Leafpool Controversy

[celestialsquared]

There are many theories surrounding the name of one of Firestar's daughters, Leafpool. Its probably one of the most talked about non-traditional name that Eirn Hunter has made yet and to be pretty honest, it sounds like a name a fan would probably make up.

It is not really the suffix, -pool, that raises questions. Afterall, she was the one who discovered the Moonpool, so it is widely accepted as the reason for her warrior name. No, it is her prefix, Leaf-, that causes confusion.

On the Warriors wiki site, it is said that Leafkit was named after Leafstar, a leader of SkyClan and Spottedleaf. Some say she was named because her fur is the same colors as the leaves in fall. Others say it's because of her eye color (Which is amber, so it can't possible be this).

So what do you guys think? Why did Leafpool recieve her name?

[leah]

Well, Firestar's Quest did say this.

and tabby Leafkit in memory of Leafstar-and perhaps of Spottedleaf too.

Firestar's Quest, Hardcover, Pages 509-510

The book, after all, was about the reviving of Skyclan, which Leafstar is the leader of. Not to mention, Spottedleaf is mentioned many times, and it upsets Sandstorm so much that Firestar was in love with another, but then eventually forgives them. It would make sense to name Leafkit after either one.

[Lady Ten]

As I understand it, that is the canon explanation. However, that only raises more questions. If Leafpool was named Leafkit after Leafstar, why then was Leafstar named Leafkit in the first place? Maybe just because it's SkyClan, and they can't be bothered to pay attention to things. That would be in keeping with their style. Doesn't really answer the question though.

Canon though it might be, it's also strange that she would be named after Spottedleaf. The only instances of prefix/suffix duality that I know of, in canon, are storm and cloud. For this kit's prefix to be taken from another cat's suffix is bizarre in concept, especially since prefixes and suffixes function in different ways (even with storm and cloud). I've never heard of any kits being named after the suffixes of others. Perhaps "leaf" gets to be its own special case because it's such a rare suffix. But why does Spottedleaf have that suffix, anyway? Just because she's a special medicine cat? And isn't it kind of weird to name one of your kids after your not even ex-girlfriend? Anyway, the main only function Leafpool's prefix seems to serve for her is predestining her to one day be a medicine cat. It would have been better for everyone if she hadn't, considering all the drama it caused.

[leah]

why then was Leafstar named Leafkit in the first place?

She wasn't, she was named Leaf. She was a kittypet. A Skyclan wannabe if you will. If you recall, Firestar is a softy towards kittypets and outsiders and doesn't believe that Warrior names truely mean anything, otherwise he not only would've changed the names of the cats of New Skyclan greatly, but he would've given Warrior names to freaking Daisy, Millie, Purdy and Brook. But he didn't. Because he doesn't care.

Although it is true that there's no need to give her a prefix after a suffix. It was weird the other way around when Crowfeather asked to be named after Feathertail, since I don't know why she'd be named Featherkit in the first place when there are't even that many silver birds the cats know of and Feather is just as nonsense as using Tree- or Fish- as a prefix. Anyway, through Canon, that was the only reason Sandstorm seemed to name her that. And you're right, if a queen wants to name her kit after someone with a certain suffix, that certain suffix should be either -storm or -cloud, and the kit should at least look like it so that's not the /only/ reason to name them that.

[Lady Ten]

Oh, okay. So, either Leafkit was named after a kittypet, or she was named after her father's old crush from his adolescent years. What an honor.

hm, I'd forgotten about Crowfeather. The justification I've heard for using the prefix Feather (in general, for fan-created names) is that it describes a small and light-weight cat.

[celestialsquared]

Sept 29, 2012 11:45:37 GMT -6 Lady Ten said:

And isn't it kind of weird to name one of your kids after your not even ex-girlfriend?

I always thought why Firestar would even think to do this, especially if you had a fight with your mate not too long ago about said "not even ex-girlfriend". I truly feel sorry for Sandstorm.
Even worse, why would you name her after some kittypet you only knew for a couple of days? Seems like Erin thought up that excuse on a whim.

