfect feminine woman, so yes.
Trista - American. Tumult - With her background, yes. Tumult is a good word for what's probably been going on inside her.


The Not-Good
Serena - Latin. Serene, Calm. - Our beloved anime!Usagi isn't exactly either of those...
Amy - Latin. Beloved. - Um... Excellent name and all, but it doesn't really describe Ami descriptively...
Raye - Diminutive Form Of Rachel Or Raymond. Hebrew. Means "Ewe", or a female sheep. Raye is anything but sheepish.

Ones I would love
Usagi -> Bunny. Blame Tokyopop.


I might have more later... but these are initial thoughts ^^

Sailor Uranus wrote:

Okay! So their japanese names were pretty perfect for them, but I also think that some of their dub names fit pretty well, too!

The Good
Mina - Diminutive form of Wilhelmina. English. Means Strong-Willed Warrior - Could any name be better for her?
*Lita - Spanish. Manly. Poor Lita! but it could fit based on first impressions
Amara - Sanskrit. Eternal. - You know what? Sure
Michelle - French. Who is Like God? - I'd say she's several of the senshi's personification of a perfect feminine woman, so yes.
Trista - American. Tumult - With her background, yes. Tumult is a good word for what's probably been going on inside her.


The Not-Good
Serena - Latin. Serene, Calm. - Our beloved anime!Usagi isn't exactly either of those...
Amy - Latin. Beloved. - Um... Excellent name and all, but it doesn't really describe Ami descriptively...
Raye - Diminutive Form Of Rachel Or Raymond. Hebrew. Means "Ewe", or a female sheep. Raye is anything but sheepish.

Ones I would love
Usagi -> Bunny. Blame Tokyopop.


I might have more later... but these are initial thoughts ^^

I like it! lol I love how you went as far as to describe their meanings.

@Uranus

Note:

• Lita was a pun for "Lightning" according to Wikimoon.
  
• Trista was meant to be a spin on the word "triste" which is French for sad.
  
• Amy was a poor excuse to why they didn't use her French derivation "Ami" meaning friend.
  
• Serena was from Serenity AND a possible slight variation of Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon.
  

I might have to verify the last one with my friend about that.

Meh, whatever . I went based on name meanings as a language study;. And I always always hated the 'Serena' copout - while it fit her past life perfectly, it does nothing for her present persona and makes any attempt at guessing who the Moon Princess Serenity was an absolute dummy-proof operation.

Luna, are you looking for any specific origins for new names? XD I found a great meaning for Uranus - "Oya" meaning "Wind Warrior Goddess", but it's not exactly a common-place name...

I did like Usagi's dub name Serena. I think it's a pretty name. I always viewed Mina as nickname for Minako. Even in the Japanese version Artemis called her Mina. As for Rai's dub name I just viewed as a different spelling seeing how it's pronounced the same way.

The one dub name I didn't like was Chibusa's. I want to know how they got Rini out of Serena. There is no I in it. Then again people get the name Jimmy out James.

Sailor Uranus wrote:

Meh, whatever . I went based on name meanings as a language study, not on random facts one would have to look up on a website to understand (er, despite my use of a website to find name meanings...);. And I always always hated the 'Serena' copout - while it fit her past life perfectly, it does nothing for her present persona and makes any attempt at guessing who the Moon Princess Serenity was an absolute dummy-proof operation.

Luna, are you looking for any specific origins for new names? XD I found a great meaning for Uranus - "Oya" meaning "Wind Warrior Goddess", but it's not exactly a common-place name...

Lol I am looking for new names for many of the characters. Of course I would never use someone's ideas from here without asking first. Uranus is one of them. I'd like names that are commonly used in english. So far I have the hardest time deciding on names for the outer senshi. Haruka and Setsuna are names that I just can't find anything for that I like. I want something that means the same but also sounds similar. Michiru will still be Michelle and Hotaru will still be Hotaru.

Yamichan16 wrote:

I did like Usagi's dub name Serena. I think it's a pretty name. I always viewed Mina as nickname for Minako. Even in the Japanese version Artemis called her Mina. As for Rai's dub name I just viewed as a different spelling seeing how it's pronounced the same way.

The one dub name I didn't like was Chibusa's. I want to know how they got Rini out of Serena. There is no I in it. Then again people get the name Jimmy out James.

