Word Origins

Many of the names, titles and objects in the Wheel of Time books are taken from history or mythology. Here we present some examples.

Shadowspawn

• Gholam: Golem
• Trolloc: Troll

Also the trolloc bands:

• Ahf’frait; Ifrit, supernatura; creatures in Arabic and slamic culture
• Al’ghol;: Ghoul, a monster in folklore associated with graveyards and human flesh
• Bhan'sheen;: Banshee, from the Irish bean sídhe, a female spirit
• Dhjin’nen;: Djin, a supernatural creature in the Quran
• Ghar’ghael;: Gargoyle, a grotesque carved stone figure
• Ghob’lin;: Goblin, a legendary evil or mischievous figure
• Gho’hlem;: Golem, in jewish folklore, a a living humaniform being made of clay
• Ghraem’lan;: Gremlin, a mischievous being that interferes with technology.
• Ko’bal;: Kobold, an alternate word for goblin
• Kno’mon;: Gnome, a diminutive spirit from renaissance times.
• Dha’vol;: Devil
• Dhai’mon;; Demon

Forsaken

• Asmodean: Asmodeus, a demon
• Anath: Western semitic goddess of war and sister of Baal
• Be'lal: A demon
• Selene A Moon godess in Greek mythology
• Ishamael: Ishmael, son of Abraham?
• Ba'alzamon Baal, a god or demon

Words from Arthurian Legend

• Elayne: Elaine, Arthur's half sister
• Gawyn: Sir Gawyn
• Galad: Sir Galahad, the pure
• Egwene al'Vere: Guinevere, Arthur's wife
• Lan: Sir Lancelot
• Morgase: Morause, Arthur's half sister and mother of Mordred
• Arthur Paendrag: King Arthur Pendragon
• Caemlyn: Possibly Camelot, which fits as the Arthurain motif is particularly strong in Andor
• Thom Merrilin: Merlin, the magician
• Tar Valon: Avalon, a legendary island
• Tigraine: Igraine, Arthur's mother
• Moridin/Mordeth - Mordred, Arthur's enemy
• Nynaeve: Niviane/Nimui/Nyneve
• Sa'angreal (plus angreal, ter'angreal): Sangréal, a false etymology for the holy grail, from the French Royal blood"

Stories from Earlier Ages

• Mosk: Moscow
• Merk: America
• Elsbet: Elizabeth the first of England
• Materese the Healer: Mother Teresa
• Lenn: John Glenn, an American astronaut who returned to space late in his life
• Salya: Sally Ride, a female American astronaut, though Salyut, the Soviet space station would also fit.

Miscellaneous

• Tamyrlin (and Amyrlin): Tamerlaine, a 14th century Mongol conqueror
• Ogier: Ogre
• Eelfinn/Aelfinn: Possibly "Elven"
• Perrin: Perun, Slavic god of thunder and lightening, associated with beard, hammer and axe.
• Ghoetam: Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha.
• Amaresu: Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the sun.
• Shivan: Shiva, a Hindu god.
• Shai'tan: The devil in Islam.
• Shayol Ghul: Sheol, the place of punishment for the wicked dead in Judaism.