Mario, the iconic hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, officially does not have a last name.
For many years, fans speculated about Mario's full name, especially given his brother Luigi. However, Nintendo's leadership has provided a clear stance on the matter.
The Official Position
The definitive answer regarding Mario's lack of a surname comes directly from key figures within Nintendo:
- Initial Suggestion: In 2012, at San Diego Comic-Con, Charles Martinet, the voice actor for Mario, publicly stated that the character's full name was "Mario Mario." This suggestion quickly gained traction among fans.
- Nintendo's Clarification: Shortly after Martinet's comment, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata publicly clarified that Mario, in fact, does not have a last name.
- Creator's Agreement: This official position was further solidified when Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario franchise, concurred with Iwata's statement the following month.
Therefore, despite the popular and often-repeated "Mario Mario" theory, the creators and company leadership have confirmed that the character is simply known as Mario, without a surname. This makes him one of the many beloved characters in media who are identified by a single name.
