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An excellent addition!!! This would also work for Chirox, which would mean together with Vamprah, 2 of the 3 Phantoka Makuta would have a bat theme. I’ll have to research more deeply into Antroz then, see if his name also falls into that theme somehow.

(Ironically, my initial notes about “chiro-” as a seemingly irrelevant hand-related prefix turn out to actually be relevant. That is indeed part of the etymology of “chiroptera”: “chiro” + “ptera” translating to “hand wing,” which bats sure do have!)

Assuming Kirop still follows the Av-Matoran light theme though, I wonder if his name is actually based in the Italian “chiaro” (like in “chiaroscuro”), which can mean “bright.”

Some Bionicle Names Etymology

Right I’ll just make a whole post about this. I’ve had a lot of linguistic revelations about some of the names from the Ignition trilogy lately, in that members of the same groups seem to share thematic origins for their names. Figured I’d share them and look for some additional input, Biosector and other wikis don’t seem to note a lot of these. 

Some locations and also the Kanohi Ignika: These are probably the most obvious that most people know, but I’m putting them here anyway since I only realized Karda Nui’s and the Ignika’s etymology recently.

Mata Nui: “Mata” seems like one of the Māori words that got used early on, which means “surface,” which is fitting for an island. Though it  apparently also can mean “face,” which, wow, that foreshadowing.

I am aware “Kanohi” also means face in Māori.

Coincidentally, “Mata” does sound like “matter,” which thematically works with… *waves hands vaguely.* Matter, existence, Great Being, yknow…stuff.

Metru/Voya/Mahri/Karda Nui: Metro/voyage/marine/cardiac.

Bara/Aqua/Bota Magna: All terms relating to their states as a desert, ocean, and jungle. “Magna” is literally just Latin for “great” as well.

Ignika: Ignite (should’ve realized this earlier, considering its whole plotline is called the Ignition Trilogy).

The Barraki: Most of them have names based off their associated marine animal. Also pretty obvious, save for some exceptions.

Carapar: Crabs/carapace.

Ehlek: Eels/electricity.

Kalmah: Squids, calamari.

Mantax: Manta rays.

Pridak: Okay I thought this was derived from “a pride of sharks” but turns out a pride is a group of lions. So I actually have no idea, other than I guess Pridak is a prideful being or whatever.

Takadox: Weirdly, Takadox is associated with bugs. My best guess is that his name might be based from “tacklebox?” Cause bugs -> bait -> fishing.

The Karda Nui Makuta: Generally nasty names. The Mistika Makuta have a bug theme, but also maybe a spooky theme (spirits of the mist, after all).

Antroz: Antagonist? “Ant-” as that general negative prefix, at any rate.

Chirox: No idea. Google says “chiro-” is a prefix referring to the hands (like “chiropractor”), but I don’t think that relates to his character at all.

Mutran: Mutate, as our resident mad scientist (okay I guess all the Makuta are technically mad scientists, but you know what I mean).

Vamprah: Vampire.

Bitil: Beetle.

Krika: Cricket? I’m not sure he really looks like a cricket though. Maybe from “creak,” to fit in with the spooky mistika theme.

Gorast: Wasp for bug theme? Gore/ghast for spooky theme?

The Karda Nui Av-Matoran: Seem to have names all related to light and energy, surprise surprise.

Gavla: Galvanize. Fun fact, this is one of those words that isn’t from a Greek/Latin root or whatever, but some guy’s name, Luigi Galvani, the father of bioelectromagnetics. Particularly relevant considering Karda Nui’s thematics.

Kirop: No idea. Sounds like “corrupt” which is thematically relevant to his character, but that doesn’t fit with the overall naming theme of light. My other best guess is like…a backwards “spark” (symbolically reflecting his state as a shadow matoran?…).

Photok: Photon.

Radiak: Radiate.

Solek: Sol.

Tanma: …Gamma? Like gamma radiation? This one is a bit of a stretch, I’ll admit.

