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

Who doesn’t love Professor McGonagall? Strict as can be but for all the right reasons, she is clever, wise and powerful with a passion for her job. She is portrayed fantastically by Dame Maggie Smith (who was battling cancer during the filming of The Half Blood Prince and showing that she too was worthy to lead Gryffindor House) and is also a highlight during the stage play The Cursed Child.

Let’s start with her last name. McGonagall is a traditional Scottish name – and what fits better for the Hogwarts Deputy Head? As with Fleur Delacour, a traditional name along would have done the job, but there is a deeper and better meaning. The longtime head of Gryffindor House bears a name which means ‘the bravest.’

How to carefully balance this aspect of her personality? The lady who, according to JK Rowling on Pottermore, nearly ended up in Ravenclaw House just as easily as she did Gryffindor? Her first name, Minerva, is the Roman name given to Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. The modern meaning of Minerva is simply ‘wise’ and if you look further into the other areas of responsibility for Athena/Minerva the goddess, you’d find that she was also responsible for courage, strategy and, yes, even schools.