Darth Maul’s real birth name remains a mystery in the Star Wars universe, and Star Wars Rebels explained why that is unlikely to change anytime soon. The character first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the film that launched George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. Played by Ray Park, the Sith Lord served as Darth Sidious’ apprentice, making him a dangerous antagonist. Despite being presumably killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi in his lone Skywalker saga appearance, Darth Maul survived and became a key figure in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. More to his backstory was also unearthed in Solo: A Star Wars Story, pointing at the fact that he spent time as the master of the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn.

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Through Star Wars canon, Maul was said to have shown great potential in the ways of the Force from a very young age. The Dathomirian Zabrak showcased his skills as a warrior through not only his lightsaber training but also through his distinct tattoos. Though it was revealed that he served under Darth Sidious before being anointed as the Sith Lord known as “Darth Maul”, those wondering about the figure’s origins were given more insight during the animated shows, which also shed light on his upbringing.

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To go back even further when it came to Maul’s backstory, the character appeared in Rebels, which took place before A New Hope. It was then that he encountered Ezra Bridger, telling the Jedi apprentice that he once had a real name, but he no longer remembers it. Having been raised as a member of the Sith, Maul had forgotten his life pre-Sidious. He went by Darth Maul for such a long period of time, it was his only worthy identifier. The Star Wars franchise subsequently decided that the mystery of his birth name actually played into a larger aspect of his character arc.

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Traditionally, members of the Sith receive a new moniker that begins with “Darth” after they have been knighted. As the son of Mother Talzin, the Zabrak male was taken from a young age by Sidious to act as his impressionable apprentice. The boy was raised as Darth Maul, a name he carried throughout his life. In Legends, it was insinuated that he was born “Maul” before attaining the honor of the “Darth” title. Either way, it seems likely that viewers will never learn Maul’s birth name since it wasn’t important to his journey.

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Maul was essentially brainwashed from the time he came into the hands of Sidious and other powerful Sith Lords. Rather than figure out his own identity, he was trained to be a weapon of the Sith as he fell deeper and deeper into the dark side of the Force. Even if Star Wars decided to confirm his real name, it wouldn’t affect his development in the franchise. Maul’s story was never meant to mirror Darth Vader or Kylo Ren’s redemptive arcs, allowing them to reclaim their original identities. Maul was forced to abide by Sith practices from a vulnerable age, and the power of the dark side was too strong to counter.

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Kara Hedash
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Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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