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Airaku on 06 April 2015
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Hiku said:

"The Avatar" isn't a name though. It's a title, similar to "Shujinko" (Protagonist/Main Character) in Persona.
They do have some characters that go by their title in Smash though, such as Wii Fit Trainer and Villager. But that seems to only be the case for characters who don't have an officially given name. In the case of the Avatar, Intelligent Systems gave him/her the name Robin/Reflet, but outside of the game. Just like Atlus named the main protagonists of the Persona games, also outside of the main game.

To have different names in different regions isn't uncommon either. Toad is called Kinopio in Japan, Greninja is Gekkouga, Rosalina & Luma are Rosetta & Chiko, etc.

I wouldn't mind if he/she was called Avatar in Smash though, but I still prefer an actual name. Because in Smash, the character's personality is no longer partially a reflection of the player and their choices, but rather a character in its own right with an already established personality.

The main characters of the Persona series also remain nameless, until they appear in anime/manga or side games like Persona 4 Ultimax, where their personality is no longer a reflection of the player.

I suppose it is a matter of perspective but you do have a very compelling point. I just find it weird how the name Robin was not apparent until the release of Smash Bros. Before then I only knew him/her as the Avatar and frankly so did everyone else I talked to about the game. That is kind of the reason why I tend to shy away from the name Robin. Where as Link you actually see his name is Link before you change it. Even before he was an established character that we know and love today. Yes I am aware as why his name was specifically Link back in the day and that name fits perfectly with his character as he evolved in other ways. Robin on the other hand really felt more of a Avatar and a Vessel and that is how I interpreted Nintendo pushing him/her in Awakening.

I am aware that regions use name changes all the time. Heck Bowser is actually just Koopa or King Koopa in Japan. I used to have fun changing the language settings on Smash Bros back in the day to see all of the changes in the names.