#Sokka is a great nickname but let's be real Leonard is his name

[sunshinewarrior11]

Sokka’s Real Name (Modern IRL AU) HC

Hello, so before we begin on the fun head canons, let’s talk a bit about the character and the culture. In this specific AU, Sokka and his family is based on the Inupiaq people who live in North-most modern day Alaska. This group of people have beautiful and ancient name traditions which span centuries. In the tradition, names tend to be genderless, as you are often named after someone in the family who just died before you. And it can be a term of endearment to then be called with the person who passed kinship term. Say for example (this is not an Inupiaq name btw) your grandfather was named John and he died right before you were born, so now you are named John. Your family and community may call you aapa (father/grandfather in Inupiat) as a term of endearment. This is because you are the atiq (Inupiat concept of ‘namesake’) of someone in the community who was referred to as this. Therefore, the name you are given is of high significance because you are the continuing spirit of your ancestor. Now, of course this changes after contact with Christian missionaries and the wide spread conversion to Christianity. Which means in modern day Inupiaq communities, people tend to have Biblical or Christian names, as well as like with any modern community, there will be names ‘just cause’. Therefore for this headcanon, Katara’s name has been left as it is, as it is a real name with Arabic/Greek origins. However, Sokka’s name is changed because ‘sokka’ (or more correctly ‘sou ka’ そう か and pronounced SO-ka -- bc Sokka is not only a misspelled but mispronounced too) is an informal way in Japanese to say ‘really/is that so?’, ‘I see’ or ‘Eureka!’. (The formal form being Sou Desu Ka そうですか). Obviously, Bryke chose that on purpose because Sokka is meant to be ‘Eureka! Guy’. So what is the proposed modern irl name for Sokka?

Leonard

A bit about the name, Leonard is a common European name with variations between languages. This is the English variation. It is also the name of two famous Catholic saints. Therefore, making it a Christian name. And lastly, it is dorky af, which suits Sokka well. Now, onto the headcanons:

-  young like 6 y/o him hated it bc it was dorky but Kya was like ‘hey, u r my little Leonardo Da Vinci’ which perked him right up bc baby inventor though that’s cool. he also loved knowing that like Da Vinci, he struggled to finish his projects. he was a little annoyed he was not named Leonardo bc he thought that was a cuter name, therefore Kya would always call him ‘Leonardo’. And did he obsess a little over Da Vinci? The scientist artist? Yes.

- he also became obsessed with Leo from Ninja Turtles and tried insisting to be called Leo bc of that (it worked and that’s mostly what he always went by)

- only Gran Gran calls him Leonard, because ‘his name is perfectly good as it is’

- 11-13 y/o Sokka got obsessed w/ Star Trek and OMG LEONARD NEMOY! (this obsession never ended; trekkie for life)

- freshman at uni Sokka tried making call me Len, like John Lennon bc he learned guitar and thought that was a good pick up line (it wasn’t)   

- the only time he calls himself Lenny is when he’s comparing himself to Lenin bc he’s a baby socialist in university and an adult socialist later on lmao     

- his iconic hair cut is inspired by Leo Di Caprio bc he also thought this was a good pick up trick (I mean eh it worked?) 

- Sokka got his nickname ‘Sokka’ while he was on a year abroad (that turned into years lmao) in Japan came from a late night in the labs when he got a Eureka moment that saved the group project and thus everyone started calling him Sokka and eh it stuck and he likes it  

- When Sokka and Suki were dating, he’d always make Jack and Rose jokes because in general he’d compare himself to Leo Di Caprio as pick up lines. 

 - it was weird for Zuko to go home w/ Sokka and just hear him called Leo/Leonard all the time out of nowhere bc most their friends just call him Sokka, even though he knows that’s his name and even calls him Leo himself

This list and concept was created between myself and @mostly-mundane-atla Please check out their page for more information about Inupiaq culture which they lovingly share. They also have a ko-fi, so yeah. Also thank you to @the-hot-zone for giving me more insight into the Japanese origins of そうですか .

#Sokka #ATLA #IRL AU #Modern AU #Sokka is a great nickname but let's be real Leonard is his name #this post can technically be any ship u like #canon Sukka #platonic Zukka #romantic zukka #ur choice #mostly mundane #mostly mundane is not affiliated with the zukka hc #that is just me #headcanon #Sokka hc