Stephen King named the titular canine in his novel Cujo after the misreported code name of William Lawton Wolf, a co-founder of the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA).
The True Origin of Cujo's Name
The name "Cujo" did not originate from a mystical or ancient source but from a real-world figure associated with a notorious American extremist group. The actual inspiration stems from William Lawton Wolf, one of the key figures behind the Symbionese Liberation Army, a revolutionary organization active in the 1970s. Wolf used the code name "Kahjoh."
During media reports about the Symbionese Liberation Army, Wolf's code name, "Kahjoh," was frequently misspelled or misreported. It was this incorrect spelling, "Cujo," that Stephen King encountered and subsequently adopted for his terrifying St. Bernard. The transformation from "Kahjoh" to "Cujo" was a product of media error, not intentional design by Wolf or King in its original form.
Dispelling the "Unstoppable Force" Myth
A common misconception suggests that "Cujo" is an ancient Indian word meaning "unstoppable force" or something similarly powerful and ominous. This, however, is false. There is no linguistic basis for this claim, and it is merely a circulating rumor. The name's true connection is, as detailed, to the misreported alias of a historical figure.
The table below summarizes the reality versus the popular misconception regarding the name's origin:
| Aspect | Reality | Popular Myth |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Misreported code name of William Lawton Wolf (SLA) | Ancient Indian word |
| Original Alias | "Kahjoh" | "Cujo" (as the original form) |
| Meaning | No inherent meaning derived from its origin | "Unstoppable force" |
This clarification provides an insightful look into the unexpected and rather mundane origin of a name that has become synonymous with canine horror in popular culture.
