List of Earthsea characters


This is a list of the names of characters in the stories about the fantasy world of Earthsea, created by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Nomenclature

In Earthsea, each individual among the Hardic peoples has several names over the course of their life: a child-name, a use-name and a true name. Up to puberty, a person is known by their child-name; at their rite of Passage, at about the age of thirteen, that name is taken from them and they are given their true name in the Old Speech by a witch, sorcerer, or wizard. One's true name is a closely guarded secret shared only with those whom they trust completely because it grants the knower control over the person. A use-name is adopted for everyday dealings. It may be an animal, a plant, a substance or something else. Use-names are not unique; there are, for instance, three different characters called Rose.
Kargs, who hate magic, do not use this system of naming. They have single names.
Dragons also have true names. As a young, inexperienced wizard, Ged is able to bargain with an ancient, powerful dragon on equal terms because he has guessed the latter's true name.
In the list below, true names are used where known, otherwise use-names and nicknames. A secondary list below gives the use-names and child-names of those whose true names are known.

Names

True names are shown in red, use names in blue. Child names, names of unknown status and nicknames are in green. Kargish names are in orange. Titles in parentheses are the novels or stories in which the character appears.
;A
  • Aihal – Aihal is a wizard on Gont, student of Heleth and master of Ged; called Ogion.
  • Akaren – Akaren is a dyer of Lorbanery, who lost her magical powers.
  • Anieb – Anieb is a woman of the Hand, called Flag.
  • Ard – Ard is the Mage of Perregal, master of Heleth. Created Ard's lore-books. A female mage.
  • Ath – Ath is the mage who wrote the first Book of Names.
  • Ayeth – Ayeth is a sorcerer on Semel. Called Sunbright.
  • Ayo — Ayo is a woman of the Hand, on Havnor, mother of Anieb.
  • Azver – Azver is the Master Patterner of Roke, from Karego-At. Means "banner of war" in Kargish.
;B
  • Beech – Beech is a sorcerer of Valmouth.
  • Benderesk – Benderesk is Lord of the Terrenon in Osskil, husband of Serret.
  • Blackbeard – Blackbeard is a mage, descendant of the Sealords of Pendor, who challenges Yevaud.
  • Brand – Brand is Master Summoner of Roke after Thorion.
;C
  • Cob – Cob is a powerful wizard who endangers all Earthsea by jamming open the door between life and death in a futile effort to live forever; in undoing what he has done, the Archmage Ged sacrifices all his magical powers.
  • Crow — Crow is a dedicated book collector from Hosk.
;D
  • Deyala – Deyala is the Master Herbal of Roke.
  • Duby – Duby is a eunuch at the Place of the Tombs.
  • Dune – Dune is an old wizard on Roke, friend of Elehal and Yahan.
;E
  • Elehal – Elehal is a mage on Roke, called Ember, partner of Medra, sister of Yahan.
  • Elfarran – Elfarran is the Islewoman or Lady of Soléa, the wife of Morred and the mother of Serriadh.
  • Elt – Elt is a wizard wise in names.
  • Emer – Emer is a woman of Semel. Called Gift.
  • Enemy of Morred - The Enemy of Morred is an unnamed mage of great power who fought Morred.
  • Ennas – Ennas is Great Mage of Perregal, from whom Ard's lore-books came.
  • Erisen – Erisen is a twisted mage and follower of Cob. Called Aspen.
  • Erreth-Akbe – Erreth-Akbe is Hero-mage of Havnor, companion of King Maharion. Erreth-Akbe lived many centuries before the primary events that take place in the Earthsea novels. Erreth-Akbe was a famous hero and a great sorcerer, as well as counselor and good friend to King Maharion. Erreth-Akbe was a ‘dragonlord’, i.e. esteemed well enough by some dragons that they were willing to speak with him.
  • Essiri – Essiri is a gifted man of Havnor, who abandons wizardry for musicianship. The word means "willow" in the Old Speech. Called Diamond.
  • Estarriol – Estarriol is a mage of Iffish, friend of Ged. Called Vetch. Older brother of Murre and Yarrow.
  • Etaudis – Etaudis is a witch on Way. Called Rose.
;F
  • Firelord – Firelord is a mage of great power who attacked the inner Isles as he sought to stop the sun at noon. Defeated by Erreth-Akbe. Thought to have perhaps been a dragon.
  • Flint – Flint is the husband of Tenar.
;G
  • Gamble – Gamble is a student on Roke. Later becomes the Master Windkey.
  • Ged – Ged is Archmage of Roke. Called Sparrowhawk. His child-name was Duny.
  • Gensher – Gensher of Way is Archmage of Roke after Nemmerle.
  • Golden – Golden is a merchant of Glade, Havnor, husband of Tuly, father of Essiri.
  • Gray Mage – The Gray Mage is a mage from Paln who made great spells to summon the spirits of the dead to counsel the Lords of Paln a thousand years before the time of the novels.
;H
  • Hara – Hara is a sorcerer from Taon, called Alder.
  • Hare – Hare is a former wizard in Wathort, follower of Cob.
  • Hayohe – Hayohe is the daughter of Flint and Tenar. Called Apple.
