Harry Potter: 10 Character Names You Didn't Realise Were Huge Clues

How can the name ‘slughorn’ have much meaning?

It turns out that there are a number of ideas on Horace’s last name. First, it could quite literally reflects the feelers or eyestalks of a slug, reaching and grasping for something interesting or useful, and reeling back to comfort whenever resistance comes along. (Think of Horace hiding disguised in a Muggle house when Harry first meets him combined with his love of luxuries and latching on to the talented).

Alternatively, it could refer simply to his rather sluggish form, or, differently again, there is the suggestion that a ‘slughorn’ is a traditional heraldic term coming from the Scottish word for ‘war-cry’ which has now evolved into the word ‘slogan.’ Let’s not forget that the potions professor did indeed remain at Hogwarts and actually fought Voldermort himself at one point in the books if not the films.

What about his first name? Is it just a traditional, teacherly name? Certainly not! Horace is actually the part of Slughorn’s name with the most certain meaning assigned to it. JK Rowling, who defied her parents to study Classics at university, chose the name Horace as it was the name of a Roman poet famously fond of two things: food and making connections to people of influence.