Hey! Welcome to my up to date guide explaining the origin/ inspiration for each LoL champ name in alphabetical order. While it's possible some of these origins are mere coincidences or just wrong, I've tried to keep it as realist and logical as possible (Not going for that crazy chinese dialect anagram angle). While this post might be worthless to many people, for writers and workers of the creative industry, this I hope will serve as a nice source of inspiration. If you've got any request, correction or suggestion, hit the comment section. Here we go:

Here's Riot note on how they come up with names:"Once the goals are set, narrative writers come up with a list of potential names. The number of names that end up on that list depends on the champion and who the writer is, but it’s usually around 100-200. Sometimes the original list can have over 500 names, but that’s usually only when spelling variations are included."

Aatrox: From the old latin Atrox: "savage, cruel" (from which spans the word atrocious - atrocity) Aatrox was given two "a" to be the first in alphabetical order as he is said to be the first ever humanoïd life in Runeterra lore.

Ahri: The name Ahri was voted by a poll by the korean community, as a gift for the opening of their server. It comes from the Korean word Ari, which means gracious, elegant. Ahri's design originates from the korean legend of Gumiho, an evil 9-tailed fox who kills beautiful women to steal their appearance and charm men by kissing them, draining their human essence with a magic jewel. In fact, it is suggested Riot Ezreal called her Gumiho in development, before the poll was settled upon.

Akali: Akali is a word which is derived from the Sikh term Akal (or Akaal), the deathless being, or eternal one. Kal meaning death. However, the word Akali is now a term appropriated by members of the dominant Sikh political party meaning "God`s Praises". In Japanese, Akali is read as Akari (明), which means "Light, Bright, Cheerful".

Akshan: Ekshan (एक्शन) in Hindi, translates to "action" and Akshan (അക്ഷം) in Malayalam (another indian language) means pivot, or axis, referencing his grappling hook which allows him to pivot around a certain point. Even in english, it reminds of "action", which is what both the champion's gameplay and lore convey, in order to get revenge.

Alistar: Alistar means to subscribe in spanish. Indeed, when you download the game, it is Alistar who introduces it and is on the main page of the game (Well, it was until 2021). "Alistair" also means "man's defender" in old english. A name fitting for one of the game's first tanks.

Amumu: Amumu is a direct pun with 'a mummy", as he is himself wrapped in bandage. A "mumu" is also a nigerian slang used to describe a person who acts daft, empty, reflecting his loneliness.

Anivia: The name Anivia is derived from the latin niveus/ nivea/ niveum which means "White Snow". Her name starting and finishing with the letter A symbolizes Anivia's endless enduring of the cycles of life, death, and rebirth to protect Freljord.

Annie (and Tibbers): Short for Annie Hastur, the girlfriend of one of Riot's Producers (Riot Guinsoo) is called Annie and owns a teddybear she calls Tibbers. This is a direct tribute to their couple as it was one of the first six champion ever created.

Aphelios: Aphelios means "furthest from the sun", coming from Greek "apo" - far apart/ away, and "Helios" - sun. In astronomy, the "aphelion" describes the point in the orbit of an object where it is farthest from the Sun. This is a direct metaphor to his lore and dark path. Alune, his sister, is a play on words between "lune" which means moon in French and "alone", since she is the one preventing Aphelios from being it.

Ashe: Ashe is also a direct reference to Riot's ex-president's (Tryndamere) girlfriend, who is called Ashly. Indeed, in the game, both champs are married and are king and queen of Freljord. Ashe is also an english word describing what's left after a fire, and she comes from the ice-world Freljord.

Aurelion Sol: Aurelion Sol is believe to be derived from the latin Aurelian, associated with the golden color of a chrysallis before it hatches and the butterfly emerges, and Sol, which means "Sun" in latin. "Golden Sun" is directly linked to Aurelion being a star forger. Aurelion Sol's name was originally meant to be Heaven's Coil

Azir: Azir (عازر) means 'strength' in ancient Arabic. Azir originates from Shurima, a desert place which resembles in many ways the arabic region. The name can also be associated to "Vizier"(وزير) which means ministry, head of government, representing his lead as the Shuriman emperor. Azir is also importantly the anagram of Arise!, his W which he uses to spawn a soldier.

Bard: Bard directly describes in many languages a medieval poet, itinerant musician, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition, hence his description as a wonderer collecting chimes (which are melodious sounds produced by bells).

Bel'Veth: Bel'Veth is a portmanteau for two concepts in Semitic mythology: Ba'al, storm god and savior figure in the Ugaritic tradition (A Primitive civilization), and Maveth, or death/oblivion/angel of death. Bel'Veth, probably coincidently, resembles "Belle bête" which is the french translation of "Pretty Monster".

Blitzcrank: Direct association of two words: Blitz meaning "lightning" in german, and "Crank" meaning the handle, arm to activate a machine in english, in reference to his grab using his right arm.

Brand: Once a tribesman of the icy Freljord named Kegan Rodhe (Gaelic name meaning "small flame"), the creature known as Brand is the result of his betrayal of his companions. Brand directly translates to "Fire" in Danish, Swedish, Dutch and German. It's also an English word for "Torch".

Briar: Briar's name comes from the eponym english word atributed to wild bushes with sharp thorns, especially roses, which directly relates to her creation by the Black Rose, LB's secret society. Since her release, Zyra has had a voiceline where she says "Briar" when sprouting her Grasping Roots plants

Braum: "Brawn" is an English word for muscle strength. Braum is also an anagram for "Bruma", the latin word for winter. It may also stand as the contraction of "bro" and "home", a fitting name for the big-hearted support.

Caitlyn: Caitlyn Kiramman, by her full name, is inspired by the western character Calamity Jane, a famous bounty hunter, which the name is almost an anagram of. Despite Arcane, there are no further information provided by Riot about the name itself, other than it being a regular name given by traditional high-class parents.

Camille: Her full name is Camille Ferros. In Latin the meaning of the name Camille is "Temple servant". It originates from Camilla, a Mythological Warrior from Vergil's Aeneid, a latin poem book. Riot'goals for Camille’s name were: Evokes aristocratic eccentricity, should give a picture of a proper Piltovan lady, should be attractive sounding, but not beautiful sounding, and distinctly feminine. Lady Em, The Gray Lady, The Left Hand of Piltover, Diver, Cyborg, MI6, Mary Poppins, Hookshot Hookshot, were some of her previous production names.

Cassiopeia: Her full name is Cassiopeia Du Couteau, from the french assassin family. In the greek mythology, Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda, is the goddess of fantasy and of the seas. According to legend, she was bragging being more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Her boast angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent Cetus, a snake-like sea-monster, to ravage the kingdom. Ironic.

Cho'Gath: Comes from the Shoggoth, a type of terrifying imaginary monsters from the stories of Lovecraft that can reach gigantic sizes. The name is also believed to derive from Ku'Gath, a deamon in the warhammer 40k universe. Cho'Gath and Ku'Gath share similar names, both come from an other worldly dimension, the void and the warp respectivly and both are large, monstrous beings.

Corki: His full name is Corki Yipsnakes (the name of his squadron). In slang spanish it means "stupid", and in slang english, it describes a cheeky, playful kid. Corki resembles "quirky", a word which describe peculiar or unexpected behaviours. His copter is called Reconnaissance Operations Front Line (ROFL).

