Line #64 Main/APlanetNamedZok


1	[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spiff_mok.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:He's a long way from Xork.]]
3
4	Often, fictional extraterrestrials have bizarre names with Zs, Gs, and apostrophes. So it should come as no surprise to any ScienceFiction viewer that the planets, moons, stars, and other celestial objects from which the aliens hail carry on this strange tradition -- despite the fact that they ''still'' use the Latin alphabet and their names can still be pronounced by English speakers?[[note]]Or Spanish, or French, or really any language that uses the familiar Latin alphabet.[[/note]]
5
6	''Most'' of these planets use lots of "weird" consonants (ones that are often utilized in ScrabbleBabble), like X, K, Z, Q, R, and N. Given their underuse in regular words, using them in alien contexts works all the better for writers.
7
8	Among other variants include planets that follow the "X-tar" or "X-lar" pattern. A few planets have names that end with "-i". Often, they're {{Punny Name}}s.
9
10	Sometimes, it becomes a BrickJoke when a planet like this is first introduced, then finds itself used for ScrabbleBabble (as mentioned above).
11
12	Compare NumberedHomeworld and NamingYourColonyWorld for other ways to name a planet. See also XtremeKoolLetterz and AVillainNamedZrg. Descriptively named planets go under {{Descriptiveville}}.
13
14	----
15	!!Examples:
16
17	[[foldercontrol]]
18
19	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
20	* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'' has Planet Xing, at least in English materials that actually use that name or "Planet Xingxing". The Miao Mi dub averts this by calling it "Star Planet" ("xing" means "star" in Chinese).
21	[[/folder]]
22
23	[[folder:Comic Books]]
24	* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': Skrulls originally come from the planet Skrullos.
25	* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'':
26	** The planet H'lven has produced a number of Green Lanterns, the most famous being C'hp and his successor B'dg. The local inhabitants have tech at a similar level to that of earth and resemble earth squirrels.
27	** The planet Zintha is the homeworld of a Green Lantern who requested special dispensation to remain on world because her people developed a culture that was very against interstellar travel after barely surviving an interplanetary war. Zintha is also orbiting a living star, as in an actual living creature acts as their sun.
28	* ''ComicBook/{{Nova}}'': The Nova Corps' HQ is located on the planet Xandar.
29	* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
30	** The late and ever-iconic Krypton of the Superman and ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' comics is one of the most famous examples. Krypton, however, has a Greek root and means "The Hidden", as in 'cryptic', 'cryptography', and for that matter: 'crypt'. It is also the name of a chemical element (No. 36, a noble gas).
31	** In the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' storyline Supergirl visited some weirdly-named world such like Ysmault, Grax or Primeen.
32	** In ''ComicBook/KryptonNoMore'', Superman and Supergirl have to protect Xonn (a planet located in Cygni-Gi system) from an AlienInvasion.
33	** In ''ComicBook/WarWorld'', after appropriating the eponymous super-weapon, Mongul headed straight for the Raydor galaxy.
34	** In the Pre-Crisis universe, the survivors of Krypton settled in a world they called Rokyn (meaning "Rao's gift"). It was featured in ''ComicBook/TheKryptonChronicles'' and other stories.
35	** In [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 her Post-Flashpoint series]] Supergirl visits a world named I'noxia.
36	** In ''ComicBook/WayOfTheWorld'', Supergirl must free a planet named Krall from an alien overlord.
37	** ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' member Timberwolf comes from a human colony on the mining planet Zuun.
38	** Substitute Legion member Stone Boy hails from the planet Zwen. The place was originally settled by meta-humans rescued by ComicBook/{{Valor}} after being abducted and experimented on and they developed the ability to put themselves in suspended animation to deal with the planet's slow rotation.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
42	* The original ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' also had this in the various alien worlds that Spaceman Spiff found himself crash-landing on.
43	* The Zorgons of ''ComicStrip/BrewsterRockitSpaceGuy'', who come from the planet Zorgo.
44	* An extremely early ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' strip has bovine-looking aliens from the planet [[PunnyName Moothron]] visit Dogbert.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Fan Works]]
48	* The trope is [[TropeNamers named for]] an alien planet in ''Fanfic/TheCalvinverse''.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
52	* ''Film/HighlanderIITheQuickening'' has Planet Zeist - [[GeniusBonus which is a real city name in the Netherlands.]]
