performers who wear the mask of time

salve!!! this is luca, one of mike's alters. and yes i am a fictive of luca balsa. mamma mia.

soooooooooo... i was infodumping to my partner about names and linguistics and i figured "why write a pointless essay on names when i could write an even longer pointless essay on names! ヽ(´▽`)/

okay okay so let's begin!!

names and origins and symbolisms

alva isn't actually dutch, it is pretty common in the northern regions and scandinavia. the name can also connect with the hebrew "alvah (עַלְוָה)" which means "his highness" or "rising up". in other languages alva is similar to "alfred" which means "elf".

luca & luchino both derive from the same root—the greek loukas (Λουκᾶς) and latin lucas, translating to "light" or "illumination." ironically, these names are also variants of lucifer, the fallen angel. (¬‿¬) the name can also mean "from lucania," an ancient region in italy. in the bible, saint lucas was a physician. luchino is simply the italian diminutive of luca, with the -ino suffix expressing affection or smallness.

norton comes from "northern settlement" (norþ, north; tun, settlement), and originates from old english primarily. it can also be adopted into a celtic surname, naughton. the gaelic variation is neachtain. gotta love these old english names! (˘⌣˘)

aesop comes from the greek Αἴσωπος (Aísōpos). the exact meaning is actually debated, but it may derive from "Aithiops" (Αἰθίοψ) meaning "burnt face." aesop is most famously known as the ancient greek storyteller and fabulist whose fables have been passed down through generations. i figured that aesop was named that after the storyteller but it could have been for another reason *shrugs* ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

emil derives from the latin name "aemilius" which means "rival," "emulating," or "eager." the name appears in many european languages including french (Émile), german (Emil), and russian (Эмиль/Emil). it gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, partly due to rousseau's influential work "emile, or on education." considering that IDV takes place in the 19th century it makes perfect sense! honestly, emil is such a pretty name too~ (✿◠‿◠)

orpheus comes from the greek Ὀρφεύς (Orpheús), a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient greek mythology. the name may be derived from "orphne" (ὄρφνη) meaning "darkness" or possibly from a pre-greek source. orpheus was known for his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music. kinda makes sense to have him as the main protagonist tbh.

alice has germanic origins via old french, ultimately from the old german name "adalheidis" meaning "noble type" or "noble kind." it's composed of the elements "adal" (noble) and "heid" (type, kind). the name appears in various forms across languages: german (adelheid), italian (alice), and russian (Алиса/alisa).

joseph desaulniers has hebrew origins from יוֹסֵף (yosef), meaning "he (god) shall add" or "he will increase." this name appears across many cultures and languages, including hebrew (יוֹסֵף), greek (Ιωσήφ/ioseph), arabic (يوسف/yusuf), and russian (Иосиф/iosif).

his surname, desaulniers, is distinctly french-canadian and derives from "des aulniers" meaning "of the alder trees" or "from the alder grove." alder trees in european folklore were associated with magical properties and transformation—trees that could bridge worlds, which fits perfectly with joseph's ability to create a photographic world that mirrors reality. his french background (implied by the surname desaulnier... though we all know what he is) connects to the early development of photography.

also a little fun fact, desaulniers is a ghost town in ontario! maybe joseph will become a tim horton's manager in another life. ┐(´∀｀)┌

closing thoughts

the characters literally exist in a time of exploration and cross-cultural exchange, and their names subtly reinforce this historical context. but what's even more striking is how often the etymology perfectly aligns with character abilities and personalities: luca and "light," orpheus and his mythological journey between worlds, joseph and his ability to "add" moments through photography. (i still know what you are.)

i honestly think that the devs didn't pick these names at random, i mean, they could've literally just went through a site of baby names and picked the most popular or cool sounding ones from the 19th century... but to me, it's the kind of detail most people might never consciously notice, but it contributes to the feeling that this world has been carefully constructed. and like i said, the fact that many of these names were particularly popular during the 19th century shows attention to historical accuracy. netease actually did their homework for once (⊙ω⊙)

literally, names are more than just labels—they're our first introduction to a character and carry hidden meanings that shape our perceptions. in a game like idv where the line between reality and illusion is constantly blurred, these linguistic connections serve as subtle anchors, tying characters to cultural histories and mythologies that extend far beyond the manor's walls. (づ￣ ³￣)づ