The Simpsons' Name Choice Causes Family Scandal: It Turns Out the Cartoon Characters Have Prototypes

The Simpsons is a real long-runner of TV screens, delighting viewers since 1989. This cult animated series made Matt Groening famous all over the world, although the idea itself was born spontaneously. When the producers were expecting a completely different project from him, the author literally came up with a story about a not very prosperous family in a couple of minutes.

It is interesting that he did not choose the names of the main characters by chance - they all have a special meaning for the author.

Homer and Marge Simpson

Matt Groening gave the name to the main character of The Simpsons in honor of his father - the real Homer. However, the parent was not delighted with such a "compliment", and the creator of the series had to justify himself by saying that the similarity was limited only to a love of donuts. Later, Groening began to claim that he borrowed the name from the novel "The Day of the Locust", perhaps to soften the situation.

Marge Simpson got her name from the creator's mother - Margaret. Groening's mother preferred not to comment on the resemblance to the cartoon character, considering her image too silly. By the way, in the cartoon, Marge has a maiden name - Bouvier.

Bartholomew Simpson

Bart Simpson is perhaps the most mischievous cartoon tomboy, whose name speaks for itself. Groening turned the word "brat" (which means "ill-mannered child") into the sonorous Bartholomew, creating the perfect name for his hooligan.

Although many fans see the red-haired prankster as the author himself, Groening admitted that he rather copied the character from his own brother Mark.

Maggie and Lisa Simpson

Groening gave the names of the younger Simpsons in honor of his own sisters - Margaret and Elizabeth. The creator of the series admitted that he endowed the cartoon heroines with some features of their real prototypes.

Lisa turned out to be surprisingly serious and reasonable beyond her years, as if copying adult behavior. But Maggie remains an eternal baby - so much so that she never said a word throughout the entire series.