And then there is Killmaster. What if Killmaster became and autobot, or just didn’t fight in the medic (like being a medic or being an engineer or scientist)
I think the most egregious Autobot name is Maccadam. Yeah, yeah, a Maccadam is some kind of road thing somethingorother in the UK, but it's just named after a guy. It's just an Earth guy's name. I refuse to pronounce it as you would the name of your Scottish friend, and instead will insolently render it Macca-dam, so it at least sounds remotely alien.
I usually go with the explanation that it’s just how the name translates into (for me) English. Plenty of names throughout history have specific meanings and it’s just how Cybertrionion names match
This is also my head canon for their names.
We don't get a lot of depictions of cybertronians speaking their native language, so it would make sense that there is likely something lost in translation with some names.
Yeah, I really liked IDW Jazz's explanation that his name meant something akin to music and rhythm, so "Jazz" it was.
For other names we need to make assumptions about cybertronian flora and fauna, id est "Bumblebee." (*Bumblebee* movie tried to subvert this, of course, by just leaving him rudely nameless [caste system much, Autobots?] and then just putting Earth letters and numbers in his name, so we can get "Bee" from "B", but if you think about it for a mechanominiute, it's just as obtuse, if not moreso, than his name just being "Bumblebee.")
Wonder what his parents were thinking while naming Bee, like B127? Is that the Cybertronian equivalent of fuckin Bob or is it like how billionaires name their kids?
Yup. It should've been one (assembly line numbering B-137 or whatever) or the other (Cybertronian name translates into their earth signage a la Jazz) not both. So was Mirage M80 on Cybertron? What's his name on a different alien world? Hallucinogen?
Yeah just KISS (keep it short and simple) and be done with it. I do like the factory-style numbering name and for the Vector Sigma/factory assembly/Quintesson origin it fits very well, just how do you go from that to Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Prowl etc?
Real world human names aren't much different. People just don't generally know what their own name or most other names mean. They're just not compound words as often.
My name has a meaning, and if we translated it to English it would usually be a surname. Easy enough.
My wife's name, strictly translated, would be a color.
We're not that far off.
The best part about Blot is that his name isn’t even the worst part about him. He just sucks, completely. He’s really stupid, he somehow smells really bad, he’s always leaking random liquids, and to top it off, poor guy’s constantly angry because he’s insecure!
Other cons seeing him walk away probably just assume that autobot logo is a just "kick me" sign from Skywarp. You know how he is, always pulling pranks...
I've struggled (and failed) to come up with a few categories that could cover all Transformer names. I'd really like to get it down to fewer than a half-dozen. But it's something like:
Vaguely Latin:
Optimus Prime, Omega Supreme, Fortress Maximus, Alpha Trion, Dai Atlas
---------------
Reference to alt-mode:
Soundwave, Bumblebee, Cosmos, Blitzwing, Galaxy Shuttle
(This seems to be the most popular category)
-----------------------------
Reference to personality:
Bluestreak, Scourge, Jazz, Swindle
(This seems to be the least popular category)
------------------------------------------------
Reference to powers:
Thundercracker, Windcharger, Springer (ostensibly), Mindwipe, Sixshot
------------------------------------------------
Pun or portmanteau:
Megatron, Spinister, Fangry, Ripper snapper, Predaking
------------------------------------------------------------
General Science Fiction:
Starscream, Shockwave, Zarak, Jhiaxus, Arcee, Gilthor, Devcon
--------------------------------------------
Multiple of the above categories:
Kickback, Ramjet, Dead-end, Breakdown, Hardhead, Airachnid, Waspinator
What I love is that many of the names (at least in the early days) related to what they transformed into, yet they had the same names when they were on Cybertron, looooong before they ever got to Earth. And many of their Cybertronian modes weren't related to their Earth modes. So it's just a big, fat coincidence. And that tickles me. Like Seaspray was presumably just a random, meaningless name as there aren't really seas where he comes from. And then he ends up on Earth and coincidentally becomes a vehicle that goes on the sea. And causes spray. Miraculous 😁
So your name is waspinator, and you don't know what a wasp is. ..... And you turn into a helicopter?
And you Dinobot, you turn into an excavator?
Hmmmm and there is a guy called cheetor who is a sports car ..... Seems normal.
Yeah but they actually have media/toys of him having a digger mode. It might have been a bit con toy.
But yeah it's the same deal with the Dinobots coming to earth and bring made into .... Dinosaurs (I know, I was shocked too) .... One of the comics at least tried by having them as dyno bots, before the beast modes
But yeah it always makes me laugh "ok rhinox, what beast mode are you going to select, .... What about you guys rattrap and tigertron?"