Darius: Darius is the name of one of the greatest king to have ever governed in Persia, Darius I, also called Darius the Great. This king also carried a battle axe, as inscripted on his grave. The name is originally a nominative form meaning "he who holds firm the good(ness)"

Diana: Diana is the roman god of hunting and of the moon. The name Diana derives from the Indo-European root/ prefix "dyew-" denoting the the "brightness of the sky" (in contrast to the darkness of the night), a quality that can be associated to the moon.

Dr. Mundo: "Dr. Mundo is not really a doctor, he just thinks he is." is one of his voice lines. Mundo means "world" in many hispanic languages, which corresponds to his character which can go wherever he pleases, another one of his voice lines. It also references one of Riot's core producers, Edmundo, a lead concept artist who directed the art and splash-arts of many champions, and more recently of Legends of Runeterra.

Draven: In old english, "drǽfend" directly translates to "hunter". "Draven" is also notoriously used by James O'Barr in "The Crow", a dark drama from the mid-90s, for his character Eric Draven, a vigilante executioner, just like Draven. It's also quite simply a homophone to "The raven", a bird who feeds off decaying flesh and weak animals, often associated with death.

Ekko: Namesake of Echo, which describes the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener, a few seconds later, referencing Ekko's identity through Chronobreak Riot additionally emphasized it by spelling echo with two K to form, with the negative space created, a "rewind" sign which is found on tech buttons, also tied to Ekko's engineering background. Crazy.

Elise: Elise Kythera Zaavan is her full name, from the respective names of the husbands she manipulated (house Zaavan and house Kythera). The name Elise is taken from the Hebrew Elisheva, meaning "God’s oath" or "Daughter of God", which corresponds to her transformation from the bite of a vile demigod.

Evelynn: Derived from the european name Evelyn, itself coming from the Old Irish óiph, which means "radiance", "beauty". The German and English meaning is "beautiful bird". The Hebrew origin (live) and cannon nickname also point to Eve, the biblical bringer of life to all humanity. Evelynn is also a homophone for "evil in", as she is a demon in the inside.

Ezreal: Ezreal was both named after and designed by Colt 'Ezreal' Hallam, Riot's original lead game designer. Fun fact, Ezreal shares a hidden passive in-game with Volibear, whose name is also based on a Riot developer, because the two men had argued quite strongly during Volibear's design.

Fiddlesticks: The verb fiddle in english means touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way. In this case, the wooden sticks composing his body. Fiddlestick also describe "homemade and inexpensive" instruments from American country music, which may echo scarecrows and Fiddle's screeching.

Fiora: Full-name: Fiora Laurent. The name Fiora derives from "Fiore", the Italian word for "Flower", which is a reference to Fiore Dei Liberi, an Italian 15th century fencing master. His "Flower of Battle" is among the oldest surviving fencing manuals. In his honour, "Fioretto" also derived from Italian to one of the three modern fencing disciplines: the Foil.

Fizz: From the english verb and noun "fizz": if a drink fizzes, or sparkles, it produces lots of little bubbles of gas that quickly flow to the surface. It directly references both his gameplay, as elusive, hard to catch and rapid in-action, and his lore, since he raced to the surface after smelling blood from underwater, but was too late to save his city.

Galio: Galio is derived from the latin "Gallus", which means "c*ck" in latin, the animal of course. This explains why the silver-white metal called Gallium, (Galio in spanish), discovered by a frenchman, was named after France's symbol: the rooster (France used to be called Gaule in its honour). This connection has been confirmed through the Birdio skin. It is likely Galio was chosen for its resemblance to "gargoyle", which is the type of statue Galio is.

Gangplank: From the Americanism dating back to 1840s "gangplank": a flat small wooden board for use by pirates boarding or leaving a ship at a pier. The word is a combination of the two slang terms: gang ('way, path, course of travel") & plank ("board").

Garen: Garen's full name is Garen Crownguard. In old French, the meaning of the name Garen is: Guard/ Guardian, representing his devotion to defend Demacia.

Gnar: There was a thread on one of the EU forums where someone suggested a champion named Gnar. The Germanic onomatopoeic verb "gnarrojonan" which means to "snarl/ growl". Additionally, spelt backwards, Gnar is Rang, the four last letters of "boomerang", his weapon. "Boomerang" itself comes from an ancient extinct tribe dialect, which is canon with Gnar's prehistoric history and appreciation of spirit antics. Mega gnar is likely also a reference to Gnaar from Serious Sam.

Gragas: Gragas's name likely spans from 'grog', which is a term used for a variety of alcoholic beverages. The swedish word "grågås" designates a grey goose, which is the same name as one of the most notorious vodka brands.

Graves: His full name is Malcolm Graves. Graves was the product of playerbase requests for a 'manly' ranged carry. Graves is a term for both a place of burial and describes something serious, not light. If his lore begins by the mention of expensive wine, it might be as a direct reference to his name "Graves", which is a very famous french wine.

Gwen: Gwen is a Welsh feminine given name meaning "white, holy, pure". This is consolidated in her title, as "Hallowed" is a synonym of holy. Created as a princess doll, Riot decided Gwen sounded perfectly royal for a name. It is often a shortned form of Gwenhwÿfar (Guinevere), which could be a reference to queen Guinevere, since Camelot served as a strong inspiration for the ruination.

Hecarim: The prefix "heca" means 100 in greek, and is most notably used in "hecatomb", an extensive loss of life for a cause, like the one endured by and to Hecarim and his Iron Order. "Rim" describes wheels, which could refer to his speed. Hecarim is also an anagram for "Chimera" a mythical monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. The term "Chimera" has come to describe any mythical or fictional creature with parts taken from various animals. Another possible link could be "Carim", from the original Dark Souls, a sinister land similar to the Shadow Isles.

Heimerdinger: Portmanteau of two famous physicist names: Robert Oppenheimer, "The father of the atomic bomb" and Erwin Schrodinger, "The father of quantum mechanics". Both of them were geniuses and closely worked with Einstein, whom the original Heimerdinger character resembles.

Hwei: His full name is Hwei (First name) Lukai (Last Name). Hwei or hui “绘” (绘画) in Chinese literally means to draw/paint. Lukai in Chinese pinyin resembles Lùxiàn, meaning itinerary/ path (路线) which is fitting to the character's lore. Hwei is also in English an homonym of "way".

Illaoi: In the ancient south american language Quechua, "Illawi" means Boa constrictor, a close reference to her use of tentacles and vessels to constrict her preys. Her design is inspired from Polynesian and Mesoamerican cultures. One of Riot's goals for Illaoi's name was for it to sound exotic. Some other names created include: Illuora, Illuka, Ioelu, Yaotl, and Yutu.

Irelia: Xan Irelia, her full name, was though to be derived from "Shurelya", a Riot employee, but she confirmed this was false. The Chinese team thought it was the case and when she got her launch jacket for LoL China, it said Irelia. The name Irelia could have origins from "ireli", which means "forward" in Azerbaijani, whose culture is also known for dances in traditional silk dresses. Irelia's phonetic ressemblance to her region of origin and heart, Ionia, may also not be coincidental.

Ivern: Ivern is derived from the Latin "hībernum", meaning "winter". Coming from the icy Freljord, the evil Ivern the Cruel was originally a cold and powerful warrior who wanted to defeat every kind of life. Winter is the season where nature dies, and as he encountered it, he became Ivern Bramblefoot. And now his name takes roots from the old Norse "vernd" which means "defense, protection". A lovely combination of origins.

