Names from Severance – Clues into the Characters & Storyline
NO SPOILERS
Severance is a critically acclaimed psychological thriller/dark comedy series on Apple TV, created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle. The show follows employees at Lumon Industries, a shadowy corporation that uses a controversial procedure called “severance” to surgically divide workers’ personal and professional memories. This ensures that employees, known as “innies,” remember only their work lives while on the job, and their “outies” remain oblivious to what happens at work.
Since its premiere in 2022, Severance has become a cult hit, praised for its gripping narrative, eerie atmosphere, and amazing performances. It has sparked widespread discussions and fan theories, cementing its place as one of the most intriguing and unique shows post-pandemic. The names in Severance seem to be very deliberately chosen and provide meaninful insight into the characters and story.
Mark Scout
Mark Scout, played by Adam Scott, is the protagonist of Severance. He works at Lumon Industries as part of the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) team and has undergone the severance procedure, which separates his work memories from his personal ones. Mark struggles with grief over his wife’s death and begins questioning Lumon’s practices, making him central to the unfolding mystery. Mark is definitely “scouting” out the meaning behind the company, the severance, and his life in general. In a way, he is a “mark,” a term for a conman’s victim, if you consider Lumon being deceptive as an entity.
Helly Riggs
Helly R., portrayed by Britt Lower, is a new MDR employee who fiercely resists the severance process. Her rebellious nature drives much of the conflict within the severed floor, making her a key figure in exposing Lumon’s operations. Helly’s “innie” is most definitely going through Hell, and her last name suggests that Hell is rigged. It’s also no coincidence that Helly’s hair is fire-red, matching her rebellious personality. Later we find out her real name is Helena which means “Illumination” or “light,” as opposed to Kier, which means “dark.”
Dylan George
Dylan George, portrayed by Zach Cherry, is another member of the MDR team. Known for his sarcastic humor and focus on earning company perks, Dylan’s loyalty to Lumon is tested as he discovers disturbing truths about the severance program. The name Dylan means “Toward the Tide” or someone who is going with the flow. Until he’s not. George is an old royal name, but came from the Greek meaning “farmer” or “earth worker.”
Irving Bailiff
Irving Bailiff, played by John Turturro, is a meticulous and rule-abiding MDR employee. Despite his devotion to company policies, he harbors growing doubts about Lumon, particularly as he develops a tender relationship with Burt from the Optics and Design department. The role of a Bailiff in a courtroom is to maintain control and make sure everyone is following the rules, which seems to be Irving’s proclivity when we first meet him. The name Irving literally means Green Water, but I have a feeling it was chosen to match with Burt (see below).
Harmony Cobel (Mrs. Selvig)
Harmony Cobel, played by Patricia Arquette, is Mark’s boss and the mysterious overlord of the severed floor. She is deeply devoted to the philosophies of Lumon’s founder, Kier Eagan, and works to maintain control over the severed employees while harboring her own hidden agendas. Harmony, in this instance, is a charactonym – a name that describes the character, as her job is to literally keep the peace among the severed employees. Cobel, in the Old Testament, means “burden” or “heavy load.” She carries with her the burden of the managerial position. Selvig is a habitational surname meaning “willow bay inlet,” however I have a theory it was chosen because it sounds similar to “sell-out.”
Seth Milchick
Seth Milchick, portrayed by Tramell Tillman, is a cheerful yet unnervingly sinister supervisor who ensures compliance among the severed employees. His ability to manipulate and control others highlights the darker aspects of Lumon’s corporate culture. The name Seth means “appointed one” which is appropriate given his position. In Egyptian mythology, Seth is a usurper who murders and mutilates his own brother, Osiris. Milchik is a Yiddish word meaning “milky” or containing milk. Does this refer to the fact that Milchik is Black but navigating a corporate environment owned and operated by Caucasian people? That’s could be one interpretation, especially after episode 2.3 brought focused attention to his race.
Burt Goodman
Burt Goodman, played by Christopher Walken, is the head of Lumon’s Optics and Design department. Burt forms a heartfelt connection with Irving, creating one of the most human and poignant relationships in the series. Goodman is also an obvious charactonym indicating that Burt is a “good man.” I have a theory that the names Irving and Burt were chosen because they have a phonetic similarity to the purportedly gay muppet pair “Ernie and Bert.” Is that a stretch?
Ms. Casey
Ms. Casey, portrayed by Dichen Lachman, is a wellness counselor at Lumon who interacts with the severed employees. Her true identity and surprising connection to Mark become pivotal mysteries as the story unfolds. Casey is a surname meaning “vigilant in war” but it could also represent the initials K.C. Or it could be literal, meaning she is a “case worker.”
Devon Scout-Hale
Devon Scout-Hale, played by Jen Tullock, is Mark’s supportive sister. She is skeptical of Lumon and its severance program, often helping Mark navigate the complexities of his personal and professional life. Devon is a habitational place name, meaning “From The Tribe Of Dumnonii” however I have a feeling it was chosen because of its similarity to the word Devil. Also, in episode 2.2, Mark calls her “Persephone,” a Greek name which literally means “Death & Destruction.” Is Devon secretly in on the company plans? Will she turn out to be a villain?
Ricken Hale
Ricken Hale, Mark’s brother-in-law, is portrayed by Michael Chernus. A quirky and eccentric self-help author, Ricken provides a sharp contrast to the somber world of Lumon Industries with his flamboyant personality and philosophical musings. Ricken unknowingly becomes a key figure in the story when Mark and his colleagues read his self-help book, The You You Are, filled with clichéd insights. Ricken is a patronymic surname meaning “Of the family of Rick/Richard.” Maybe calling him “Dick” was way too obvious. Ricken is a bit pompous but it seems his heart is in the right place. Hale is a surname meaning “strong and healthy.”
As an aside, I believe his middle name is not onomastically significant, but might just refer to the main character a Cartoon Network character from the series Camp Lazlo. In this series, Lazlo is a goofy orange spider monkey, maybe identifying Ricken as the comic relief. Ricken’s book title is “The You You Are” which phonetically could refer to the letters UUR. Uur is a Dutch word meaning “hour.” There are many references to time in the series, and time is lost when the severed employees switch from innie to outie and vice versa. Is the word “hour” significant in this case?
Natalie Kalen
Natalie Kalen, played by Sydney Cole Alexander, is a minor but significant character in the show. She serves as a liaison between Lumon Industries (“the board”) and the outside world, acting as a corporate spokesperson and fixer. She is polished, authoritative, and unwaveringly loyal to Lumon, often handling PR matters and handling issues that arise with the company’s upper management. Natalie literally means “Born on Christmas Day,” so maybe the writers are setting up Natalie to be a savior? Although as of early season two her surname has not been mentioned, the credits reveal that it is Kalen, an Anglicized form of the Irish name Caolán, meaning slender. Kalon (with an “o”) in the dictionary is a word hails from Greek philosophy, meaning the ideal of beauty and moral goodness.
Kier Eagan
Kier Eagan, the late founder of Lumon Industries, is treated as a near-messianic figure by the company. His philosophies permeate every aspect of the workplace, influencing the actions of both employees and executives. The Eagan family is revered by the Lumon employees, even naming their town, subdivisions, and businesses after it’s members. Eagain (with an I) is a computer term meaning “there is no data available right now, try again later” which I find fascinating because their jobs are all about sorting computer data. The surname Egan (without an A) means “little fire” in Irish Gaelic. The name Keir (with e & i reversed) is an Irish Gaelic name meaning “Dark” or “Black.” Light and color play a significant role in the Severance storyline, and also consider that the word/name Lumen (with an e) means light, as does the name Helena. BREAKING NEWS: In the IMDB listing there is an actor assigned to this role: Marc Geller.
Petey Kilmer
Petey Kilmer, played by Yul Vazquez, is Mark’s former colleague and best friend in MDR. In the first episode we learned that Petey left and has requested the procedure of reintegrating his memories. Petey becomes the inciting figure of the series as a whistleblower to expose Lumon’s unethical practices, sparking Mark’s desire to uncover the truth about the company. The name Petey is a diminutive of the male name Peter meaning “rock.” It can also be a homonym to the initials P.D. – which often stand for Police Department. Kilmer is an occupational surname for a person who worked with a Kiln (also firey, like the other references to hell). Giving Petey a diminutive name portrays him as the perfect “bro,” a BFF you can trust. Kilmer also sounds like “Killer” or “Kill Her” referencing the sinister side of Lumon Industries.
Miss Huang
Season two introduces Miss Huang, a new character whose role deepens the mystery of Lumon Industries. Huang appears to be a child (although played by 18-year-old Sarah Bock), adding to the scope of Lumon’s disturbing practices. Huang is a Chinese word that means Yellow and/or Phoenix. Since Miss Huang just suddenly appears in season two, we don’t quite know her intentions or dynamic within the department. Some theorize that she might be a “rebirth” of an outie who had passed. Can’t wait to find out!
Now you can see why I believe Dan Erickson chose these character names very deliberately. Containing a mix of charactonyms and more subtle references, he follows the lead of the great science fiction and fantasy authors including George RR Martin and JRR Tolkein.