Throughout history, humans have given great power to names. Many myths exist in which one being has control of another through knowing its true name, from Egyptian and Biblical contexts and folklore traditions around the world to more modern stories. For example, consider the fairy tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” in which the queen is only able to banish her tormenter when she has learned his real name. The power of names comes from the idea that knowing something’s true name reflects a true understanding of that object or idea. This understanding subsequently allows control over the named. The idea shows up in Arthur C. Clarke’s book The Nine Billion Names of God and fantasy novels by many authors from Lloyd Alexander and J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Paolini. The theme also shows up in role-playing games in the Dungeons & Dragons universe and even superhero comic books.

In this world created by Patrick Rothfuss, names can allow people to control well-known forces such as stone and wind, which have a tangible and significant power. At the University, there is a master of naming, Elodin. During a fire in Kilvin’s workshop, Kilvin remarks that if Elodin had been there to use the name of fire, “matters would have been much simpler” (458).