Character Name Dissection

Jack Shepard: "Shepard" relates to Jack's personality as a caretaker and leader of the "herd". Shepherds also have significant scriptural importance.

Kate Austen: References legal positivist John Austen. John believed that the law should be taken literally and should not depend on moral judgement. This is an interesting connection to Kate's criminal history.

James "Sawyer" Ford: references Mark Twain's famous character Tom Sawyer because of the similarity in a con man nature between the two.

Charlie Pace:

Claire Littleton:

Michael Dawson:

Walt Llyod:

Boone Carlyle: References Scottish Philosopher Thomas Carlyle. Wrote a book titled Heroes and Hero Worship which discussed the fundamental flaws of heroes. This creates an interesting relationship to the inspiration for his first name, folk hero Daniel Boone. On the show, Boone's character strove to be known as a hero, earning him the nickname "Captain America", and he eventually died trying to accomplish a heroic act.

John Locke: John Locke was an Enlightenment philosopher who dealt with the relationship between nature and civilization. He believed that in a state of nature, to ensure fair judgement for all, governments had to be formed. This parallels the character who embraces nature and the need for egalitarian organization among the survivors. The philosopher believed in the concept of tabula rasa in which people author their own souls, which contradicts the character's reliance on fate. The philosopher also wrote concerning the education of boys. He believed that they should be kept away from nursery stories and inured to hardships and useful pursuits. The parallels the parenting conflict between the character and Michael Dawson.

Benjamin Linus:

Hugo "Hurley" Reyes: References philosopher Hugo De Groot. His date of birth and death contain for of the Numbers; 15, 6, 16, and 4.

Eko Tunde:

Elizabeth "Libby" Smith:

Bernard Nadler:

Danielle Rousseau: References Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher who had great influence on political science and the socialist movement. Promoted the idea of a "noble savage" meaning that man, in a natural and wild state is born innocent and pure until they are corrupted by society. Danielle could be considered the embodiment of the "noble savage" concept, having lived in the wilderness for so long. After facing criticism in Switzerland, Jean-Jacques took refuge with David Hume in Britain. While there she experienced hallucinations and became extremely paranoid of "plots against him concerning Hume and others".

Desmond Hume: References Scottish philosopher of skepticism, David Hume. David Hume was heavily influenced by philosopher John Locke. He was once friends, but ended up having a falling out with philosopher Danielle Rousseau. Unlike Desmond, David had strong views against miracles. He thought that free will was a contradiction in itself. David also believed that all events are casually determined very much like Desmond. David wrote that suicide was not against God or nature and that people have freedom to do what they want with their bodies, but he didn't consider it in the way that Desmond died; through self-sacrifice.

Christian Shepard: This name encompasses both the Christian religion and the scriptural significance of shepherds from that religion.