Why the letter 'W' makes hockey player Owen Power's name sound tough

Owen Power: The real name that sounds made up

Some names seem like they were taken straight out of a video game. Owen Power is one of them: a Canadian-born ice hockey player with a 'W' in both his first and last name. This combination has sparked a discussion about what makes a name sound tough, fake, or like a TV character. The starting point was a comparison with Max Power, the alias Homer Simpson uses in an episode of The Simpsons. The general consensus: Owen Power wins because he sounds real, while Max Power sounds like an invention.

What makes a name sound badass

According to participants, the letter 'W' adds toughness, a sense of being 'rubio' (blonde/northern), Germanicity, and a certain grit. In other words, a name with a 'W' has an extra layer of hardness and a northern origin, suggesting someone who doesn't mess around. Owen Power fits the bill: two Ws, a short first name, and a punchy surname. The result is a name that, according to the consensus, sounds like a guy who crushes winter blondes.

The phenomenon is not new. Nordic and Germanic names are reputed to sound tougher than Latin ones. Ari Vatanen, Tomi Makinen, or Henri Toivonen are examples from the racing world. In contrast, the French: Didier Auriol, Sebastien Loeb, or François Delecour, are considered more bland. The reason, it is argued, is the Germanic heritage of Nordic countries, which has imparted a certain toughness to them.

German names and their meanings

German has an amazing ability to create words that sound tough. Cities like Kaiserslautern, Mönchengladbach, Regensburg, Schweinfurt, Bayreuth, Braunschweig, or Schaffhausen are examples. But there is one case that is quite jarring: Kris Knoblauch, coach of the Edmonton Oilers, whose surname means 'garlic' in German. A name with great presence, it is described, for something as un-epic as a garlic clove.

The discussion drifted toward historical names. Lothar Matthäus or Günter Treblinka were mentioned as examples of heavy-hitting German names. There was also the anecdote of Andrés Montes, a Spanish commentator, describing German matches: "imagine your daughter comes home one day and introduces you to her boyfriend, and his name is Mertesacker."

Conquistadors, nobles, and historic surnames

In Spain, the surnames of conquistadors carry their own aura. Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, Juan Ponce de León, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, Pedro de Alvarado, Hernando de Soto. The combination of patronymic and toponymic denotes nobility (hidalguía). If you add a strong first name, the result is a conquistador name that, as they say, makes the locals tremble.

In contrast, there are the 'orphanage' surnames: Expósito, Tirado, Incógnito, Blanco, or Diosdado. The difference, it is argued, lies in the 'tough blood' that the former possess. Blas de Lezo was mentioned as the ultimate example. Also Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, the protagonist of an incredible story from the Age of Discovery.

The toughest names from the former Yugoslavia

The former Yugoslavia provided its own batch: Radovan Karadžić, Slobodan Milošević, Ratko Mladić. The latter was singled out as the ultimate 'silverback alpha male' name. The combination of first and last name, with those consonants, sounds like someone who doesn't mess around.

The debate also touched on fictional or real names that sound invented. Pijus Magníficus, from Asterix, or Roberto Alcázar. And names that sound like TV characters: Kyle Chandler, described as the name of a high school character from Wisconsin who plays American football and picks up cheerleaders.

Names that sound fake but are real

Some names sound made up but are actually real. Armando Bronca, Aitor Menta, Máxima Mujercita were some examples. Also Massimo Gozzo, a well-known real person. Or Arno Penzias, a physicist, whose name, it is said, must know everything. Chuck Connors, who must have incredible aim.

The thread also mentioned Fernando Segarro as a good-sounding combination, and Jaime Tralleta. The conclusion, if there is one, is that the perfect name combines sonority, origin, and a touch of swagger. Owen Power has it. Max Power does not.