JK Rowling Revealed Reason Harry Potter Didn't Name Child After Remus Lupin

Naming characters is a big deal for Harry Potter author JK Rowling, as each one she picks has to mean something. Whether it’s taking the name of a mythological creature, or paying homage to someone else, no name is accidental. And because Rowling is so vocal about her Wizarding World, she’s cleared up many questions about the names over the years.

In typical Rowling fashion, the author shot down one fan who didn’t think it was right that she didn’t name one of Harry’s sons after the beloved werewolf Remus Lupin. Taking to Twitter in 2015, a fan wrote, “It’s missguided to think of Snape as a brave person and yet Harry named one of his children after him.” Rowling responded with, “Snape had his faults, but he was incredibly brave.”

This tweet prompted another user to respond with, “Brave? Yes. Worthy of Harry naming his son after? Eh, I could think of better choices. *Cough* Remus *cough.*” Rowling had a clear explanation for that, however, writing back: “Harry left Remus’ name for Teddy to use for his own son.” Boom. Makes sense.

At the end of Deathly Hallows, Harry saw the real Snape, the version very few people actually knew. In that moment, Harry realized he had a protector the whole time. Snape changed in Harry’s eyes, and he named his son to pay homage to the misunderstood character. So while it’s touching that Harry named his son after Snape, it’s really not surprising.

The full names of Harry’s sons--James Sirius and Albus Severus--cause the story to come full circle, as each name brings together two of the series’ best friendships. James Potter and Sirius Black were best friends, as were Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. By naming his sons this way, Harry paid homage to the men he loved the most. Although Remus Lupin is a close runner-up, it also makes sense for his own son Teddy to use his name instead of Harry.