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You’ll be Stunned to Know What the Name ‘Elphaba’ From Wicked Actually Means

You’ll fall in love more with Elphaba after reading this.
Sadia HussainBy Updated:

The critically acclaimed Broadway musical, Wicked, is a reimagining of the classical tale The Wizard of Oz.

This musical fantasy film is actually based on the novel of Gregory Maguirethis: “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” written in 1995. In this novel, the author reimagines the musical Wizard of Oz, made in 1939, from the perspective of a villain/witches. Getting nominated for the Nebula Award, this novel provided the storyline for the musical Wicked and became a big hit on Box Office.

Wicked fans have been left stunned after discovering what the name ‘Elphaba’ actually means. Credit: Universal Pictures

With the fresh release of the Wicked, the readers must know the original novel on which this musical fantasy film is based, contains dark and unsettling themes. The film, however, is family-friendly and revolves around the theme of friendship, identity, prejudice and societal expectation. Although based on fantasy, this mega hit musical mirrors real world issues.

The iconic character of Elphaba, green skinned girl, has long captivated fans. With the release of Wicked, Elphaba, the misunderstood girl who becomes Wicked Witch of the West, is back in the public eye and is once again in the spotlight.

People have been left shocked by the darker themes in the book that inspired Wicked.
People have been left shocked by the darker themes in the book that inspired Wicked. Credit: Universal Pictures

For many, it’s just the name of the iconic character and fan favorite. However, the iconic green protagonist has sparked intrigue for the peculiarity and the origin of her name. What if you get to know there is a deeper meaning to the unusual name Elphaba?

Many fans were stunned to find out the fascinating name Elphaba has a meaningful connection to the author of The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum.

The name Elphaba, the iconic character from Wicked, has long intrigued fans of the beloved Broadway musical, and with the movie’s release, it’s back in the public eye.
The name Elphaba, the iconic character from Wicked, has long intrigued fans of the beloved Broadway musical, and with the movie’s release, it’s back in the public eye. Credit: Universal Pictures

Gregory Maguire, the author of the novel which inspired the musical, invented the name as a nod to Baum’s legacy. The name “Elphaba” is a clever homage to L Frank Baum by combining the phonetic sounds of his initials L.F.B, which sounds as ell fa ba.

Before choosing the name Elphaba, Gregory played with the initials of the author, L Frank Baum, trying different combinations. In an interview, he explained,

“I invented the name by playing with the initials of the author, Lyman Frank Baum. I tried Lafaba, I tried Lafeyba. And then I tried Elphaba. As soon as I got Elphaba, I thought, oh, that’s it.”

This revelation has amazed fans who previously thought Elphaba is just a random made up name. Highlighting the creativity behind creation of this name, Gregory has added another layer of depth to the character.