Fanon:Etymologies in Magi

The information in this article is not canon but fan-made.

**Note: If you add something, provide explanation. These are speculation and not direct quotes from the author.**
A list of speculated but likely etymologies for different things in Magi.

## Characters

### Alma Torran

* **Aladdin** — Named after ʻAlāʼ ad-Dīn (علاء الدين), a character from a fairytale of likely Middle-Eastern origin. Although it was originally not a part of the *One Thousand and One Nights* text, it is one of the most popular works associated with it. The story states that it takes place in China but the setting described resembles more a Muslim country, having caused speculation about the story's "true" origin and setting. This was also pointed out by Shinobu Ohtaka.
* **Arba** — From Arabic word arbaʿa (أَرْبَعَة), meaning "four".
* **David Jehoahaz Abraham** — David (Hebrew: דָּוִד Dāwīḏ) was a King of Israel. He is especially known from the story of David and Goliath. The then shepherd David defeated the must larger enemy champion Goliath. King David was the father of Solomon. Jehoahaz or Joachaz (Hebrew: יְהוֹאָחָז Yəhôʼāḥāz) is the name of two kings in the Bible: a King of Israel and a King of Judah. Abraham (Hebrew: אַבְרָהָם ʾAḇrāhām) is the name of the patriarch of the Abrahamic religions.
* **Falan** — Isn't it a mystery. Maybe, since her teammates are named after numbers, her name is a variation of the Arabic word ṯalāṯa (ثَلَاثَة), meaning "three"? Note that ṯ means the th sound as in the word "thing". A sound not existing in Japanese. Well, it's a theory.
* **Ithnan** — From Arabic word iṯnān (اِثْنَان), meaning "two".
* **Setta** — From Arabic word sitta (سِتَّة), meaning "six".
* **Sheba** — Queen of Sheba (Hebrew: מַלְכַּת־ שְׁבָא malkat-šəḇā) is a figure first mentioned in the Tanakh. She gives a caravan of valuable gifts to Israel's King Solomon. Her story has since gained multiple different narratives, including a claim that she had some form of a romantic relationship with Solomon. In some languages, her country is called "Saba" instead, which resembles the Arabic word sabʿa (سَبْعَة), meaning "seven". There might be a connection since other members in her group are named after Arabic numbers... or it's just a coincidence.
* **Solomon Jehoahaz Abraham** — Solomon, Salomon or Salomo (in Hebrew: שְׁלֹמֹה Šlomo) is the name of the wise king of Israel, familiar from books such as the Bible. In many religions, he is considered a prophet. His father was King David. According to occultism, he had the control of 72 demons/djinns, which in Magi are the 72 djinns. Jehoahaz or Joachaz (Hebrew: יְהוֹאָחָז Yəhôʼāḥāz) is the name of two kings in the Bible: a King of Israel and a King of Judah. Abraham (Hebrew: אַבְרָהָם ʾAḇrāhām) is the name of the patriarch of the Abrahamic religions.
* **Tess** — There is a possibility it's connected to the Arabic word tisʿa (تِسْعَة), meaning "nine".
* **Wahid** — From Arabic word wāḥid (وَاحِد‎), meaning "one".

### Balbadd

* **Alibaba Saluja** — ʿAlī Bābā (علي بابا) is the protagonist of the Arabic tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (علي بابا والأربعون لصا). It was not originally a part of *One Thousand and One Nights*, but was added in later. "Saluja" is an Indian surname from West Punjab.

