Meaningful Name/Video Games: Difference between revisions

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*** The 'X' itself having a meaning: It signifies Xehanort's obsession with the χ-Blade, the memories present within Xemnas, his Nobody.

*** Then there's Xion, whose name is loaded with double meanings. There's the first (phonetic) part of her name, ''shio,'' which means ''tide'', and is another call back to Kairi. {{spoiler|This is a [[Red Herring]]: she's not connected to Kairi like Namine is, but rather she's an imperfect copy of Sora's memories and therefore takes on Kairi's form. Then there's the references to ''scion'', meaning ''heir'', as well as her original name: '''No. i'''. As in the ''[[Ret Gone|imaginary number.]]''}}

** ''[[Birth By Sleep]]'' gave us Terra, Ventus, and Aqua, who have the "land, sky, sea" [[Theme Naming]] going on again, only this time in Latin instead of Japanese. Not only do their Command Styles, Keyblades and attacks [[Blow You Away|reflect]] [[Dishing Out Dirt|their]] [[Making a Splash|namesakes]], but their stories also reflect Sora, Riku and Kairi's in some ways. Terra is the eldest, and [[Anti Hero|like Riku]], is struggling with his inner darkness. {{spoiler|He also winds up [[Grand Theft Me|body-snatched]] by Master Xehanort, and eventually becomes the person whose Heartless would take over Riku. He also bequeathed to a young Riku the power of the Keyblade.}} Ven is the chipper, upbeat cute little boy whose friends mean everything to him. {{spoiler|1=He later fights his [[Enemy Without|literal darkside]] at the end of game, much like Roxas and Sora did at the beginning of ''KH1'' and ''KH2''. His heart is also linked to Sora, and has been ever since Sora was very, very young. Said heart currently sleeps within Sora, and gave Roxas, Sora's Nobody, Ven's face and voice}} Aqua is the level-headed of the two and often helps hold the trio together. {{spoiler|1=She finished the game lost in the Realm of Darkness; the same one that Kairi's letter helped Sora and Riku out of at the end of ''KH2''. Aqua is also the only one of Birth by Sleep's [[Power Trio]] who met little Kairi, and inadvertently gave Kairi the power of the Keyblade.}}

** ''[[Birth By Sleep]]'' gave us Terra, Ventus, and Aqua, who have the "land, sky, sea" [[Theme Naming]] going on again, only this time in Latin instead of Japanese. Not only do their Command Styles, Keyblades and attacks [[Blow You Away|reflect]] [[Dishing Out Dirt|their]] [[Making a Splash|namesakes]], but their stories also reflect Sora, Riku and Kairi's in some ways. Terra is the eldest, and [[Anti-Hero|like Riku]], is struggling with his inner darkness. {{spoiler|He also winds up [[Grand Theft Me|body-snatched]] by Master Xehanort, and eventually becomes the person whose Heartless would take over Riku. He also bequeathed to a young Riku the power of the Keyblade.}} Ven is the chipper, upbeat cute little boy whose friends mean everything to him. {{spoiler|1=He later fights his [[Enemy Without|literal darkside]] at the end of game, much like Roxas and Sora did at the beginning of ''KH1'' and ''KH2''. His heart is also linked to Sora, and has been ever since Sora was very, very young. Said heart currently sleeps within Sora, and gave Roxas, Sora's Nobody, Ven's face and voice}} Aqua is the level-headed of the two and often helps hold the trio together. {{spoiler|1=She finished the game lost in the Realm of Darkness; the same one that Kairi's letter helped Sora and Riku out of at the end of ''KH2''. Aqua is also the only one of Birth by Sleep's [[Power Trio]] who met little Kairi, and inadvertently gave Kairi the power of the Keyblade.}}

** Finally, there's Vanitas, whose name is similar to Ven's and means ''emptiness'' in Latin. {{spoiler|He's Ven's [[Enemy Without]]. Also, the kanji used to spell ''sky'' and ''emptiness' are the same, and Vanitas has Sora's appearance and voice, plus [[Paint It Black]] and [[Eyes of Gold]].}}

* ''[[Darksiders]]'':

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** Related to ''Half-Life 2'', the final revision of a military-themed mod for it, ''SMOD: Tactical'', was version 5.56.

* ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and similar games are rife with this.

** ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' had the Four Fiends of the Elements, who were all named after demons in Dante's ''Divine Comedy'' (Scarmiglione, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia, and Rubicante). Oh, and its traitorous [[Anti Hero]], contrasted with his benevolent counterpart, was named ''Kain''. [[Big Bad]] Golbez was named after Golubaeser, a type of black fly named for the Serbian town Golubac. According to folk legends, these venomous flies were born from a dragon's corpse. {{spoiler|This fits with the fact that Theodor Harvey became Golbez shortly after the double whammy of losing both of his parents. Compare that to Cecil who in Mysidia's legend was known as the one "birthed from womb of dragon's maw". In fact Zemus is the one who renames Theodor, directly comparing him to the Golubaeser folklore.}} It also happens to be a name of a demon in a book called "Devils" by J. Charles Wall.

** ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' had the Four Fiends of the Elements, who were all named after demons in Dante's ''Divine Comedy'' (Scarmiglione, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia, and Rubicante). Oh, and its traitorous [[Anti-Hero]], contrasted with his benevolent counterpart, was named ''Kain''. [[Big Bad]] Golbez was named after Golubaeser, a type of black fly named for the Serbian town Golubac. According to folk legends, these venomous flies were born from a dragon's corpse. {{spoiler|This fits with the fact that Theodor Harvey became Golbez shortly after the double whammy of losing both of his parents. Compare that to Cecil who in Mysidia's legend was known as the one "birthed from womb of dragon's maw". In fact Zemus is the one who renames Theodor, directly comparing him to the Golubaeser folklore.}} It also happens to be a name of a demon in a book called "Devils" by J. Charles Wall.

** ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'' had its [[Affably Evil]] [[The Dragon|Dragon]], Gilgamesh, named after the legendary Sumerian hero; [[Big Bad]] Exdeath/X-Death/Ex-Death seems a lot less cheesy given his name was probably meant to be ''"Exodus"''.

** ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' has a [[Nietzsche Wannabe|nihilistic villain]] named [[Franz Kafka|Kefka]].

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** The name of the series itself was a reference to the fact that the very first game in the series was created by Squaresoft as a last ditch effort to save Squaresoft from becoming bankrupt.

* Four of the five members of the terrorist group Odessa in ''[[Wild Arms 2 (Video Game)|Wild Arms 2]]'' were collectively known as Cocytus, which was Dante's name for the ninth (and lowest) circle of Hell. The members themselves were named for sections of that same circle (Antenora, Caina, Judecca, and Ptolomea).

* The name of the ''[[Dead Space (Franchise)|Dead Space]]'''s protagonist: [[Isaac Asimov]] + [[Arthur C Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] = Isaac Clarke.

* The name of the ''[[Dead Space (Franchise)|Dead Space]]'''s protagonist: [[Isaac Asimov]] + [[Arthur C. Clarke (Creator)|Arthur C. Clarke]] = Isaac Clarke.

** Plus, his parents are [[Poul Anderson|Poul]] and [[Octavia Butler|Octavia]].

* In ''[[Bio Shock]]'', the name of the leader of the city of Rapture - Andrew Ryan - is an anagram of "Ayn Rand" with a few extra letters added. The names of several other characters are also references to Ayn Rand's writings.

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** "Naomi" itself is a name in both Japanese and English (by way of Hebrew), and since Naomi's cover story was that she was half Japanese, this makes sense. Also, Project MKNAOMI was the name of a CIA program about using viruses as weapons, giving a big hint to her role in the plot as well as continuing the military [[Theme Naming]] of many of the characters.

** And the rest. Campbell beats us over the head with it in the first game in case we don't get it: "Psycho Mantis, with his powerful psychic abilities; Sniper Wolf, a beautiful and deadly sharpshooter; Revolver Ocelot, expert in interrogation and a formidable gunfighter". He's called ''revolver'' and he's a gunfighter? Seriously, Roy? It's a good thing you're around to tell us these things.

** ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty]]'' starts off with a Dave, being backed-up by a Hal, aboard a ship called the Discovery, using a computer called, if you're good at reading machine code, [[Spell My Name With an S|Monorith]]. Then, when the ship sinks, we're introduced to a young couple named Jack and Rose. If it wasn't movies [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic|it would be symbolic]], or something.

** ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty]]'' starts off with a Dave, being backed-up by a Hal, aboard a ship called the Discovery, using a computer called, if you're good at reading machine code, [[Spell My Name With an "S"|Monorith]]. Then, when the ship sinks, we're introduced to a young couple named Jack and Rose. If it wasn't movies [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic|it would be symbolic]], or something.

** Vamp appears to be a subversion... at first. Raiden asks if it comes from his fangs and tendency to drink blood (which he ''has''), and Snake answers: "No, it's [[Depraved Bisexual|because he's bisexual]]." This is ''not'' a subversion, however, because that's what the term "vamp" originally meant.

** [[Mad Bomber|Fatman]] is grossly overweight, but his codename is also the codename of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Man Nagasaki Bomb].

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* The ''[[Super Mario Bros]]'' series uses meaningful names for nearly every character and enemy, as well as a good dose of theme naming.

** Some of the Japanese names are this too, Teresa (Boo) means Shy, and there is not even a need to think what their name for Bullet Bill is (killer).

