Is Babar french for something?

Published on February 2, 2005 By trina_p In Entertainment

Last night as I was going to sleep after I finished watching the West Wing, I got the theme song in my head and for some reason it reminded me of the Babar theme song. Which led me to think about Babar's name.

Babar - he's the only one in his family with not a "real name"

Queen Celeste, brother-in-law Arthur, Daughters Flora and Isabelle, Sons Pom and Alexander. Advisors Cornelius and Pompadour.

Then there's Zephir and Rataxes, and Rataxes advisor Basil.

Definition of Babar - [n] an imaginary elephant that appears in a series of French books for children
See Also: character, fictional character, fictitious character

it's also Hindi and Muslim for Lion

So where did Jean and Laurent De Brunhoff come up with these names. If Babar means Lion, then I guess since lions are the king of the jungle they named him Babar because he's king of the elephants?

But does that eplain why all the other's have "names" some French (since the authors are french) and Babar (and the monkey/rhino) don't

And what's Madam's real name -- doesn't Madam mean she's a lady but not married - or maybe it's a widow?

Anyway this is what happens to my mind when I'm supposed to be going to sleep

Comments

Danny Bassette

on Feb 02, 2005

Sounds like you need a good nights sleep, then the french elephants would leave you alone.

trina_p

on Feb 02, 2005

Well, I know I said the sleep was to blame, but truthfully my head just does that. Thinks up random things goes off on tangents at really odd moments in time.

It's 4:30pm - think Elana would let me fall asleep on the couch without pulling my hair for a few minutes?

Danny Bassette

on Feb 02, 2005

You could try, whats the worse that could happen

on Oct 03, 2006

Hey,

I thought Babar was chosen for the elephant and the title, on the basis that it was a familiar sound for young chlidren as it is similar to the sounds they formulate naturally.

Ba-Bar

trina_p

on Oct 03, 2006

Wow haven't read that post for a while - thanks anonymous person, however did you find it?

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