53	* Some of the planets of ''Franchise/StarWars'' fit this, the best example being Kashyyyk, the Wookiee home planet mentioned from near the beginning and first seen[[note]]at least in [[Film/TheStarWarsHolidaySpecial anything]] anyone would want to see[[/note]] in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
54	* One of the main planets in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' is Xandar.
55	* The planets named in ''Film/StarGames'' include Alriscon, Zandez, Furdik, Nurwan and Skutenesh.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Literature]]
59	* Planets mentioned in the Franchise/CthulhuMythos have especially weird names, the most obvious example being Yuggoth.
60	* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' has quite a few of these:
61	** Zabulon, which had been conquered by the Fremen during the events of ''Dune Messiah.''
62	** Ix, the ninth planet of the Alkalurops System, whose very name is a misreading of the Roman numeral IX.
63	** Buzzell, known for the mining of soostones.
64	** Chusuk, known for its music.
65	** Tlulax, home of the infamous Bene Tleilax.
66	** Balut, a planet devastated during the Butlerian Jihad that shares its name with a... unique Southeast Asian delicacy.
67	* Some of the planets in ''Literature/{{Outernet}}'', like Vered II, fit.
68	* The eponymous ''Literature/KPax'' from the book series by Dr. Gene Brewer. The [=K-PAX=]ian visitor/possible mental patient "prot" also calls his planet's two suns K-MON and K-RIL, discusses the planets FLOR, NOLL and TERPSION, and refers to Earth in his own language as B-TIK. The all-caps spelling of planets, stars and constellations is also part of their naming convention, while the names of individuals and most locations smaller than a celestial body are left uncapitalized.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
72	* Downplayed example: Series/{{ALF}}'s recently-destroyed home planet was named Melmac, which was also an old brand of plastic dishware.
73	* Rita Repulsa and her crew, when making some monsters to combat the Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers, would sometimes comment that they had done well in committing genocide on a certain planet named like this. Presumably those planets were the galactic equivalent of {{Ruritania}}.
74	** Other planets mentioned in the ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' series as a whole include Aquitar, [[Series/PowerRangersInSpace KO-35]] and [[Series/PowerRangersTimeForce Xybria]].
75	* Several planets from ''Series/DoctorWho'', including [[OverlyLongName Raxacoricofallapatorius]] and Skaro, the Daleks' home planet.
76	* ''Series/BabylonFive'' has Z'ha'dum (also has apostrophes!), and in ''[[ExpandedUniverse The Technomage Trilogy]]'', the Rim planet and Shadow/Drakh stronghold Thenothk.
77	** Of course those familar with B5 will know that Z'ha'dum is really an homage to Khazad-dûm (along with boatload of other nods to LOTR).
78	* A famous example is Planet Vulcan from [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original Star Trek]].
79	** The Klingon home world, in their language, is spelled Qo'noS. Apparently, the letter "K" does not exist, and humans pronouncing it as "Kronos" and even "Klingon" are just the closest we can come to it.
80	* Zig & Zag, a pair of children's tv puppets that originally appeared on Irish children's television and [[ChannelHop later on]] various Channel 4 shows in the UK apparently originally came from Planet Zog.
81	** Perhaps the home planet of the Chicago children's television show "Land of Ziggy Zoggo"--which also considered the station call letters (originally WBKB, and called out in universe when changed to WLS to match the station's radio counterpart) to be "words".
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
85	* According to Scientology, the planet we live on was previously called "Teegeeack" before Xenu deposited humanity there.
86	* UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}}: The Mormons have Kolob, described as the planet/star closest to God's throne.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Video Games]]
90	* ''VideoGame/TheNeverhood'' has planet Idznak, home of the Skullmonkeys (where the sequel takes place).
91	* Each level in ''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}'' is a planet, and Freon (according to the actual ''TabletopGame/{{Scrabble}}'' rules) [[DownplayedTrope just barely qualifies.]]
92	* Some of the planets in Milky Way Wishes from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' have names like [[DugTooDeep Cavius]]. (Ones like [[LevelInTheClouds Skyhigh]] and [[LethalLavaLand Hotbeat]] don't really count.)
93	* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
94	** ''VideoGame/Metroid1''/''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' have Planet Zebes.
95	** ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''/''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' are set in Planet SR388.
96	** ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' takes place on Planet ZDR.
97	* Planets in ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' share this trait, like Aiur and Zerus (the homeworlds of the Protoss and Zerg).