** The biggest one of them all combines with [[Bilingual Bonus]]. Luigi in Japanese [[Spell My Name With an S|(which would be spelled "Ruiji" there)]] means "similar to, imitation of." He just can't escape his brother, can he?

** The biggest one of them all combines with [[Bilingual Bonus]]. Luigi in Japanese [[Spell My Name With an "S"|(which would be spelled "Ruiji" there)]] means "similar to, imitation of." He just can't escape his brother, can he?

*** In English, it's reversed. His name means "famous hero". While that [[Ensemble Darkhorse|is true in real life]], only the "hero" part is true in the games.

** From ''[[Super Paper Mario (Video Game)|Super Paper Mario]]'':

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*** Ike, being short for Issac, can signify the importance of his parentage. Ike may also be a reference to [[Dwight D Eisenhower]]; surprisingly, they have quite a bit in common. The cheer for Ike in ''[[Super Smash Bros|Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' also reinforces this connection. ("We like Ike!" was also one of Eisenhower's campaign slogans.)

*** Soren might be a meaningful name: It's a corruption of the Italian name Severino, which is the diminutive form of Severo, which means grouchy. (See Snape from Harry Potter, above.) Soren is, indeed, both small and grouchy. Soren's original Japanese name was Senerio. Which is part meaningful, part pun. (A tactician named Scenario? Really?) Interestingly enough, in Japanese, Soren means "Russia".

** Another (unintended?) example in the 8th game, the 2 lords wield Siegmund and Sieglinde, named for a Norse hero and his [[Brother Sister Incest|sister/lover]], their wielders have [[Twincest|bit of subtext]].

** Another (unintended?) example in the 8th game, the 2 lords wield Siegmund and Sieglinde, named for a Norse hero and his [[Brother-Sister Incest|sister/lover]], their wielders have [[Twincest|bit of subtext]].

** Ranulf (can shapeshift into a cat) ''Fire Emblem 9 and 10'' has also a subtle one. Ranulf means "raven wolf". When applied to the same system as Beowulf ("bee wolf") mean "bee hunter" or "bear", Ranulf means "raven hunter" or "cat".

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** The word ''"links"'' is actually translated as ''"left"'' in German. So how exactly did Link's trademark left-handedness come to be...?

** Some are obvious, such as Midna of ''Twilight Princess'', who's obviously associated with darkness and shadow ([[Dark Is Not Evil|but is a protagonist]]).

** In a possible [[Shout Out to Shakespeare]], Ingo of ''Ocarina of Time''. Ingo is jealous of Talon's success; Shakespeare's ''Iago'' coined the term "[[Green Eyed Monster]]".

** In a possible [[Shout Out to Shakespeare]], Ingo of ''Ocarina of Time''. Ingo is jealous of Talon's success; Shakespeare's ''Iago'' coined the term "[[Green-Eyed Monster]]".

** There's also Termina of ''Majora's Mask'', a world that will end in three days without Link's intervention.

** Rauru, the Sage of Light, has name similar to "aura". In fact, in ''Twilight Princess'' there is a charatcer named Auru who bears a resemblance.

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*** Ventus (Wind) and his mecha Studium (Zeal)

* ''[[Ultima V]]'' has Saduj. {{spoiler|He's a traitor, and Saduj [[Sdrawkcab Name|backwards]] is...}}

* ''[[Suikoden V]]'' has the [[~~Godwins~~ Law|Godwin]] clan. Who pursue a policy of militarism and [[Fantastic Racism|genocide against nonhumans.]] They also employ an assassin named Dolph.

* ''[[Suikoden V]]'' has the [[Godwin's Law|Godwin]] clan. Who pursue a policy of militarism and [[Fantastic Racism|genocide against nonhumans.]] They also employ an assassin named Dolph.

** Several places in the game have meaningful names as well, most notably Hatred Fortress, built by the Godwins to prevent water from reaching Lordlake.

* In ''[[Tales of Destiny (Video Game)|Tales of Destiny]] 2'', Kyle randomly named a mysterious masked fencer with a bone mask as 'Judas', since he doesn't seem to care about names. Obviously, Kyle never read [[The Bible]], {{spoiler|as Judas turns out to be Leon Magnus, who [[Face Heel Turn|betrayed]] Stahn in his past journey}}

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* ''Pulseman'''s father was the benevolent scientist Doc Yoshiyama... until his [[Face Heel Turn]], at which point he became the [[Mad Scientist]] Doc Waruyama. "Yoshi" and "Waru" are Japanese for "good" and "bad".

* In ''[[Backyard Sports|Backyard Hockey]]'', the character Beverly Backstop is the best goalie in the game.