Janna: Jan'ahrem is her ancient name which is a Shuriman word meaning “guardian”, as time went by it became Janna. The name Janna (جنة) is an arabic girls' name and word meaning "Garden, paradise" which itself spans from the Hebrew (גִּנָּה‏) "protected by a barrier". Her surname in the old lore is Windforce.

Jarvan IVCombination of "Jar", a strike against something or damaging shock corresponding to his Cataclysm, and "van", an old english word for the forefront, first line of an advancing military force, short for vanguard, which both fit to Jarvan's identity. The number 4 in most indian languages is "chaar", pronounced Chjar. However, since we know there have been other Jarvans before him, it's fair to assume the "Jar" part is be more likely to reference the shock.

Jax: Jax is likely a direct reference to the Mortal Combat character Jax created in 1993. (Full name: Major Jackson Briggs) That character's own etymology may come from the greek warrior Ajax the Great, great-grandson of Zeus and cousin of Achilles. Both portray Jax as a powerful fighter. It might not be Jax's only tribute to other games. Relentless Assault and Master-At-Arms reference MTG cards, Leap Strike is a WoW spell, and Counter Strike... well CS:GO.

Jayce: Originally named "Apollo", but that name couldn't stay. Jayce Talis was what was settled on after much company-wide debate. However some of the Riot art department wanted to name him after one of their badass animators and give him the last name "Forge". The name Jayce originates from Greece, meaning a "healing", as he is canonically "the defender of tomorrow", healer of the city of Piltover. Mercury Cannon/ Hammer is a probable reference to M. C. Hammer, a rapper from the 80s.

Jhin: Jhin was named after his Visual Effects Artist, Jin Ho Yang. His production name and title were 'Jin, the Artisan Killer'. The first part of his stagename, Khada, means to stand vertical, upright in Hindi. Jhin is a homophone of Gin, a stong alcohol which can get anybody down in 4 shots. More seriously, not only is Jhin four letters long, when you type "Jhin" on a keyboard, the shape created draws the number 4.

Jinx: In canon lore, "Powder", her original nickname, indicates her emotional state, ready to explode. After her transformation, Jinx fully embraces the English verb she's named after, which describes somebody who got cast en evil spell or a curse on, and brings trouble and bad luck. This relates to her character being an eccentric trouble-maker.

Kai'sa: The apostrophe is a naming convention for void creatures but humans who have interacted with the Void like her don't have it, like Kassadin or Malzahar. It was recently confirmed that Kassadin is her father so he probably chose to give that apostrophe to her as she was "forged" by the Void. Kaisa is a common nordic name (Also spelled Kajsa or Cajsa), which is a variation of Karin, in turn a variation of Katarina. A popular Finish tale, Kajsa Kavat shares a very similar plot to Kai'Sa, where the grandmother can either be interpreted as her dad or the Void itself.

Kalista: From the Greek Kallistō (Also spelled Callisto), meaning "the most beautiful", and the eponym mythological nymph, daughter of a King (similar to Kalista being the niece of a King). Alike Kalista, Callisto was betrayed then cursed and is referenced in art as the beauty imprisoned beneath ugliness.

Karma: In Hinduism and Buddhism, Karma is the concept that a person's behavior during their life influences their fate in future existence. Her lore resembles that of The Avatar from the series Avatar: The Last Airbender, in that Karma is essentially a spirit, or host, inhabiting bodies. Her previous reincarnation was a man named Jakgri, who gave up his lover Watai for his duty as Karma. Darha, the name of the current reincarnation, means "Home" in Arabic (دارها).

Karthus: His name is said to be a tribute to WoW coming from the fusion of both Arthas Menethil and Kel'Thuzad. The greek term catharsis, close to "Karthus", means a "purging", providing relief from repressed emotions, refering to Karthus "releasing" mortal souls from life.

Kassadin: In-universe, Kassadin was initially a peddler/ guide in Shurima, people used to say “Kas sai a dyn?” - "whom does the desert know?" - as opposed to "who knows the desert", to describe his talents, which contracted as his current name "Kassadin". His name ressembles the Arabic "Q*** ad-Dīn" (الدين‎ قَسّ), which approximately translates to "priest of the religion". [Missing Info]

Katarina: Full-name: Katarina DuCouteau, from her assassin clan, a french name meaning "From the blade". Her name is a common eastern european name variation of the Greek "Katherine", shared with Caitlyn and Kai'Sa, meaning "The pure", which was probably chosen for its resemblance to the "Katana", a japanese blade. She may have been inspired by Katherina from The Taming of the Shrew, by Shakespeare, or Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the US 4 years earlier.

Kayle: During Alpha Test, Kayle was simply called 'Judicator' and at one point she was incorrectly listed as a tank. Kayle comes from the Latin name "Caelius" which means "heavenly", referring to her position as the righteous good, as opposed to her evil sister, Morgana.

Kayn: Full name: Shieda Kayn. "Shie" meaning purple in japanese (as kayn is blue/ red) and "Da" means big in chinese. Kayn is a variant of the name Kane (English and Irish) which comes from the Celtic "Katus", meaning to fight/ battle. According to the site nameberry, "a name of multiple identities. Kayn could also reference the scythe (his weapon) as a cane, either as a supporting "stick", or as an instrument of punishment, in the event Rhaast consumes him completely.

Kennen: Kennen means "to know" in German and Dutch. In Chinese, Kěn nèn usually translates to "Naughty tenderness" which fits perfectly his character, as he is an assassin. Interestingly, I've found a lot of parallels with Master Splinter, from Ninja Turtles. They are both ancient rodent ninja masters/ teachers dressed in purple capes. I suspect Kennen holds another meaning either relating to it or to lightning, but I've not found it.

Kha'Zix: In lore, Kha'Zix's name is translated as "You face yourself" in an old mortal language, possibly Shuriman or Ixtalian. "Ka" is a prefix in arabic for "alike" or "as" and hints "scarab", a notorious egyptian symbol (Shurima is thematically closest to the that region of the world), "zix" is of a less obvious origin, and could reflect his alien side more.

Kindred: Kindred is a common adjective meaning "similar in kind; related": kindred spirits are basically soul mates. It describes the bond between wolf and lamb, called respectively Ina/ Wolyo and Ani/ Farya. Beyond this direct correlation, if we decompose the word, we also get "Kind" and "Dread", the two responses of people when faced with death. It also rimes directly with Dead, as Kindred is the personnification of death.

Kled: Obviously a reference to DJ Khaled... More seriously, Kled is inspired by the character Kilroy which affects his name. If you want to learn more about this fascinating story, check the references. WAAAARGHbobo, the narrative designer of Kled, often uses Aztec names because it makes it hard to pronounce them. The goals for the name were for it to sound tough but almost comically so; unsophisticated, short, and easy to say; vaguely hillbilly-ish and/or orc-ish

Kog'Maw: Kog'Maw's name may be reference to the Cebuano term "kogmo" which refers to hardened mucus in the nose.(The 'Maw' part also means an appetite; a stomach; the receptacle into which food is taken by swallowing.) The ' is there because kog comes from the void.

