News to me (Donkey Kong, but might be old to you)

[Steven]

The game "Donkey Kong" was developed by Japanese programmers. The Japanese title was "Big Ape Kong." Translators mistakenly confused the English "Donkey" with the intended "Monkey."

[kentuckyfried]

I heard that the Japanese called him "Donkey" Kong because they wanted to translate a word meaning "stubborn", for how Kong keeps taking the chick up and up, after you kick his ass repeatedly, and then starting all over again.

[Veepa]

I heard the theory about confusing "monkey" with "donkey."

[jonathonwillie]

I heard that the creator of "monkey" kong was such an ass, that the team called him donkey kong ass a joke...and it stuck.

[Tan]

here;s a good read on the subject if your interested:

http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/donkeykong.asp

[kentuckyfried]

.....and a quote from wikipedia:

"The name was chosen by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto as a combination of the word "Kong", since the movie King Kong had caused it 'to colloquially mean monkey' in Japan. According to Snopes, Donkey was chosen because Miyamoto intended it "to convey a sense of stubbornness." Various urban legends have circulated, saying that the actual name was to be "Monkey Kong" but was changed by accident for the American release. Snopes debunked these myths in "Donkey Wrong."

[Jumpman Jr.]

.....and a quote from wikipedia:

"The name was chosen by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto as a combination of the word "Kong", since the movie King Kong had caused it 'to colloquially mean monkey' in Japan. According to Snopes, Donkey was chosen because Miyamoto intended it "to convey a sense of stubbornness." Various urban legends have circulated, saying that the actual name was to be "Monkey Kong" but was changed by accident for the American release. Snopes debunked these myths in "Donkey Wrong."

Weren't the producers of the Movie King Kong trying to sue (unsuccessfully) Nintendo for choosing that name?
I seem to remember that as well...