History Main / RockThemeNaming

SubTrope of ScientificAndTechnologicalThemeNaming and by extension, ThemeNaming. The line for elemental metals would likely depend on how likely someone without a formal scientific education would be aware of the metal's existence, so characters named Gold and Silver would be this trope while ones named, say, Vanadium and Yttrium would be ScientificAndTechnologicalThemeNaming.

[[caption-width-right:250:[[OddNameOut ...and Steven!]]]]

SubTrope of ThemeNaming. Compare WealthsInAName, since a gemstone name can be used to indicate moneyed status.

* The Crystal Gems in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' are named Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, with Steven's mother Rose Quartz being a former member. This extends to their entire race, and each has a gemstone which resembles their namesake and [[GemHeart is their actual body]].

* There are many Latin-Amrican [[SoapOpera telenovelas]] whose protagonists are named after gemstones [[RoleCalled and then give the soaps their names.]]. These are: "Esmeralda" ("Emerald", about a NaiveEverygirl [[spoiler: who was SwitchedAtBirth with the guy who'd become her love interest]]), "Topacio" ("Topace", actually a remake of "Emerald", about a blind girl [[spoiler: who also was SwitchedAtBirth]]), "Cristal" ("Crystal", about a girl named Cristina aka Cristal [[spoiler: and her long-lost mother Victoria]]), "Rubí" ("Ruby", with a GoldDigger {{Anti Hero}}ine), "Perla Negra" ("Black Pearl", about a girl named Perla who pulls a DeadPersonImpersonation to defy the local BigScrewedUpFamily and protect her dead best friend's son).

* ''VisualNovel/JackJeanne'': The classes in Univeil Theater Academy are named after gems. Quartz, Onyx, Rhodonite, and Amber.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': In conjunction with its MusicalThemeNaming, has each protagonist's [[FightingSpirit Stand]] follow this: [[Manga/StardustCrusaders Star Platinum]], [[Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable Crazy Diamond]], [[Manga/GoldenWind Gold Experience]], [[Manga/StoneOcean Stone Free]], and, although it's a little bit of a stretch, [[Manga/SteelBallRun Tusk]].

Compare WealthsInAName, since a gemstone name can be used to indicate moneyed status.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', rock farmers [[AllThereInTheManual Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz]] have four children: Marble Pie, Limestone Pie, [[PunnyName Maud Pie]], and [[OddNameOut Pinkie Pie]][[note]]However, "Pinkie" is actually short for "Pinkamina", which is a nickname for rose quartz[[/note]].

%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
%%
%%
[[quoteright:250:[[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rock_theme_naming.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:[[OddNameOut ...and Steven!]]]]

* Creator/MarvelComics's ''ComicBook/CrystarCrystalWarrior'' is ''made'' of this trope. Names include Crystar, Moltar, Feldspar, Ambara, Stalax, Ogeode, Malachon (for Malachite), and their whole planet is named Crystallium.

* ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'': Gemworld royalty are normally referred to by their royal title and house name—i.e., the series lead is properly known as Princess Amethyst, her birth parents were Lord and Lady Amethyst, etc. Becomes a bit confusing when royal houses have several children of the same gender; in the original mini-series alone, there were three princesses of the House of Emerald, all of which were named as "Princess Emerald" by lifelong Gemworlders (Amethyst would later nickname the youngest princess "Emmy" to differentiate her).

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books, all trolls are named in some way after rocks or minerals. Female trolls may have the names of precious stones (such as "Ruby"), whereas males tend to be named for more mundane minerals or geological terminology (such as "Detritus"). Trolls even grow to look like the specific minerals for which they are named, making these PropheticNames — a phenomenon which is called "metamorphorical rock" in-setting, but which isn't actually understood there. One book, on the other hand, features a troll called Big Jim Beef, which is explained as a "macho" nickname, similar to a human being called Franchise/{{Rocky}}. Additionally, the word "rock" itself to refer to a troll generically is a [[FantasticSlurs rather nasty insult]], though a troll might [[NWordPrivileges call himself Rock]] as a proper name (such as Galena using "Rock Cliffe" for his StageName in ''Literature/MovingPictures'').

* Due to the fact Pokedex Holders are named after the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, the second, third, and fourth generation main characters of ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' use this. Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum all count.

* Due to the fact Pokedex Holders are named after the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, the second, third, and fourth generation main characters of ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' use this. Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald,
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum all count.

Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum all count.

