u/LocationCandid5761

A common question people ask of A New Hope is why Luke would go by the name Skywalker while living on Tatooine. Not only is he supposed to be hiding from Vader but his aunt and uncle go by the name Lars, so why would he use his “dead” father’s surname? I have a theory that Luke didn’t actually use the name Skywalker up until the events of the movie. When he introduces himself to 3PO and corrects him on what to call him, he doesn’t say “Luke Skywalker”, he says “just Luke”. We actually never hear the name Skywalker uttered out loud until he introduces himself to Leia in the prison cell. So I think it’s highly likely that up until meeting Obi-Wan and learning more about his father, he didn’t actually use the Skywalker name. He either went by Lars and just didn’t say it out loud or maybe what he said to 3PO was literal and he just went by Luke. So it wasn’t until he decided to leave Tatooine and follow in his father’s footsteps that he decided to also take on his family name. What I love about this idea, aside from just explaining away a plot hole, is how it amplifies Luke’s growth in the film. The scene where he tells Obi-Wan he wants to go with him to Alderaan is the exact moment in which he decides to leave behind his adolescence and embrace his destiny. By saying he wants to become a Jedi like his father, he is choosing to honor his family legacy and he wants to ensure the name Skywalker is one synonymous with heroism, hence why the first time we hear it said out loud is when he’s rescuing somebody. It’s also important to note the first time he says his new name it’s to a leader of the primary force trying to topple the regime that supposedly killed his father. It’s as if he’s also doing it out of defiance, as a way to avenge his Anakin’s “death”. It’s also possible introducing himself to Leia in this manner is a way to offer reassurance, as she most likely knows the name Skywalker from stories of old and hearing it means she’s in good hands. This is the type of legacy that Luke wishes to have, not just for himself but his father too. He wants the story of Skywalker to be one of hope and heroism, not failure and defeat. Luke choosing his name is symbolic of him choosing his destiny. It’s the first step of him shifting from being just a simple farm boy whining about power converters to a brave hero that will save the galaxy.