I thought maybe it was because if you shorten serena then you get rena which is like rini.

Quote :

Amy was a poor excuse to why they didn't use her French derivation "Ami" meaning friend.

I've always wondered about this. I'm suspicious of Naoko's intended meaning of her name, if any. However, Ami's name is written in kanji, 亜美. Looking at those kanji from a naming perspective, it seems to literally be "Asian Beauty" unless I'm looking at it from a too-Chinese perspective XD Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.. Naoko however did comment that Ami resembled Noriko Sakai, a pop idol. So perhaps it was a reference to that. With the French derivation "ami" most likely being written in katakana [like Rei's name] its a little harder to see a link. Though the rest have names in hiragana which makes the link between their names and the meanings behind them not obvious...

Quote :

I thought maybe it was because if you shorten serena then you get rena which is like rini.

*shurgs* I guess.

So you're looking for completely new names for the characters? Is your fandub a dic like dub?

Yamichan16 wrote:

Quote :

I thought maybe it was because if you shorten serena then you get rena which is like rini.

*shurgs* I guess.

So you're looking for completely new names for the characters? Is your fandub a dic like dub?

Eh.. I'm still somewhat debating on whether to change the names at all. Right now I guess my plan is to use names mostly from the english dub but I'm also making my own as well as keeping a couple japanese names. I would love to keep the japanese names but my cast just can't pronounce the names correctly. The hardest person to find a name for is Haruka. I'm not a big fan of the name Amara. I just can't put that name with that body.

Avari - "of the heavens, from the sky" American

Zephyr/Zephyra - "West Wind" - Greek

?

You could use the names from the old Dic promo.

Usagi = Victoria
Ami = Blue

I can't remember the rest, but they were funny and generic. xD

Blue? ... XD Wonder where they got "blue" from?

Because Ami is blue!

Minako was Carrie. I can't remember Rai's and Makoto's.

AH I found it!



Usagi = Victoria
Ami = Blue
Makoto = Sarah
Rei = Dana
Minako = Kerrie

Ahaha... Honestly though, if you were to change them and are making them more "Americanized" then using very normal names would add a contrast to the whole "normal school girl turned superhero" type thing. Also a Brittany would be nice. There are rarely main characters named Brittany. xD

Carrie and Sarah sound nice.

Small Lady wrote:

Also a Brittany would be nice. There are rarely main characters named Brittany. xD

Or Hilary. There are little to no Hilary's. ^^'

teehee.

How about Elizabeth? I'm not saying that just because it's my name.

What about isabelle or zoey?

I love the name Isabella seeing how it means Elizabeth.

Lol this thread went from if you could rename characters to suggesting names for my dub. Not that that's a bad thing lol. I'm just saying. Anyway, I do like the name Sarah for Sailor Jupiter but I also like Lita. I also like the suggestion of avari for sailor uranus, however, I would probably spell it as Avery. Oh and there is a character named Hillary in my fandub. That would be Himeko from the sailor moon s movie xD I changed it to make it more American. It sort of fits? But I'm not sure yet. There is an Elizabeth as well. In the original english dub of sailor moon, elizabeth is andrew/motoki's sister I believe so I am keeping that name.

OH MY GOSH I SHARE THE NAME WITH YOUR ASTRONAUT?!

*pins self with "BAMF" badge*

So I thought of a great name for Uranus. How about Alexis? It means defender in greek. It fits in my opinion.

how bout angel

LunaOsa wrote:

So I thought of a great name for Uranus. How about Alexis? It means defender in greek. It fits in my opinion.

I think Alexis would fit Mars as well seeing how the Roman God of War was Mars. Hmm wait a minute sailor moon is based of Greek mythology isn't? Well whatever Alexis is a good name and it works for Uranus too seeing how the Outers had to guard the our solar system from outside invaders.

Yamichan16 wrote:

LunaOsa wrote:

So I thought of a great name for Uranus. How about Alexis? It means defender in greek. It fits in my opinion.

I think Alexis would fit Mars as well seeing how the Roman God of War was Mars. Hmm wait a minute sailor moon is based of Greek mythology isn't? Well whatever Alexis is a good name and it works for Uranus too seeing how the Outers had to guard the our solar system from outside invaders.

Ahh!!!! I just noticed that Awesome lol

I just noticed that when I was looking up for the god of war in greek and it mentioned the names of Mars's crows.