I'm pretty sure it was deconfirmed a while back that Kotal Kahn was related to Shao Kahn.

You are correct that it is a title rather than a last name. One of the things Kotal says while he fights it "Pray for the Kahn's mercy!" The use of "The" tells me it's a title.

They're not related (Ed Boon already stated this), and yes "Kahn" is referred to as a title.

I'm guessing "Kahn" is now to MK as "Darth" is to Star Wars.

I love that "Kahn" is a title but it makes the last 20 years of Shao Kahn feel really weird considering it means the Emperor I loved to hate for so long is actually named "Shao". Just Shao. A little annoying, but not the end of the world I suppose.

I thought I read an interview where someone said KotaL is actually related to Shinnok "In a way"? Maybe he is a former Elder God, stepping down to bring OutWorld back to prominence. We should find out soon in the comic.

I agree

I mean there probably is an instance where they refer to him as just "Kahn"

Hell, Scorpion says "I sense Shao Kahn in you" so is it a last name, or do previous holders of the Kahn title keep it even after being dethroned?

I imagine they keep the title. Sort of like Presidents always being called Mr. President even after they're done being president.

I say them still refering to Shao as Shao Kahn is for iconic nostalgia reasons.

If it was a title wouldn't Onaga have had it? Unless Shao Khan created it. But idk we would have to ask Boon, Vogel or Neatherrrealm

He's the Dragon King, there's no better title.

Darth Vader's name isn't Vader any more than Shao Khan's name has to be Shao.

He strikes me as more of Rick ... Rick Stedman ... His name is Rick Stedman when he's not off terrorizing Outworld.

Except:

khan - Mongolian/Uygur/Tartar rank of warlord/chieftain.

Kahn - Indonesian proper name.

So yes the fucked up spectacularly. Remember Hsu Hao's preliminary name was Kublai Khan, AS IN the real historical figure? They know the difference, they just do not care.

I remember Hsu Hao being called something "Khan" before the game was released and his name changed to Hsu Hao. I thought Kotal Kahn's name was just a pre-production name like Hsu Hao's "Khan", but I guess not, since he's refered to as Kotal Kahn, so I think it's final.

I've never liked when they repeat names, like Kung Lao and The Great Kung Lao and now with Shao Kahn and Kotal Kahn.

Now see heres my problem with it being a title. So Shao Kahn was defeated and Kotal Kahn adopted the surname of "Kahn"? Well we know that Kotal will be in a struggle of power in Outworld with Mileena does that mean Mileena is gonna be Mileena Kahn? We also know Kotal will come to rise and fall over the course of storymode, so if we were to assume that Mileena comes into power shortly after Shaos defeat and is overthrown by Kotal only for him to be overthrown by someone else will that mean that the next person to gain power over outworld is gonna take Kahn as a surname too? I think it gets to messy if they don't have some good story telling for this one I don't like that.

I think at the end of the day, whoever came up with the name Kotal Kahn just said, "Hey, that sounds cool." And the name stuck. I don't think they thought as far into it as we have.

Outworld's patriarchy will probably lead to Mileena being called "Kahn Jr."

But you're wrong and your reasoning is terrible.

My "reasoning".

All Kahn's are under the Dragon King's stern dominion, by an ungodly ceremonial vow (then receive the name). Each comply with the prehistoric legend by the book.