The orange ghost in Pac-Man is named Clyde because of his distinctively clumsy, "feigned ignorance" behavior, as indicated by his original Japanese name, "Otoboke". While his in-game behavior might seem random or "stupid" compared to the other ghosts, this quirky personality was a deliberate design choice by the game's creator, Toru Iwatani, to make the gameplay more interesting and engaging.
Here's a breakdown of why Clyde is named Clyde:
"Otoboke" and Feigned Ignorance: In the original Japanese version of Pac-Man, the ghosts were named "Oikake" (Chaser), "Machibuse" (Ambusher), "Kimagure" (Fickle), and "Otoboke" (Feigned Ignorance).
American Name Change: When the game was exported to the US, Midway Games changed the names, with "Otoboke" becoming the nickname "Clyde," which was derived from his original official nickname, "Pokey".
Distinct Personality: Clyde was designed to be different from the other ghosts, which is why his name was the most quirky. His behavior is characterized by his "randomness" and tendency to wander off, making him a distinct and humorous antagonist.