As part of the development for the original Star Wars film,[d] George Lucas hired the artist Ralph McQuarrie to create conceptual images for the characters. For Vader, Lucas asked McQuarrie to depict a "very tall, dark fluttering figure that had a spooky feeling like it came in on the wind."[10] Because the script described Vader traveling between spaceships, McQuarrie suggested that he should wear a space suit. Lucas agreed, and McQuarrie created Vader's iconic mask by combining a full-face breathing mask with a samurai helmet.[10][11] A 1975 production painting by McQuarrie depicts Vader engaged in a lightsaber duel with Deak Starkiller, who later became Luke Skywalker. Vader is shown wearing black armor, a flowing cape and a skull-like mask and helmet. This early design was similar to Vader's final appearance.[12]

Working from McQuarrie's concepts, the costume designer John Mollo devised an outfit that combined clerical robes, a motorcycle suit, a German military helmet, and a military gas mask.[13] The prop sculptor Brian Muir created the helmet and armor.[14] The sound of Vader's breathing was created by the film's sound designer, Ben Burtt, using modified recordings of a scuba breathing apparatus.[15] The sound effect is trademarked at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.[16]

Lucas has provided differing accounts of how the name "Darth Vader" originated.[17] On another occasion, he said it was inspired by the phrase "Dark Water".[18] It is also possible that "Darth Vader" originated from the name of Gary Vader, a boy who went to high school with Lucas.[19] “Darth” is a title given to the Sith Lords of the Sith Order, such as Darth Sidious (Palpatine), Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku), and Darth Maul. It was widely believed for years that "Darth Vader" meant "Dark Father", even fueled by Lucas himself after the release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, despite contradicting the fact that the "father" twist in that film hadn't been planned when Darth Vader was created.[20]

The names of various Star Wars characters have been altered in countries outside the United States. In France, Vader's name was changed to Dark Vador (pronounced [daʁk vadɔʁ]) starting with the original film.[21][22] Although the names of some other characters have been reverted to the English versions over the years, Vader is still referred to as Dark Vador in recent French-language Star Wars media.[23][24] The title "Darth" has been replaced with "Dark" for other Sith Lords as well.[25] In Italian-language editions of Star Wars films, Darth Vader was called Dart Fener (pronounced [ˌdar(t) ˈfɛːner]) starting with the original trilogy. In 2004, the dubbing director for the Italian-language version of Revenge of the Sith (2005) asked Italian fans to decide which name to use in the film; the Italian name was chosen. However, the name was switched to "Darth Vader" for The Force Awakens (2015).[26][27] In Iceland, Darth Vader's name is Svarthöfði, which means "black-head".[28]