Nobody renamed the character in Japan. Peach was her Japanese name from the start. “Princess Toadstool” was an English-language name that appeared in western materials, and it was later softened into “Princess Peach Toadstool” during the English localization of Super Mario 64. According to Leslie Swan, a former Nintendo localization lead, the change was a western transition, not a decision made by the Japanese development team.
What changed, and in which region
The question assumes a single renaming, but the record describes two separate things. The character was called Peach in Japan. Western releases used Toadstool first, and Peach came back into western use gradually once Nintendo of America began leaning on the name. The clearest account of this comes from Swan, who worked on the English localization of Super Mario 64 and described the process in a 2025 interview with Time Extension.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Ruz Mario Princess Peach PVC 6 Inch Action Figure | $13.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Mario Yours Truly, Princess Peach Collectible Action Figure Doll Stands Approximately 12... | $31.49 | Buy on Amazon |
Where the Toadstool name came from
Swan says early US localization work had limited contact with the Japanese development teams. The English manual for Super Mario Bros. was outsourced to an advertising agency, which, in her words, “just kind of created names for things.” She attributes the name Princess Toadstool to that agency. This is a retrospective account from a participant. It is not backed by an agency record that has been independently inspected, so treat it as the best available explanation rather than a documented fact.
The practical result was a mismatch. Japanese players knew the character as Peach, while English-speaking players knew her from American materials as Princess Toadstool. For years that gap was an inherited detail of the western localization, not a deliberate change to the character.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Princess Peach Action Figure
- Pink dress is very beautiful, with a pair of white gloves,yellow hair with a golden crown.
- Approximately 6 Inch Tall
How Peach returned during Super Mario 64
When Swan was working on Super Mario 64, Shigeru Miyamoto asked her directly whether Peach was a bad name. Swan explained that US audiences already knew the character as Princess Toadstool. Miyamoto replied that he liked Peach as her name. The question was therefore not whether the character should be called Peach, but how to make that name work for players who already knew the older one.
The “Princess Peach Toadstool” compromise
Swan proposed a formal name that kept both parts. As she recalled it:
“So I came up with the idea to say, ‘Why don’t we call her Princess Peach Toadstool?’ Then we could refer to her informally as Peach.”
The formal title preserved Toadstool, so existing western references still held, while players could call her Peach in everyday speech. Swan says Nintendo of America continued to use Peach after Super Mario 64, with Toadstool occasionally kept as a surname.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #2
- Authentic figure from the Super Mario video games
- Yours Truly, Princess Peach stands approximately 12 inches tall
- 25+ quotes, sounds, and music
- Iconic floaty jump pose
- 6 points of articulation
The opening letter as a staged transition
Swan links the compromise to the game’s opening letter. It is formally signed Princess Toadstool, with Peach handwritten over it. That visual choice stages the shift inside the game itself, so players see both names at once rather than encountering a sudden rename.
Where the name Peach itself came from
A separate question is why the character was named Peach at all. In a 2010 interview republished by Nintendo DREAM WEB in September 2022, Shigeru Miyamoto said he could not clearly recall the origin of the name. He then suggested it may have come from associations between princesses, girls, pink, and her dress. This is a tentative recollection, not a definitive explanation, and it does not explain why the English manual used Toadstool.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Release dates by region
The dates below are the regional release dates for Super Mario 64, as listed by Time Extension. They are not a single global launch, and they do not establish when each western title or manual adopted the Peach name.
| Region | Super Mario 64 release date | Naming context |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 23 June 1996 | Character known as Peach |
| North America | 26 September 1996 | Localized with the “Princess Peach Toadstool” formal name and informal Peach |
| Europe | 1 March 1997 | Release date listed; naming treatment not stated in the source |
What is and is not established
- Established by Swan’s account: Peach was the Japanese name, Toadstool was a western localization name, and Swan proposed “Princess Peach Toadstool” during the Super Mario 64 localization.
- Established by Swan’s account, but not independently verified: the US manual’s Toadstool name was created by an advertising agency.
- Not established: a complete, title-by-title list of western releases that used Toadstool or Peach, and the exact date each one changed.
- Uncertain: Miyamoto’s explanation of why the character was named Peach. His recollection is tentative.
For a reader who wants to verify the opening letter, Swan’s account is the best source. Her interview describes the letter’s signature, and it is the only detailed description of that scene in the sources reviewed for this article.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
