The name Pazpar2 derives from three sources. On one hand, it is Index Data's second major piece of software that does parallel searching of Z39.50 targets. On the other, it is a near-homophone of Passpartout, the ever-helpful servant in Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days (who helpfully uses the language of his master). Finally, "passe par tout" means something like "passes through anything" in French -- on other words, a universal solution, or if you like a MasterKey.