K'Sante: Pronounced "ka-san-te" with an emphasis on the San. Heavily inspired by ghanaian culture, "K'Sante" is likely derived from the Asante people of modern Ghana. The Ashanti Empire was one of the few African states that seriously resisted European colonization, often categorized a bold a rich diaspora. In Ashanti, unlike many African regions, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics, fitting the champion's identity. The first letter with an apostrophe part is often encountered in african terminology, and the K is likely only used here to have its secondary "a" sound (The letter is pronounced "Kha" in most african dialects - mostly due to influences from european languages.)

LeBlanc: Her full name is Emilia Leblanc. This name comes from the French for "The White" which can refer to the lotus Sigil of Malice and rose (She is part of the Black Rose clan) flowers which both naturally come in white. She is also a reference to a Final Fantasy X-2 character, called LeBlanc, who also uses illusions to deceive her enemies. One of her aliases, The Pale Woman, was possibly inspired by it. The colour white, usually associated with purity, can be used by her as a facade to fool enemies from her inner darkness.

Lee Sin: Lee Sin is close phonetically to "Listen", the sense visually impaired people usually rely on. It is likely also a reference to Bruce Lee, a notorious martial artist. The "sin" part might also reflect the greed who caused the paralysis of his master and later his blindness in the lore. Check out this funny spotlight Riot made.

Leona: The name Leona is derived from the Latin word leo for "lion". The lion is a symbol of nobility, valour, and courage, values that she holds in her lore. The lion and sun are commonly associated with each other in persian culture and astrology, where the ruler of Leo is the Sun. My hypothesis is Leona was also inspired by the Lion King, in which the Lion is both the ultimate guardian of its land and a direct symbol of the Sun. Her title, "the Radiant Dawn" might be referencing its eponym game.

Lillia: Lillia takes origin in the flower Lily, of latin origin "Lilium". It is said to come from the Egyptian "hrṛt" which more generally describes a flower. In the wild, Lilies mostly grow in forest, mountains and valleys and their only predators are deers, which bridges Lillia's appearance and identity. Lillia's title, "The Bashful Bloom" and the flower bud on her head both reinforce her floral theme.

Lissandra: "Lissander" comes from "Alexander". Lissandra's campaign to conquer the Freljord resembles the one led by Alexander the Great. Lissandra also finds meaning in Greek mythology as "man's defender", which can reflect her lead of the Frostguard army, or at least her alter-ego, as her sinister side as the Ice Witch is a mystery to most in lore. "Lit sans draps" (pronounced Lissandra) means "Bed without covers" in French. Could explain the connection with ice and cold.

Lucian: The name Lucian comes from the latin Lucius, which means Light Bringer. This could be both a reflection of his lore as a demacian safeguard, but also to his main quest to bring back Senna, a "Sentinel of Light". Historically, the name was made famous by the ancient Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata who notoriously ridiculed the belief in the paranormal, which is funny since Lucian is a grim hunter of undying spirits.

Lulu: The name Lulu finds origins in many cultures around the world, from Latin, to Swahili, to Chinese. They all seem to roughly point towards a name/ nickname for a friendly and jovial character. A famous bearer of this nickname is Louisa M. Alcott, who wrote 'Little Women'. Could it be a reference to Lulu being a Yordle?. In november 2010, the Riot Animator "CaptainLx" said he'd love to see a fairy type character, small and fast, and 6 months later Lulu was born.

Lux: Her full name is Luxanna Crownguard. "Lux" is both a Unit used to measure Light and "Light" in Latin. It is a direct connection to light, from which she sources her energy. It could also be a reference to Riot "CaptainLx" (LX stands for Alex), since him and Shurelia, the lady who designed Lux, were close friends and sat accross from eachother.

Malphite: In lore, Malphite means bad stone in Ixtali (The language of Ixtal). In reality, it is an amalgamation of Malachite and Graphite. The -ite suffix is used to form the names of minerals. If we decompose Malphite, we can also hear mal - prefix of Latin root for "bad, evil" and fight - as he was initially created to fight the Void war.

Malzahar: Weirdly enough, this could be a reference to Mahmoud al-Zahar, the founder of Hamas, the Palestinian militant/ resistance group. A bridge between the Void and Palestine is difficult to see, though both are army leaders often considered prophets in their respective arabic (or arabic-like) region.

Maokai: Maokai was name after his concept artist Maokai Xiao. In Chinese, Maokai is rendered as 茂凯 / Màokǎi. This could roughly be translated to "Luxuriant and Triumphant". This concept artist worked on the Howling Abyss turrets, among other things.

Master Yi: Master Yi's name is a play with the word "mastery". It can also be noted "Yi" means 1 in Chinese, as in the Master One, of the highest rank of the Wuju. Yi isn't simply connected to Wukong in the LoL lore, their connection can be traced back to old Chinese mythology, where their story greatly ressembles that of Tang Sanzang, a masterful monk, and the Monkey King.

Milio: Milio's name origin may emanate as a contraction of humilio (latin) and humilde (spanish) which mean "small, humble" which seem to fit the character. More likely though, Milio's name directly derives from the Omele, the name his instrument originating from African lands which he carries on his back.

Miss Fortune: Sarah Fortune is her full name, and the name Miss Fortune is a play on word with "Misfortune" which mean "unlucky". Fortune is both a word for luck, and money, which corresponds to her lore as a bounty hunter. She probably made a fortune killing GP, for example.

Mordekaiser: Sahn-Uzal by his pre-death name, which can be interepreted from Arabic as "Sahn" - A walled courtyard and "Uzal", a wanderer. A wandering fortress corresponds to his lore, as a walking monolith. Riot revealed the name Mordekaiser, which directly translates to Murder Emperor in German, comes from the online identity of Riot Ezreal's girlfriend. Fun fact, his title and abilities are all named after metal songs.

Morgana: During development she was called FallenAngel, then 'Morgana Le' and 'Morgana Hex', until they decided to just keep 'Morgana'. In-lore, Morgana's name is the modernized version of her mother, Mihira. In reality, her name was probably inspired by Morgan le Fay, an enchantress from the King Arthur legend, whose name derives from Proto-Celtic, though its meaning is debatable: *Mori-genā "sea-born", Morā-riganis "phantom queen", or Morag-ana "great favour/ grace" (- she is of the side of Restorative justice) or "great collection of memories" (- she struggles to let go of past mistakes).

Naafiri: Al-Naffir (source: Nafar) is a word used in the Arabic language (in Sudan and elsewhere) to describe certain types of public work undertakings. The most accurate meaning of the word is to gather certain people. Additionally, a striking resemblance with "No-fear" can be heard when her name is pronounced.

Nami: "Nami" (波, なみ​; na̠mi) litterally translates to "wave," in Japanese, from Old Japanese elements *na- "wave" and *mʲi 水 "water". Nami's tribe, the Marai, were possibly named after the Latin word for 'sea' (mare). It's also how the word Tsunami is formed, from its japanese roots.

Nasus: Nasus is latin for "nose" or "snout" - the most prominent feature in dogs. (And Nasus is jackal-headed) Nasus is also a god, which backwards spells dog. A popular theory/ meme proposes the champion was named after a Riot employee's girlfriend called Susan (Nasus backwards), but the main designer's girlfriend is called Yun Lam. It could be true, but it is unlikely. It is also unlikely the champ was named after "Na-Sus" to indicate to his fellow mates that he is not in fact the impostor.

Nautilus: The word Nautilus is derived from the greek word ναυτίλος (nautílos), which means "sailor". Nautilus is also the name of a mollusc taxonomic family, the submarine from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, and subsequently the first nuclear-powered submarine. The name was also possibly chosen for its resemblance to "Colossus".

