Everyone knows the names of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but how many fans know that Leonardo Donatello Michelangelo and Raphael almost had different names? According to co creator Peter Laird the four Ninja Turtles only got their famous names by happenstance.
Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began as a self published black and white indie comic. Following the release of the cartoon adaptation in the late eighties the Turtles pretty much took over the world. The story of their creation is now almost as famous as the Turtles themselves with Eastman drawing a sketch of a turtle with a pair of nunchaku dubbing him a Ninja Turtle.
Laird drew his own sketch and added the Teenage Mutant part. After having a laugh, the pair further developed the concept taking inspiration from Frank Miller comics of the day like Daredevil and Ronin. When it came time to name their characters the pair looked to Lairds copy of Jansens History of Art naming each Ninja Turtle after their favorite Renaissance artists and the rest is history.
However this was not always the case. According to quotes from Laird in a history of the franchise from Eastman and Laird originally wanted to give the Turtles Japanese names to go along with the whole ninja theme. After failing to come up with any names the pair ultimately settled on naming them after Renaissance artists with Laird saying It felt just quirky enough to fit the concept. Theres no hint as to what the four Turtles Japanese names might have been although early concept art by Eastman for Leo dated 1984 seems to refer to him as Ken perhaps an homage to famous Japanese actor Ken Takakura.
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