Where did the name Mario come from?

Where did the name Mario come from?

Today, Mario is one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in video game history. However, few people know how he got his famous name.

In 1981, in the game Donkey Kong, the character was originally called Jumpman. At the time, Nintendo used this as a temporary name, as the character’s main ability was jumping. As the game gained popularity, the company decided that the character needed a more memorable and distinctive name.

Around the same period, Nintendo had a dispute over rent with the owner of their warehouse in the United States — an Italian-American man named Mario Segal. Segal frequently visited the office to discuss rental issues, and his appearance and personality reminded employees of Jumpman.

As a joke, Nintendo staff began calling the character “Mario.” Eventually, the nickname stuck and became the official name. Thus, Jumpman became Mario — and a simple workplace joke turned into one of the most famous characters in gaming history.

Today, Mario is the symbol of Nintendo and a global pop culture icon.