Nidalee: Nidalee's lead designer has indicated this was the nickname of the creative director's partner.

Nilah: (Pronounced Nee-La) Nilah's design was inspired by South Asian cultures, and her name in Hindu (नीला) means Blue/ Sapphire which itself stems from Arabic (نیلہ) - Which refers to water hyacinths and the blue coloured pigment extracted from it. "Nila", a derivation of that word means "gracious, successful". Both meanings fit her joyful character as she whips a blue-liquid (water?) weapon as her main theme. Nilah's codename in development was Urumi, named after her weapon.

Nocturne: Nocturne's placeholder name was "Nightmare". The word Nocturne emanates from the Latin "nocturnus" - of the night. It has since been associated with a particularly grave art movement, mostly relevant in music and art, which takes shape in the latter by the use of shadows and contrasts. The word "nocturnal" in english refers to creatures who only hunt in the night, such as bats or owls, a trait shared with the champion. Doesn't Nocturne's visual design also somewhat resemble that of a bat?

Nunu: During Alpha, their respective names were Yeti and Yuralia. Nunu was named after Riot Guinsoo's dog, as well as the nickname for his girlfriend, Nightelyn. A possible origin for Willump's name could be the combination of "Will" - a synonym of wish, intention, as his wishes came true when he found Nunu (Allowing him to change his appearance at will), and "lump" which means to carry (As he carries Nunu on his back). It could also be interpreted as "He who carries the will", since Nunu's magic rune given by Willump allows him to create anything from his imagination.

Olaf: During development, he was simply called Enrage Barbarian. Olaf's name derives from the Old Norse ᚬᛚᛅᚠᛦ Óláfʀ, which can be translated to "ancestor/ relic". Many Vikings, Norse-Gaels, and Varangians bore this name and its derivatives. His title, "Berserker" also originates from Old Norse and transcribes to "bear-shirt", a bear-skin coat which kept vikings warm.

Orianna: Orianna is a popular Romance name, merged from two Latin roots with feminine suffix -na: "Aurum" - Gold which is the main colour/ material of her body, and "Orior" I rise, get up. I am born, come to exist". (cf. Orientalis, referring the rising sun.) This could both reflect her theme as a clock lady and her mechanical re-birth. Her name starting with an "O" is probably a hint to her use of spheres.

Ornn: Ornn's name is particularly rich in its thematic explanations. Ornn resembles Old Norse verb "oʀna ᚢᛉᚾᚨ" - to warm up, which references his state as a living forge. "Ornn" also directly echoes his main visual characteristic: his horns. It also alludes to "ornament" - an embellishment/ accessory, referencing his ability to improve his ally's items. During development, he was referred to as Living Forge or Blacksmith.

Pantheon: The name Pantheon comes from the Greek words pan (all) and theon (gods), litterally "(a temple) of all gods". It denotes an ancient greek building, present in many cities, used as a place of religious practice and sacrifices. This reflects Pantheon's nature as the Aspect of War possession within a human host. His human name, Atreus, comes from pre-Greek "Ἀτρεύς" - untrembling; based on the name of an Achaean king/ warlord.

Poppy: Poppy is the name of a flower often used to pay hommage to the dead and represent eternal sleep. It is likely to be a reference to the death of Orion, the human who gave Poppy the hammer and its quest on his deathbed. Poppy flowers can actually be seen on the base splashart.

Qiyana: Her name originates from the Zulu culture of South Africa, which itself stems from pre-Islamic "qayn"(قين) - blacksmith, craftsman, referring to her unmatched elementalist skills. A Qiyān was a term for trained artistic women (some slaves, some free), sometimes coming from nobility.

Quinn: Placeholder name was simply "Falconer" but Riot wanted a name specifically androgynous for the girl, and a positive human quality as the name for the bird. Her name derives from Proto-Celtic "kʷennom" - head, chief, referencing Conn of the Hundred Battles.

Rakan: Xayah (Saya) means "me" and Rakan (Rekan) means "friend/comrade" in malay and indonesian. Rakan is another name in buddhism for a person who has attained nirvana, which could refer to him finding existential meaning through his relationship. The name Rakan also has roots in Urdu and denotes a noble knight. According to SiberianTigers, Rakan's name also happens to be another way of saying "***" in Russian.

Rammus: Rammus could be a portmanteau of "ram", a verb describing a charging force, and "-us", the latin suffix which makes words become nouns. It's possible the name echoes the famous american football team "Rams" in Los Angeles, where the studio's first office and now headquarters are based. "Sumar", Rammus backwards, translates from Spanish into "bring together/ collect into a mass" which could refer to his compact form.

Renata Glasc: Renata Glasc being presented with her full name was inspired by famous billionaires who are generally referred to by their full names such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates. Renata is a Latin name originating from "Renatus" meaning "born again, resurrection", referencing both her rebirth from the ashes of her childhood home and her most notable ability Bailout. All of Renata's abilities are references to real-world financial terms. Glasc is likely a contraction of "Glass" and "Flask", a container for liquids mostly used in the perfume and nuclear waste industries, matching Renata's alchemical background and business.

Vladimir: His name comes from Old Slavonic "Владимѣръ" Vladiměrŭ, meaning "great ruler". It's likely to be a reference to Vlad the Impaler who most notoriously inspired Count Dracula, which heavily influenced Vladimir's design as a blood-thirsty vampire.

Renekton: In lore, "Renek" is the strongest warrior of the eponym old Shuriman empire, named after the Renek River which flowed through it. In fact, the suffix "-ton" in English denotes an kingdom or estate. "Renek" is likely a derivation of "Sobek-Re", the crocodile god in Egyptian Mythology and "Renenutet", his snake goddess wife. This could reference the lore in which Cassiopeia frees Renekton.

Rell: Rell's codenames in development was Int Horse (Referring to her commitment to fights) and DarkSupport. Her title, the Iron Maiden, is a reference to a heavy metal group which is also referenced in some of Mordekaiser's abilities. I've not found much yet concerning the name Rell, possibly a portmanteau of "iron" and "steel"? [Missing Info]

Rengar: Anagram of Ranger, which in old English denoted a roaming hunter. It is also the anagram of Ragen, which means to stick out/ jut out in Old German, possibly echoing his ability to leap out of bushes. During development, he was simply called Lion Guy before turning into Wrengar and then Rengar.

Riven: From the Old Norse verb "Rive" which means to split or tear apart violently, referencing her severed ties to her homeland and blade.Riven, the Exile, is probably a reference to Myst, a series of popular puzzles videogames from the late 90s. During development, she was simply Marth or Exile.

Rumble: Rumble is a mech inventor, and the eponym term describes both a constant resonant sound - which can hint at his creative mind and the machinery he constructs, and a street brawl - which corresponds to his arena fighter status.

Ryze: His name comes from Riot Games's CEO and co-founder Brandon 'Ryze' Beck. It's either used as a homonym to "Rise" - to get up from a lower position, to grow, or a German dialect (Sorbian)'s word for "Rusty/ of the rust color".

Samira: Samira's development name was Queen. She's an immigrant character directly inspired by the Kashmir region of Northern India. (Where Riot Kindlejack's father is from) In Indian languages, Samira is derived from the Sanskrit word samīr (समीर) meaning gust of wind, which can refer to her rapidity of action and flowing gameplay.

Sivir: Sivir is a popular persian name, which is the IRL region most related to Shurima. It is an homonym to "severe", originating itself from the Latin severus, which means strict/ grim, a direct echo to her mercilessness. Sivir's weapon, the Chalicar, pulls his design and name from the Indian weapon [Chakram which means Circle.

Sejuani: Her name resembles that of Roman equestrian Sejanus; from theonym Seia, Roman goddess of sown seeds. Sejuani and her grandmother, Hejian, are both homonyms of chinese regions, Szechuan and Hejian respectively. In lore, sej is a reincarnation of Serylda, whose name comes from two Germanic roots: "sarwo" - armor/ equipment and "hildiz" - fight/ battle". Sejuani named her ride Bristle after stiff pig/ boar hair. It also means to stand angrily/ defensively, referencing its attitude.

Senna: Senna Abaru is her full name, Abaru (आबरू) being a Hindi word for honour, reputation. Senna originates from Arabic (سناء)meaning "Brightness, light", referring to her identity as a Sentinel of Light. Senna is also the name given to herbal medecine flowers, which heal like Senna's kit.

Seraphine: Her development names were EllipsisMage and Idol. Seraphine is an angelic feminine name of Hebrew origin (śərāfîm) meaning "burning/ glowing/ shining one". This could reference her position in the spotlight and her "fire" songs. It shares its root with Seraph's Embrace, since Seraph defines an angel of the highest rank.

Sett: For a long time Reav3 kept calling Sett, Seth, but other Rioters convinced him it was too "real world" and went with Sett instead. "Sett" is the name of the burrows where badgers live. The champion Sett and his mother are wolverines, which are of the same family as badgers. It might also reference his profession as a pitfighter. His real name is Settrigh (Pronounced Sett-ree), where the Gaelic suffix -righ denotes a "ruler, king" which fits his Boss archetype.

Shaco: Shaco is an anagram for Chaos, a word which embraces his insanely dangerous nature. It may have an echo to "Shake", which can reference his original status as a crafted marionette.

Shen: Shen litterally means God/ Divinity in Chinese, which matches well Shen's status as the divine leader. It is a central word in Chinese philosophy, religion and traditional medecine.

Shyvana: From Ancient Irish name "Siobhán", or "Shivaun". The meaning is "God's Grace", refering to her superhuman nature. In Slavic languages, the name "Ivana" carries a similar meaning of gift from god. This might be a stretch, but Ivan Drago (The male version of Ivana) is also an extremely important fighter protagonist of the Rocky and Creed movies.

Singed: Singed is an anagram for design since he was one of the first 6 champs created for the game. The word Singed also means slightly burnt/ scorched, referencing his kit. It stems from the verb Singe, which share its West Germanic origins with the verb "sing" through a common root of "incantation" (Used for both chants and magic spells).

Sion: Sion is a variant of Zion (From the Hebrew ṣīyōn) which defines the hill on which the city of Jerusalem stands, comparable to the city of Noxus which owes its power to the now burrowed Sion. Zion is more symbolically associated with jewish theocracy. Sion was also the Hand of Noxus, comparable to the Hand of Fatima which is a Muslim symbol of protection and defence. Overall, Sion's connection to divinity can be interpreted through Sion's eternal/ undying nature and thirst for war, but also maybe a reference to God of War who appears to be a strong design inspiration.

Sivir: Sivir is a popular persian name, which is the IRL region most related to Shurima. It is an homonym to "severe", originating itself from the Latin severus, which means strict/ grim, a direct echo to her mercilessness. Sivir's weapon, the Chalicar, pulls his design and name from the Indian weapon [Chakram which means Circle.

Skarner: Skarner's name is likely derived from an old Swedish mining term "skarn", which referred to waste minerals surrounding valuable crystals. It also starts the same as "scorpion" and resembles "scar-er", or creator of scars, which hints to his sting penetrating his victims' skin.

Smolder: Smolder's name is likely a contraction of Smol ("Small") and Smoulder, meaning to burn slowly with smoke but no flame, which refers to his minor fire-breathing abilities as a dragon child.

Sona: "Sonus" means 'sounds' or 'tone, style' in Latin (A root it shares with Sonic, Sony and Parasonic), while "zōna" describes a circular zone - which reflects her kit. The ending in 'a' is also typical of feminine names. Sona Buvelle is her full name, which could be a reference to "viola", an old stringed instrument, cousin of the violin, which may resemble the one described in her lore.

Soraka: In Japanese, Sora or Sora Kara denotes the Sky, the Heavens, refering to her celestial nature. Wish could be a reference to the high-level mage spell "Wish" in Dungeons & Dragons. One of the functions of the Wish spell is to heal the entire party, which is very much alike to Soraka's ability.

Swain: Jericho Swain, by his full name, could refer to the Battle of Jericho, an important religious symbol of territorial conquest and sacrifice, proper to Swain and Noxus. Swain is an archaic word meaning "a country youth" - and is derived from the Old Norse "sveinn" which means "lad/ boy". Swain's raven, Beatrice, is derived from the Latin Beatrix "bringer of blessing" which corresponds to her place in Swain's lore.

Sylas: Much like Sylas, the Biblical saint Silas was also in prison and was eventually free through a series of miraculous events, and is therefore depicted in art carrying broken chains. It's also a reference to Heroes where "Sylar" is a character able to steal other heroes's power. Sylas of Dregbourn, by his full name, is "possessed" by a crow demon called Raum. In demonology, Raum is a Great Earl of Hell, ruling thirty legions of demons (here they are crows).

Syndra: Syndra likely derives from Proto-Germanic "sundraz" - apart, alone, particular; whence English sunder. This directly refers to her childhood loneliness and . Syndra is also a close homonym of "Cinder" - ashes, which can hint at both her defining moment where she burnt Navori's central tree with her magic and symbolically herself becoming a dark mage. The ending in "a" is typical of feminine names.

Tahm Kench: "Tahm" in hebrew (טעם) means "taste", it is pronouced Ta-am. More specifically, it denotes the sense of taste and not the act of tasting. A "Kench" in english defines a bin or enclosure used to salt and preserve fishes. The credit for this fitting name apparently goes to the narrative designer Odin Schafer.

Taliyah: Originally, her name was spelled Taalea. She was canonically named after a specific, lavender-colored, star-like flower that grows in the rocky foothills near the Icathian border. It's called "ta'liyah", - the rock that flowers. IRL, Taliyah's name may come from the Hebrew "Taliyah" - young sheep, and Arabic "Tāliya" - reciter/ speaker. These two inspirations could refer to both her youthful innocent attitude and leading duty. Her tribe is called the Nasaaj, meaning "weaver" in Arabic. Taliyah may also echo "Tellus" which translates to Earth/ Soil in Latin.

Talon: In English, a talon describes a claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey, which fits his hunting playstyle and bird like appearance. His spells carry a metaphor by utilizing the concept of his cloak blades as a string of “feathers”. This word itself stems from the latin for ankle, "talus". His title, "The Blade's Shadow" might be referencing his loyalty to General Du Couteau (the General being the 'Blade' - couteau is French for 'knife').

Taric: Taric comes from Arabic "Ṭariq" ("طارق")- striker, which refers to his hammer. Ṭariq later underwent semantic shift from "striker" to "One knocking at the door; wayfarer, traveller by night" and thus "star". This directly references respectively his travel to Mount Targon and his Ascent as an Aspect after discovering a higher calling among the stars, which became his identity.

