I am just curious how the Order of the Pheonix got it's name. We all know that Fawkes is the pet of the founder but, is it named after him, pheonix's in general, or is it named after Dumbledore. Another thing is it might be named the Order of the Pheonix because it has the qualities of a pheonix, it never dies. When help is needed, help will be around. And there will always be new members to regroup.

Well as we learned from Snape himself in HBP, the dark arts are everchanging and immortal. Along with Dark arts comes those who use it for bad, Dark wizards. Therefore, as you have said, the Order will always be there to ressurect itself to fight Dark Forces... going with this theme one could say that because there are always Dark Forces, there will always be thos ewho oppose them, making the Order of the Phoenix, in a sense, immortal like a phoenix. I also think that there is an underlying phoenix relationship with Dumbledore himself, as well as his Pet Fawkes of course!!!

I thought i was the Phoneix is the sign of light so thats good were as the dark arts is a bad thing so there 2 groups fighing each other for victory but cant die out because there will always be bad and good and ne members to each my veiw

This is an excellent question, and one that I believe ties into all of the other titles in the series. You see, I suspect that "the Phoenix" is a metaphor for someone very special in these books. Furthermore, this person is also the real Philosopher's Stone, the true Secret in the Chamber, the actual Prisoner of Azkaban, the genuine Goblet of Fire and the legitimate Half-Blood Prince (with Snape being only a counterfeit). It's all a matter of understanding that this mysterious individual has a bond with Harry that has been strong and steady throughout the entire series, although Harry is not yet aware of this fact and has even tended to avoid developing the kind of relationship he should have had with this benefactor all along for reasons that will also be made clear in Book 7.

"The Phoenix".. I guess represents who they are. And they kind of copyright their name by putting "The Order".. because it sounds bland just like "People of the Phoenix".. So I guess a catchy name.

My theory is that Dumbledore is an animagus, an unregistered one so that only people he trusts and would like to know that he is an animagus will be able to find out. I believe that his animaguc form is a phoenix, which ties in with this nicely because seeing how DD is the leader of the order, techinically they would be following what he says, or following the orders of the phoenix. There are a lot of reasons that believe in this theory, but here is not the time or the place to discuss it. Thats just my theory on why the order is named the way it is! Ciao for now!

I think that too, and actually, this is kinda the place to discuss it, I think he is an animagus and a pheonix but I don't think he is unregistered.
Also, he has a pet pheonix, he was able to communicate with Fawkes, a pheonix was singing the night of his death, notice I said a pheonix not Fawkes. Also when he died, at his tomb, there was a cloud in the shape of a pheonix there. And he is the founder of the Order of the Pheonix.

I just finished watching "V for Vendetta" and there are alot of coorelations bwtween the Gunpowder Plot and the Order of the Phoenix. The most famous person of the Gunpowder Plot was a man named ironically Guy Fawkes. Apparently the purpose of the plot by devote Catholics was to destroy the Protestant Parliment and the regime that had religious, political and financial control of the catholics.

It so happens that our esteemed Headmaster has named his phoenix after the famous political rebel. I do believe that the OotP has been named for the phoenix Fawkes and indirectly after Guy Fawkes.

I agree to an extent, but in 1605 when Guy Fawkes devised the Gunpowder Plot with the Gunpowder Conspirators they wanted to bring down the houses of Parliament for political reasons and freedom from opression, where as the Order of the Phoenix was created to work in, around, between, behind, and in front of the Government (the ministry) for the good of the wizard populi... to fight Lord Voldemort in a sense. I think we can merely brush the name of the Phoenix Fawkes off as a recognition on Dumbledores (and JKRs) part that Guy Fawkes had an Idea, and as we know, an Idea lives on, it can not be killed...the Idea is remembered not the person, and by naming Fawkes fawkes he is symbolizing this admiration for beliefs and ideas in a way no other could, buy immortalizing the name itself in sucha magical creature that can die and be reborn from the ashes. This is also the underlying theme of the Order itself... it, like the Dark Order, is eternal, for when the Dark Side springs up again, there will always be those who oppose it, there will always be that idea, that idea that allows them to rise from the ashes and be reborn to fulfill their ancient task...

and im spent...

~Albus

Its a really good questions with amazing theories. But I don't think Dumbledore is an unregistered animagus. You think he would about to break the law when he wrote a few of them himself? I don't think so.

The "order of the pheonix" is like a order who fights against the Dark Arts. Snape says the dark arts are immortal and everlasting. And so is a Pheonix it burns and re lives from the ashes.

