What does Blofeld's name mean?

Blond008 · May 2010

First of all, hi to everyone. I've been reading this forum for several years and always enjoyed it. You guys are awesome!

Anyway, the reason I signed up now is because I have a question that maybe hasn't been asked on here yet. If it has please guide me to that discussion. Here it is:

Is there a deeper meaning to the name Ernst Stavro Blofeld?

Since I dont think anything in the Fleming universe is a coincidence and given his background, Im sure there's something revealing in that name (though probably nothing too shocking

) Now I always suspected that Blofeld was supposed to be some German Nazi kind of villain and after having done my initial research into the name my suspicions seem verified. Why?

Ernst = typical German name meaning "serious, battle to the death"
Stavro = Greek origin meaning "Cross" (granted its greek but why cross? I ponder: Germanys military has the Balkenkreuz as its sign and used to have the Iron Cross as a medal)
Blofeld = Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse origin, derived from "Blafelda, Blawefelle and Blauuefelda". Components of "blau" (blue) and "feld" (field) which fits contemporary German to mean "blue field". Now this might be a bit of a stretch, but Fleming might have picked "blo" for the stereotypical Nazi blue eyes/blond hair theme. As for field, I'm clueless...

So what do you guys think? Its possible that Fleming tried to infer other insinuations but to me this seems pretty solid. Maybe you experts know of any deeper explanations in the novels since I havent read any or something that Fleming himself said? Thanks a lot.

Sir Miles · May 2010

Some nice thinking there...probably a bit too 'deep' for Fleming though

)

Ernst Stavro Blofeld...born May 28th 1908 to a Polish Father and Greek mother...he's Polish...not German...although he was born in Germany...a place called Gdingen...which is now called Gdynia - which now belongs to Poland.
The above probably explains the Ernst and Stavro part of his name...as for Blofeld...Fleming belonged to a club with John Blofeld...and his fathers name was Ernst Blofeld....Fleming frequently used names from people he knew....he just made it all 'fit' for his books.

Hardyboy · May 2010

And don't forget who else was born on 28 May 1908--Ian Fleming himself! Quite a coincidence, eh?

thesecretagent · May 2010

I like your thinking on this. Sorry, can't add anything of use - you've done all the thinking for yourself. Good to have a new member who likes to think - a lot of new ones lately just like to sound off. Hope you enjoy it here. -{

Blond008 · August 2010

Sir Miles wrote:

Some nice thinking there...probably a bit too 'deep' for Fleming though )

Ernst Stavro Blofeld...born May 28th 1908 to a Polish Father and Greek mother...he's Polish...not German...although he was born in Germany...a place called Gdingen...which is now called Gdynia - which now belongs to Poland.
The above probably explains the Ernst and Stavro part of his name...as for Blofeld...Fleming belonged to a club with John Blofeld...and his fathers name was Ernst Blofeld....Fleming frequently used names from people he knew....he just made it all 'fit' for his books.

Ok, that kind of explains how he got the last name. But that doesnt explain what the name Blofeld means (as in the meaning of a name) and why he stitched it together like that (after all he could have used a real polish first name and any other greek middle name). If Im not mistaken Fleming actually served in British intelligence during WWII. Correct? Didn't he even have missions connected with Germany? So I figured this Nazi connection might not be so far fetched...I mean to me its obvious that most of his villains/henchmen/evil organizations have this Nazi touch. Most blatantly, most of them are actual German actors. Btw, that real Ernst Blofeld...did he look anything like the Bond character? And most importantly, did he have a Persian cat??

thesecretagent wrote:

I like your thinking on this. Sorry, can't add anything of use - you've done all the thinking for yourself. Good to have a new member who likes to think - a lot of new ones lately just like to sound off. Hope you enjoy it here. -{

Thank you, Sir. Like I already said, Ive been enjoying this forum for quite a few years already.

The Domino Effect · August 2010

Blond008 wrote:

Btw, that real Ernst Blofeld...did he look anything like the Bond character? And most importantly, did he have a Persian cat??

Further to Sir Miles' mention of the real Blofeld. It doesn't appear that Fleming bore any grudge towards his acquaintance Blofeld or his acquaintance's father, so presumbly he just liked the ring of the name and thought it appropriate for his character. Goldfinger, on the other hand, was the name of a famous architect whose work Fleming did not like. Therefore, his use of that name was, in addition to being highly appropriate for the character, almost certainly also a slight against someone of whom he was not terribly fond.

What does Blofeld's name mean?

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