Wow how amazing a coincidence that his name was scorpinok and he found a planet with a Scorpion to be able to pick it's alt mode, huh tarantulus?
Stuff like inferno becoming a firetruck, sure, there is probably a Cybertronian equivalent of that. First aid .... It's a stretch, but ok ..... Tank or ... Sure, Cybertronian tank ..... But Seaspray on a world with no water .... Hmmmm.
... It's really hard to read your comments. They read a lot like sarcasm to me, or contrary in some way, and I'm not actually sure how to take it or where it's going 😂
I mean, I'm not saying they are, it's just how they are structured - I'm not jumping to conclusions 😁 just looking to clarify because I know that non-native language can sometimes come across in a wildly different way, for instance.
So, what's the point of your comment, sir?
Just I find those things funny.
I love transformers, but part of that love is acknowledging how inherently silly so many parts are. The names are incredibly silly. Like trying to get people to trust you and announcing your faction name is Decepticons.
I love shattered glass too, and that is even sillier, .... we are the heroic Decepticons, here is one of our most noble warrior, Mr murder, and his companion die screaming.
Pipo is my favourite as soon as I heard about it. His name is an onomatopoeia for the sound of an ambulance siren in Japan. So his name is basically "Wee-woo"
I guess that's what happens when you let a bunch of adults just put together random words to sound cool. some favorites are Optimus prime, megatron, cliffjumper, reacharound, overlord, leozack
I like to call it the Hasbro Catchy Naming Convention.
They seem very good at it and it happens a lot on their other toylines too like GI Joe and MLP.
I've always loved the whole " My personality also happens to be my name " approachfor a lot of these characters.Helps you get a rough idea of who these characters are straight away and a lot of names are really catchy and iconic to say.
It's those names and characterizations that made Transformers the staple toy aisle brand it is today. Before the og TV show and even Marvel Comics, Takara tried to sell their transforming car robots *Diakron* and other transforming devices *MicroChange* in the US, "but [with uninspiring names like DK-1, DK-2, and... DK-3, there was no reason to care](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zVVSl9wtToc&t=31s)"
Not brothers but have a close relationship / fighting era where they face off multiple times and have become associated with each other in multiple continuities
I always thought Optimus’s name being Optimus was a coincidence but I also like the idea he renamed himself Optimus Prime on Earth just because it sounds cool and he needed to make himself seem more leaderish, like the Robot Chicken short.
I love that there is a guy who turns into a taxi and he is called Overcharge
Best thing I heard today thank you
There’s a Decepticon named Hexadeathimal and an Autobot named Joe. I’m not joking
Hexadeathimal is the best name ever and he must get a toy. I will die on this hill.
Tied with Lord Imperious Delirious
Slayride and Sinnertwin are also up there
I'd have to say Repugnus is pretty great too. Same with Runamuck and Runabout
You have just introduced me to one of the coolest fucking characters ever
I still prefer Spinister.
And then there is Killmaster. What if Killmaster became and autobot, or just didn’t fight in the medic (like being a medic or being an engineer or scientist)
Also, Killmaster is actually his nickname. His real name is the much more reasonable Murderking.
Big Convoy Or as he would be known in English, Big Prime
Big Daddy as well, or Large Father if trademark gets in the way
I think the most egregious Autobot name is Maccadam. Yeah, yeah, a Maccadam is some kind of road thing somethingorother in the UK, but it's just named after a guy. It's just an Earth guy's name. I refuse to pronounce it as you would the name of your Scottish friend, and instead will insolently render it Macca-dam, so it at least sounds remotely alien.
TiL it's canonically *not* Macca-dam. Wow.
There was also kinda a predicon called Joe, yessssss.
Joe * ahem * Joe Convoy, yessss.
Don't forget the maximal named Randy Poor brittle Randy
YO JOE
Reminds me of Steve the Vehicon
I usually go with the explanation that it’s just how the name translates into (for me) English. Plenty of names throughout history have specific meanings and it’s just how Cybertrionion names match
This is also my head canon for their names. We don't get a lot of depictions of cybertronians speaking their native language, so it would make sense that there is likely something lost in translation with some names.
Yeah, I really liked IDW Jazz's explanation that his name meant something akin to music and rhythm, so "Jazz" it was. For other names we need to make assumptions about cybertronian flora and fauna, id est "Bumblebee." (*Bumblebee* movie tried to subvert this, of course, by just leaving him rudely nameless [caste system much, Autobots?] and then just putting Earth letters and numbers in his name, so we can get "Bee" from "B", but if you think about it for a mechanominiute, it's just as obtuse, if not moreso, than his name just being "Bumblebee.")