So the ORDER of the PHEONIX

I absolutely think DD would break a law like that, we've seen him break laws in the books before. He escaped when Fudge was trying to arrest him in his office, he made an 'un-registered' portkey right in front of Fudge. He helped Harry and Hermione let Sirius and Buckbeak escape... I think for a reason like this one, the fact that I think he can turn into a phoenix, is worth hiding, it could come in very valuable in the fight against the dark side and he wouldn't want that information getting out to the wrong people, which is why he would keep it a secret.

After the ending in HBP, I have concluded that Dumbledore could very easily be a phoenix. It says (don't wuote me here) that the tomb burst in flames, and Harry thought he saw a phoenix fly by, but when he did a double take, it was gone. I believe that was Dumbledore. And for those people who think Dumbledore is dead forever because of his portrait, maybe he bewitched it or something so he would be in it, but not really. Get it? Anyway, the ORder of the Phoenix could also be called The Order of Albus Dumbledore, or just Dumbledore. Just my opinion.

I think that the name definitely comes from Fawkes as well as the characteristics of the Phoenix.

They are loyal to one another. If help is ever needed, they are a simple call away. They are able to carry heavy load (long shifts, secrets, guarding things, etc..)
More importantly, DD. There is no braver person out there, dead or alive. There is noone anyone would rather back up more (unless you are a death eater of course)

This may have been said in a previous thread by someone else but the name came from the Phoenix as well as carry's the traits of one

(Of course there are more but I'm having a hard time staying awake right now then to type the thread lol)

Well, if memory serves me correctly, DD was the one who founded the Order of the Pheonix. He created it and was responsible for its development. We know his connection with pheonixes and what they represent. I'm sure it was only natural for DD to name it as such.

I think that the whole order of the Pheonix title comes from the main charachteristic of the pheonix, which is rising from the ashes.
The order is this little tiny group, compared to LV and the Death Eaters, and they are deteremined to come back and beat LV. It's the sybolism of the pheonix, and the hope that goodness will overcome evil.

yeah maybe it was named after fawkes because as dumbledore was its founder and his patronus takes the form of a phoenix. there other reasons that dumbledore chose this name because the phoenix can be destroyed but it will be reborn, i think dumbledore wanted the order to be like that whenever the dark force take hold of them but still they will fight because they are still some good in evil times

I like the general hope is immortal Fawkes being immortal thing i think that is mainly it. The needed a name to spark fire and courage in the hearts of it's fighters. And we all know Phoniexs mainly die when they burst into flame. I think at it like this that the Order will fight Voldemort even knowing they could die. But if they do die they will die with the fire and courage in thier hearts. And there soul will mainly live on. This sort of like the Phoniex except it just never really does die physically though i quess it will die eventually because nothing lives forever.
Though of course Dumbledore being founder and his pet is a phoniex i quess that was also one of the many reasons. I found though i never really questioned the name of the Order i thought it was great.

I think the answer can be found in DH at Harry’s parents graves.
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
A phoenix is reborn from its ashes, and does not die. People like Dumbledore, James, Lily Sirius etc. is not afraid of death and will live beyond death. I don’t think anyone in the order would be afraid of death. And the phoenix (and Dumbledore himself) is in connection with bravery, hope and faith. Everything Voldemort is not.
Really, I’ve never thought that much about that name. But it fits perfectly as a name of a organization that works against Voldemort.

phoenixs. aren't they suppose to be "good" magical creatures, (likes snakes are suppose to be related with dark magic) phoenix's are related to pure, good magic.
phoenix's are exceptionally powerful creatures, they are loyal(shown in CoS and when DD dies), brave (also shown in CoS) and also have amazing healing powers(again CoS). all the qualities show that they are part of the good/light side!which are completely opposite to those sly, decieving snakes.
so in a way the order of the phoenix is basically saying exactly what they are. the are an order, or group of people that are defenders of the good, and keep the bad/evil/dark at bay!

I believe that Dumbledore guessed again. He knew that Fawkes only gave two tail feathers and that Tom Riddle had one of the wands made of one and he knew about twin cores so he named it in hope that his guess about the one who would defeat Voldemort would have the other.

It is called the order of the Phoenix because of Dumbledore. Everything about Dumbledore deals with the Phoenix. He has one as a pet, even his patronus is a phoenix. The phoenix is pretty much his symbol just like a snake is Voldemorts. I think it also is something to do with the members of the order not being afraid to die while fighting Voldemort. Where as Voldemort and his followers are afraid of death, since voldemort only cares about trying to prevent himself from being killed or dying.