What is the story behind the name MARIO BROS

Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom — red hat, blue overalls, red shirt. Brave, optimistic, the main hero.

The beloved video game character Super Mario wasn’t just randomly named, he was inspired by Mario Segale, an American businessman who leased warehouse space to Nintendo in the early 1980s. When the company fell behind on rent, Segale didn’t evict them. Instead, he gave them a break and allowed them time to catch up financially. That act of understanding helped Nintendo survive a tough period and eventually, thrive.

Before he was Mario in 1981, the character appeared in Donkey Kong and was simply called "Jumpman" — he had no official name in Japan. He was a carpenter, not yet a plumber.

Nintendo of America was renting a warehouse from Mario Segale. When the team was deciding what to rename "Jumpman" for the U.S. release, they chose "Mario" — after their landlord. 

The most famous version: Segale stormed in one day demanding late rent, and the team noticed he looked just like the character — red cap, stocky build, mustache. They joked, "Let's name him Mario!" — and it stuck.

Later accounts say they picked the name partly as a joke because Segale was reclusive and they rarely saw him. Either way — the name was sent to Japan, and it was approved.

In a gesture of gratitude, Nintendo named their mustached plumber “Mario,” immortalizing Segale in pop culture history. It’s a little known origin story that adds depth to one of gaming’s most iconic characters. Without that second chance from a generous landlord, the world might never have known the adventures of Mario, Luigi, and the Mushroom Kingdom.

1981 — First called Mario in a Donkey Kong sales brochure

1983 — Mario Bros. (arcade) — name official

1985 — Super Mario Bros. (NES) — global icon

Segale's father was actually named Luigi — which is where Mario's brother's name may have unknowingly come from too!