History LastNameBasis / RealLife

* A vast majority of political figures are referred mainly by their last name, unless they get some kind of nickname (e.g.,[[UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy JFK]]).

** One extreme example was UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln. He didn't like the name Abe or Abraham and even his family and friends addressed him as Lincoln.
*** This is ironic, since he's an example of an American President who's commonly called by his first name (and often the diminutive form).

* IndiePop singer Leslie Music/{{Feist}}.
** Same things goes for Jillian Music/{{Banks}}.
** Steven Patrick Music/{{Morrissey}}

* Late Night TalkShow hosts are usually referred to be their last names, such as [[Creator/DavidLetterman Letterman]], [[Creator/JayLeno Leno]], [[Creator/JimmyKimmel Kimmel]], [[Creator/JimmyFallon Fallon]], [[Creator/StephenColbert Colbert]], and so on. Creator/ArsenioHall and Creator/ConanOBrien are notable exceptions, mainly due to their [[AerithAndBob uncommon names in comparison to the rest.]]

* Late Night TalkShow hosts are usually referred to be their last names, such as [[Creator/DavidLetterman Letterman]], [[Creator/JayLeno Leno]], [[Creator/JimmyKimmel Kimmel]], [[Creator/JimmyFallon Fallon]], [[Creator/StephenColbert Colbert]], and so on. Creator/ConanOBrien is a notable exception, mainly due to his [[AerithAndBob uncommon name in comparison to the rest.]]

* TruthInTelevision as a distinguishing factor for those with the same first name.

* In the educational setting, students are commonly expected to address teachers, administrators -- and to a lesser extent, support staff -- by a courtesy title (Mr., Mrs. or Miss), administrative title (Principal or Superintendent), Coach, or Dr. (if they have a doctorate degree of some sort) and their surname, especially in the classroom. Sometimes, teachers will allow them to use a shortened last name (e.g., "Mrs. K" for [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Krabappel]]) if it is long or cumbersome to use. Sometimes, teachers and faculty will do this to each other as well when students are present.

* TruthInTelevision as a distinguishing factor for those w/the same 1st name.

* Also TruthInTelevision for shows set in historical times (before about 1945 in North America and 1980 in the UK). In RegencyEngland, for instance, first names were only used by adults when addressing children (and parents when addressing their own children, even if they were adults), and among siblings or very close female friends. Husbands and wives only addressed each other by their first names when alone: in public or even amongst their family, they often referred to each other more formally. In many ways, the use of the first name became the English-language version of the French ''tutoyer'', as if addressing someone by their first name without a good reason showed that you didn't see them as your equal. While modern Americans see using the first name as friendly and egalitarian, someone from this time frame would see it as pushy, rude, and intrusive.

* Almost universal in sports, where announcers and coaches will refer to the players almost exclusively using their last names. Even some teammates will refer to one another in a LastNameBasis. In the overwhelming vast majority of cases only the last name appears on the player's uniform: there has been, for instance, only one exception in all of Major League Baseball in the 21st century (Ichiro Suzuki, who originally used his first name in Japan).

** Fans also typically refer to sports figures only by their last name, with only a few exceptions (Kobe Bryant is "Kobe," Shaquille O'Neal is "Shaq", UsefulNotes/LeBronJames is "[=LeBron=]", Alex Rodriguez is "A-Rod", etc.).
** The most famous exception is that Brazilian soccer players usually have their ''nicknames'' on their uniforms. OnlyKnownByTheirNickname is the usual norm.
*** The same is true in capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, as well; one can know someone for ''years'' by their capoeira name—e.g., Mestre Bimba—before finding out their real name (Manoel dos Reis Machado). Even ''historians'' of capoeira might not recognize the name Machado if they heard it.
* AP Style for news writing dictates that, after the first mention of someone in an article, all other references use only their last name. This makes it tricky when reporters find themselves writing an article about several members of the same family.
* Averted in Iceland, where the patronymic last name is thought of as more a description than an actual name, honorifics are applied to the first name, and even the phone book is listed in first-name order. The footballer Heiðar Helguson is the son of a woman named Helgu; his own children will likely carry the second name Heiðarson or Heiðarsdottir.
* Most Koreans refer to each other by title, title + surname, or a generic family term like "Auntie" or "Grandma", unless they are close, and sometimes not even then.
** Additionally, addressing a Korean as "Surname + [[UsefulNotes/KoreanHonorifics ssi]]" is extremely rude if they don't happen to work for you, that being how subordinates are addressed. It's also very common for Koreans to address each other by their full names, in part because almost all Korean names are only three syllables long (this last is also true in most of China, whose name-pattern Korean borrowed some time after the Three Kingdoms period).

