Why Do Only Humans Have Last Names in Star Wars?

It's a common misconception that in the Star Wars universe, only humans have last names. While it's true that many non-human characters are not explicitly given last names in the films, this is not an inherent rule of the Star Wars universe. In fact, several non-human characters do possess last names and are referred to as such in various official sources, movies, and literature.

refuting the myth

Let's debunk this myth by taking a closer look at various non-human characters in the Star Wars canon. While many characters, such as Plo Koon and Ki Adi Mundi, are indeed humans, there are numerous non-human characters who do have last names. These characters include:

Admiral Gial Ackbar Ponda Baba Salacious B. Crumb Bib Fortuna Nute Gunray Dexter Jettster Maz Kanata Appa Ray Hondo Ohnaka Unkar Plutt Wicket W. Warrick

Aliens With Last Names

While not every non-human character in the Star Wars films is explicitly given a last name, there are instances where both humans and non-humans are referred to by their full names. For example, in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, when Obi-Wan meets the Kaminoan Prime Minister, she is addressed as 'Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino.' This clearly indicates that non-humans can and do have last names.

Consistent Canon

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, was meticulous about keeping the movies consistent with other materials he had created. This includes the various encyclopedias and reference books he produced. He made a point of ensuring that the last names of the alien Jedi, such as Nien Nunb, Jabba Desilijic Tiure, and Shaak Ti, remained consistent across all official sources.

After Disney’s Acquisition

The acquisition of the Star Wars franchise by Disney in 2012 has had a significant impact on the overall canon and consistency of the works. However, even after this acquisition, efforts have been made to maintain consistency with the previously published materials. Many characters from the pre-discovery era Star Wars expanded universe (now called Legends) have been brought into the new canon with consistent names and backstories.

Conclusion

While it may be a tempting generalization that only humans have last names in Star Wars, the truth is much more nuanced. Through various official movies, books, comics, and encyclopedias, many non-human characters are given last names and are referred to by them. This consistency across different sources reinforces the idea that the Star Wars universe is rich and detailed, with all characters, regardless of species, having a place in the published canon.