Meanings of names

[Rusty]

Hey all! I was wondering if anyone new the meaning to some names from FF8!

Like Selphie, Zell, Irvine, Quistis, Seifer and Rinoa. I already no what Squalls means, but can you help me out with the others?
Thanks :rolleyes2
Rusty

[ShivaBlizzard8]

I think a lot of the names are made up, without any real meaning, but some do have a backstory or are found in real life (i.e. there is an Irvine, California).
To get lots of info on all the characters, including name meanings, check out character shrines - web pages built by fans. Many are quite in-depth. For instance, Rebelling Princess, the biggest Rinoa shrine probably ever, talks about her name quite a bit:

The name, in English spelling, 'Rinoa' was made up by Kazushige Nojima, if I remember right, he's the Scenerio Director. He then created and used the best fit in katakana, that's all there is to it. No deep meanings or origins. It was simply made to be unique.
Some have mentioned the early and extremely bad mistranslation 'Lenore' (Edgar Allen Poe reference) floating around, but it was speculation made before any official FF8 romanized information was available. When information about any FF game is first released, the character names are only shown in katakana. . .

To read more about her name, and the names of her parents, check out their site here: http://rinoa.nu/rinoa/

This Quistis site goes into her name quite a bit: http://kalyka.net/quistis/

As does this Ellone site: http://marvolo.org/ellone/indexx.html

And Laguna: http://farplane.org/laguna/

Ect, ect. You get the idea. There is a great listing of shrines for all FF characters here: http://www.hollowmind.net/shrines/ Search through them and find our what others think, and make your own speculations. Unlike Squall, most don't have definitive answers.

[Kirobaito]

Squall is named that way because we all want him to die in one.

[Flying Mullet]

Agreed. I prefer to think of "Squall" as "Squash".

[queen of the jungle]

doesn't squall mean "storm"?

[Flying Mullet]

Yep.

[Rusty]

No Squall means "rain on a lagoon" .

[DocFrance]

No Squall means "rain on a lagoon" .

Wrong.

squall ( P ) Pronunciation Key (skwôl)
n.
A brief sudden violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow.
Informal. A brief commotion.

intr.v. squalled, squall·ing, squalls
To blow strongly for a brief period.

[TheAbominatrix]

I remember reading, before VIII came out, that Laguna was named after Laguna beach, California. Which is my favorite place so it made me happy. Of course I'm sure that's explained in ShivaBlizzard8's links.

[Rusty]

I'm right docfrance :P why in the world would they name squall after a windstorm :P

[Mo-Nercy]

I'm right docfrance :P why in the world would they name squall after a windstorm :P

Why not? Anyway, DocFrance said a squall is a violent storm, not that Squall was named after one. You say it means 'rain on a lagoon' which doesn't make much sense. I can see why you would think it does though (Raine on a Laguna...which is sexual and dirty if you REALLY think about)

Also, Seifer is derived from the word Cipher which means:
1. the arithmetical symbol for nought, or no quantity or magnitude
2. a person or thing of no value or importance
3. a secret (method of) writing; code

[TheAbominatrix]

Yeah, DocFrance. How could you even think the dictionary would be correct? [/sarcasm]

Anyway, Squall is a warrior. A squall is a fierce storm. Seems pretty fitting to me. Certianly more fitting than naming a big beefy hero after a fluffy white cloud.

[Rusty]

Ok ok! Think what you want! I just want to wanted to no the meanings of names :P Anyways..I wasn't thinking about it in that way.....I found that out, and it doesnt have to be dirty.. can't belivev you'd think that way...

and the dictionary doesnt have to be write :P we're talking about names, not the dictionarys descrisption of what squall means in a weather term :P

[TheAbominatrix]

... The dictionary doesnt have to be right? What? The dictionary is the official definition of all words in the English language. And Squall's name comes from the weather term. That's what it means. If you name a kid Flower, flower still has the same definition. The definition doesnt change because you give the name to someone, they're still named after a plant. It doesnt become something different.

[Flying Mullet]

Yes, Square specifically stated that they named Squall after the definition of a squall because of the coming violent and turbulent storm that is the story of FFVIII.