The emotional story behind Obi-Wan Kenobi's nickname 'Ben' (2024)
Is there a canon explanation for why Obi-Wan chose to be known as "Ben Kenobi?"
When we're introduced to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Luke refers to him as "Uncle Ben," a mysterious old man who seems to be hiding many secrets.
Later on, it's revealed that Ben Kenobi is the same man Leia is looking for: The former Jedi Master named Obi-Wan Kenobi. Years later, during the Star Wars sequel trilogy, we meet Leia Organa and Han Solo's son, Ben Solo. While the choice of name may have seemed random for casual viewers, it looks very deliberate after the release of the series Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's very possible that Leia named her son after Obi-Wan, who came to her rescue as a child when Senator Bail Organa asked him for help.
A New Hope isn't the only time Obi-Wan goes by the name "Ben." During Season 4 of The Clone Wars, Obi-Wan goes undercover as the bounty hunter Rako Hardeen, and this is yet another occasion when he goes by the name "Ben." That's not all. If you've watched The Clone Wars, then you know that duch*ess Satine Kryze refers to Obi-Wan as "Ben" in various episodes. This is because the two of them were romantically involved when they were younger, so the name may have come to hold sentimental value for Obi-Wan.
Thankfully, Star Wars finally gives a canon explanation of the origins of the name "Ben Kenobi." Mike Chen's novel Brotherhood details how Obi-Wan was given this name. It comes from none other than Satine Kryze - the love of Obi-Wan's life. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn were sent on a mission to protect the duch*ess, and during this mission, Satine and Obi-Wan fell in love. While they never acted on their feelings and decided to choose duty over love, Obi-Wan loved her throughout his life. As "Ben" was Satine's nickname for Obi-Wan, it's probably why he decided to go by it during his time on Tatooine.
The name "Ben" likely brought back fond memories of Obi-Wan's time with Satine, who was assassinated during Season 5 of The Clone Wars. Now, in exile on the desert planet, with the job of watching over his best friend-turned-nemesis's son, Obi-Wan used the name to hide his identity from the Empire. Satine's nickname worked like a charm as Obi-Wan's identity remained a mystery for several years. He could stay on Tatooine, apart from his brief time off planet on his mission to save Leia, without being noticed.
Even though it's become a joke among fans that the Empire didn't seem to care that old Ben's surname was "Kenobi," the story behind "Ben" reveals a lot about Obi-Wan as a character. By going by a nickname given to him by the woman he loved, Obi-Wan shows that he's much more than the aloof Jedi some fans seem to think of him as.
It also makes us wish that Lucasfilm would someday release a novel or a series that focuses on the love story of young Obi-Wan and duch*ess Satine Kryze.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Clone Wars are streaming on Disney+.
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Why is Obi Wan Kenobi called Ben Kenobi in The Clone Wars? It is because it was the name given to him by duch*ess Satine Kryze who was in love with him and called him Ben when they were alone. He fell in love with her after seeing her on a mission he was on with Qui-Gon Jinn.
The simplest explanation is that Obi-Wan is using Ben as an alias, so that he can hide his identity from the Inquisitors and the rest of the Empire. Even if there are deeper reasons for the name, which we'll get into in a minute, this is most likely a large part of the reason.
Obi-Wan was remembered as a legendary Jedi by the time of the New Republic Era. The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa was named Ben Solo in memory of Obi-Wan. Solo felt pressured to live up to the reputation of his namesake whom he never met, and ultimately discarded the name which he had grown to hate.
Eventually, the two fell in love, and during their private moments, Satine affectionately called him “Ben”. Obi-Wan later took up this name in exile as he knew that he had to leave his given name behind him.
In Legends he planned to only go by "Ben", but a teenage girl eavesdropped on him saying "Kenobi" aloud and he became known as "Ben Kenobi" to the community.
In canon no Obi-Wan doesn't have kids. However, there is this theory where he and Satine had a child together but she hide it from him, knowing how it could ruin his jedi career. This child would be Satine's “nephew” Korkie Kryze…
Only when forced into action did their camaraderie return. When Satine was taken hostage by Senator Merrick, she confessed that she had always loved him. Obi-Wan, despite the situation, confessed that he too loved her and would have left the Jedi Order if she asked it of him.
Ben and Rey kissing. Rey is the love of Ben Solo's life. Initially unknown to Ben, Rey forms a dyad in the Force with him. The dyad is an unbreakable Force-bond that makes them one in the Force, despite being born as two physically separated individuals.
For all we know, Leia specifically channeled her own life force into Ben, helping Rey along and sacrificing herself in the process. That may be why Leia finally dies and fades away at the moment Ben revives Rey and fades away himself. When Ben dies, any tether Leia still had to the living world went with him.
In Legends he planned to only go by "Ben", but a teenage girl eavesdropped on him saying "Kenobi" aloud and he became known as "Ben Kenobi" to the community. Barely anyone seems to know him, he lives out in the desert and Luke, Owen and Beru are the only ones who talk about him - and obviously they know him.
In a book titled Kenobi, the name "Ben" supposedly comes from a nickname from a former lover he had as a Padawan. At this point, it's safe to add the origin of "Ben" to the ever-growing list of things Star Wars fans argue about.
If we're talking about the real-life inspiration for the name, "Ben" happened to be one of the first names Lucas jotted down when he was first cooking up ideas for Star Wars; Lucas probably went back to it when he wanted Kenobi to have an alias.
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