* If you thought that there wasn't enough of a contrast between the embodiments of [[Red Oni Blue Oni]] in ''[[Devil May Cry]] 3'' ([[Half Human Hybrid]] protagonist Dante and his [[Evil Twin]] Vergil), just wait until you see the names of their trademark swords. Vergil wields a [[Katanas Are Just Better]] named Yamato while Dante brandishes [[Cool Sword|a broadsword-esque weapon]] called Rebellion. Yamato (大和) is an ancient name of Japan that usually holds the connotation of symbolizing the Japanese people and their traditional ways of old. Rebellion hearkens to the Meiji period of Japan, a time where modernization began and some of the old customs such as imperial families and samurai were passed over in favor of Western-style innovations like guns. Now look at Dante and Vergil, their style of clothing, and their weapon preferences. How can that ''not'' be an allusion?

* If you thought that there wasn't enough of a contrast between the embodiments of [[Red Oni, Blue Oni]] in ''[[Devil May Cry]] 3'' ([[Half-Human Hybrid]] protagonist Dante and his [[Evil Twin]] Vergil), just wait until you see the names of their trademark swords. Vergil wields a [[Katanas Are Just Better]] named Yamato while Dante brandishes [[Cool Sword|a broadsword-esque weapon]] called Rebellion. Yamato (大和) is an ancient name of Japan that usually holds the connotation of symbolizing the Japanese people and their traditional ways of old. Rebellion hearkens to the Meiji period of Japan, a time where modernization began and some of the old customs such as imperial families and samurai were passed over in favor of Western-style innovations like guns. Now look at Dante and Vergil, their style of clothing, and their weapon preferences. How can that ''not'' be an allusion?

** In addition, many of the bosses and enemies have meaningful names: Blitz in Devil May Cry 4 is a lightning monster, and Blitz is the German word for lightning, etc.

* ''[[Rosenkreuzstilette]]'' has the RKS Magi, whose first names are all tells of their personality/history, except Dolis Warmind. (Furthermore, except for Zorne Sepperin ([[Spell My Name With an S|Zeppelin]]) and Dolis, their last names are derived from those of actual German game designers. This being a video game,....

* ''[[Rosenkreuzstilette]]'' has the RKS Magi, whose first names are all tells of their personality/history, except Dolis Warmind. (Furthermore, except for Zorne Sepperin ([[Spell My Name With an "S"|Zeppelin]]) and Dolis, their last names are derived from those of actual German game designers. This being a video game,....

* Dr. Vile (Dr.バイル, Dokutā Bairu, localized as Weil), [[Big Bad]] of the ''[[Mega Man Zero (Video Game)|Mega Man Zero]]'' series. [[Complete Monster|Very accurate...]]

* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'':

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** The first town you enter which your character is supposed to look after is called Angel Falls. Near the beginning of the game, {{spoiler|your character falls out of the Observatory into that town.}} Did we mention that Celestrians look like angels?

* Several of the protagonists of ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'' have this going on:

** The most notable example is Kratos and Zelos, the two choices for [[Magic Knight]]: they're named for a pair of twin Greek gods (hence the [[~~Names~~ the Same]] with the protagonist of ''[[God of War (Video Game)|God of War]]''), Kratos the god of might/authority and Zelos the god of passion/jealousy. Extra points for Zelos' last name being Wilder, which is fairly self-evident.

** The most notable example is Kratos and Zelos, the two choices for [[Magic Knight]]: they're named for a pair of twin Greek gods (hence the [[Name's the Same]] with the protagonist of ''[[God of War (Video Game)|God of War]]''), Kratos the god of might/authority and Zelos the god of passion/jealousy. Extra points for Zelos' last name being Wilder, which is fairly self-evident.

** Presea ''Combat''ir is definitely handy to have on your side in a fight.

** The Sage siblings are very smart, and their names before the [[Dub Name Change]] were Refill (for the healer: refills your health) and Genius. (Turning them into Raine and Genis in English is [[Gratuitous English|generally regarded]] as a [[Woolseyism|good move]].)

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** The titular hero, Daigo, has "Raioh" as a first name: it means "King of Lightning" in Japanese.

** Yuki Shirogane, a girl with snow-based magic powers, has her name meaning "Silver(-coloured) Snow" in Japanese.

** Rankerk Hatred, who's the game's [[Jerkass]]-ish [[Anti Hero]].

** Rankerk Hatred, who's the game's [[Jerkass]]-ish [[Anti-Hero]].

** Terrific Forelock, who sports a ''[[Anime Hair|very]]'' [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|long hair forelock]].

** Misa Atago, whose name, written in Japanese kanji, can be translated as "Bawling for love". Her storyline revolves about her making a trip to forget about her break-up with her boyfriend, and actively searching for a new love.

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[[Category:Meaningful Name]]

[[Category:Video Games]]

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