* As noted in ''Literature/LittleWomen'', when Jo tells Laurie that she's not Miss March, she's only Miss Jo, it was a common practice in the 1800s to refer to the oldest of multiple sisters by "Miss [surname]" and all younger sisters as "Miss [first name]".

* Dunno about other Spanish-speaking countries, but in Argentina is common to have a LastNameBasis between male persons, even if they are best friends, and FirstNameBasis for [[DifferentforGirls female]] persons. It's also common for male persons to be addressed [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname by a nickname]] that is often based on a physical attribute.
** Last Name Basis is only used in the first year(s) of high school, and some particular places (some extremely vertical enterprises, the army/police forces) unless you are addressing to a professional (like a doctor) or somebody really important (Mr. President). Everyone else uses their first name or his/her nickname; calling a person by their last name is considered offensive and awkward, unless that person requests it.

* Also TruthInTelevision for shows set in historical times (before about 1945 in North America and 1980 in the UK). In RegencyEngland, for instance, first names were only used by adults when addressing children (and parents when addressing their own children, even if they were adults), and among siblings or very close female friends. Husbands and wives only addressed each other by their first names when alone: in public or even amongst their family, they often referred to each other more formally. In many ways, the use of the first name became the English-language version of the French ''tutoyer'', as if addressing someone by their first name without a good reason showed that you didn't see them as your equal. While modern Americans see using the first name as friendly and egalitarian, someone from this time frame would see it as pushy, rude, and intrusive.
* How much TruthInTelevision this is for modern US culture varies, especially for professional settings. Title-and-last-name-basis is often used in formal business relationships, for example with a customer or a boss. Even in less formal settings, LastNameBasis is seen among groups of coworkers and males, especially when there is a lot of first-name overlap. Females tend to stay with first names and tend to only use both first and last names if there is an overlap. It's also the standard in the US military, where you might be a bit hazy on the first name of your best buds.

* AP Style for news writing dictates that, after the first mention of someone in an article, all other references use only their last name. This makes it tricky when a reporter finds himself writing an article about several members of the same family.

*** Not the case in the IDF. Israelis are generally very, very informal, speaking to complete strangers their age with the language they’d use for a close friend. This is a bit toned down in the army, but even then soldiers sometimes refer to their direct commanders by their first name.

** In the Canadian Armed Forces, you refer to an equal or lesser ranked Non-Commissioned Member by their last name and a higher-ranked NCM by their rank, unless that NCM is a Master Warrant Officer or Chief Warrant Officer in which case you call them sir or ma'am. Officers are always referred to as either sir or ma'am. However most units subvert this when they're not training and not within view of the public or higher-ups, and allow first-name basis for even the higher ranks.

* Dunno about other Spanish speaking countries, but in Argentina is common to have a LastNameBasis between male persons, even if they are best friends, and FirstNameBasis for [[DifferentforGirls female]] persons. It's also common for male persons to be addressed [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname by a nickname]] that is often based on a physical attribute.
** Last Name Basis is only used in the first year(s) of high school, and some particular places (some extremely vertical enterprises, the army/police forces) unless you are addressing to a professional (like a doctor) or somebody really important (Mr. President). Everyone else use their First name or his/her nickname, calling a person by their last name is considered offensive and awkward, unless that person requests it.

* How much TruthInTelevision this is for modern US culture varies, especially for professional settings. Title-and-last-name-basis is often used in formal business relationships, for example with a customer or a boss. Even in less formal settings, LastNameBasis is seen among groups of coworkers and male persons, especially when there is a lot of first-name overlap. Female persons tend to stay with first names and tend to only use both first and last names if there is an overlap. It's also the standard in the US military, where you might be a bit hazy on the first name of your best buds.

* Almost universal in sports, where announcers and coaches will refer to the players almost exclusively using their last names. Even some teammates will refer to one another in a LastNameBasis. In the overwhelming vast majority of cases only the last name appears on the player's uniform: there is, for instance, currently only one exception in all of Major League Baseball (Ichiro Suzuki, who originally used his first name in Japan).
** Fans also typically refer to sports figures only by their last name, with only a few exceptions (Kobe Bryant is "Kobe," Shaquille O'Neal is "Shaq", [=LeBron=] James is "[=LeBron=]", Alex Rodriguez is "A-Rod", etc.).

* News anchorwoman Lisa Kennedy is known as simply Kennedy.

