Does the Ender Dragon Have a Name?
The Ender Dragon‘s actual name in Minecraft is simply "Ender Dragon." However, creator Markus "Notch" Persson has suggested the name "Jean" multiple times across social media, fueling a long-running community debate.
The Origins of "Jean"
On June 20, 2011, Notch tweeted the question "Is the Ender Dragon a girl, and is her name Jean?" Fans responded with confusion and speculation, given the Ender Dragon had no confirmed name or gender at the time.
Notch never officially confirmed if he intended Jean to stick. But the name took on a life of its own within the community. Players began envisioning their own take on a Jean-named Ender Dragon in fan art and discussions.
Could Notch‘s Jean name ever become canon lore? While no longer working on Minecraft, developers seem to respect Notch‘s original vision. Current Minecraft creative director Jens Bergensten even stated the dragon could have been named Jean if there was an achievement for using her name.
So while still unofficial, Jean lives on as many players‘ preferred Ender Dragon moniker.
Using Name Tags on the Ender Dragon
Minecraft name tags allow you to display custom names over certain mobs as nameplates. Name tags only apply to these four types:
Nameable Mobs:
- Animals – cows, pigs, sheep etc.
- Utility mobs – villagers, iron golem
- Tameables – wolves, cats, parrots
But name tags have no effect on other entities like players, the Ender Dragon, or boss mobs. Players likely can‘t customize boss/Ender Dragon names as you‘re intended to recognize them on sight.
There are exploits to display name tags on them. But this only visually changes the title locally – other players won‘t see your set names for these entities. Officially assigning a permanent custom name still isn‘t possible.
Ender Dragon Details
The Ender Dragon is arguably Minecraft‘s most iconic hostile boss mob. With unique behavior matched only by her role in the game‘s lore, here‘s an overview:
Stats and Behavior
Health: 200 HP
Attacks: Dragon Fireball, Flyby Knockback
Damage: Easy: 5 hearts normal/10 hard. Healing 1 heart/tick
Habitat: The End
Sounds: Growls, wing flaps, explosions
As the sole resident and protector of The End dimension, the Ender Dragon aggressively swoops down to knock back or shoot fireballs at any player intruders. She must be defeated to reach the game‘s ending credits and exit portal.
Damage Across Versions
| Version | Dragon HP | Fireball DMG | XP Dropped |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 200 | 6 HP | 12,000 XP |
| 1.16 | 500 | 8 HP | ~71 levels |
| 1.19 | 500 | 8 HP | 500 XP |
Mojang often alters her difficulty to balance late-game progression, such as doubling health in 1.9 and adding crystal towers in 1.9 for respawning.
The Ender Dragon in Minecraft Culture
Beyond her gameplay role, the Ender Dragon has inspired tons of community tributes:
- Artwork: Countless pieces depicting her battle with Steve, relationship with Jean name, or mashups with other franchises
- Mods: Custom dragon types and mechanics that build on vanilla boss fight
- Merchandise: Plushies, pins, apparel featuring the iconic floating island arena
The mystery around her unnamed identity has sparked creative expression. Fans advocate for "Jean" because the Ender Dragon‘s complexity and backstory connects players despite being a villain.
While not considered canon, content creators help the Jean namesake persist. If the developers wished, activating some Easter Egg in-game related to Jean could satisfy this decade-old fan theory.