  • Hemlock – Hemlock is a wizard of South Port, Havnor.
  • Hatha – Hatha is a witch of Re Albi. Called Moss.
  • Heather – Heather is a goatherd at Re Albi.
  • Heleth – Heleth Farseer is Master of Aihal. Called Dulse.
  • Highdrake – Highdrake is a mage of Pendor who taught Medra.
  • Hoeg – Hoeg is a pet otak of Ged's.
  • Hound – Hound is a mage gifted in finding and tracking, servant to Tinaral and Teriel.
;I
  • Ioeth – Ioeth is the child-name of a son of Pechvarry.
  • Irian – see Orm Irian
  • Irioth – Irioth is a powerful summoner who loses his mind. Called Otak.
  • Ivory – Ivory is a sorcerer from Havnor who pretends to be a wizard on Way.
  • Ivy – Ivy is a witch of Middle Valley.
;J
  • Jasper – Jasper is a sorcerer of O. Son of Enwit, born in the domain of Eolg, Havnor. Childhood rival of Ged.
;K
  • Kalessin – Kalessin is the eldest dragon. S/he flies Ged and Arren home after they defeat Cob. Once called Segoy, suggesting a similarity or identity to the creator-deity of the songs and legends of Earthsea.
  • Kest – Kest is a woman of Iffish, called Yarrow. Yarrow is the younger sister of Vetch and Murre. The word means "minnow" in the Old Speech.
  • Kossil – Kossil is a corrupt priestess of the God-king at the Place of the Tombs.
  • Kurremkarmerruk – Kurremkarmerruk is the name used by the Master Namers of Roke.
;L
  • Lark – Lark is a woman of Middle Valley, friend of Tenar.
  • Lebannen – Lebannen is king of Earthsea. The name means "rowan tree" in the Old Speech. Called Arren. The word means "sword" in his nation.
  • Lord of Re Albi – The Lord of Re Albi is a pirate-lord of Gont, father of Serret.
  • Licky — Licky is a slavemaster at the Samory mines in Havnor, servant of Tinaral.
  • Littleash — Littleash is the brother of Rose, uncle of Medra, from Endlane in Havnor.
  • Losen – Losen is 'king' or warlord of Havnor in the Dark Years.
;M
  • Maharion – Maharion is the last king of Earthsea before Lebannen
  • Manan – Manan is a eunuch at the Place of the Tombs of Atuan.
  • Mebbeth – Mebbeth is a priestess at the Place of the Tombs.
  • Mead — Mead is a woman of the Hand on Havnor, sister of Ayo.
  • Medra – Medra is the first Master Finder and Doorkeeper of Roke. Called Otter and Tern.
  • Mevre – Mevre is a witch on Taon, married to Hara, called Lily.
  • Morred – Morred is the Mage-King of Enlad, ancestor of some of the kings of Earthsea. Also known as "The Young King".
  • Murre – Murre is the younger brother of Estarriol and Kest.
;N
  • Nemmerle – Nemmerle is Archmage of Roke when Ged is young. Formerly the Master Patterner.
  • Nereger – Nereger is a mage of Paln.
  • Nesty — Nesty is a woman from Firn, in Havnor
;O
  • Onyx – Onyx is a wizard of Roke
  • Orm – Orm is a dragon of the West Reach. Slayer of Erreth-Akbe.
  • Orm Embar – Orm Embar is a powerful dragon of the West Reach descended from Orm. Frees Ged to overcome Cob, sacrificing himself in order to crush Cob's body.
  • Orm Irian – Orm Irian is a dragon-woman. Called Dragonfly.
;P
  • Pechvarry – Pechvarry is a boatmaker of the Ninety Isles. He befriends Ged when Ged first arrives. Ged fails to save his sick son Ioeth.
  • Penthe – Penthe is a trainee priestess at the Place of the Tombs. Friend of Tenar.
;R
  • Red Mage of Ark
  • Rose — Rose is the mother of Medra.
  • Rose – Rose is a woman on Havnor, beloved of Essiri, daughter of Tangle. Also called Darkrose.
  • Rose – Rose is the mother of Lebannen, from Endlane in Havnor.
  • Rowan — Rowan is the mother of Rose, grandmother of Medra.
;S
  • Segoy – Segoy is the creator of Earthsea, from the time before humans and dragons became separate beings
  • Seppel – Seppel is a wizard of Paln
  • Serrathen – Serrathen is captain of the King's Ship the Dolphin.
  • Serret – Serret is the daughter of the Lord of Re Albi, wife of Benderesk. The name means "silver" in Osskilian.
  • Serriadh – Serriadh is the son of Morred and Elfarran.
  • Seserakh – Seserakh is a Kargish princess, daughter of Thol.
  • Skiorh – Skiorh is an Osskilian who becomes possessed by the shadow that is unwittingly released into Earthsea by Ged.
  • Spark - Spark is a sailor son of Flint and Tenar.
  • Sopli – Sopli is a dyer of Lorbanery who goes mad. He accompanies Ged and Arren on their quest, but drowns himself soon after. Son of Akaren.
;T
  • Tangle – Tangle is a witch on Havnor, mother of Rose.
  • Tehanu – Tehanu is burned child, a woman-dragon. Called Therru.
  • Tenar – Tenar is the Priestess of the Tombs of Atuan, White Lady of Gont. Called Arha and Goha.
  • Teriel – Teriel is a mage of Havnor in the dark years. Called Early.
  • Thar – Thar is a priestess of the Twin Gods at the Place of the Tombs.
  • Thol – Thol is king of the Kargad lands
  • Thorion – Thorion is Master Summoner on Roke.
  • Tinaral – Tinaral is a mad wizard of Havnor. Called Gelluk.
  • Tuly – Tuly is a woman on Havnor, wife of Golden.
;U
  • Uahto – Uahto is a eunuch at the place of the Tombs. '
;Y
  • Yahan – Yahan is a mage on Roke, sister of Elehal. Called Veil.
  • Yevaud''' – Yevaud is the Dragon of Pendor.

