The Surprising Story Behind Every Mario Character Name | Video Game Origins

How did Mario get his name? Why is Donkey Kong called Donkey Kong? And where did Nintendo come up with character names like Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, and Bowser?
In this full breakdown, we explore the real origins behind the names of Nintendo’s most iconic Mario characters, using verified history, developer interviews, and original sources.
This video covers:
✔️ The true story behind Mario’s name
✔️ Luigi name origin explained
✔️ Why Princess Peach was called Princess Toadstool
✔️ How Toad and the Toad species got their names
✔️ Yoshi’s hidden “scientific name”
✔️ Donkey Kong’s lawsuit and naming controversy
✔️ The meaning behind Wario’s name
✔️ Bowser vs. Koopa: what Nintendo originally intended
Whether you're a fan of Nintendo history, gaming documentaries, Mario lore, or you love channels like Gaming Historian, DidYouKnowGaming, or Spawn Wave, this video dives deep into the strange and fascinating naming decisions that shaped one of gaming’s biggest franchises.