"Star Episode VII: The Force Awakens" is less than a year away, and fans have already initiated their tremendous speculation after the release of the new trailer.

That only intensified when a number of collectible cards revealed the names of the film's protagonists. But no character name has created more intense discussion than Kylo Ren.

For some perspective, one of the final images in the trailer showcases an unseen villain walking through a snowy landscape at night. Suddenly he stops, ignites his red lightsaber and the controversial cross guard. First the cross guard created questions about its logic and use. But now the name is catching all of the attention.

Kylo Ren is as odd a name as any in the Star Wars canon, but the reason why it is causing a ruckus is because of the omission (at least for the moment). You see, there is no "Darth" associated with the name. And this does not sit well with many Star Wars fans.

"Darth" precedes all Sith Lord names, emphasizing their Sith name, but also placing them among the villains. The most prominent "Darths" in Star Wars film lore are Darth Vader, Darth Maul and Darth Sidious.

Some have wondered whether Kylo Ren's lack of a "Darth" means he is not a formal Sith Lord. And this has obviously tied into speculation about whether the lightsaber he carries is expertly made. Some have pointed to the flicker of the actual blade and noted it is actually weaker than other iterations in the franchise, thus pointing to weak craftsmanship and by extension and amateur Jedi. This also follows along with some rumors that Kylo Ren is not a true Sith and is instead a follower of a dark Jedi (supposedly played by Andy Serkis) that does not follow the Rule of Two (there are only two Sith Lords -- a master and an apprentice). Since this dark Jedi is not a formal Sith, then maybe he is not training Kylo to be one either, and thus the omission of the "Darth" is logical in this context.

But the most likely explanation for this is manifold. People tend to forget that Count Dooku is actually Darth Tyranus. And yet he rarely goes by that name in either "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" or "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." Furthermore, Darth Sidious is actually never referenced by that title in "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi," where he goes by Emperor Palpatine.

So it is possible that Kylo's Sith name is not what he goes by. Or maybe, in a marketing ploy to keep up speculation, J.J. Abrams and company are simply withholding the name from everyone.

Or maybe Kylo is not a Sith Lord or evil, and the red lightsaber, usually held by those who use the dark side of the force, is simply a red herring in the trailer. Of course, some recent pictures that have leaked online beg to differ, but only time will tell what this all means, if anything.

Do you think Kylo Ren has a Sith name that the production team is hidden? Or is this a new phase in Star Wars lore where the "Darth" will be done away with for good?

"Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" hits theaters on Dec. 18, 2015.