What's in a Name?

The names in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream are significant in the fact that they take inspiration from Greek mythology, English folklore, and from Shakespeare's own imagination.  Here is a list of the characters from the play and a brief description of their etymology.  Links to Wikipedia are available for character development as we progress farther into the study and rehearsals of this play.  Although for Puck, an entire website was found in his honour.

The Athenians

• Theseus (Duke of Athens) - from Greek mythology, Theseus was a heroic king of Athens in Greek legend. He slew the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete with the help of Ariadne, who provided him with a sword and a roll of string so he could find his way out.
• Hippolyta (betrothed to Theseus) - from Greek mythology, she was the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle she was given by her father Ares, the god of war. The girdle was a waist belt that signified her authority as queen of the Amazons. She figures prominently in the myths of both Heracles and Theseus.
• Philostrate (Master of the Revels) - from Greek, meaning “Master.” The name also comes from Chaucer, where he returns to court in disguise, to become the chief squire to Theseus. It is in this latter capacity that Chaucer’s “Philostrate” is nearest to Shakespeare’s character, the Master of the Revels.
• Egeus (father of Hermia) - possibly derived form Aegeus (Greek), the father of Theseus.
• Hermia (in love with Lysander) - possibly from Greek mythology, a form of the male name, Hermes the messenger god was the son of Zeus. He was the god of travellers, shepherds, literature and commerce.
• Helena (in love with Demetrius) - from the ancient Greek, Helene. In Greek mythology it famously belonged to Helen of Troy, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta who caused the Trojan War by sailing to Troy with Paris.
• Lysander (in love with Hermia) - from Greek history, which meant "a release of a man." This was the name of a Spartan general and naval commander.
• Demetrius (also in love with Hermia at first but later loves Helena) - form of the Greek name, Demetrios, which was derived from the name of the Greek goddess DEMETER. Kings of Macedon and the Seleucid kingdom have had this name.

The Fairies

• Oberon (King of the Fairies) - from a French song, this was the name of a fairy dwarf, yet Shakespeare used the German tale of Alberich to give him his status as King of the Fairies.  A moon of Uranus now bears this name in his honour.
• Titania (Queen of the Fairies) -  In traditional folklore, the fairy queen has no name. Shakespeare took the name "Titania" from Ovid's Metamorphoses, where it is an appellation given to the daughters of Titans. There is also a moon of Uranus, named after the Shakespearean character.
• Puck/Robin Goodfellow (servant to Oberon) - once a Medieval term for the devil, Puck appears throughout English folklore for thousands of years as a mythological faerie, nature sprite or hobgoblin.  His antics as a trickster have been noted in the heroic tale of Robin Hood. 

Sweet Pea blossoms come in many varieties, follow the link to see a Google search for an example of the wide array of colors found in this beautiful (and edible) plant.

• Peaseblossom (fairy servant to Titania) - from English, the flower of a pea plant.
• Cobweb (fairy servant to Titania) - from English, a spider’s web.
• Mustardseed (fairy servant to Titania) - from English, the spicy seed of a mustard plant.  Biblical references to the small but powerful mustard seed make me think this fairy may have had some spirit or spunk, although not mischievous as Puck.

Lime Hawk-Moth - This English moth if often described as camouflaged, green brown or sometimes just shades of brown, often found in suburban areas of England; around 2 or 3 inches wingspan.

• Moth (fairy servant to Titania) - from English, also “Mote,” in some versions of the text. A moth is a flying, often nocturnal insect; a mote is a speck of dust perhaps identifying Moth as the smallest of the fairies.
• First Fairy, Second Fairy (attendants to Titania) - from English folklore.

The Mechanicals

• Peter Quince (carpenter, leads the troupe and plays "Prologue") - the quince is a type of tree, hence a wood connection there, and quines are types of wood wedges used by carpenters.
• Nick Bottom (weaver, plays "Pyramus") - a “bottom” is the wooden spool a weaver winds his thread on.
• Francis Flute (bellows-mender, plays "Thisbe") - could refer equally to Flute’s profession mending bellows (devices that blow air) or to his high voice, as the youngest of the Mechanicals.
• Robin Starveling (tailor, plays "Moonshine") - sterotypically depicted as particularly thin, hence the result of starving.
• Tom Snout (tinker, plays "Wall") - might refer to the spout of a kettle, the sort of thing tinkers would work on.
• Snug (joiner, plays "Lion") - like carpenters, joiners work with wood, but unlike carpenters, a joiner doesn't use nails. A joiner’s joints must therefore be especially snug.