The original heroine of The Hunger Games franchise needs no introduction by now, as Katniss Everdeen has inspired legions of fans with her fearless spirit and profound capacity for empathy. Yet Katniss’ name remains a curious oddity for those only casually familiar with the lore of Suzanne Collins’ dystopian Hunger Games universe through its movie adaptations starring Jennifer Lawrence. It’s not a common real-world name in any language, nor is the surname Everdeen – at least with this double-e spelling of its second syllable.

As with many of Hunger Games’ best characters, however, there is a deeper meaning behind Katniss Everdeen’s name. Each part of the name means something important, related to her characterization throughout the original trilogy of novels and quadrilogy of movies that make up The Hunger Games. In fact, once the significance of her name becomes clear, it makes Katniss’ status as the saga’s central character even more apt, by placing her in a broader historical context. Katniss Everdeen actually stands alongside some of literature’s greatest female heroes, with a moniker to match her rare talents and heroic qualities.

Katniss Everdeen’s 1st Name Reflects Her Special Skill In The Hunger Games

The Name Comes From A Common Word For The Plant Genus Sagittaria

Katniss is one of several Hunger Games characters whose names foreshadow their roles in the story. Her first name comes from a genus of aquatic plants native to the Americas known as Sagittaria, because of their distinctive leaves shaped like arrowheads. One of the common words used for these plants in popular parlance is “katniss,” and they’re synonymous with resilience and adaptability to various habitats, as well as their beautiful white flowers (via Ancestry).

In this way, Katniss’ first name in The Hunger Games reflects her best character traits. Every part of her story requires her to be exceptionally resilient, from the hardship she endures while taking care of her family amid the poverty of District 12, to her survival in the Hunger Games themselves, the hostile environment she has to navigate after her victory, and the leading role she plays in the rebellion against the Capitol.

Katniss is also arguably the best tribute in the history of the Hunger Games in large part due to her impressive ability as an archer. Collins seems to have given her the name of an arrowheaded plant precisely to reference her special skill with a bow and arrow.

The Name Everdeen Is Taken From The Heroine Of A Thomas Hardy Novel

Collins Took Katniss’ Surname From Victorian Novel Far From The Madding Crowd

Meanwhile, Katniss’ family name, Everdeen, is a reference that readers of 19th-century English literature may well be familiar with. This name is taken from Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel Far from the Madding Crowd, which features an implacable female hero named Bathsheba Everdene. Fans of Greta Gerwig’s movie adaptation of Little Women will enjoy at least some of the various cinematic depictions of Everdene, including Carey Mulligan’s portrayal in the 2015 film version of Far from the Madding Crowd.

Suzanne Collins lifted this surname straight from Hardy’s work, only slightly altering the spelling. Collins was quoted in The Telegraph comparing Katniss to Bathsheba, explaining: “The two are very different, but both struggle with knowing their hearts.” Specifically, Collins was referring to Katniss’ dilemma in choosing between her two love interests, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne, as well as her struggle to resist the temptations offered to her in the Capitol as a victorious tribute of the Hunger Games.

While it’s true that Bathsheba Everdene’s story has little in common with Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, the two share certain key similarities, as both are strong-willed women who transcend difficult social environments while being courted by multiple men. Katniss may be more of a fighter than Bathsheba, but the earlier literary figure is still a worthy inspiration for one of modern cinema’s greatest heroes.

Sources: Ancestry, The Telegraph