Teemo: As one of the first few champions, the name Teemo was apparently chosen as an anagram for "Emote", which is the name of communicative actions performed by each champ. (Joke, Taunt, Dance...) Teemo was the first character designed as a miniature but mighty character, which they later named "yordles" as a mix or "Yoda" and "Yaddle" from Star Wars.

Thresh: Thresh is named after Dennis "Thresh" Fong, a notorious Doom and Quake player often considered to be the first esport player ever and the reason games use WASD to move. If you've not heard of him before, I recommend checking him out. His name stands for Threshold of Pain. But Riot wanted to thematically represent "thresh", which means to separate grain from wheat, usually with a flail, a weapon which resembles Thresh's. His victims and their souls' harvest compare to that of the wheat and grain. Thresh also deescribes a violent movement, a displacement, which Thresh does to his victims with his Q and E.

Tristana: Tristana is of Welsh origin, from the Celtic "drest" - Riot, tumult. As she was one of the earliest champions designed, this was probably a direct reference to the studio's name. Tristana also carries the bold and courageous meaning of the word.

Trundle: This one is really clever. To trundle describes the sloped movement of a wheel or roller, or put simply: to roll, which subtly references his race, a "troll". It shares its etymological roots with "trend" as a reoccuring or revolving phenomenon.

Tryndamere: Tryndamere is named after CEO and co-founder Marc 'Tryndamere' Merrill's Everquest character. He chose the name for his first Barbarian Warrior character in Everquest, which he then used as his gaming handle. The team our Tryndamere after him as it was also a Barbarian Warrior. It's unclear exaclty why he chose that name for his original character, but it suits well Everquest's universe terminology.

Twisted Fate: During Alpha, TF was simply called "Cardmaster". Twisted Fate's stage name is a play on the phrase "twist of fate", befitting his theme of chances and probability. His real name is Tobias Felix: Tobias is likely to be interpreted as "To bias" - give an unfair inclination/ chance, while Felix stems from the eponymous latin word meaning lucky. Many of Twisted Fate's abilities were named after real-life gambling or card-related terms. Twisted Fate named his hat "Envy", the sin most related to gambling.

Twitch: During development, he was called Teek - certainly referencing a tick of poison. The verb twitch denotes a sudden convulsive movement/ spasm, which can reflect rats' rapid movements, a craziness-induced substance, but also the sudden poison hit. The Old English "Twiccian", at the origin of the word Twitch, denotes a nail/ pin which is in line with his bow and arrow design.

Udyr: Udyr was allegedly named after Riot's Product Designer at the time, but he later confirmed he borrowed the name during development. The name Udyr was instead chosen for its translation in Danish/ Swedish to savage beast/ monster, perfectly fitting his character. The word itself stems from Old Norse "dyr" - animal. Therefore, the word udyr is mostly used nowadays to describe people acting like animals, i.e. instinctively.

Urgot: A lot of Noxian words are inspired by German. In this case, "ur-" if a prefix used to denote 'something above' the rest of the word (Großvater = Grandfather/ Urgroßvater = Great Grandfather) and "got" may resemble "gott" which means God in German - giving Urgot the meaning of 'Above God'. However, Rioter Interlocutioner says "Ur" is to be interpreted more as "Ancient/ Original" as in "Sons of Ur", his cult-like following, which could mean either "Ancient Sons", or "Sons of Ur...Got".

Varus: His original name was "Jubei" - which translates from Chinese into "able to fulfill conditions" or "possess" which hints at his lore in which Valmar is a suitable host for the darkin Varus to gain life again. Instead, Varus is borrowed from Latin "vārus" - bent outwards with converging extremities, bow-legged, in reference to the bow and arrow theme of all 3 characters involved in Varus. The name could also be a reference to Saint Varus, who alike Valmar, was a noble soldier and who sacrificed himself during war, as a martyr.

Vayne: Her full name is Shauna Vayne, and both the first name Shauna and last name Vayne are of Irish/ Welsh origin. Vayne has 3 homonym words in English which all match Vayne's character. "(in) Vain" - producing no result, useless, referring to her relentless hunt and killings. "Vein" - a symbol of blood and family, which mirrors her parents' attachment and death. ("fill Shauna’s veins with hatred for the rest of her days." in her lore) and finally "Vane", an arrow indicating the direction of the wind, resembles her crossbow worn on the back and, if symbolically "Death is like the wind", as Yasuo would say, then it's also the direction of Vayne's next victim (xd).

Veigar: In Icelandic, "Veigar" directly translates to "Strength, power". The name was taken from Riot's main QA Analyst (People who test the games) "Veigar Bouius", from Iceland. Funnily enough, he is said to be quite tall IRL. In Icelandic language, the name is pronounced "Vay-Gar".

Vel'Koz: In universe, Vel'koz roughly means "to understand by unmaking" in Shuriman. In hindu symbolism, "Vel" is the name of a divine javelin, symbol of wisdom/ knowledge (Who should be sharp as its tip) - This echoes Vel'Koz' quest to acquire knowledge and potentially his sharp tentacles. The "Koz" part is likely borrowed from the Turkish "göz" meaning eye. It may also be there as a homonym of "cause", echoing his place as the potential first voidborn and cause of chaos. Symbolism of an [/url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Providence]eye as the seeker and holder of all knowledge[/url] is common in Freemasonry and Illuminati.

Vex: Vex is the embodiment of her name: a word representing annoyance and frustruation, which is symbolically both what Vex feels against the world, and what the world feels against Vex (Vex here being a representation of teenage angst/ apathy). It can generally mean distressed, unhappy. Vex is a "cool nickname" three-letter-word but also comes from Latin "vexare" - to shake, disturb, a fitting adjective for her passive.

Vi: Vi was initially conceived as a girl on rollerskates called Ruby. It is revealed in Arcane Act 1 that Vi is short for Violet, another closeby colour. This is probably in reference to her naturally pink-purple hair. "Vi" is also latin for "with violence, violently", fitting her fighting identity. A potential additional interpretation is she was labelled as Number 6 (in roman numerals - as tatooed on her face) by her adoptive gang as a nameless pawn identificator.

Viego: Viego's codename in development was Ruined King, obviously. Viego is possibly inspired by the Spanish word "viejo" - old and the spanish name Diego since his design is inspired by the conquistador-era. Isolde (~ Iseult) referrences Iseult of Ireland from the chivalric romance Tristan and Iseult and can be read as "is old" (alike viego). Ontop of this common ground of "ancient", to me it is unlikely the presence of "Ego" in Viego is a coincidence.

Viktor: Viktor is a variation of Victor, of Latin origin meaning "winner" or "conqueror". He's cannonically representative of this idea by overcoming his human flesh deprecating, not giving up, and leading a new technological wave.

Vladimir: His name comes from Old Slavonic "Владимѣръ" Vladiměrŭ, meaning "great ruler". It's likely to be a reference to Vlad the Impaler who most notoriously inspired Count Dracula, which heavily influenced Vladimir's design as a blood-thirsty vampire.

Volibear: Volibear is named after Volibar, a Riot Senior Producer. He was named after Travis 'Volibar' George, from a long running forum meme of him supporting armored bears in the League. Volibar allegedly comes from Basque "bolu" - mill" and "ibar" - valley. Riot Volibar was always requesting since the start of LoL an armored bear champion, while Riot Zileas was quite opposed, and they had a bit of beef and the two champions since have a hidden easter egg passive.