### Kou Empire

* **Hakuryuu Ren** — His name means "White Dragon", and in Chinese it's pronounced "Báilóng". In Chinese mythology, White Dragon is the Dragon God of the west and the essence of autumn. The White Dragon also symbolises virtuous and pure kings.
* **Kougyoku Ren** — In 642–645 and 655–661, Japan was ruled by an Empress called Kougyoku during her first reign, and Saimei during her second. Although this name "Kougyoku" (皇極) was written with different kanji than Magi's Kougyoku (紅玉), the time period matches perfectly with the setting — after all, the Kou Empire is supposed to match China's Tang dynasty (618–690, 705–907). Considering the series's implications for a ship between Aladdin and Kougyoku, she might also have something to do with Princess Badroulbadour (بدر البدور‎ Badr ul-Budūr) from the Aladdin and the Magic Lamp tale. Aladdin marries this "Chinese" (see the Aladdin section for more) princess. "Kougyoku" (紅玉) means "crimson jewel" in Japanese.
* **Koumei Ren** — "Koumei" is the Japanese reading of the Chinese name "Kongming", which is the courtesy name of the famous Chinese military strategist Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮). Just like Zhuge Liang, Koumei is a strategist and an inventor.
* **Koutoku Ren** — In 645–654, Japan was ruled by Emperor Koutoku. Although the first kanji character in "Koutoku" (孝徳) is different than in Magi's Koutoku (紅徳), the time period matches perfectly with the setting — after all, the Kou Empire is supposed to match China's Tang dynasty (618–690, 705–907).

### Parthevian Empire

* **Barbarossa** — Barbarossa is Italian for "red beard". Some famous Barbarossas include the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Frederick Barbarossa (1122–1190), and an admiral in the Ottoman navy, Hayreddin Barbarossa (Arabic: خير الدين بربروس‎ Khayr ad-Din Barbarus, c. 1478–1546). Barbarossa in Magi is quite a fascistic figure: he is the leader of the Parthevian Nationalist Party that even wear armbands! Nazi and Hitler comparisons to Barbarossa are common, and maybe the creator had this in mind when naming him; the campaign of Nazi Germany to invade the Soviet Union was called Operation Barbarossa, after all.
* **Ceylan Dikumenowlz Du Parthevia** — Named after the old name of Sri Lanka, Ceylon.
* **Memphis** — The name of the former capital of Egypt.
* **Rotter** — In Japanese, ロッター Rottā. He has the ability to command rats. Interestingly enough, "rotta" and its variations mean "rat" in multiple languages, such as Faroese, Finnish, Icelandic, Izhorian, and Swedish (råtta, pronounced the same way).
* **Serendine Dikumenowlz Du Parthevia** — Named after the Old Persian name of Sri Lanka, Serendip.

### Qishan

* **Morgiana** — Named after a character (مرجانة) from the tale *Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves*. She is the clever slave girl in Cassim's household before joining Cassim's brother Ali Baba after Cassim's death. She saved Ali Baba many times with her quick wits, and is eventually freed and marries Ali Baba's son.

## Locations

* **Imuchakk** — In Japanese, イムチャック Imuchakku. By the clothing and headbands of the Imuchakk people, they seem to be based on the Ainu. In Russia, there is a region called Kamchatka, in Japanese カムチャツカ Kamuchatsuka. Ainu are indigenous to Kamchatka, among other nearby regions.
* **Kina** — Comprised of two kanji: 鬼, meaning oni, and 倭, meaning Yamato (an old name of Japan). Interestingly, even though Kina is a Japan-inspired country, its name resembles the name of China in many languages (Kina).
* **Parthevian Empire** — Named after the Parthian Empire (247 BC–224 AD).
* **Reim Empire** — Much like Rome was founded by Romulus according to the legend, Reim was founded by Remus.
* **Sasan** — Named after the Sasanian Empire (224–651).
* **Qishan** — Qishan (岐山) is the name of many towns in China, as well as the name of the Qishan County. It was the site of the first capital of the Zhou Dynasty.

## Others

* **Al-Thamen** — From the Arabic word aṯ-ṯāmin (الثَّامِن‎), meaning "the eighth".

## References

1. ↑ Ohtaka's Backstage Vol.69.
"アラビアンナイト原典の「アラジン」は、逸話の元ネタでは中国人かもしれないという説もあるそうですが、どうなのでしょうか。"
2. ↑ Wiktionary - أربعة.
3. ↑ Wiktionary - ثلاثة.
4. ↑ Wiktionary - اثنان.
5. ↑ Wiktionary - ستة.
6. ↑ Wiktionary - سبعة.
7. ↑ Wiktionary - تِسْعَة.
8. ↑ Wiktionary - واحد.
9. ↑ Dragon King - White Dragon.
10. ↑ Chinese dragon.
11. ↑ Wiktionary - Barbarossa.
12. ↑ Wiktionary - rotta.
13. ↑ Wiktionary - råtta.
14. ↑ Wiktionary - الثَّامِن‎.