Contrary to popular Star Wars belief, Padmé’s last name isn’t actually Amidala, so what is it? As the biological mother of Luke and Leia, not to mention Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) one true love, the former Queen of Naboo is an important figure in the space opera. Played by Natalie Portman, the character is a major player in the prequel trilogy, where fans first learn how she’s connected to the bigger narrative with regard to the rise and eventual defeat of the Galactic Empire in the original trilogy.
While Padmé’s primary role in the Star Wars narrative is tackled in the prequels, she’s also key part in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Introduced as the young Queen of Naboo, she quickly captures the heart of young Anakin during their first encounter in The Phantom Menace, and despite being separated for a decade, he remains enthralled by her when they reunite in Attack of the Clones. By the end of the 2002 film, the couple is secretly married, moving forward with their love affair until Anakin’s turn to the sark side and Padmé’s subsequent death after giving birth to their twins in Revenge of the Sith. Despite being front and center in the prequels, there’s a misconception that Padmé’s family name is Amidala – which it’s not.
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Padmè’s biological name is Padmé Naberrie – daughter of Ruwee and Jobal Naberrie, and sister of Sola from the planet Naboo. Born from a relatively middle-class family, Padmé’s wit and grace made her perfect for public service, resulting in her election as the planet’s Queen when she’s only 14-years-old after which she adopted the regnal name Amidala. This is why fans generally know her as Padmé Amidala instead of her full name Padmé Amidala Naberrie.
Regnal or reign names are used by monarchs and popes after they’re crowned or ordained to differentiate their old selves from the leaders that they will become. It’s somewhat similar to how the use of ruling names works in Star Wars as seen with Padmé, with Amidala essentially only her public name. The Young Adult novel Queen’s Peril by E.K. Johnston chronicles Padmé’s early years on the throne and her quest to recruit her loyal handmaidens who provided security for her during The Phantom Menace, with Sabé (Keira Knightley) even standing in for her.
It also specifically mentions that Naboo is a royal democracy – meaning those who run for office automatically take on a fake name in order to conceal their true identity. By doing so, their personal lives and familial connections are shielded during their reign. It also allows those retiring from office to resume their private identities and live their lives peacefully away from the public eye should they prefer to do that. On the flip side, it protects the governing system from any potential corruption and dynasties as well.
Outside of Star Wars‘ narrative, using a different name for Padmé also helps in preserving The Phantom Menace‘s twist about her real identity. In the film, Sabé plays the Queen’s decoy, referring to herself as Amidala. Since the Queen of Naboo is only known as Amidala, they’re able to deceive people – even Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). As Sabé becomes the face of the young ruler, Padmé is able to stand in the shadows, not drawing any attention to her for her own safety. It’s not until the latter part of the film that Padmé finally reveals her true identity to genuinely call for the Gungans’ help.