History NamesToRunAwayFrom / ForeignLanguageNames

The syllable ''mal-'' means "bad", "evil" in many Romance languages, being derived from Latin ''malus'' (with the same meaning). It also appears in many English words, as in malicious, malign, malevolent, malignant and (yes, these words exist) [[PerfectlyCromulentWord maleficent and malfeasant]]. ''Malefica'' particularly is the Latin word for [[WickedWitch "witch"]].

* Ja'far ibn Yahya al-Barmaki was a Persian nobleman and the Grand Vizier (i.e. Prime Minister) of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid. He was executed under suspicion of having an affair with the Caliph's sister Abbasa. He appears in the ''ArabianNights'' as a sort of detective (in a tale often cited as the UrExample of the DetectiveStory), but his patronage of learning--specifically the revival of Greek and Persian science and the encouragement of the paper industry, recently arrived from China--may have led to a reputation as a sorcerer: hence the villainous connotations.

* The ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_station#Ghost_stations_in_Berlin Geisterbahnhöfe]]'' in the days of the Berlin Wall were ''quite'' creepy.

* Jafar was the name of the vizier of the great caliph Harun ar-Rashid, although ''he'' was actually killed by the caliph.
** And the man that they were all named after was Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, who was of all things a pious warrior and a cousin/companion of the Prophet Muhammad. The meaning of his name? "[[{{PlainName}} Brook]]". That's it.

** Jafar was the name of the vizier of the great caliph Harun ar-Rashid, although ''he'' was actually killed by the caliph
** And the man that they were all named after was Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, who was of all things a pious warrior and the cousin/companion of the Prophet Muhammad. And the meaning of his name? "[[{{PlainName}} Brook]]". That's it.

** Jafar was the name of the vizier of the great caliph Harun al-Rashid, although ''he'' was actually killed by the caliph.

A word meaning a 'tragic accident' or 'lethal occurence'. Though, this name is given to children who died either before birth or shortly thereafter. Still some parents don't quite get it.

* In the new .hack manga and video game series, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.hack//Link ''.hack//Link'']], one of the BigBad's minions is thus named. It's interesting to note that within [[EvilOrganization Schicksal]] all members other members are named after musical instruments in German, making Geist the OddNameOut. [[spoiler: This later proves to be a quite MeaningfulName when it's revealed that Geist is actually Saika's brother in the real world, as well as the person who sent a virus replica of Aura named Death Queen Aura into ''The World R:X.'']]

* Heh, this gonna be fun... One of Polish literature classics, ''Lalka'' feature a certain Professor Geist, late XIXth Century scientist ([[ReluctantMadScientist this trope should be closest]]. Or [[NikolaTesla this]].) working on lighter-than-air metals.

Russian (and Slavic, in general) names seem to be frequently used in Western fiction for bad guys, probably due to the {{Uberwald}} and RedScare tropes. See also the Vlad examples under {{NamesToRunAwayFrom/Conquerors]]

[[AC:{{Western Animation}}]]
* Princess Yue from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'', if not for the spirit fish she'd be dead while still a newborn. [[spoiler:Then she died for real]].

* A variation: [[{{Discworld}} Granny Weatherwax's]] name in certain troll dialects translates to "Go 'Round The Other Side Of The Mountain". She's also known in some tongues as "She Who Must Be Avoided".

!!Ancient Dead Languages
If someone has a name that's Latin, or Mesopotamian, or Babylonian; this probably means they were ''around back then''. A rule of thumb is usually the older something magical is, the more powerful. Expect OminousLatinChanting.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* Apocalypse from the {{X-Men}} is also referred to as "En Sabah Nur". That's 30th century BC Egyptian/Arabic for "Kick Your Ass."
** Or "Good morning" [[GoodBadTranslation depending on who is translating.]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* [[TheSilenceOfTheLambs Hannibal]]. Both [[PunicWars that one]] and [[SilenceOfTheLambs that one]].
* ''{{Highlander}}''
* Vermithrax Pejorative, "The Thracian wyrm that makes things worse", from ''{{Dragonslayer}}''.
* What about [[{{Ghostbusters}} Zuul, Vinz-Glortho, or Gozer the Gozarian]]? Albeit they are more like made up dead languages...but who cares when you are being told to choose the form of the Destructor?

[[AC:General]]
* Anyone/thing with "Bal-" (Baal) in their name. "El" (meaning "god") is the non-threatening version ([[TheJorEl Jor-El]], etc.)
* Any villain/weapon/organisation etc. called Cerberus; that has the added kick of an animal name (the three-headed dog which is said to guard the gateway to Hell to prevent anyone escaping). Strangely enough, nothing villainous ever seems to be named for the Greek original of this name, "Kerberos".

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* ''Carcer'' is Latin for ''prison'' (the root of our ''incarcerate'') and is also the name of the villainous murderer-cum-policeman in TerryPratchett's ''[[Discworld/NightWatch Night Watch]]''.
* The BigBad of ''KittyNorville'', being a vampire from the time of ancient Rome, has a Latin name by which he is known: Dux Bellorum, 'leader/general of wars'. 'Nuff said.

[[AC:{{Live-Action TV}}]]
* Any vampire series; it's the ones with these names you really better watch out for. "Angelus" from ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' for example, though that doesn't really count since it wasn't his birth name.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Shows up in ''StargateSG1''
* ''{{Diablo}}''.
* [[StarCraft Arcturus Mengsk]]. More intimidating for political reasons than physical.
* In ''SoulCalibur'', Zasalamel's (an immortal) attacks are named after Babylonian gods, sets up the events of the 3rd game for his own benefit, and while heroic in the 4th, is still a jerk.
* The titular planet from ''{{Anachronox}}''. "Poison of the past"
* [[KingdomHearts Vanitas.]] Latin for emptyness. [[spoiler: Amusingly enough, an alternate interpretation is [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption "futility".]]]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Semi-exception: [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus]] are ancient by human standards, but a few million years is pretty standard for a giant alien robot, and they're nice folks.
** But extremely BadAss nonetheless.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* Nestor. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestor_Makhno Nestor Makhno]], the Anarchist.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Ancient Dead Languages]]