Why is her name Zelda?
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The name Zelda was chosen by Shigeru Miyamoto, the co-creator of The Legend of Zelda series, as a tribute to Zelda Fitzgerald, an American novelist, dancer, and socialite, due to the pleasant and significant sound of the name. According to Miyamoto, he was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald‘s name and decided to name the princess after her, which ultimately led to the title of the game, The Legend of Zelda.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- What is the origin of the name Zelda?: The name Zelda is a diminutive of the Germanic name Griselda, which means something like “dark battle” or “grey fighting maid”.
- Why is the franchise called Zelda?: The franchise is called Zelda because Shigeru Miyamoto named the princess after Zelda Fitzgerald, and the game’s title, The Legend of Zelda, was derived from the princess’s name.
- Is Zelda called Zelda in Japan?: Yes, in Japan, the game is known as Zelda no Densetsu, which translates to The Legend of Zelda.
Character-Related Questions
- Are Link and Zelda in love?: In most instances, Link and Zelda maintain a strictly platonic relationship, with few exceptions where they may develop romantic feelings for each other.
- Is Link an elf?: Link is not an elf, but a Hylan, a race associated with having long ears and being adept with magic.
- What is Link’s full name?: According to Shigeru Miyamoto, Link’s full name is Link Link, as part of an ongoing gag at Nintendo where characters are given silly full names.
Game-Related Questions
- Why is Zelda 2 different?: Zelda II differs from other games in the series due to its side-scrolling platform style, where Link is confined to traveling left and right in towns and dungeons.
- Why is Tears of the Kingdom so hard?: Tears of the Kingdom is a challenging game due to its ruthless health system, where many enemies can defeat Link in one hit, and the presence of gloom, which adds an extra layer of difficulty.
- What Zelda games never left Japan?: There are four Zelda games that were only released in Japan for the Super Famicom through the Satellaview device, including BS Zelda no Densetsu and Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce.
Linguistic and Cultural Questions
- Do they speak Japanese in Zelda?: The game Zelda is available in nine languages, including Japanese, English, French, and Spanish, allowing players to choose their preferred language.
- What is the language of Hyrule?: The language spoken in Hyrule is not explicitly stated, but it is implied to be a fictional language unique to the Zelda universe.
Development and History
- Why was Bowser renamed?: Bowser was renamed from Koopa due to the need to change the name of his minions, which led to the creation of the Koopa Troopas and the renaming of the main character to Bowser.
- Why is Luigi’s full name Luigi Mario?: Luigi’s full name is Luigi Mario, as confirmed by Shigeru Miyamoto, who stated that Mario’s full name is Mario Mario, making Luigi his brother with the same last name.
Miscellaneous Questions
- Why is Zelda alive after 100 years?: Zelda’s agelessness is due to her creation of a magical barrier between Hyrule Castle and the Great Plateau, which separated the castle from the fabric of spacetime.
- How old is Link in Zelda?: Link’s age varies across different games, but it is generally stated that he is under the age of 18, with specific ages given in certain games, such as 10 years old in the first Zelda game and 17 years old in Twilight Princess.