Sept 29, 2012 11:45:37 GMT -6 Lady Ten said:

Anyway, the main only function Leafpool's prefix seems to serve for her is predestining her to one day be a medicine cat.

It seems Erin's only form of foreshadowing is making extremely obvious plot devices. Now that I think about it, there are few times where I was genuinely surprised when reading the books.

[mistytail]

Any way you look at it, Firestar literally gave his daughter the worst name. He either named her after

A) the cat equivalent of a high-school crush
B) a kittypet he knew for what, a month or something?
or C) fricking dead leaves

He named his daughter after dead things. Wow. What a beautiful name. You get the "father of the year award," Firestar.

Though I will admit, while I'm not a fan of -pool as a suffix, it does work because she found the Moonpool which is pretty huge because it's the medicine cats' new and only way or connecting with StarClan, so that's one of those exceptional suffixes I think has more than enough justification to be used.

[leah]

You know what's even worse? I kid you not, on the same page (509), he thought Sandstorm named Squirrelkit for her bushy tail. No, you idiot. She was named for her pelt. This probably explains why he chose such suffixes for every single cat in his clan: he has no idea what Warrior Names even mean.

Want to know what a cute alternative name would be for Leafkit? Robinkit. Of course that's just my opinion, that other thread about changing pretty much everything in the series, I was thinking about Leafkit's alternative name.
And I wouldn't even give her the suffix -pool. I don't think that finding the Moonpool is an excuse. I just think naming cats after anything is just an overall bad idea.

[celestialsquared]

Sept 29, 2012 18:32:18 GMT -6 leah said:

he has no idea what Warrior Names even mean.

Yes! It must seriously be his kittypet roots; he has no idea what naming is all about. This is why I hate it when people try to reference Firestar's Quest as a reason why their cat can be named something ridiculous! Don't follow Firestar's example, kids!

[vbfdoee]

Oh wow. That thought never even crossed my mind. I understand everything now! :0

[Grey]

Guys, I have been laughing so much. This is the best thread.

This got me thinking, though.

Any way you look at it, Firestar literally gave his daughter the worst name. He either named her after

A) the cat equivalent of a high-school crush
B) a kittypet he knew for what, a month or something?
or C) fricking dead leaves

Why was Firestar even naming the kits? I mean, it could just be my personal interpretation, but I always believed the duty of naming kittens was the mother's choice, and hers alone. It makes sense, considering she's putting all the work in when it comes to raising the kits. The toms are just sitting around being pleased with themselves or strutting about with Proud Father poses.

I always assumed that Sandstorm had named the kittens. That's partly why I was so puzzled about Leafpool. Sandstorm should know better than that, and I couldn't imagine her naming her kit after the cat Firestar had dreams about.

[leah]

I always assumed that Sandstorm had named the kittens. That's partly why I was so puzzled about Leafpool. Sandstorm should know better than that, and I couldn't imagine her naming her kit after the cat Firestar had dreams about.

She did. Sandstorm told Firestar the names of the two kits, and pointed out Squirrelkit and Leafkit individually. She named them, but Firestar, the idiot that he is, assumed the worst. He thought Squirrelkit was named after her freaking tail and Leafkit was named after two kits. That's why I said "he has no idea what Warrior names even mean", because Sandstorm never actually says out loud why she gave the kits the names she did. Firestar just assumed crap.

[saphirabunny]

Sept 29, 2012 12:01:57 GMT -6 leah said:

She wasn't, she was named Leaf. She was a kittypet. A Skyclan wannabe if you will.

I’d just like to point out that Leaf was a loner, not a kittypet. When Firestar first brought SkyClan back, He only recruited four kittypets(Cherry, Borris, Hutch and Echo). More kittypets joined later, recruited by Leafstar in that stupid "day-warrior" thing which totally needs another post to discuss/rant about. The rest of the cats Firestar himself recruited were loners that lived in the area who he convinced would be better off if they lived in a group. Firestar gave Leaf, a tabby, the warrior name "Leafdapple"... really Firestar?

The whole idea of naming one of their kits after a cat they barely knew is still stupid, but I am more inclined to think that naming her after Leafstar has some basis since Leafstar and Leafpool actually have similar pelt colors.