* The {{manhwa}} ''Les Bijoux'' used this in spades. The main character had a LiteralSplitPersonality - he was Lapis, [[GenderBender she]] was Lazuli, and both of them hated prince Sapphire (well, Lazuli a tiny bit less, to his/her confusion and anger).
* In ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura,'' Eriol's guardians/servants, Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon, are both named after gemstones often mistaken for each other.
* ''Manga/PuellaMagiOrikoMagica'': The three stories in Extra Story have gemstone-themed titles.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': WordOfGod revealed that the true names of Androids 17 and 18 were Lapis and Lazuli, respectively.
* ''Anime/LoveLiveSunshine'' has the Kurosawa sisters, Dia and Ruby (Dia's name is short for "diamond"). According to an interview with Dia, it's a tradition in the Kurosawa family to name their daughters after precious stones, though she mentions that it's unusual to be given English names like hers and Ruby's.
* Due to the fact Pokedex Holders are named after the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, the second, third, and fourth generation main characters of ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' use this. Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum all count.
* ''Anime/StarDriver'': Star Swords are typically named by types of gems or stones.
* The gems in ''Manga/LandOfTheLustrous'' are named after the minerals their bodies are made of. The main character is Phosphophyllite, and other prominent characters include Cinnabar, Rutile, Diamond, Bort (rough, low quality diamonds), Antarcticite, Ghost Quartz, and Cairngorm. The only exception to the theme naming is their leader, Kongou/Adamant, [[spoiler:because he’s an artificial creation, and the substance his body is made of (a lattice of hexagonal diamonds) does not occur naturally.]]
* The Stone World Villagers in ''Manga/DrStone'' are all named after rocks and minerals. The only exceptions are Suika, Genbu, and a nameless man. (Although Suika is justified as being a nickname.)
* ''Manga/SkipBeat'': RichBitch Erika Koenji is always accompanied by her three bodyguards/ servants/ henchmen nicknamed Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby. Each has an earring that corresponds to the gemstone they're named after, and the author of the series affectionately calls them "The Jewel Squad." Erika even has plans to add international acting and modeling superstar Ren Tsuruga to her squad as "Diamond" (her favorite stone).
* The Kujyo twins in ''Manga/WastefulDaysOfHighSchoolGirls'' are named after gemstones: Hisui (emerald) and Kohaku (amber).
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': In conjunction with its MusicalThemeNaming, has each protagonist's [[FightingSpirit Stand]] follow this: [[Manga/StardustCrusaders Star Platinum]], [[Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable Crazy Diamond]], [[Manga/GoldenWind Gold Experience]], [[Manga/StoneOcean Stone Free]], and, although it's a little bit of a stretch, [[Manga/SteelBallRun Tusk]].

* All the Phoenix Corporation Agents in ''FanFic/AkatsukiKittenPhoenixCorporationOverhaul'' have a Jewel-based codename, which have been adopted as their actual names in many cases. There are only three that don't: Agent Chimera (Tiger's Eye) and Agent Nightingale (Pearl and Obsidian) consider their jewel-based codenames to be too long and cumbersome for everyday usage. Agent Silk, for reasons unknown, keeps his hidden from everyone. The only person to actually know his is the author, and she's not telling.

* In Literature/TolkiensLegendarium, the {{hobbits}} have an acknowledged tradition of most often naming females after [[FloralThemeNaming flowers]] or gemstones: e.g. Diamond Took, Esmeralda Brandybuck or Ruby Gamgee.

* In the ''Literature/BardicVoices'' series by Creator/MercedesLackey, Rune has a job as a musician at a brothel where all the ladies working there take on names after gems. The Madam goes by Amber, and the other ladies are called Sapphire, Pearl, Topaz, Ruby, Diamond, and Amethyst.
* In Nina Kiriki Hoffman's book ''Literature/AFistfulOfSky'', the five kids in the [=LaZelle=] family are all named after minerals or precious stones. The girls are named Opal, Gypsum, and Beryl, while the boys are named Jasper and Flint. It is implied that this is a family tradition, as they have cousins named Amethyst and Chalcedony.
* ''Literature/TheOrdinaryPrincess'': All seven royal daughters of Phantasmarania are named after jewels: Diamond, Opal, Emerald, Sapphire, Crystal, Pearl, and Amethyst.
* In ''Literature/NightWorld'', lamia vampires often have nature-themed names, including gemstones. This includes Opal, Jade, Garnet and Jasper.
* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's science-fiction novel ''[[Literature/VorkosiganSaga Captain Vorpatril's Alliance]]'' features a gengineered dance troupe whose members are named Pearl, Ruby, Emerald, Topaz, Onyx, and Lapis Lazuli.
* ''Literature/TheFifthSeason'': Graduates of the [[WizardingSchool Fulcrum]] are given [[MeaningfulRename new rock-themed names]] as a nod to their DishingOutDirt powers. Examples include Alabaster, who's [[IronicName actually very dark-skinned]], and Syenite, who personally chose a mineral that [[{{Determinator}} gets stronger under pressure]]. [[spoiler:They maintain the tradition with their son, Corundum.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''VideoGame/TalesOf''
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'' has its main characters named after minerals: Shing (last name Meteoryte), Kohak, Hisui, Innes Lorenz(inite), Beryl Benito, and Kunzite. For those of you who missed it, Kohak and Hisui are sister and brother, and their names are Amber and Jade respectively in Japanese. Supporting characters are named Chalcedny, Peridot, Byrocks, Paraiba... and the old party contains names like Iola, Tekta, and Labrado(rite)... and the BigBad is [[spoiler:Creed Graphite]]. Early-game villains are named Grossular and Kornerupine, while the BigBad's posse consists of Corundum, Clinoseraph, Chlorseraph, Geo Strigau, and Incarose. Look them all up. [[spoiler:The only one not to follow this theme is Gall Gruner, added in Hearts R. This is a hint that he is not from this world.]]
** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'', we have Jade, his sister Nephry (Nephrite), and childhood friend Saphir (Sapphire). In a manga bonus chapter, Jade and Saphir are seen going to school with a young man named Jasper, all of which suggests that these kind of names may be somewhat traditional in Malkuth.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'': Eleanor shares her name with a precious gemstone also called "Eleanor" that her DoomedHometown had previously passed down and guarded for generations.
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', the {{Meido}} twins are named Hisui (Jade) and Kohaku (Amber).

