You know the red hat. You know the mustache. But honestly, if you think the world of Mario is just a couple of plumbers and a princess who can't stay out of trouble, you're missing about ninety percent of the charm. Over the last four decades, Nintendo has quietly built one of the most expansive—and occasionally confusing—character rosters in digital history. It’s a weird, wild family tree.
Understanding all Super Mario Brothers characters and their names means looking past the surface. It’s not just about the heroes. It’s about the guys throwing hammers at you, the sentient clouds, and the cosmic entities that somehow ended up kart racing on a Saturday afternoon. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator behind the madness, famously viewed his characters like a troupe of actors. That’s why Bowser can be a soul-crushing monster in one game and a grumpy golf partner in the next.
The Core Four: More Than Just Primary Colors
Mario is the face. Obviously. Originally called "Jumpman" back in the Donkey Kong arcade days, he eventually got his name from Mario Segale, the landlord of Nintendo’s Washington warehouse. He’s the quintessential "everyman," though most everymen can't do a triple backflip or survive a fireflower to the face.
Then there’s Luigi. Poor, lanky Luigi. For years, he was just "green Mario." It wasn't until Super Mario Bros. 2 (the Western version) that he got his own physics—jumping higher but skidding like he’s on ice. He’s the relatable one. He’s scared of ghosts. He’s got anxiety. We get it.
Princess Peach (formerly Princess Toadstool in the West) is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. While the "damsel" trope is her origin, games like Super Princess Peach and Princess Peach: Showtime! have tried to pivot her into a powerhouse role. She’s joined by Toad, who isn't actually a single person but a whole species. However, the specific "Toad" we see in the main group usually refers to the one with the red spots, often serving as the loyal, albeit high-pitched, royal attendant.
The Heavy Hitters and Rivalries
Bowser is the King of the Koopas. He's also a single father to Bowser Jr., which is a whole different rabbit hole of lore. Bowser’s real name in Japan is "Koopa," which is why his minions are called Koopa Troopas. He’s been a giant skeleton (Dry Bowser), a cat, and even a wedding planner.
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But then you have the "anti" characters. Wario and Waluigi.
Wario was designed by Hiroji Kiyotake as a caricature of Mario’s greed. His name is a portmanteau of Mario and the Japanese word "warui," which means bad. Waluigi followed later because Wario needed a doubles partner in Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64. Unlike the others, Waluigi has never actually appeared in a mainline "platforming" Mario game. He exists purely for the spinoffs. He’s a vibe, honestly. Just a chaotic, purple-clad agent of nihilism.
The Extended Cast You Might Forget
- Rosalina: Introduced in Super Mario Galaxy, she’s essentially the adoptive mother of the Lumas. She’s much more somber than Peach or Daisy.
- Princess Daisy: The ruler of Sarasaland. She’s the tomboy of the group, first appearing in Super Mario Land on the Game Boy.
- Yoshi: His full name is actually T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas. Seriously. That is his scientific name in the official 1993 Nintendo Character Guide.
- Birdo: A pink creature that shoots eggs from her snout. In the original Super Mario Bros. 2 manual, it was noted that Birdo "thinks he is a girl," making her one of the earliest trans-coded characters in gaming history.
The Rogues' Gallery: Minions with Personality
If you're listing all Super Mario Brothers characters and their names, you can't skip the "frown-fodder." Goombas are the most iconic. They were actually the last enemy added to the original game because developers realized the Koopa Troopas were too "tricky" for a first-level enemy. They needed something you could just bop.
Then there are the Boos. Legend has it they were inspired by the wife of co-designer Takashi Tezuka. She was usually very shy, but one day she blew up at him for spending too much time at work. In the game, Boos are shy when you look at them but aggressive when you turn your back. It’s a funny, personal touch that made it into gaming canon.
You've also got:
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- Lakitu: The guy on the cloud who throws Spiny eggs.
- Hammer Bros: The bane of every 8-bit player's existence.
- Magikoopa (Kamek): Bowser’s advisor and high-ranking sorcerer.
- Shy Guys: Masked creatures that first appeared in Doki Doki Panic (the game that became our Mario 2).
- Monty Mole: The burrowing jerk that pops out of the ground when you least expect it.
The Weird Sub-Species and One-Offs
Remember the Koopalings? For a long time, people thought they were Bowser’s kids. Nintendo eventually cleared that up—they’re just high-ranking minions. Their names are mostly riffs on musicians: Ludwig von Koopa (Beethoven), Lemmy Koopa (Lemmy Kilmister), and Wendy O. Koopa (Wendy O. Williams).
Then there’s Foreman Spike. He was Mario’s boss in Wrecking Crew before the brothers went independent. He even made a cameo in the 2023 movie. It’s these deep cuts that keep the franchise feeling like a living world rather than just a series of levels.
Why the Names Actually Matter for Gameplay
Nintendo doesn't name characters just to be cute. The names often dictate the mechanics. A "Buzzy Beetle" tells you it's tough; fireballs won't work on its shell. A "Thwomp" sounds exactly like what it does—it falls and thumps the ground.
Even the newer additions like Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey or Prince Florian from Super Mario Bros. Wonder are designed to be "functional" characters. Prince Florian isn't just a caterpillar; he's the literal hook for the new "Badge" system. The name feels light and whimsical, fitting the psychedelic nature of the Flower Kingdom.
Common Misconceptions About Mario Names
People get things wrong all the time. One of the biggest? The "Mario Brothers" name itself. In the 1993 live-action movie, they said their names were Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. Fans laughed it off for decades. But then, in 2015, Shigeru Miyamoto actually confirmed it during a 30th-anniversary event. So, yeah. Mario's last name is Mario. It’s ridiculous. It’s canon.
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Another one is the identity of Toadette. She isn't Toad’s girlfriend or sister. According to Nintendo, Toads don't really have genders in the traditional sense, despite their appearances. They just "are."
Getting the Most Out of the Mushroom Kingdom
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore of all Super Mario Brothers characters and their names, the best place to start isn't a wiki—it’s the games themselves.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors:
- Check the Manuals: If you can find scans of old NES and SNES manuals, the flavor text often contains character names that never appeared on screen.
- Play the RPGs: Titles like Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga give names and backstories to "generic" enemies, turning them into unique NPCs.
- Watch the Credits: Nintendo often lists specific names for new variations of enemies in the end-game credits, which is how we find out about niche characters like "Plessie" or "Dorrie."
- Cross-Reference Japanese Names: Sometimes a name makes way more sense in the original Japanese. For example, "Bullet Bill" is "Killer" in Japan, which fits his high-speed, dangerous nature a bit more accurately.
The Mushroom Kingdom is a mess of contradictions. It’s a place where a giant turtle wants to marry a human princess, and a dinosaur is used as a sacrificial double-jump platform. But that’s why we love it. Every character, from the lowly Bob-omb to the cosmic Rosalina, has a specific job to do. They make the world feel "bouncy." They make it feel like a toy box.
Whether you're playing the classics on a Switch Online emulator or diving into the latest 3D adventure, keep an eye on the names. They usually tell you exactly what’s about to happen to your health bar.