What is the origin of the name Moby Dick?

Answer 1

There was a famous rogue bull whale called "Mocha Dick," named after the island Mocha off the coast of Chile. Melville may have changed the name to "Moby" because he was writing a story about a friend named Tobias ("Toby") at the same time he was writing Moby-Dick.

Answer 2

Moby Dick was wrote in the mid 19th century by Herman Melville. During those times the word "dick" was not seen as vulgar or a word used to describe the male genitalia. Thus the name for the Whale was acceptable.

Answer 3

The whale in Melville's story was based on a real white sperm whale named "Mocha Dick', that terrorized whalers around Chile, and the Pacific. Mocha Dick sank many boats, and was harpooned nearly one hundred times.

Answer 4

The name "Moby Dick" comes from the title character of the novel "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville, published in 1851. The name represents the elusive white whale pursued by Captain Ahab in the story.