Vican (Ok I know Vican isn’t an Av-Matoran but I’m putting him here since he’s still a 2008 Matoran): A shortening of Victor Frankenstein maybe, as befitting of his role as Mutran’s assistant.

Anyway if anyone has any other thoughts or examples, I’d love to hear them!

[bonkle]

Some Bionicle Names Etymology

Right I’ll just make a whole post about this. I’ve had a lot of linguistic revelations about some of the names from the Ignition trilogy lately, in that members of the same groups seem to share thematic origins for their names. Figured I’d share them and look for some additional input, Biosector and other wikis don’t seem to note a lot of these. 

Some locations and also the Kanohi Ignika: These are probably the most obvious that most people know, but I’m putting them here anyway since I only realized Karda Nui’s and the Ignika’s etymology recently.

Mata Nui: “Mata” seems like one of the Māori words that got used early on, which means “surface,” which is fitting for an island. Though it  apparently also can mean “face,” which, wow, that foreshadowing.

I am aware “Kanohi” also means face in Māori.

Coincidentally, “Mata” does sound like “matter,” which thematically works with... *waves hands vaguely.* Matter, existence, Great Being, yknow...stuff.

Metru/Voya/Mahri/Karda Nui: Metro/voyage/marine/cardiac.

Bara/Aqua/Bota Magna: All terms relating to their states as a desert, ocean, and jungle. “Magna” is literally just Latin for “great” as well.

Ignika: Ignite (should’ve realized this earlier, considering its whole plotline is called the Ignition Trilogy).

The Barraki: Most of them have names based off their associated marine animal. Also pretty obvious, save for some exceptions.

Carapar: Crabs/carapace.

Ehlek: Eels/electricity.

Kalmah: Squids, calamari.

Mantax: Manta rays.

Pridak: Okay I thought this was derived from “a pride of sharks” but turns out a pride is a group of lions. So I actually have no idea, other than I guess Pridak is a prideful being or whatever.

Takadox: Weirdly, Takadox is associated with bugs. My best guess is that his name might be based from “tacklebox?” Cause bugs -> bait -> fishing.

The Karda Nui Makuta: Generally nasty names. The Mistika Makuta have a bug theme, but also maybe a spooky theme (spirits of the mist, after all).

Antroz: Antagonist? “Ant-” as that general negative prefix, at any rate.

Chirox: No idea. Google says “chiro-” is a prefix referring to the hands (like “chiropractor”), but I don’t think that relates to his character at all.

Mutran: Mutate, as our resident mad scientist (okay I guess all the Makuta are technically mad scientists, but you know what I mean).

Vamprah: Vampire.

Bitil: Beetle.

Krika: Cricket? I’m not sure he really looks like a cricket though. Maybe from “creak,” to fit in with the spooky mistika theme.

Gorast: Wasp for bug theme? Gore/ghast for spooky theme?

The Karda Nui Av-Matoran: Seem to have names all related to light and energy, surprise surprise.

Gavla: Galvanize. Fun fact, this is one of those words that isn’t from a Greek/Latin root or whatever, but some guy’s name, Luigi Galvani, the father of bioelectromagnetics. Particularly relevant considering Karda Nui’s thematics.

Kirop: No idea. Sounds like “corrupt” which is thematically relevant to his character, but that doesn’t fit with the overall naming theme of light. My other best guess is like...a backwards “spark” (symbolically reflecting his state as a shadow matoran?...).

Photok: Photon.

Radiak: Radiate.

Solek: Sol.

Tanma: ...Gamma? Like gamma radiation? This one is a bit of a stretch, I’ll admit.

Vican (Ok I know Vican isn’t an Av-Matoran but I’m putting him here since he’s still a 2008 Matoran): A shortening of Victor Frankenstein maybe, as befitting of his role as Mutran’s assistant.

Anyway if anyone has any other thoughts or examples, I’d love to hear them!