* In the KOEI crossover game ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'', the large boar-like generals (with the exception of Gyūki) are all named after minerals such as Feldspar and Galena.
* The [[MoleMen Mogmas]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' are all named after metals and ores, except for [[OddNameOut Tubert]] who's named after ''tuber'', a type of plant part.

* This may be at play in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', but not overtly. The surname of the Dwarf Noble Warden is Aeducan, from the old dwarven word ''aeduc'', which means either "shield" or "stone."
* ''VideoGame/SonicShuffle'': Many of the Force Jewels have this. Preciousite, Carbuncle, and Barrier Amber are just a few.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'''s Kingdom of Heliodor (itself a form of beryl) contains several such characters, such as King Carnelian, Sir Jasper, and [[spoiler:Princess Jade]]. The OddNameOut is Sir Hendrick, [[spoiler: who turns out to have been born somewhere else.]]

* The Hearthians of ''VideoGame/OuterWilds'' are all named after rocks or geological phenomena. This is in contrast to the [[BenevolentPrecursors Nomai]], who are [[FloralThemeNaming named after plants and flowers]].
* Agate from ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2''. Beyond her own name, Agate's Blade Specials and Battle Skills are all named after gemstones as well.
* Characters from Brodia in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' derive their names from rocks and minerals, such as Crown Prince Diamant (from diamond) and his younger brother Alcryst (anagram of crystal).

* ''Literature/WingsOfFire'': A sizable number of dragons are named after gems, such as Ruby, Tourmaline, Pearl and Onyx.

** One possible exception to this trope is a minor character named Nicki--while not confirmed, it's possible that "Nicki" is short for "Nickeline," a type of mineral containing 43.9% nickel and 56.1% arsenic.
* The Crystal Gems in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' are named Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, with Steven's mother Rose Quartz being a former member. This extends to their entire race, and each has a gemstone which resembles their namesake and [[GemHeart is their actual body]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', rock farmers [[AllThereInTheManual Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz]] have four children: Marble Pie, Limestone Pie, [[PunnyName Maud Pie]], and [[OddNameOut Pinkie Pie]][[note]]However, "Pinkie" is actually short for "Pinkamina," which is a nickname for rose quartz[[/note]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Pearlie}}'' had a mild case of this, with the main characters being named Pearlie, Opal, Jasper, and Sapphira.

* In ''ComicBook/SonicUniverse'', [[SkilledButNaive Silver]] meets a new character named [[BrokenBird Gold]]. They both have PsychicPowers (Silver has telekinesis, Gold has telepathy), semi-identical markings on their hands (Silver) and forehead (Gold) and they are both trying to save their universe from destruction.

** Many rock/ground Pokémon named this way. Examples include Geodude, Graveller, Sandslash, Sandshrew, Regirock, Lunatone, Solrock.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' fanfics often name characters from District 1 after precious stones. Examples include Jade, Crystal, Ruby, Citrine and Topaz from ''Fanfic/TheVictorsProject'', and Emerald, Quartz and Opal from ''Fanfic/TalesOfTheHungerGames''. However, the use of the name Facet [[note]]as in the facets on a gemstone[[/note]] for District 1's male tribute in ''Literature/TheBalladOfSongbirdsAndSnakes'' is as close as canon gets to giving a citizen of 1 a jewel-themed name, though there is a student at the Capitol Academy whose surname is Jasper.

* There are many Latin-Amrican [[SoapOpera telenovelas]] whose protagonists are named after gemstones [[RoleCalled and then give the soaps their names.]]. These are: "Esmeralda" ("Emerald", about a NaiveEverygirl [[spoiler: who was SwitchedAtBirth with the guy who'd become her love interest]]), "Topacio" ("Topace", actually a remake of "Emerald", about a blind IllGirl [[spoiler: who also was SwitchedAtBirth]]), "Cristal" ("Crystal", about a girl named Cristina aka Cristal [[spoiler: and her long-lost mother Victoria]]), "Rubí" ("Ruby", with a GoldDigger {{Anti Hero}}ine), "Perla Negra" ("Black Pearl", about a girl named Perla who pulls a DeadPersonImpersonation to defy the local BigScrewedUpFamily and protect her dead best friend's son).

* Every single Toys/{{Jewelpet}} have names that are named after or are variations of the names whose jewels they are themed after. The only exception being King; whose jewels are made of onyxes.