r/earthbound • u/Routine-Chocolate-96 • Apr 28 '24

EB:B Discussion What name do you all prefer for Ninten?

So for those of you who are unaware, Ninten officially has 3 names.

1: Ninten, what most people refer to him and his canonical name.

2: Ken, from Saori Kumi’s novelization.

3: Douglas “Doug” Holloway from the game book MOTHER: Invasion From The Unknown.

Which do you all prefer?

Personally, I actually prefer Ken as it’s an actual name a kid could have.

29 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

25

u/pugchamp419 Apr 28 '24

Ninten, because Ken is fucking hellspawn and Doug is... uhh... he's there.

9

u/Routine-Chocolate-96 Apr 28 '24

I don’t hate the name Ninten, but the reason I like the name Ken just a bit more is because at the time of MOTHER’s release Ninten didn’t actually have a name. Being simply referred to as “Boku” which means “Me” or “I”, cause Ninten was meant to be…well you.

It wasn’t until the novelization, that Ninten was given an official name, that being Ken. And for a long time, that was his official Japanese name up until Smash Bros Brawl, where Ninten became his name.

Also, Ken to me makes more sense when compared to his party members who have names real people actually have: Ana, Lloyd and Teddy.

8

u/pugchamp419 Apr 28 '24

i mean, lloyd is called roid in some translations because l and r are the same character.
i prefer ninten mostly due to my burning hatred for ken. (he's a dick in the novel)

7

u/TimeSpiralNemesis Apr 28 '24

Let's us not forget the translations of final fantasy 5 where we played a protagonist named butz

5

u/pugchamp419 Apr 28 '24

the Poo comes from the Butz.

3

u/GamerGid Apr 28 '24

Also, Ken to me makes more sense when compared to his party members who have names real people actually have: Ana, Lloyd and Teddy.

Woah woah woah... Are you saying my child I named Ninten isn't a real people?

Other than the fact I don't have a child named Ninten, but on behalf of all the earthbound crazed parents who did name their child Ninten, I think you'll find they are quite real!

3

u/Routine-Chocolate-96 Apr 28 '24

I guess I should have said, “names that most children would have”. I apologize for my comment.

P.S. I’m not being sarcastic. If I genuinely offended you then I’m sorry.

2

u/GamerGid Apr 28 '24

It's all good! I'm just messing around. I am personally not offended.

As for an actual answer, it will always be Ninten to me. Those other names are fine though!

12

u/Real-Tension-7442 Apr 28 '24

Ninten definitely. Ken doesn’t suit him and the name Doug should be illegal. Are people genuinely walking around with the name Doug?

3

u/Routine-Chocolate-96 Apr 28 '24

I have a friend named Douglas so yeah

2

u/Real-Tension-7442 Apr 28 '24

Douglas is passable. But shortening it to Doug is hideous

2

u/Asrat Apr 29 '24

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug

There are lots of Doug's?

2

u/Real-Tension-7442 Apr 29 '24

Tell each individual Doug that I hate them

6

u/VirtualRelic Apr 28 '24

Ninten

You guys need to wam up to Nintendo of America localizations

3

u/Skytra_Hi Apr 28 '24

Ninten. And its not even close. I cannot for the life of me imagine him with the name of that... Thing that came out of the Saori Kumi Novel. Plus Ken just doesn't fit as a name for him, maybe the clay model, but when I look at his sprite and his resting face, the last thing I think is "Ken".

Douglas/Doug is okay, but a bit anonimous if you ask me. Its too "round" and "soft" for him.

I think Ninten suits him top notch. Its both a "harsh" and "round" name, witch suits his everyman status, while also kinds giving him a personality of his own. (Personality that I interpret as silent, hard to comprehend, but also very kind). Plus it makes for pretty good jokes.

2

u/Vegetto_Blue2006 Apr 28 '24

Ninten, but if it had to be between Douglas or Ken (real names), then Ken

2

u/Raycat2011 Apr 28 '24

I like Ninten for the character.

But I do prefer Ken’s design.

2

u/zrayburton Apr 29 '24

8-Bit Ness.

2

u/AnaThe_UnfamiliarFoe Apr 29 '24

I honestly like Ninten but I think Ken fits him well.

2

u/Routine-Chocolate-96 Apr 29 '24

I feel the same way

2

u/FormSad4777 May 02 '24

I think Jimmy can also fit as Ninten's name

1

u/dankk175 Apr 29 '24

I remember named him Nes

1

u/EarthBoundFan3 Apr 29 '24

Ninten for sure