Sasuke the ninja?

I've seen no less than three anime shows with ninja characters named Sasuke: Ranma 1/2, Samurai Deeper Kyo, and Naruto (my club often watches the last two back-to-back so its really noticable). Is this name often found among ninja in Japanese stories for some reason?

Sasuke and Ayame are common ninja names.

And as far as anime goes, Hanzo is usually reserved for the REALLY REALLY badass ninjas. Quite fitting since Hanzo was supposedly the best ninja in real history.

If someone named Hanzo were to make an appearance in Naruto, it would mean that the series is reaching its climax.

I recall a Sasuke in Suikoden 2 and an Ayame in Suikoden 3.

'I have been a word in a book.' The Song of Taliesin

'If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats.' Richard Bach

Sarutobi Sasuke is one of the most famous ninja. He appeared in many ninja and sword fight manga series. Shirato Sanpei's 'Sasuke' is probably the best manga among them. It's been said that Sasuke was one of Sanada Yukimura's ten commandos. A fictitious person.