I associated Pemulis with Polonius based on the phonemic similarity of the names. I don't have the maths background to evaluate the mistakes, but agree that if intentional they "match" with the character's presentation in Hamlet.

Maybe a phonetic similarity with "pretentious" as well

Good point. Although the book isn't any sort of adaptation, so I could see including an allusion to the Polonius character even in a slightly different role.

(I'd also forgotten about the janitors, who are clearly a reference to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern)