Dave Filoni Reveals Why It Makes Sense to Reveal Baby Yoda’s True Name Now

Warning: major spoiler for “Chapter 13: The Jedi” of The Mandalorian, season 2. If you have any desire to learn Baby Yoda’s true name for yourself, please do so on Disney+ and then you can come back here. Spoiling yourself is not the way.

In a recent interview, Dave Filoni, executive producer for The Mandalorian, mentions Baby Yoda. Or rather: his true name, and why it makes sense to reveal it now. Or rather again: why it makes sense for Ahsoka Tano to reveal it.

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, executive producer Dave Filoni alongside Rosario Dawson (but mostly Dawson) discussed the most recent episode of The Mandalorian. One of the things he and Dawson discussed was the subject of the ever-adorable Baby Yoda. Specifically, his true name that Ahsoka Tano revealed to us: Grogu.

He Will Always be Baby Yoda in Our Hearts Though

Baby Yoda’s true name of Grogu came as a shock to us viewers when we heard Ahsoka Tano say it. At least, it did for me. I never expected him to be anything more than Baby Yoda. So why the sudden revelation? Actually, as it turns out, Dave Filoni reveals that Baby Yoda’s name is nearly as old as The Mandalorian itself.

According to Dave Filoni, the name “Grogu” has been bandied around ever since early in the first season of The Mandalorian. They’d always intended name Baby Yoda “Grogu” but just couldn’t find a way to do so that made sense within the context of the show. Until now, that is.

Apparently, Ahsoka Tano’s appearance in The Mandalorian had actually been planned all the way back in season 1. It was the only way the producers could think of to logically reveal Baby Yoda’s true name. Ahsoka had always been meant to use her compassion and connection to the Force to basically do a Vulcan mind meld with Baby Yoda. Since they’d be sharing their memories, experiences, and emotions; it’s only logical that Ahsoka would learn that Baby Yoda has an actual name, and thus reveal it to our favorite Mandalorian.

Of course, Ahsoka Tano could’ve chosen to be mischievous about it and made Din Djarin guess Baby Yoda’s name. However, given Ahsoka’s growth and maturity from her early years, this would not have quite made sense in The Mandalorian. Especially with Rosario Dawson’s comparison of her to Gandalf.

Conclusion

Baby Yoda’s true name is Grogu. We don’t know what it means in The Mandalorian for now, but all we know is that thanks to Ahsoka Tano, we can stop calling the kid “Baby Yoda”. But really, why would you? Baby Yoda’s name is perfect the way it is.

Source: Vanity Fair