--- title: J.K. Rowling Confirms Hermione Theory Once and for All description: J.K. Rowling has finally confirmed a Harry Potter theory about Hermione's name that many fans have long suspected was true. canonical: https://time.com/5399598/jk-rowling-hermione-name-theory/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-09-18T16:04:45.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:54:56.046Z og:title: J. K. Rowling Confirms One of the Best Harry Potter Theories og:description: Here's the true meaning behind that Goblet of Fire passage og:url: https://time.com/5399598/jk-rowling-hermione-name-theory/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt594f536dddce45fb/69893a8a4ee26266c3312e4d/jk-rowling-hermione-name-theory.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: JK-Rowling-Hermione-Name-Theory og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: J. K. Rowling Confirms One of the Best Harry Potter Theories twitter:description: Here's the true meaning behind that Goblet of Fire passage twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt594f536dddce45fb/69893a8a4ee26266c3312e4d/jk-rowling-hermione-name-theory.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # J. K. Rowling Confirms One of the Most Lighthearted _Harry Potter_ Theories Once and for All > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=6207166c-b803-4a18-b0c9-264c4cc19ff8&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1)  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Sep 18, 2018 4:04 PM UTC  J.K. Rowling poses at 'Harry Potter and The Cursed Child parts 1 & 2' on Broadway Opening Night at The Lyric Theatre on April 22, 2018 in New York City. J.K. Rowling poses at 'Harry Potter and The Cursed Child parts 1 & 2' on Broadway Opening Night at The Lyric Theatre on April 22, 2018 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Sep 18, 2018 4:04 PM UTC [J.K. Rowling](http://time.com/5371492/j-k-rowling-trump-tweet/) has finally confirmed a [_Harry Potter_ theory](http://time.com/4999597/harry-potter-plot-holes-explained/) that many fans have long suspected was true. The wizarding world author took to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/jk%5Frowling) on Tuesday to respond to speculation that she had Viktor Krum pronounce [Hermione](http://time.com/5206986/jk-rowling-books-tough-times/) wrong in _Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire_ in order to stealthily teach readers the correct way to say her name. “Theory: [@jk\_rowling](https://twitter.com/jk%5Frowling) included that passage on how to pronounce Hermione’s name in Goblet of Fire just to school all of us who were saying HER-MY-OWN like Viktor Krum,” wrote Twitter user Atulaa. Here’s the original quote: --- > “” --- “Theory correct,” Rowling [tweeted](https://twitter.com/jk%5Frowling/status/1041946302215593984) back after a day of suspense, settling the matter for her 14 million followers once and for all. > [](https://twitter.com/jk%5Frowling/status/1041946302215593984) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5399598/jk-rowling-hermione-name-theory/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5399598/jk-rowling-hermione-name-theory/"},"headline":"J. K. 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