Hogwarts Legacy: How Did Hogwarts Get Its Name

Hogwarts Legacy is set in the castle that gave it its namesake. A hugely significant part of the Harry Potter universe, the castle has a deep lore and history that dates back over 1,000 years; as too does its unusual and slightly funny name. Though it was built way back in 993, the secrets it holds may still not have fully been uncovered by wizards, much less by muggle fans.

When architect wizards were first building a brand new, fresh Hogwarts school, there were four powerful wizards overseeing its creation: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. The castle was designed specifically as a school to teach young magic users how to harness their powers, as well as a place to protect them from muggle persecutions and dark wizards who may have designs to do harm. When it came time to name the school, the most popular theory in the wizarding community is that the name actually has a very literal meaning.

Rowena Ravenclaw Named Hogwarts Based On A Dream

Rowena Ravenclaw standing in front of a picture of Hogwarts

The traditional story within the wizarding world is that Hogwarts was named based on a dream that one of the founders, Rowena Ravenclaw, had experienced. In the dream, a warty hog led Rowena to a cliff by a lake, the very cliff which later was the location the school was founded on. Due to this dream, Rowena Ravenclaw makes the choice to name the school literally in homage to that "warty hog" who helped guide them to the perfect location in Scotland for the castle to be created.

J.K. Rowling's Inspiration For The Name Of Hogwarts Was Actually A Plant

JK Rowling smirking in front of a picture of a dragon in Hogwarts legacy

For muggles looking for a less magical history of Hogwarts name, author J.K. Rowling had a very different inspiration for the school's title. In various interviews, the Harry Potter author has stated that she received inspiration for the name from the hogwort plant which she saw at the Kew Gardens in 1991 before writing the novels. While this isn't as exciting as dreaming of a warty hog leading a witch to a cliff that would be the perfect site for the castle, it is still an interesting anecdote.

For muggles and wizards alike, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is full of mystery, magic, and rumors. The new RPG Hogwarts Legacy reveals details throughout the game of the castle as players can explore it in greater detail while wandering its halls. It could even reveal more secrets about the castle itself, such as the theory that it may be sentient due to its age and the amount of magic contained within its halls. Other events such as the Headmaster's office door suspiciously sealing itself off from Dolores Umbridge lend credence to this theory. That warty hog may have known more than it let on about the future castle of Hogwarts after all.

More: Can You Become An Animagus In Hogwarts Legacy?

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Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

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