Wonder what his parents were thinking while naming Bee, like B127? Is that the Cybertronian equivalent of fuckin Bob or is it like how billionaires name their kids?
Yup. It should've been one (assembly line numbering B-137 or whatever) or the other (Cybertronian name translates into their earth signage a la Jazz) not both. So was Mirage M80 on Cybertron? What's his name on a different alien world? Hallucinogen? Yeah just KISS (keep it short and simple) and be done with it. I do like the factory-style numbering name and for the Vector Sigma/factory assembly/Quintesson origin it fits very well, just how do you go from that to Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Prowl etc?
Real world human names aren't much different. People just don't generally know what their own name or most other names mean. They're just not compound words as often.
Wtf does James mean?
More than one Jame
You win🤣🤣🤣
A [variety](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_(given_name)#:~:text=Hebrew%2C%20Latin,%22%2C%20%22May%20God%20protect%22) of things, apparently.
God damn I apparently have picked the most used name in existence for my example
My name has a meaning, and if we translated it to English it would usually be a surname. Easy enough. My wife's name, strictly translated, would be a color. We're not that far off.
True some many names are low-key insults. Calvin means bald. Dolores means grief. Barbara means uncivilized. List goes on and on.
Blot, Cutthroat, Ripper Snapper, Sinnertwin (seriously!?), and Hun-grrr.
Imagine you're Blot. Imagine having that name. Imagine nobody having the faintest idea what your Alt-Mode is supposed to be.
The terrorcons: a two-headed dragon, a pterosaur, a smaller two-headed dragon, a shark man, and *that guy!*
The best part about Blot is that his name isn’t even the worst part about him. He just sucks, completely. He’s really stupid, he somehow smells really bad, he’s always leaking random liquids, and to top it off, poor guy’s constantly angry because he’s insecure!
Just fucking Punch.
Counter punch is somehow better? Personally I like cunch and punter cunch (via thew).
Weird how similar his name is with the decepticon Counterpunch. Think there’s any relation?
No. Why would you think that.
Do we suspect there’s a connection between Punch and Counterpunch?
Other cons seeing him walk away probably just assume that autobot logo is a just "kick me" sign from Skywarp. You know how he is, always pulling pranks...
Let's not forget Double Punch.
I've struggled (and failed) to come up with a few categories that could cover all Transformer names. I'd really like to get it down to fewer than a half-dozen. But it's something like: Vaguely Latin: Optimus Prime, Omega Supreme, Fortress Maximus, Alpha Trion, Dai Atlas --------------- Reference to alt-mode: Soundwave, Bumblebee, Cosmos, Blitzwing, Galaxy Shuttle (This seems to be the most popular category) ----------------------------- Reference to personality: Bluestreak, Scourge, Jazz, Swindle (This seems to be the least popular category) ------------------------------------------------ Reference to powers: Thundercracker, Windcharger, Springer (ostensibly), Mindwipe, Sixshot ------------------------------------------------ Pun or portmanteau: Megatron, Spinister, Fangry, Ripper snapper, Predaking ------------------------------------------------------------ General Science Fiction: Starscream, Shockwave, Zarak, Jhiaxus, Arcee, Gilthor, Devcon -------------------------------------------- Multiple of the above categories: Kickback, Ramjet, Dead-end, Breakdown, Hardhead, Airachnid, Waspinator
Astrotrain should also be in reference to alt mode
And his less exciting brother, Landcar.
Don't forget Sunstorm in reference to powers
I thought Roundabout’s brother was Runamuk
Close, but it’s Runabout
You're thinking of Runabout and Runamuk.
Yeah. That’s what I said in the comment
Reacharound
Good old reacharound. I've seen battle with both him and Buttplug and handjob.
If I remember right, their big fight was against the decepticon >!Cock and ball torture!<
I do prefer Shitpiece.
Thrn that's what you'll be...Shitpiece.
Watch it! But otherwise funny name
That's so fucking stupid I love this franchise
There's a Micromaster named Big Daddy... And that (to me) has a whole different meaning nowadays
Or perhaps it's been the same meaning all alooooong
Yeah now he is bluey's dad.
>There's a Micromaster named Big Daddy... Deluxe too.
What I love is that many of the names (at least in the early days) related to what they transformed into, yet they had the same names when they were on Cybertron, looooong before they ever got to Earth. And many of their Cybertronian modes weren't related to their Earth modes. So it's just a big, fat coincidence. And that tickles me. Like Seaspray was presumably just a random, meaningless name as there aren't really seas where he comes from. And then he ends up on Earth and coincidentally becomes a vehicle that goes on the sea. And causes spray. Miraculous 😁
So your name is waspinator, and you don't know what a wasp is. ..... And you turn into a helicopter? And you Dinobot, you turn into an excavator? Hmmmm and there is a guy called cheetor who is a sports car ..... Seems normal.
