Quote Originally Posted by Ryuko View Post
I think people seize the opportunity to play something 'different' than their normal self in MMOs and games in general -- often, the names fall into a different language. My character's name is totally Japanese, but not from an anime (although I've been informed that both parts of my name are very similar to anime names). Ryuko literally means 'little dragon' and was a term of endearment a friend gave me to describe my personality when I was something like 12-13 (I'm very petite but have a LOUD personality, apparently... also born the year of the dragon if you pay attention to that stuff).

I first used the alias "Ryuko" in FFXI (Diabolos server), and I'm 25 now. Kanzeon is the Japanese name of a bodhisattva (Quan Yin in Chinese). I originally used the name for my Resto Druid in WoW, because Kanzeon roughly translates to 'hearing/observing the cries of the world'. There is a very popular legend about her wanting to help the world but simply being unable to on her own, so her arms split into thousands of pieces in an attempt to reach out to everyone. Anyway, it seemed like an awesome name for a nature-themed healer.

The name stuck with me, and when FFXIV came out, I combined my two MMO names into Ryuko Kanzeon. I am told the name Kanzeon DOES appear in anime, although that wasn't my inspiration or intention when using the name. I've also been asked more than once if I got my first name (Ryuko) from the anime Tenchi Muyo (Ryoko) but that is also not the case. I am an English-speaking player and know only very little Japanese. It's a wonder I haven't used Italian names as that is a language I can actually kind of speak.
This is a pretty cool name background.

I was originally just going to name myself after my FFXI character and tack on Zvahl as the surname, since surnames are required in XIV. But Vicious sounded better to me, and most people think it's a Cowboy Bebop reference.

As far as the rest of this old thread goes, there's been a ton of comedy gems I've seen over the years.

There was that Table Cloth Lalafell on Balmung.

Illegal Girlfriend (Lalafell) on Primal somewhere.

Ifrit's Wife somewhere on Aether.

Had a friend back in the navy who named their character Swag Demon or something to that effect.

Always great to see comedy names, but also always great to see names that people have kept throughout the years.