Re: Rufus' name by Feyna
I hate to burst a few bubbles on the name theory, but... ok, I'll admit it, I actually enjoy it.So. Yes, Shin means new. However, the kanji for that particular reading is not the same as the kanji on the actual Shin-Ra logo. That kanji, in fact, is another shin, that does mean God. Anime fans and japanese speakers/students would be more familiar with the kun-reading of this kanji, Kami.

Here is a link for the correct "shin": http://japanese.about.com/library/blkod340.htm
Here is a link for the incorrect "shin", also read as "atara(shii)": http://japanese.about.com/library/blkod165.htm

Next, we have Ra. Do not confuse this with the god Ra. In Japanese, this kanji means snare/net, silk, or silk gauze. This "ra" is the same ra as used in the word for an arhat (a person who has attained Nirvana), which gives it the same feel as "shin", since in Buddhism, a person who has attained Nirvana can be considered, at the very least, a Bodhisattva.

Japanese names being what they are, it is hard to take a combination like god and net and get a "meaning", but we can probably make a safe jump to God's Net, or God's Network, as someone else here has suggested. It could also be a net, as in a snare, which indicates a trap. Another safe leap would be "God's Silk", which one might infer a silk screen, such as the highest level of Japanese nobility in the floating world might use to shield themselves from the common folk. All in all, the overall feel of this name is of something Godly, something separate from the commoners, which Rufus most certainly is.

Wikipedia has a theory quite similar to mine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin-Ra

"Shin-Ra" is written with the Japanese kanji 神羅. This does not appear to be an actual Japanese surname, although its on-reading is the same as many others. The individual kanji mean "god"/"divine" and "snare"/"net"/"silk". The " Ra" is also often used to represent Rome. Exactly why this name was chosen and what it might imply are matters of some discussion among fans. One theory is that since the Japanese word "shin" can also mean "new" (although it is then not written with the same kanji as the "shin" in "Shin-Ra"), the name of Shin-Ra when spoken could be interpreted as "New Rome", and this would indeed fit the Shin-Ra company and the family's aspirations.

Now, concerning his name! by Gavin Scott
Upon reseacrching for awhile Rufus' name has two meaning,per say,
1) When refering to the person Shinra it is spelt without the capital 'R' this means it is all infact one word, which means, simply shinra aka new evil!
2) However if you spell it ShinRa then it is Shin-New and Ra-Era! but here's where it gets tricky!
3) If you spell it Shin-Ra it means New-God! Odd huh? But I think the New God theory is the closet as if you consider Jenova, nova-New and Jehova is the Jewish God, once again new god! So thats twice that New-God appears!

Now, you said Rufus wasn't built for fighting? This isn't true! Being a young guy, like many others he probabally likes to keep fit and who knows maybe even went through the same training as the Turks! After all, he is head of them. And in Advent Children we see him throw himself out of a "window" to escape Kadajj, this could only be done by a fit guy, then ofcourse he is able to fire a double-barraled sot-gun with one had and his arm didn't break? That takes strength!
Anyway, he is truely a clever, cool and resourceful guy, and he can't be a coward as he put himself in danger by keeping Jenova's neck on his lap and he didn't try to flea when those hurls of Mako where flying towards his building!
Yeah, a cool guy indeed!

The meaning of Rufus's name by Rabbit Riven
Hey. I was looking through your site, which by the way is one of the best Rufus shrines I've seen, and have something to say about the meaning of the names part. I just want to point out that it's far more likely for ShinRa to mean new ERA, rather than evil. It's just something I've noticed looking through countless images of Rufus by the japanese fans, and there's also that song they sing in junon. "Bringing in the New Era" or something. :p Some of the fanart has "New World Order" "New Era" things to that description. Another translation was done by my fiancee. "God's Silk" or "God's Network" which is also fitting. :p I think they're words with more than one meaning, like English is so fond of, because I know Shin means new (I watch Shin Angel.. sometimes it's called New), and it also refers to a god. (Don't remember where I got that from, it's been a while. o_O) Anyway, just wanted to drop a line to point that out and say how good your site is.

What if Rufus was playable? by firefly1@hotmail.com
Rufus Shinra Weapons: hand-to-hand; Dark Nation; Jackhammer combat shotgun [I'm guessing that if he's going out in the field, he'd have picked up at least the basics of HTH; the Jackhammer seems a better sub for the double-barrel shotgun he weilds in the game. Note that every eleventh 'shot' is a reload, not a true attack] Specials: *can use specialized shells (these become available with advancement) to inflict various status effects/special damage (fire, ice, poison, sleep, confuse) *Dark Nation, in addition to mauling a given enemy, can also cast Barrier; other spells come with advancement Limit breaks: *'Cut them all down!': empties an entire ammo drum (ten rounds) on full-auto. Devastating to a single enemy; nice against clumps *'Shake 'n Bake': summons a pair of troopers - one with a flamethrower, the other sporting a multi-round grenade launcher - to bring the pain to a single enemy *'Satellite Rain': Syndicate Wars players will love this... a satellite releases a group of tungsten/uranium alloy rods; the process of atmospheric re-entry heats them to the point at which they liquefy, producing a devastating plasma rain

The Rufus/Cloud Yaoi Pairing by Kristi
...getting to the point, about your yaoi page. I've written Cloud/Rufus. I'm much to ashamed however, to let anyone read it. ^^; I'm rather shy. But the situation was an alternate universe, because I think you're right. The two are pretty much impossible to get together without it being "I hate you, sex now." But while being an AU, I tried to make it close to the game. Rufus was the president of a major company, and Cloud was an unfriendly protester. (lol) The "major company" was a company that sold a drink that's like mako, and makes you all strong and shiny-eyed and stuff. As a matter of fact, it was called mako. But the mako also drove people insane, including Cloud's lover (or ex-lover) Aeris. Rufus liked Cloud though, finding him incredibly attractive. And Rufus ShinRa always gets what he wants!...I think Cloud was a little ooc in it. It was also, Rufus seme.

Rufus ShinRa- So misunderstood! by Rikku ShinRa
Wayhey, I thought I say somethings about your Rufus sitey... THANK YOOOU! I've been waiting ages to find a shrine to everything about Rufus! Well I'm gonna' ramble on about him now o.O
Rufus ShinRa- So misunderstood! A lot of people bitch about him because he's 'evil'. In my opinion, he's not evil, he's just expressing a lot of anger. Anger at his father maybe? Or maybe the people who also played a part in his upbringing, not that his father did anyway. Maybe he feels that the way to get back at his father is by making others suffer for no reason, make everyone fear him. He wasn't really all that bad anyway. It's a shame that you didn't see more of him in the game. Maybe write his own storyline in? Making the game more intresting. Or it could have been a bit like FFVIII with Squall and Laguna? Who knows! He shouldn't have been killed off either... Evil Final Fantasy VII animator type people!

Regarding Rufus' outfit by Siddichan
I love your Rufus website and would like to contribute a simple detail regarding his outfit.
Rufus's outfit is often called the White Lotus... when a young man wears this particular color in Japan, namely all white, he strikes as a juvenile delinquent, someone who believes himself above the whatever law he is under, and/or is considered troublesome. This simple white is meant to differentiate him from the crowd, and if you notice, in any mix-matched world, if a guy wears all white, he does stand out.
You can also add another bishounen in white to your look-alike section. Namely, a guy named Kyosuke Shingure from the game/anime Voltage Fighter: Gowcaizer. While their personalities may slightly differ, he tens to come off as the bad - ass, and was the first one I searched and learned about the White Lotus uniform of. Their hair styles are very similiar, but the colors aren't. Might want to check it out.