# Re: The Neverending Story. What is the name that Sebastian calls out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809 "2005-04-23T22:50:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809/1 "2005-04-23T22:50:31Z")
His mother’s name that he calls out to the storm? For years this has boggled me and even watching the movie with closed captioning on, it just says “indistinct yelling.” I considered putting this in GQ, but similar to my “What does the C.K. in C.K. Dexter Haven stand for?” I don’t expect anyone to really know. Is there a script to the movie around? Sorry for all the threads made in a row…but I suffer from ideas for many topics at a time when make them. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809/2 "2005-04-23T23:18:43Z")
In the book, the name is “Moonchild”. This isn’t Bastian’s mother’s name, it’s one he invents for the Childlike Empress himself. I think it’s supposed to be because the Empress has a pale, round, shining face. IIRC, a thread on this subject several years ago led to the conclusion that the name is “Moonchild” in the movie as well, although it’s not really audible over the storm. That may be for the best. Perhaps “Moonchild” sounds better in the original German, but in English it seems like an embarassing Summer of Love leftover. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809/3 "2005-04-23T23:48:36Z")
He definitely says Moonchild in the movie. Once you know that’s what it is, you can hear it more clearly. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809/4 "2005-04-24T00:09:43Z")
KAHN!!! (sorry. had to be done.) ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809/5 "2005-04-24T08:28:19Z")
An [earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=192025) on this topic, in which I give a fairly detailed answer. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-neverending-story-what-is-the-name-that-sebastian-calls-out/300809/6 "2005-04-24T15:11:25Z")
> [@lawoot](#): > > KAHN!!! > > (sorry. had to be done.) No, no, no. It’s “KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!”