Warwick: During development, he was simply called Wolfman, as a direct reference for a werewolf. Warwick shares its w alliteration and structure with the word Werewolf (ww - 2 syllables). The word and name warwick emanates from Old English "wer" - dam/ cover and "wic" - farm/ village, which could refer to Vander's place as a "protector" of Jinx, Vi, and generally Zaun. However, since his name was decided before his lore was greatly revised, it's unlikely. Allegedly, the name might take inspiration from Warwick Avenue, a street right by Riot's HQ, but I'll ask a designer to confirm this. [Missing Info]

Wukong: Wukong is a direct homage to the popular asian myth of Sun Wukong from Chinese 孫 (Sūn) meaning "monkey", 悟 (wù) meaning "enlightenment, awakening" and 空 (kōng) meaning "empty, space", together forming "Monkey awakened from/ by the emptiness". It represents the journey of an ignorant, short-tempered monkey to a benevolent, enlightened being through taoism and discipline.

Xayah: Xayah’s name was originally “Xaya.” The team later found out it’s the medical word for testicles in Azerbaijani. Xaya is a variation of Saya, which etymologically trace back to Spanish (itself from Latin "sagus") "long woman's skirt/ cloak" in spanish - referring to her distinctive feathered cape.

Xerath: In Shuriman (in-universe language), Xerath means "one who shares", which fans speculated changed meaning over time and xerath's doings for something far more pejorative. His name was inspired by Xanatos from Gargoyles(Itself coming from the mythological death Thanatos) and Ra's al Ghul (Meaning "Head of the Ghoul) The name phonetically reminds of "the wrath" - an archaic word for extreme anger, vengeance, characteristic of his ascension and uncontrollable power following his life as a slave. His development name was "Xarin" which comes from Persian "Zarin", meaning ruler.

Xin Zhao: (Pronounced Hsin Chao) On the Chinese server, his name is rendered as Zhào Xìn since they put last names first. His last name and design are based off of Zhao Yun, a popular chinese war general from the Three Kingdoms (referenced Xin's Three Talon Spear) who carries a spear as his main weapon. There is also a war general, less notorious, called Zhao Xin. Zhao is a character only used for last names, while "Xin" translates to proud, and "Yun" to cloud, which makes sense why "Xin" was chosen to represent his character. During development, he was called XenZiou or XenZhao.

Yasuo: Yasuo is a relatively common Japanese name which can be written in many different ways, carrying different meanings. Supposedly "康夫" is the official Riot one which translates to "peaceful man", from old Japanese "yasu" which means easy/ free and "-o", a masculine suffix. The name was probably chosen for its aspect of peace and restfulness which embraces the character's attitude.

Yone: Yone's name means "Wealth" in Japanese, which contrasts with Yasuo's "Cheap/ Free" name origin. While "Yone" may carry other meanings, this antagonising one makes the most sense to me, much like their titles, ability names, and arcs. The fact both names also start with a Y (same descendance) and sit next to each other in the champ list is symbolically beautiful. There are many possible interpretations as to why Yone would represent Wealth, and Yasuo Poverty, including Yone's forgiveness of his brother's own assassination and his mask, but I'll leave it up to you (or Riot) to expand in this one.

Yorick: Yorick's name is a reference to a Shakespeare character from Hamlet. Famously, the monologue where Yorick is mentioned features the main character handling his skull in a graveyard, ruminating about how all men die, no matter what, and leave very little behind. In Hamlet, Yorick is the King's Jester, and in LoL, Yorick "takes care" of the poor dead souls caused by the ruined king, Viego. One could argue that in essence, both fulfill their duty to help others despite their grim/ ridicule appearance to strangers. The name Yorick is a variant of Georg meaning "earthworker", from ancient Greek “gê/γῆ” - earth/soil and “érgon/ἔργον” = work.

Yuumi: In-universe, Yuumi's name came from when she heard Norra, her Yordle friend, say “you” and “me” and thought that was her name. Beyond this origin fitting her support role and merge with other champions, her name backwards (and repeated fast) resembles the onomatopoeia "Miaou/ Meow" - a cat's vocalization.

Zac: In universe, Zac stands for Zaun Amorphous Combattant. Originally called Blob, an already popular term for amorphous viscid creatures which was instead attributed to his passive. Instead, it is likely Zac was chosen as a homonym to "Sac" - A hollow, flexible structure resembling a bag or pouch.

Zed: Zed (זד) is an evil person in Hebrew, which comes from the word zadon (זדון) which means evil intent. It also is a pronounciation for the last letter of the alphabet, Z, which could refer to it being his third and last form/ name (After Govos his birth name and Usan his Kinkou name), or more symbolically, he is the last thing you see before you die. The letter Z is also constructed as two mirrored lines connected

Zeri: Zeri may have a connection to "Taser", which is formed from the initial letters of Tom Swift's Electric Rifle (a fictional character and weapon), on the pattern of laser (c.f. Ultrashock Laser and Zeri holding her fingers up like a gun). Neon, the Valorant Agent connected to Zeri, is also thematically loosely connected to the word laser. The ending in -i may either be a youth nickname marker, or could be interpreted as an "On" symbol as opposed to Off in ZerO. (O and I being the two "states" of electricity)

Ziggs: From Joe "Hephastopheles" Ziegler, a game director, called Ziegs by his friends (Short version of his last name). In-universe, Ziggs' real name is actually Zigmund, a potential nod to Sigmund Freud, who alike Ziggs left his predictable life to slowly decripit in insanity despite his genius.

Zilean: Named after the game designer Tom "Zileas" Cadwell, who was, before Riot, one of the best Starcraft players in the world, known for his strategies and guides. Zileas might come from Azaleas[/url which are common flowers around LA. Funnily enough for a champion whose kit is based around slowing enemies, Zileas wrote his graduate thesis on how to calculate the value of movement speed in Starcraft (Arguing that speed can translate into extra health since you dodge attacks/ get out of range).

Zoe: Zoe comes from the Greek (ζωή) word for "Life", and Zoe does embrace life through her playful unpredictiveness. In the Bible, Zoe defines life possessed by a divine being, such as God, which matches her role as an Ascent.

Zyra: Placeholder names include Izara, Xara, Xyra or Azalea like the flower previously mentioned. Zyra is one of the variations of "Zahra" and translates to "Flower" in Arabic (زَهْرَة). This variation was probably chosen for its phonetic elasticity in other languages.

END NOTE:

I made this list with English names and couldn't mention all Russian, Arabic or Asian translations of each champ name, though some are quite interesting.

In order to do this 10k+ words list, I research various official Riot documents, lore, wikis, articles, forums, and informed myself of relevant cultures and references, sometimes in different languages and even asked Riot employees for a couple of them. Although I did personal research to verify each champion info, I wanna thank u/xKenRhen for his Reddit post and whoever works on Fandom wiki pages, you saved me an immense amount of time. You guys rock.


- Reddit user xKenRhen's champion names meaning list:
https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/89rlfq/champion_name_meaning_and_origin_s8_update/

- Riot speaks on how they create champion names: https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2017/12/naming-new-champions/

- Code names/ Development names of certain champions:
https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-gb/2018/09/ask-riot-kled-skin-code-names/

- Asylum Lux's list of champion names: http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=2908209

- Another reddit post with extensions of other names
https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/1iez0l/are_there_common_hidden_meanings_in_champion/

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