98	* The StylisticSuck flash game ''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/540541 A Game About Courage]]'' (made by the creator of ''VideoGame/RiddleSchool'') has you unlock a secret ending by [[spoiler:[[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext getting a haircut]] while playing as [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]].]] It reads:
99	-->super secret ending\
100	[[NiceJobBreakingItHero you screwd up]]\
101	everyone on the planet Zeputar hates you to [[FridgeLogic undeath]] for not [[DrivenToSuicide killing yourself when you had the chance]]
102	* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'': The former character comes from Veldin.
103	* ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'': By default, most empires in the galaxy will not be humanoid, and many will name their colonized planets this way. They may be nonsense words, but they are appropriate to species type: a name like "Zuppox" suggests the buzzing mandibles of InsectoidAliens, "Fixash" is appropriate for the scaly hiss of the LizardFolk, and "Riblagga" might be spoken through the tentacled mouths of molluscoid aliens.
104	* ''VideoGame/EscapeVelocity Nova'' have many planets and systems with names like Tre'ar Zalom, Z'precti Hem, Ver'ar Noriout, Nil'ar Kemorya in the [[TwoDSpace east and northeast]]. Granted this is because of the way the Polaris speak.
105	** In ''Override'', the Crescent region of space features worlds (and systems) named Gazdair, Azdgari, Igadzra and Zidagar, with the last two being homeworlds of the eponymous factions and the first two having been homeworlds before they were devastated (the Azdgari system is still the capital, more-or-less, for the Azdgari, but they reside on the moons of the planet Azdgari instead of its surface).[[spoiler: [[SignificantAnagram There's a reason they share the same letters]]: Gadzair was the original homeworld for the species, and when internecine conflict devastated it, the survivors decide to split into three separate factions with a Council manipulating things to keep any one of the factions from fully defeating the others]].
106	* Planet Bazoik in ''VideoGame/ChexQuest'', the setting of the first game.
107	* ''[[VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfMassmouth Massmouth 2]]'': The planet Zeeble, home of the protagonist.
108	* Features heavily in ''VideoGame/NoMansSky'' with such worlds as Gorogohl, Sayall, Achaia, Yaasirj, and Ikdlak. Even a few star systems get in on the fun with such charming names as Xonnas, N'glik, Toniberli, Oaster, and Ethaedair.
109	* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' lampshades this if you talk to Mira about how she ended up with a Wookiee hunting her across the galaxy. She notes that she doesn't remember the name of the planet he comes from (Kashyyyk, a planet visited in [[Videogame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic the previous game]]), only that it has "too many K's and Y's, sounds like you're gargling ronto spit when you say it".
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Web Animation]]
113	* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'''s ShowWithinAShow "Limozeen - [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace 'but they're in space!']]" is set on Groupulon 5, a ShoutOut to ''Series/{{Babylon 5}}''.
114	[[/folder]]
115
116	[[folder:Web Original]]
117	* ''Website/DinosaurDracula'': While [[http://dinosaurdracula.com/blog/marshmallows-from-outer-space explaining the backstory of a marshmallow space craft]], Matthew notes that the pacifist Starmals come from the planet [[PunnyName Dextrosa.]]
118	[[/folder]]
119
120	[[folder:Western Animation]]
121	* Irk from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''.
122	* The Yolkians, whose home planet Yolkus features prominently in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Jimmy Neutron\|Boy Genius}}'' movie.
123	** Likewise, the spinoff ''WesternAnimation/PlanetSheen'' revolves around Sheen crash-landing on the planet Zeenu.
124	* The planet Marklar from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. [[PlanetOfSteves This also the title of every noun on Marklar.]] As one could guess, much {{smurfing}} ensues.
125	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' has a few, like Vergon 6 and Trisol.
126	* Yugopotamia from ''WesternAnimation/FairlyOddParents''.
127	* Alien's home planet Quome from ''WesternAnimation/WandaAndTheAlien''.
128	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' has many oddly-named locations such as Ziziks, a tropical vacation-destination planet, and Mooplexia, inhabited by a race of slow and idiotic-looking aliens.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Real Life]]
132	* The scientists who decide on official planet names tend to not approve too exotic-sounding monikers unless they are based in ancient mythology, but every once in a while PopCultureOsmosis wins out. (For example, one of the proposed names for a planetoid is [[Series/XenaWarriorPrincess Xena]].) That one ended up getting the classical name Eris (the Goddess of strife from Greek mythology). Its satellite, however, did end up with an oblique popcultural reference: it's called Dysnomia, after the AnthropomorphicPersonification of lawlessness - referencing Creator/LucyLawless, the actress playing Xena.
133	[[/folder]]

Context Main / APlanetNamedZok