Interesting... Rock Lee is still Rock Lee

[Kimi Sama]

I havnt seen the dub yet (I live in the UK, which is anime deprived) but I saw the long trailer on the Viz website, and it goes through all of the rookie 15 using the animation from the Harukakanata opening sequence, and the voice over says their names.

He said all of the first names, but still said "Rock Lee". Kind wierd, since thats his full name, and also because it still uses the Japanese way of saying it, whereas everyone else has been Westernized (Naruto Uzumaki, etc)

Anyone else notice that? I suppose it's a good thing since "Lee Rock" is a very lame name.

[TenshiOni]

Umm...you actually thought they would say, "Lee Rock?" :blink

I mean, I know where you're coming from....but, c'mon. XD

[Shadow of the Lotus]

Rock Lee sounds too cool to be anything else. Also, it plays up the entire "Bruce Lee" pun/allusion they have going in the japanese one. I can't imagine it as anythign other than Rock Lee, and I'm glad they kept it that way. Hopefully Maito Gai is still Maito Gai. Gai Maito just sounds lame...

[Gejimayu]

Actually, even in the Japanese his "first name" is "Rock" the same way "Uzumaki Naruto" has the "first name" of "Naruto". It's because the Japanese retain the original naming order for foreigners who are named "Given name/Family name" as opposed to the Japanese way of "Family name/Given name"

[Kucheeky Badkuya]

Umm...you actually thought they would say, "Lee Rock?" :blink

I mean, I know where you're coming from....but, c'mon. XD

Lee Rock, would have riots. Since there are tons of Rock Lee fans. I hope they don't screw up anyone up.

[iggyspeedstars]

It was obvious it was going to stay the same or else we would have Lee Bruce or Lee Jet

[Ruri]

Hopefully Maito Gai is still Maito Gai. Gai Maito just sounds lame...

I doubt they would change Gai's name around. Well, at least I hope they don't...:S

[kakoishii]

you never know they might go Gai Maito just the same as they will probably go Kakashi Hatake regardless to how easily Hatake Kakashi flows.

[Lord-Mortez]

Rock Lee does not sound very japanese, and it's a cool name so i guess uhh, they left it in because of he's damn white teeth :D

[SeruraRenge]

I had always thought that "Rock" was just something he added onto his name, and he simply has the name "Lee". It would make sense, since no one else says "Rock Lee", not even Gai. Only he refers to himself as that.

[Kimi Sama]

I mean, I know where you're coming from....but, c'mon. XD
I wasnt entirely sure what they'd do with his name. It's good to see that the dub team have put sounding good over following the rules.

Then again, I suppose even the terrible 4kids dub of One Piece retains Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro's name orders, even if they have made Zoro "Zolo". If a piece of crap dub like that can do it for the sake of sounding good, I suppose it's not too suprising this high quality one could manage it.

Actually, even in the Japanese his "first name" is "Rock" the same way "Uzumaki Naruto" has the "first name" of "Naruto". It's because the Japanese retain the original naming order for foreigners who are named "Given name/Family name" as opposed to the Japanese way of "Family name/Given name"

Are you sure Rock is his given name? I'm not so sure, cause everyone always calls him Lee - even Gai, who is practically his dad, calls him Lee-kun.

[rarr]

Rock Lee is meant to be Chinese, who follow the given/surname pattern that is used in America - he's a ripoff of Bruce Lee, and if you talked about Bruce Lee in Japan you wouldn't say Lee Bruce.

[CWar]

They call him Lee in the Japanese anime, how will they call him in CN? Rock? Lee? I suppose still his last name since that's what Americans call Bruce Lee or any other Chinese.

[Procyon]

Naruto Names, the American Way? (http://forums.narutofan.com/showthread.php?t=27626)

Actually "Rock Lee" is already western-style. Note they call him Lee-San, not Rock-San.

And most of them don't bother me at all. After hearing Kenshin Himura and Rei Ayanami and whatnot, you get used to switches.

[n8dogg]

I'm pretty sure Lee is his "first" name, although you could just clump both Rock and Lee together to make one name. Maybe he doesn't have a surname at all? (Where are his parents? I know I would be a bit scared if my son kept hanging out with a creepy guy and acting as though he's his twin...

[Ryu Kazama]

Yes, Rock Lee sounds superior.

As for Maito Gai....switched to Gai Maito, I can already see the pronounciation and the crowd laughing at the name:

'Gay My-Toe'. OH MY GOD! That would be hilarious but insanely stupid at the same time. There's always that chance tey'll say "Gay" instead.

[Low-fi Boy]

If dub-watchers see 'Rock Lee' as his first name, does that mean they'll all call him 'Rock' as his first name then?

[TheVileOne]

More silly discussions :) .

[kakoishii]

well, I think it's quite obivous that "Lee" is his first name considering that everyone in the Narutoverse whether it's child or teacher or whatnot adresses each other by their given names.

