The Seven Dwarfs (of Snow White fame… obvs) are known the world over by people of all ages and walks of life, but mostly only as a conglomerate entity.
People who know these characters individually are few and far between.
It doesn’t help that these little guys all wear basically the same clothes and all – bar one – have big white beards… funnily enough, they’re all round about the same height too, but these are pivotal characters we’re talking about here.
So, let’s pay them the respect they deserve by learning their names and a few other interesting tidbits.
The Names Of The 7 Dwarfs
The names of the dwarves in the Disney rendition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are as follows…
- Bashful
- Doc
- Dopey
- Grumpy
- Happy
- Sleepy
- Sneezy
… But did you know that the dwarves of this classic fairy tale have had a number of different names?
In fact, even Mr. Walt Disney himself had some different names in mind for the dwarfs initially.
If the folks over at Disney hadn’t done any revisions, the dwarfs that we know and love would actually be referred to as…
- Jumpy
- Lazy
- Puffy
- Burpy
- Stuffy
- Wheezy
- Deafy
… Yes, that’s right, people… Deafy.
Thankfully, the folks over at Disney started spitballin’ in the office, had a little workaround, and settled on the much more appropriate names in the first list.
The Seven Dwarfs In More Detail
Okay, so now we know their names (and their could-have-been names to boot), let’s dig a little deeper and get to know each of the seven dwarfs.
Dwarf #1: Bashful
Bashful is a lovable dwarf indeed.
He’s the shy member of the infamous troop, which explains why he’s always nervously twiddling his fingers, flexing a knee inwards, tying his beard in knots, and blushing.
In the 1937 Disney film, he can be identified by his blue hat, yellow tunic, and red pants.
He also has some pretty arresting fluttery eyelashes, so you’ll spot him for sure next time you snuggle up and pop this Disney classic on the box.
Dwarf #2: Doc
Next up we have the not so shy Doc, an intelligent leader of men with many years of experience dwarfin’ under his black belt.
As the only member of the gang that wears glasses, he’s one of the easiest to spot, especially since he has lots of lines in the movie.
You can also tell this sage apart from the rest by his red shirt and yellow hat combo, and, of course, his bossy attitude, which isn’t a fantastic personality trait, but let’s face it… this ragtag gaggle of jokers need some guidance and structure.
Dwarf #3: Dopey
Everyone’s favorite dwarf, Dopey, is the baby of the bunch, and you can tell as much by the stark bald head oft-revealed by the slipping of his too-big, purple hat.
He’s also the only dwarf without a beard.
If that wasn’t enough to differentiate Dopey from the rest of the gang, he has an oversized tunic and is the only dwarf whose ears you can see, and they are HUGE — We’re talking Dumbo grade lugs here, folks!
His nose, on the other hand, in stark contrast to the honkers we see on the faces of his six pals, is a cute, little button.
Dwarf #4: Grumpy
Something of an antihero, Grumpy is positioned antagonistically to Doc. He wears a red tunic, a brown hat, and a perpetual scowl.
Arguing and complaining is his bread and butter, which makes him a little hard to love, but underneath it all, he has a very big, warm heart; he just refuses to show it — Who hurt you, Grumpy?
He has just as much of a sweet spot for Snow White as his buddies, but he keeps it under wraps, betraying his facade only once, as he steals a furtive glance at Snow White after she lays one on him.
In the end (spoiler alert), he redeems his bad attitude by leading the offensive against the evil witch!
Dwarf #5: Happy
Happy is the only dwarf that has what I’d describe as child-bearing hips.
He’s a chunky boy with a big heart and an even bigger smile, one that almost never leaves his face.
He’s enthusiastic, optimistic, and loving, and if you still can’t tell him apart from the others, look out for his rather fetching sky-blue pants.
Dwarf #6: Sleepy
Needless to say, sleepy is the one with the half-closed eyelids and saggy eye bags. He also has a slightly sickly complexion and droopy cheeks.
Something of a narcoleptic, he drifts off to the land of nod at the drop of a hat. It doesn’t matter where he is or what’s going on…
Sleepy needs to sling some ZZZs! Sleepy is the dwarf that I can relate to most, and I’m sure it’s the same for you.
He gets to doze his days away without a care, and that forest green slouch hat is on fleek!
Dwarf #7: Sneezy
Sneezy is white as a sheet and can’t stop… you’ve guessed it, sneezing. The man is clearly not well, but his crew don’t seem to give a single hoot.
They all hang out regardless, although being that Sneezy always lets a honk loose in the worst possible situations, they probably regret their social decisions on the regular.
Sneezy wears a butter-yellow hat, a tan tunic, and brown pants, all of which are no doubt positively Jackson Pollocked with snot.
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs: The Essentials
Now let’s get a feel for the context in which the seven dwarfs are presented to us.
The Nitty Gritty
- Release Date: December 21, 1937
- Genre: Fairy Tale, Family, Fantasy, Romance, Animation, Comedy
- Length: 1 hour and 23 minutes (83 minutes)
- Rating: G
- Directors: William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen
How Is Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs Rated?
- Rotten Tomatoes: 98% (Tomatometer) 78% (Audience Score)
- IMDB: 7.6/10
- MetaCritic: 95/100
The Cast
| Character/Action | Voice Actor |
| Bashful | Scotty Mattraw |
| Doc | John Leroy Atwell |
| Dopey | Eddie Collins |
| Grumpy | Pinto Colvig |
| Happy | Otis Harlan |
| Sleepy | Pinto Colvig |
| Sneezy | Billy Gilbert |
| Snow White | Andrea Caselotti |
| Prince | Harry Stockwell |
| Witch | Lucille La Verne |
| Queen | Lucille La Verne |
| Magic Mirror | Moroni Olsen |
| Dopey’s hiccups | Pinto Colvig |
| Chipmunk and squirrel sneezes | Eddie Collins |
Where Can I Watch Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs?
You can watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on…
- Disney +
- Prime Video
Synopsis
In an attempt to hide from her evil stepmother, Snow White takes up residence in an old cottage in the Enchanted Forest.
Little does our heroine know that seven dwarfs live in this cottage, and when they return home from a day down the mine, they find her sleeping in one of their beds.
Snow White then keeps house for the dwarfs when they head out to work, and all is well until her evil stepmother knocks at the door in disguise and tricks Snow White into taking a bite out of a poison apple.
The protagonist then falls into a deep slumber, which, in a nod to Shakespeare’s infamous play, Romeo & Juliet is mistaken as death.
The dwarfs lay her down to rest in a glass coffin where she remains until a prince happens upon her and wakes her with “true love’s first kiss”.
Personalities Of The Seven Dwarfs
| Names | Personalities |
| Bashful | Incredibly shy |
| Doc | Wise and bossy, but nervous |
| Grumpy | A real stick in the mud, but a good man at heart |
| Sleepy | Lazy (but it’s not his fault) |
| Sneezy | Ill and always sneezing when the gang need to be quiet |
| Dopey | Loveable goofball who loves playing tricks |
| Happy | A real joker with undying cheer |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do The Seven Dwarfs Have A Leader?
Although it’s never stated out right, it’s clear that Doc is the leader of the dwarfs, although, despite his wisdom, his indecisiveness limits his abilities to guide the others.
Are The Seven Dwarfs Related?
In the 1937 Disney film, the dwarfs are only referred to as companions, so we can assume they’re not related; however, in other renditions of this classic fairy tale, they’re presented as siblings.
Which Of The Seven Dwarfs Is The Oldest?
Doc is thought to be the eldest of the seven dwarfs, which is partly why he’s their leader.
How Do The Seven Dwarfs Stack Up In Terms Of Age?
Here’s a list of the seven dwarfs from youngest to oldest:
- Dopey
- Sneezy
- Bashful
- Happy
- Sleepy
- Grumpy
- Doc
Does Snow White Have A Favorite Dwarf?
Dopey’s innocent and fun-loving nature quickly earns him a place in Snow White’s heart.
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs: The Original Brothers Grimm Version
Snow White started out as one of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales compiled in the 1812 publication, Children’s and Household Tales, with the original German title of Sneewittchen.
The tale itself unfolds in much the same way, albeit with a few key divergences.
After a threat on her life, Snow White flees from her evil stepmother and finds refuge in the house of the seven dwarfs.
Still not safe, she leaves the house of the dwarfs and continues her life on the run, so the nefarious queen shifts the focus of her ire to Snow White’s husband, poisoning him
Snow White then returns from hiding to save her husband.
A much more empowering story for girls and women, this prototypical version was in part an analogy for the industrialization of Germany, with the dwarfs representing the oppressed working classes.
The order to kill Snow White, given by the queen to the huntsman, is also class-based commentary, highlighting the powerlessness of the working classes.
The seven dwarfs didn’t have names in the original version.
It took decades of iterations before they’d win their individuality and finally get their fair share of the limelight.
Final Thoughts
Not only do you now know the names of the seven dwarfs, you have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Snow White tale and the role they play within it.
As the dwarf with the most layers, I think Grumpy is my favorite. Which dwarf do you like best?
If you liked this article, you might enjoy our post on ‘Redbox Prices – Movies & Games‘.
I’d like to think I know a lot about films - at least that’s what my peers tell me after I’m done boring them to tears with my knowledge surrounding any movie that comes into the conversation!
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