How Tom Wambsgans' Name Foreshadowed the Succession Finale

In a show as Shakespearean as Succession, nothing is ever a coincidence. Every shot, angle, and this case, name, had hidden messages—and one message in particular was telling us the ending of Succession this whole time.

One character’s name foreshadowed the season finale—and no, it’s not Greg the Egg. Of all people, it’s Tom Wambsgans.

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In a now viral TikTok video, baby name website Nameberry gave us a breakdown of the etymology of the most important character names in the show—then accurately predicted how Succession would end. The answer was in front of us this whole time.

@nameberry.com Do the names on Succession reveal the show’s ending? #succession #hbomax #tomwambsgans #billwambsganss #shivroy #successionhbo #successiontok #successionfinale #babynames #nameberry ? Epic Inspiration - DM Production

While Tom’s first name is as bland as they come, it’s his last name that held the key. Wambsgans, a rare German last name, tentatively translates to a goose (“sans”) with a big paunch or big belly (“samba”). It could be a hint at Shiv’s pregnancy, or it could be reference to Tom’s reputation as an empty suit.

But the most compelling story behind the name Wambsgans is the famous athlete who shared the same last name. In the 1920s, a baseball player by the name of Bill Wambsganss completed the only unassisted triply play in World Series history. In layman’s terms, that means that Bill Wambsganss made a strategic play in a baseball game that resulted in three outs.

Photo by HBO.

Meanwhile, Tom Wambsgans made a similar play of his own that killed three players from the game. In one full swoop, Tom Wambsgans outplayed all three Roy siblings, including his wife, and came out on top.

Not too shabby, Wambsgans.

Succession has always been poetic, but this season finale proves just how ingenious it’s been this whole time.