Apollo Justice's first name was chosen as a way to rival Phoenix Wright's. Being named after the mythical Greek bird with a powerful presence, the team decided that Apollo's name had to be something equally as powerful, choosing the Greek god associated with the sun and prophesizing the truth. Other names that were considered were Arthur, relating to King Arthur, and Justin, which phonetically sounds like "Justice". Similarly, his last name "Justice" was chosen to contrast "Wright"; according to product marketing manager Colin Ferris: "Where Phoenix always fought for your rights, Apollo fights for Justice!" "Justice" was actually among the top picks for last names, but two of the other names that were considered were Swift (inspired by the phoenix and to imply "swift justice") and Startel, as a parallel of his Japanese last name, Odoroki, which phonetically sounds the same as the word for "surprise". The motif of naming the main playable character after Greek mythology was continued in subsequent games with Apollo's colleague, Athena Cykes.