    Use-names and child-names

  • Alder – Hara
  • Apple – Hayohe
  • Arha – Tenar, when she was priestess of the Tombs of Atuan. Arha means "eaten" in Kargish.
  • Arren – Lebannen, before he became king. Arren means "sword" in the Hardic dialect of Enlad.
  • Aspen – Erisen
  • Diamond – Essiri. For short, "Di".
  • Dragonfly – Orm Irian.
  • Dulse – Heleth
  • Duny – child-name of Ged
  • Early – Teriel
  • Ember – Elehal
  • Flag – Anieb
  • Gelluk – Tinaral: an Osskilian name.
  • Gift – Emer
  • Goha – Tenar, after she had settled on Gont. Goha is a word for a white web-spinning spider in Hardic.
  • Gully – Irioth. Transient use-name.
  • Hawk – Ged, when he sailed the South Reach in disguise.
  • Kelub – Ged, when he rowed on an Osskilian galley. Kelub means "red" in Osskilian.
  • Lily – Mevre
  • Moss – Hatha
  • Ogion – Aihal. Ogion means "fir-cone" in Hardic.
  • Otak – Irioth
  • Otter – Medra, during his youth in Havnor.
  • Rose – Etaudis.
  • Silence – Aihal, when he was serving Heleth.
  • Sparrowhawk – Ged
  • Sunbright – Ayeth
  • Tern – Medra, when he dwelt in Roke.
  • Therru – Tehanu. Therru means "burning" or "flaming" in Kargish.
  • Underhill – Yevaud, when he dwelt on Sattins island.
  • Veil – Yahan
  • Vetch – Estarriol
  • Yarrow – '''Kest'''

    Erreth-Akbe

Introduced in A Wizard of Earthsea, Erreth-Akbe is one of the – and possibly the most important human – characters in the historical back-story of the Earthsea novels.
Erreth-Akbe lived many centuries before the primary events that take place in the Earthsea novels. Erreth-Akbe was a famous hero and a great sorcerer, as well as counselor and good friend to King Maharion. Erreth-Akbe was a ‘dragonlord’, i.e. esteemed well enough by some dragons that they were willing to speak with him.
Erreth-Akbe gained undying fame when he fought and defeated the Firelord, a being of immense power who sought to conquer the lands of the inner sea and stop the sun at midday so there would be light unending.
In 440, he carried the Ring of Morred to King Thoreg of the Kargs, as a sign of peace between the Archipelago and the Kargad Lands. However, he found himself in the midst of a coup, organised by a Kargish High Priest, who broke the ring in half. Half of the ring was passed along the descendants of the Kargish royalty and eventually lost generations later when the last descendants were exiled to a remote unnamed and uncharted isle, while the other half was sequestered by Kargish priests in the Tombs of Atuan.
In 448, Erreth-Akbe fought the ancient dragon Orm on Selidor, the remotest island in the West Reach. The battle resulted in the death of both Orm and Erreth-Akbe.
Later, after Ged found half of the Ring of Erreth-Akbe, he met the dragon Orm Embar, descendant of Orm, on Selidor. Orm Embar told Ged the history of the ring half he carried. When Ged was an archmage, he met the ghost of Erreth-Akbe summoned by Cob, in the place where the hero died.
The dragons on Selidor and in the West Reach remember Erreth-Akbe and respect him. Ged later said of his meeting with Orm Embar: