Summary
Naruto’s name, Uzumaki, is actually his mother’s maiden name, which raises questions as to why his father’s name is Namikaze. As the series explains, Naruto was given the name Uzumaki to protect him from his father’s enemies, but growing up as an abandoned orphan, he hid his father’s heroic legacy from him. Another reason is that the author wanted to hide the plot of Naruto’s true parentage for as long as possible, giving him room for flexibility and improvement if necessary.
From the beginning of the story, Naruto has always been identified by the name Uzumaki, which according to Western customs means that his father is an Uzumaki. However, the Uzumaki are actually Naruto’s mother Kushina’s clan. This raises the question of why Naruto was given his mother’s maiden name, especially considering that Naruto’s father’s identity has remained a mystery for most of the series.
There are many reasons why Naruto’s official last name is Namikaze, which is his father’s name. First, there is a tradition of children taking their father’s surname that is not limited to the West. In fact, from Sasuke to Kakashi, most people in Konoha use their father’s surname and are part of their father’s clan.
Second, there is the physical resemblance. Naruto’s bright blonde hair matched the other members of the Namikaze Clan. On the other hand, the Uzumaki clan is known for its amazing red hair. After all, from Minato’s point of view, passing his name on to his son is a legacy he will protect and expand. Certainly, as Hokage, Minato wanted his son to carry on his and his family’s name. But in pre-modern Japan, when naming newborns, the more influential clan name came first, so it’s not entirely absurd that the latter clan was so powerful that Naruto was an Uzumaki.
Naming Naruto Namikaze would make him a target for his father’s enemies.
But the reason Naruto’s name was Uzumaki was because of the circumstances surrounding his safety and security. At first, Minato hid the fact that she had a son. Minato was an exceptionally gifted shinobi. One of his greatest exploits was during the Third Shinobi War, when he single-handedly helped turn the tide against Konoha. This naturally led to the death of a large number of opponents and countless grudges against Minato. If they had known he had a son, more than a few people would have hunted him for revenge. Naming Naruto as an Uzumaki – a clan hunted for extinction by his special abilities and no threat to him – was the best way to protect him.
The most obvious reason, however, must be found outside the fictional world of the series. The author, Masashi Kishimoto, wanted to keep Naruto’s father’s identity hidden for as long as possible, which meant that the boy had to have another name. Some fans also speculated that the reveal was actually a flashback, and that Kishimoto had not planned for Naruto to become the son of the Fourth Hokage. No matter how much truth there is behind this belief, the concealment of Naruto’s true parentage for most of the series gave the writer some room for flexibility and improvisation if necessary.
Even so, Naruto’s parents, given their skill and knowledge, may have given Naruto the name Namikaze. They were not afraid of anyone. Unfortunately, they weren’t around to get that chance – both of them would die shortly after Naruto was born. After their passing, Hiruzen Sarutobi – the Third Hokage – stepped in to take over Naruto’s duties. Realizing the different risks that the Namikaze and Uzumaki surnames brought, he finally decided it was the least risk in naming the baby Naruto Uzumaki. As a result, Naruto’s connection to the Namikaze Clan was discredited and eventually forgotten.
Uzumaki was a very reliable name under the circumstances.
While this may have protected him to a degree, his heroic father’s identity had gotten Naruto into trouble many times. Sarutobi’s decision is still controversial among fans today: was the need to protect Naruto from his father’s enemies more important than his growing positive influence as the son of the Fourth Hokage? Ultimately, Naruto’s justification for his mother’s maiden name is built into the story in a way that, while not exactly satisfying, at least makes sense overall.
Naruto is available from Viz Media and Manga Plus.
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