If you've ever wondered why winnie-the-pooh is named winnie-the-pooh

"If you happen to have read another book about Christopher Robin, you may remember that he once had a swan (or the swan had Christopher Robin, i don't know which) and that he used to call this swan Pooh. That was a long time ago, and when we said good-bye, we took the name with us, as we didn't think the swan would want it any more. Well, when Edward Bear said that he would like an exciting name all to himself, Christopher Robin said at once, without stopping to think, that he was Winnie-the-Pooh. And he was. So, as i have explained the Pooh part, i will now explain the rest of it. "
-A.A. Milne
the introduction of Winnie-the-Pooh

...now he goes on to explain the Winnie part which, i think, is alot more understandable since i've heard the name Winnie before. Winnie, it explains, came from a bear at the Zoo that was Christopher Robin's favorite animal to visit...


but all this and still im confused. where did the "the" come from?

then i flipped the page:

When i first heard his name, I said, just as you are going to say, "But i thought he was a boy?"
"So i did, " said Christopher Robin
"Then you can't call him Winnie?"
"I don't"
"But you said---"
"He's Winnie-ther-Pooh. Don't you know what 'ther' means?"
"Ah, yes, now I do, " I said quickly; and i hope you do too, because it's all the explation you are going to get.

-beginning of chapter one
from Winnie-the-Pooh

and still not too much clarity.
i like it that way. adds to the charm:)