Miss Piggy’s name is short for “Pigathius,” from the Greek meaning “river of passion.”
Not unlike Madonna, Lady Gaga, and other world-famous divas, Miss Piggy has never deigned to use her full name among us mere mortals. If she had, more of us might know that her first name is actually short for “Pigathius,” which comes from a Greek word supposedly meaning “river of passion.” Given her tumultuous love affair with a certain green frog, it’s more than fitting. Her last name, meanwhile, is Lee, which Muppets creator Jim Henson referenced in a 1974 note describing her as “delicate and lovely” (accurate).
Said note also revealed her original love interest: Hamilton Pigg, who, despite belonging to the same species, is also “cigar smoking — the epitome of grossness,” according to Henson. It’s no wonder their romance didn’t last as long as that of Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog. The two have been the most famous Muppets for decades, appearing in all manner of TV shows, movies, and even theme park attractions together.
In addition to his fellow Muppets, Kermit also cares about his fellow amphibians — so much so, in fact, that in 2008 he joined a team of conservationists and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to promote awareness of endangered amphibians by giving a speech on Capitol Hill. A certain red friend of his from Sesame Street, Elmo, had earlier testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee to support federal funding of music education and research. With his puppeteer hunched below the witness table, Elmo sang and danced as he answered questions about how very important music is for his learning and development. That appearance, in 2002, was the first time a Muppet had appeared in an official capacity in front of Congress. Elmo appeared in the written transcript of the hearing in part as “Mr. Monster.”
