Why is Kitana named Kitana? An in-depth look at the Mortal Kombat princess‘ lethal name

As someone who‘s been gaming since the days of playing Mortal Kombat II on my Sega Genesis, analyzing pop culture is one of my passions. And when it comes to video game character names, few are as intriguing as Mortal Kombat‘s graceful yet lethal princess, Kitana.

In this post, we‘ll take an in-depth look at the origins and possible meanings behind Kitana‘s name. While on the surface it may seem like just a cool sounding fictional name, the roots of "Kitana" offer some fascinating insights into her character design, abilities, and pop culture impact.

The History Behind Kitana‘s Name

Kitana made her first appearance in 1993‘s hit fighting game Mortal Kombat II as one of the female ninja characters players could control. According to series co-creator Ed Boon, her early concept name was "Kitsana" before being changed to "Kitana" in the final game.

This tweak to the spelling likely helped cement the connection between Kitana and Japan‘s iconic katana swords. As we‘ll explore more later, Kitana‘s razor sharp steel fans draw clear inspiration from katanas in both form and function.

Fun fact: Kitana was initially going to be called Kitsana, with her storyline portraying her as the sister of Mileena and Jade! The development team ultimately decided to make the three characters unrelated in the final Mortal Kombat II release.

The Deadly Implications of Her Name

It‘s no coincidence that the syllables and sounds of "Kitana" evoke thoughts of the curved katana blade used by ancient samurai warriors.

In Japanese, katana (刀) literally translates to “sword.” These single-edged blades with long handles represent key parts of Japanese military history and culture.

So how does the name "Kitana" reference these deadly weapons?

• The hard "ka" sound at the start of Kitana parallels the "kata" in katana.
• The third syllable "ta" is shared between both words.
• Changing the "na" at the end of katana to "Kitana" gives her name an exotic flair fit for an Edenian princess.

By drawing this connection to katanas, Kitana‘s name represents her role as a lethal fighter and assassin under the command of villain Shao Kahn. Her steel fans allow Kitana to slice enemies as gracefully as any samurai warrior could with a sharpened katana blade.

Kitana prepares for kombat – fanart by Bryan Fiallos

And just as the quality steel of a katana represents mastery of craftsmanship, Kitana‘s expertise with her war fans highlights her prowess as an Edenian combatant.

Kitana‘s Popularity Over Time

The name Kitana remains exceptionally rare in the real world. This contrasts wonderfully with Kitana‘s immense pop culture presence as one of Mortal Kombat‘s quintessential characters and Edenia‘s princess.

Looking at data on the name‘s prevalence shows just how unique Kitana is:

The above figures from the Social Security Administration show how the name Kitana has always placed far outside the top 1,000 girl names for babies born in the United States.

Despite debuting in 1993, fewer than 150 newborns were named Kitana in any given year. Even at the height of Mortal Kombat‘s popularity in the 90s and 2000s, parents shied away from the name.

However, Kitana‘s pop culture presence explodes beyond these naming stats.

• Kitana has been a playable character in nearly every Mortal Kombat video game, including the latest 2021 Mortal Kombat 11 release.
• She appeared as a lead character in the Mortal Kombat Legacy web TV series.
• The upcoming 2021 Mortal Kombat movie will feature Kitana in a starring role.
• Kitana costumes and fan art remain staples at video game conventions and on cosplay sites.

For almost 30 years now, Kitana has had a lasting impact on gamers through her elegant fighting style and intricate backstory as an Edenian princess. Her name stands out as special and exotic, much like Kitana herself.

The Significance of Names in Mortal Kombat Lore

Digging deeper into Mortal Kombat‘s fictional realms reveals that character names often provide telltale clues about a fighter‘s backstory or designs.

Kitana‘s evil clone Mileena has a name that blends with Kitana‘s while referencing her half-Tarkatan heritage (Mileena rolls off the tongue similarly to ballerina).

Shao Kahn‘s intimidating name echoes the nearly homophonous words "shogun" and "conquer."

Raiden shares his name with the Japanese god of thunder, appropriate for a deity protecting Earthrealm.

Analyzing these naming inspirations provides fans and theorists with insights into characters long before even seeing them in-game. Kitana adheres to this clever naming convention across the Mortal Kombat series.

Kitana – More Than Just a Name

So in summary, here‘s why I think the developers landed on the exotic yet lethal name of "Kitana" for their dancing assassin princess:

• It evokes Japanese katana swords through similar sounds and syllables. Just as katanas represent samurai skills, Kitana‘s fans highlight her combat mastery.

• The name ties into her backstory as Shao Kahn‘s personal killer. Katanas kill, and so does Kitana.

• It mixes familiar katana sounds with a new spelling, perfectly capturing Kitana‘s otherworldly Edenian origins.

• Kitana has pop culture staying power that far exceeds the name‘s real world usage. It suits a globally recognized princess.

• Following Mortal Kombat naming conventions, Kitana‘s name reflects character details.

Kitana‘s intricate and deadly dance with her bladed fans simply wouldn‘t feel complete without her elegant yet lethal name. Sure, "Kitsana" may have appeared on early concept documents, but Kitana‘s origins and abilities demand the blade-evoking name she ultimately received.

So while you ruthlessly pummel opponents online as Kitana, take a moment to appreciate how thoughtfully crafted her background and name truly are. Just don‘t let your guard down for too long – a flawless victory awaits!