Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one of the most iconic Disney movies of all time. It’s a heartwarming story about love, friendship, and loyalty. Although we all are familiar with Snow White, little is known about the history of the names of the 7 dwarfs.
In the fairytale, the 7 dwarfs live together in a small cottage and work as miners. They each have distinct personalities but the one thing they had in common was their loyalty to Snow White when she desperately needed asylum. This article will explore the names of the 7 dwarfs in greater detail than the movies have offered.
How They Get Their Names?
Not a lot of people know this, but the original Snow White film was made in 1937, the dwarfs in the fairytale were unnamed. Walt Disney, however, decided he wanted to name the dwarfs after their unique personalities, and they came up with a bunch of wild ideas. Some of the suggested names were Burpy, Deafy, Jumpy, Lazy, Puffy, Stuffy, and Wheezy.
Hilarious, but as certain changes were made to the story, the names for all 7 dwarfs were changed to the names we know them by today.
What Are the Names and Personalities of the 7 Dwarfs?
Here are the new names of the 7 dwarfs and the personality they each represent.
1. Bashful
For a shy dwarf, Bashful shows little restraint when it comes to blushing or batting his eyelids. These mannerisms make his interactions with the beautiful princess priceless and cute, as he spends the entire movie blushing and batting for attention.
2. Doc
Doc is arguably the smartest of the bunch and the one to always take the initiative in any situation. He’s a strong leader, very well-spoken, and energetic. When the princess first woke up and shared her plight, it was Doc who insisted that she stay with them.
3. Dopey
Next up is Dopey. Dopey is the youngest of the 7 dwarfs and also the most childish and sweet. In the movie, he’s known for being quiet and for his affection towards Snow White. He’s also the only one without a beard, so that should make it easy for you to spot him.
4. Grumpy
As the name suggests, Grumpy’s the one who’s on the edge most of the time. He is stubborn, short-tempered, always complaining or arguing, and he’s not afraid to have an attitude. But his heart is in the right place, and when the princess was in peril, it was he who brought the dwarfs together for a rescue mission.
5. Happy
Happy is just the polar opposite of Grumpy and the jolliest of the 7 dwarfs. He is optimistic, composed, and always has a smile on his face. Nothing gets Happy down, not even Grumpy. If Santa Claus was a dwarf, he’d be Happy.
6. Sleepy
Sleepy is like that old man who can take a snoozer anywhere. Once he gets drowsy, there’s no stopping him from nap time and waking him up is a task. But don’t let his droopy eyes fool you, he works just as hard as the rest of the dwarfs. It’s no wonder they had to change his name from Lazy (the original name) to Sleepy instead.
7. Sneezy
Sneezy is always down with the flu and the sneezes tend to come at the worst time too. Fortunately, he has the rest of the dwarfs to help him out in his sickness. One time, his 6 dwarf buddies tried to help him out by tying his large nose into a knot, but even that couldn’t stop the sneezing.
Things You Didn’t Know About The 7 Dwarfs
Here are some interesting facts about the dwarfs you probably didn’t know.
#1. In the original story by the Brothers Grimm, the dwarves were not named at all.
#2. The names of the 7 dwarfs have changed frequently over time. In a 1912 Broadway play, produced by Winthrop Ames, they were named Blick, Flick, Glick, Snick, Plick, Whick, and Quee.
#3. During the production of the 1937 film, Walt Disney would often refer to the 7 dwarfs as the “7 little men” instead.
#4. There were over 50 ideas for dwarfs with corresponding traits such as Hungry, Cranky, Thrifty, Nifty, Jumpy, and Biggo-Ego. Many of these were obviously vetoed and never made it to the screen.
#5. Dopey was the only dwarf who didn’t speak, but he was also the most popular because of his distinct appearance. The few vocal sounds he made were voiced by the same actor who voiced the legendary Bugs Bunny.
#6. Happy was originally meant to be a comically tragic character. Fortunately, his character design evolved to make him more cheerful and bubbly, with a fondness for food.
#7. If you watch the movie again, you’ll notice Happy is the only dwarf Snow White never addresses by his name.
The Dwarfs That Didn’t Make It into The Movie
There were several rejected dwarfs during the production of the film. Original drawings by Disney have revealed 16 dwarfs who would’ve joined the 7 you already know had they been approved.
Some of these names might be offensive to modern audiences, although the actual reason why they didn’t make the cut is unknown.
• Baldy
• Shorty
• Deafy
• Tubby
• Swift
• Wheezy
• Dizzey
• Lazy
• Hickey
• Jumpy
• Puffy
• Gabby
• Stuffy
• Nifty
• Burpy
• Sniffy
7 Dwarfs Live in You: Reasons Why You Should Love Each of Them
There is something to learn, admire, and dislike about each dwarf. They are, after all, representations of human qualities that exist in each of us. Here’s why the 7 dwarfs have held a special place in people’s hearts for all these years.
1. Bashful
Introverts, like Bashful, tend to bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world. Bashful’s character gave a reason to celebrate introverts.
2. Doc
Doc’s greatest strength is that he takes the lead, fails, and then learns from his failures to lead better the next time.
3. Dopey
Dopey proved that, at the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. And that compassion is so powerful, it need not be expressed in words.
4. Grumpy
Grumpy is never afraid of showing his true feelings, whether you like it or not.
5. Happy
Happy just celebrates his life and tries to make the most of each day. You can either look at a cup as half-empty or half-full. Fortunately for the 7 dwarfs, Happy falls into the latter category.
6. Sleepy
In today’s world, hard work is not an option; it’s a necessity. Sleepy demonstrates the importance of getting work done while also setting some time aside for resting.
7. Sneezy
Sneezy never lets his illness stop him from living his life, just like every other dwarf. His resilience is to be admired.
A Few Parting Words
Hopefully, the next time you watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs you will have a much better perspective going in.
The names of the 7 dwarfs not only denote their personalities but also their greatest individual strengths. And the combination of all these qualities in humans is what helps us get things done. Each of us should aspire to be more like the 7 dwarfs.