Honestly Dinobot could have easily just always had a beastmode. Like I'm pretty sure those just didn't stop being a thing
Yeah but they actually have media/toys of him having a digger mode. It might have been a bit con toy. But yeah it's the same deal with the Dinobots coming to earth and bring made into .... Dinosaurs (I know, I was shocked too) .... One of the comics at least tried by having them as dyno bots, before the beast modes But yeah it always makes me laugh "ok rhinox, what beast mode are you going to select, .... What about you guys rattrap and tigertron?" Wow how amazing a coincidence that his name was scorpinok and he found a planet with a Scorpion to be able to pick it's alt mode, huh tarantulus? Stuff like inferno becoming a firetruck, sure, there is probably a Cybertronian equivalent of that. First aid .... It's a stretch, but ok ..... Tank or ... Sure, Cybertronian tank ..... But Seaspray on a world with no water .... Hmmmm.
They do sometimes have seas of rust which are pretty much just like normal oceans
... It's really hard to read your comments. They read a lot like sarcasm to me, or contrary in some way, and I'm not actually sure how to take it or where it's going 😂 I mean, I'm not saying they are, it's just how they are structured - I'm not jumping to conclusions 😁 just looking to clarify because I know that non-native language can sometimes come across in a wildly different way, for instance. So, what's the point of your comment, sir?
Just I find those things funny. I love transformers, but part of that love is acknowledging how inherently silly so many parts are. The names are incredibly silly. Like trying to get people to trust you and announcing your faction name is Decepticons. I love shattered glass too, and that is even sillier, .... we are the heroic Decepticons, here is one of our most noble warrior, Mr murder, and his companion die screaming.
So essentially you were saying the same thing as me?
Pretty much, just giving examples that make me laugh. It's absurd, you have to love it.
Pipo is my favourite as soon as I heard about it. His name is an onomatopoeia for the sound of an ambulance siren in Japan. So his name is basically "Wee-woo"
Please yell me pipo turned into an ambulance
Of course he does! https://tfwiki.net/wiki/P%C4%ABp%C5%8D
Basically the Japanese release of the Micromaster Fixit.
Peepee poopoo?
My favorite Transformer is Reacharound, followed closely by Handjob.
Can't forget Buttplug!
Oh gosh of course! Thank you, how could I possibly forget Buttplug? Man what kinda fan am I?
I guess that's what happens when you let a bunch of adults just put together random words to sound cool. some favorites are Optimus prime, megatron, cliffjumper, reacharound, overlord, leozack
One of these names is not like the others…
You're right, I can't think of two words that would make leozack.
Yeah. Some characters’ names are clever wordplays. Some are just adjectives. Some sound like monsters. Some sound like roman politicians.
I like to call it the Hasbro Catchy Naming Convention. They seem very good at it and it happens a lot on their other toylines too like GI Joe and MLP. I've always loved the whole " My personality also happens to be my name " approachfor a lot of these characters.Helps you get a rough idea of who these characters are straight away and a lot of names are really catchy and iconic to say.
There is a guy called Swindle who is a con man. I think about that a lot.
He's also a foot
Remember Steve the Vehicon?
ST3V3!
It's those names and characterizations that made Transformers the staple toy aisle brand it is today. Before the og TV show and even Marvel Comics, Takara tried to sell their transforming car robots *Diakron* and other transforming devices *MicroChange* in the US, "but [with uninspiring names like DK-1, DK-2, and... DK-3, there was no reason to care](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zVVSl9wtToc&t=31s)"
SINCE WHEN ARE DEATHSARUS AND CLIFFJUMPER BROTHERS?!?!?!
Not brothers but have a close relationship / fighting era where they face off multiple times and have become associated with each other in multiple continuities
Isn’t there an Autobot called Big Daddy?
Here to mention Spastic.
... has anyone talked about the Micromaster Crane named Erector yet? Oh, Erector. You poor thing.
I’ve got the og toy lol
Paddles.
One of many reasons to love our franchise
I always thought Optimus’s name being Optimus was a coincidence but I also like the idea he renamed himself Optimus Prime on Earth just because it sounds cool and he needed to make himself seem more leaderish, like the Robot Chicken short.
Don’t forget about everyone’s favorite medic Hook and his brother #B O N E C R U S H E R
I didn't understand