[Sonic4390]

as far as the dub goes, rock lee could be just a nickname, while his last name is unknown. -_^

[SeruraRenge]

as far as the dub goes, rock lee could be just a nickname, while his last name is unknown. -_^
not just the dub, it could be for the sub and manga too. Lee's and Tenten's last names are total engimas.

[Gejimayu]

I will never understand how threads like this last longer than the first page. It's already been confirmed that 1) His name is already in the Western order and 2) "Rock" is his first name, (like "Naruto" is Naruto's "first name"), and "Lee" is his last name. Period, end of discussion, lock and trash time.

[organizedcrime]

They better not change Rock Lee's name because it has a resemblence to Bruce Lee which is copyrighted or something stupid.

[Rudox]

They should just call him Brock Lee.:eyeroll

[Kamzy]

Such a big thread over something so obvious, all the points given so far, the pun on Bruce lee, him self being an American, so wouldn’t go under Japanese naming styles, is the blinding fact of how much a name like lee rock sucks!,
Seriously, regardless of naming traditions, or keeping to the original dialog of naruto. you have 10 guys sitting in marketing, storyboard etc, you really think they are going to take and already Americanised appealing name like “Rock Lee” and fuck it up so it sound like a retard trying to speak French ?

This thread is a no brainier,

[Mizura]

I will never understand how threads like this last longer than the first page. It's already been confirmed that 1) His name is already in the Western order and 2) "Rock" is his first name, (like "Naruto" is Naruto's "first name"), and "Lee" is his last name. Period, end of discussion, lock and trash time.
Then why the hell do everybody call him "Lee-san" or "Lee-kun", when Everybody else use people's first name to address them? Naruto-kun, Sasuke-san, Sakura-san, Everybody.

[ShounenSuki]

Then why the hell do everybody call him "Lee-san" or "Lee-kun", when Everybody else use people's first name to address them? Naruto-kun, Sasuke-san, Sakura-san, Everybody.
You have a point, but why does the second databook, with gives english names in western order for every character (e.g. Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki), give "Rock Lee" and "Might Guy" instead of "Lee Rock" and "Guy Might"?

Besides that, Lee is a Chinese surname.

I guess we won't find out until we meet Lee's family ^^

[Gaia]

I think that it's better than Lee Rock or even Bruce Lee O_o

[DarkDragon]

i would like to say some thing about Rock lee i hope they won't change it due to they Took the name Rock Lee for Brue Lee So i don't think they will change it do to that

[blind51de]

"Lee" was always Rock Lee's surname, just like "Gai" will be Gai's.

I don't intend to argue the point, and I did argue it to HELL about a year ago. But this should be the end-all of the issue.

[Jiraiya Sennin]

Eh i guess they decided not to mess with it and yeah Naruto Universe has fun with the switch of names.. *shrugs* Rock Lee will still be Rock Lee to me..(yeah that made no sense at all)

[Procyon]

I'll quote again, since there seems to be so much controversy over nothing. :oh


Actually "Rock Lee" is already western-style. Note they call him Lee-San, not Rock-San.

And most of them don't bother me at all. After hearing Kenshin Himura and Rei Ayanami and whatnot, you get used to switches.

[RockLi123]

They could always change it to my name :smile-big

[GreatMarta]

Well, in Poland, we have the Naruto manga, and the characters names are ,,western" order. (Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno etc.). But Rock Lee is still Rock Lee.

It is weird for me. I consider ,,Lee" is his first name, cause everybody call him so. I have no idea why is it that way. Just because ,,Rock Lee" sound cooler than ,,Lee Rock", they shouldn't leave it like this. Everybody or nobody. It's gotta be Lee Rock.

[VietLe]

Rock Lee sounds so much better.


They could always change it to my name :smile-big

Lol...is that your real name. I always thought Li was a chinese name rather then a viet.

[shadowfoxyuri]

-_- do u really think that they would switch his name, i already no that lee is his 1st name, hes not japanese, hes chinese, they make him look like thes not japanese, and he has a chinese name, they said it the chinese way in the subbed version, and were gonna say it the chinese way as well, which is mostly westernized.

[Toadstule]

They probably left it that way just because it sounds better than if they called him Lee Rock :P

[SarcasticIrony]

I will never understand how threads like this last longer than the first page. It's already been confirmed that 1) His name is already in the Western order and 2) "Rock" is his first name, (like "Naruto" is Naruto's "first name"), and "Lee" is his last name. Period, end of discussion, lock and trash time.

Well, the first post doesn't even speculate on if they will change it, it states that they didn't change it, and asks everyone's thoughts on the un-change. So I don't really know why we still have people saying "I hope they don't change it", It's kind of like still having people say "Will Haku be a girl?" or "Will Kakashi still read makeout paradise?"

Anyways....I never actually noticed they didnt change it :amazed Thats what i get for not paying attention...but i guess it's cause i never expected them to. For some reason, I knew we were gonna have 'Naruto Uzumaki' and 'Sasuke Uchiha', but i never thought there would be a 'Lee Rock'...I guess the editing guys just thought the same :P

[hyper_megaman]

-_- do u really think that they would switch his name, i already no that lee is his 1st name, hes not japanese, hes chinese, they make him look like thes not japanese, and he has a chinese name, they said it the chinese way in the subbed version, and were gonna say it the chinese way as well, which is mostly westernized.
i don't see any difference between chinese and japanese names. both go by the format of having surnames first.

lee is obviously his first name, check out how every single person addresses him. think having a surname like 'rock' is weird and impossible? try fishcakes, scarecrow, weasel as a first name
this is an anime, no one's gonna use logic in their naming system, and rock lee's surname is rock and his name is lee.
the only reason viz left his name intact was cuz it sounds much cooler this way.
like viz would know if rock or lee was his surname anyway

[RockLee]

A language goes for what sounds better, so think about it like this:
What sounds better?

"Hey, Rock, how are you?" "Go, Rock! Explosion of youth!"

"Hey, Lee, how are you?" "Go, Lee! Explosion of youth!"

Rather irrelevant what goes first or last in his name. It's how it sounds. What sounds better? Lee Rock or Rock Lee? Rock Lee flows better, especially since that's how they pronounce it. Some names just transend language barriers and customs! =D

[Darth Judicar]

The way I speak it and think of it is like a lot of people here have stated. Lee is his first name while Rock is his last name. He always goes by Lee with his peers and sensei, so it's fairly obvious its his first name. And, it goes in sync with the Japanese family name tradition. Viz probably thought the name was too good already and people would know the difference or otherwise could care less.

[DeathIsComing]

"lee rock" sounds kinda weird...

[Procyon]

:mad Why don't people read my post? It's the answer to this thread. >_<

[King Speed]

we're lazy thats why... but that would be odd lee rock :notrust

[Complex Alchemist]

we're lazy thats why... but that would be odd lee rock :notrust

Yea lol. Hear Hear

[blind51de]

Okay, I may not know much Japanese, but I know enough to know this for certain:

"Rock Lee" is his name both in English and in Japanese. Lee is supposed to be a "Gaijin" type of character, and his name is reversed as such.
The same goes for "Maito Gai".

If I am wrong about this, I will smash my head into a brick wall. The Caldor Rule is in effect.

[ShadelessNyght]

It is easy to see why they might. Rock Lee may sound to close to Jet Lee. And for those that may think I am crazy for this, look at Street Fighter. They changed the Boxer who is Ballrog (sp?) in the US from M. Bison to that name, just because they thought Mike Tison might get mad or sue. Which ended up in Bisons name being changed from its original name, Vega, and Vega's name being changed from Ballrog to Vega.

[Gejimayu]

I refer you all to this thread:

http://forums.narutofan.com/showthread.php?p=2111178#post2111178

Lock, trash, goodnight.

[TheVileOne]

Is Lee supposed to be like a gaijin or like Bruce Lee?

[Alaris]

Well, Rock Lee isn't his actual name, the Rock part is actually a nickname due to all of his abilities being so rock-hard and strong. Nobody actually calls him Rock Lee (Well, only a few people), but Rock Lee is his nickname, Lee is his full name as far as the show and manga goes.

[TheVileOne]

Why is it that Lee can't mold chakra either?

[Gejimayu]

Alaris- That's an interesting way of looking at it, and one that I hadn't thought of. It would also kind of explain "Might Guy" as well, the "Might" part referring to his strength or being a play on "Dynamite Nice Guy" (which is what I heard once).

TheVileOne- Yes, Rock Lee's name is in the "first name last name" order, the same way Bruce Lee's name is said by the Japanese.

[King Speed]

wow, you guys seem to know your japanese name stuff

[Complex Alchemist]

Why is it that Lee can't mold chakra either?
Because u touch urself at nigth. Im srry im kidding hahahaha! But u got to admit that was funny. And if some1 anwsered that wouldnt be a spoiler?

[hyper_megaman]

A language goes for what sounds better, so think about it like this:
What sounds better?

"Hey, Rock, how are you?" "Go, Rock! Explosion of youth!"

"Hey, Lee, how are you?" "Go, Lee! Explosion of youth!"

Rather irrelevant what goes first or last in his name. It's how it sounds. What sounds better? Lee Rock or Rock Lee? Rock Lee flows better, especially since that's how they pronounce it. Some names just transend language barriers and customs! =D
hear hear, agree with u

rep for u!:smile-big
(do i get one too?:laugh )

[~HellRazer~]

Lol, Lee Rock XD

[Yellow]

Yeah Rock Lee sounds cooler so that's why they use it.:D