* LastNameBasis is TruthInTelevision for many non-US cultures; in Latin America it's not uncommon to see close friends calling each other by their last names, and standard practice in [[JapanesePoliteness Japan]], combined with {{UsefulNotes/Japanese Honorifics}}. [[{{FirstNameBasis}} First name]] + honorific is more intimate, and ''yobisute'' (null honorific) even more so.

* Standard practice in [[JapanesePoliteness Japan]], combined with {{UsefulNotes/Japanese Honorifics}}. [[{{FirstNameBasis}} First name]] + honorific is more intimate, and ''yobisute'' (null honorific) even more so.

* LastNameBasis is TruthInTelevision for many non-US cultures; in Latin America it's not uncommon to see close friends calling each other by their last names, and using the family name plus or minus honorific is standard for Japan, where FirstNameBasis is a much more significant social statement.

* UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne hero [[Film/SergeantYork Sergeant (Alvin C.) York]][[note]]He was still referred to in the media as "Sergeant" even after he had been promoted at one point.[[/note]].

* As noted in ''LittleWomen'', when Jo tells Laurie that she's not Miss March, she's only Miss Jo, it was a common practice in the 1800s to refer to the oldest of multiple sisters by "Miss [surname]" and all younger sisters as "Miss [first name]".

* Almost universal in sports, where announcers and coaches will refer to the players almost exclusively using their last names. Even some teammates will refer to one another in a LastNameBasis. In the overwhelming vast majority of cases only the last name appears on the player's uniform: there is, for instance, currently only one exception in all of Major League Baseball (Ichiro Suzuki).

* Averted in Iceland, where the patronymic last name is thought of as more a description than an actual name, honorifics are applied to the first name, and even the phone book is listed in first-name order.

* Almost universal in sports, where announcers and coaches will refer to the players almost exclusively using their last names. Even some teammates will refer to one another in a LastNameBasis. Relatedly, it's typically only the last name that appears on the player's uniform.

* Years ago, before social conventions became relaxed, minors were often expected to refer to adults -- the exceptions needing to be explicitly stated -- by a courtesy title and their last name, or "sir" or "ma'am." This included dating relationships, where the date would be expected to address to his/her significant other's parents with the courtesy title Mr. and Mrs.
** In business relationships, where the customer service representative was speaking with a client they did not otherwise have an established relationship with (previous or personal), they might be expected to call them "Mr." or "Mrs.," or short of that, sir or ma'am. Also, in some businesses or companies, subordinate workers might be asked -- at least initially -- to refer to their superiors by Mr. or Mrs., although many are informal enough that they are allowed to call their supervisors and bosses by first name almost immediately.

** The main exceptions to this being some female politicians and [[LegacyCharacter political legacies]] whose last names aren't distinctive enough (Hillary Clinton, almost universally referred to as "Hillary", is an example of both). UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein was almost always referred to as "Saddam," presumably because "Hussein" is an all-too-common name in the Arab world.
** Saddam is just as common a first name as Hussein is as a surname. "Saddam Hussein" in the Arab world is about as distinctive as John Smith. Why the world came to refer to Saddam on a first name basis isn't clear, but it may have been propagated by Saddam himself as part of his cult of personality.
*** Before the first Gulf War, King Hussein of Jordan was also frequently in the news. There was confusion until the media settled on "Saddam".
** One extreme example was Abraham Lincoln. He didn't like the name Abe or Abraham and even his family and friends addressed him as Lincoln.

* In the educational setting, students are commonly expected to address teachers, administrators -- and to a lesser extent, support staff -- by a courtesy title (Mr., Mrs. or Miss), administrative title (Principal or Superintendent), Coach, or Dr. (if they have a doctorate degree of some sort) and their surname, especially in the classroom. Sometimes, teachers will allow them to use a shortened last name (e.g., "Mrs. K" for Krabappel) if it is long or cumbersome to use. Sometimes, teachers and faculty will do this to each other as well when students are present.

* In cultures where FirstNameBasis is normal, a person with a common first name but an uncommon last name might be addressed on LastNameBasis by their friends and peers, just because it's a more distinctive name.

* Standard practice in [[JapanesePoliteness Japan]], combined with {{UsefulNotes/Japanese Honorifics}}. [[{{FirstNameBasis}} First name]] + honorific is more intimate, and ''yobisute'' (null honorific) even more so.
* Standard practice in all armed forces around the world.

** At least in North America, most schools[[note]]As well as day care centers, usually.[[/note]] expect their students to refer to their teachers and faculty as Mr./Ms./Miss/Mrs. [last name]. The teachers and faculty will usually do this to each other as well (well, in front of the students, anyway).

* The historical scientist (Nicolaus) Copernicus.

* The historical scientist (Nicolaus) Copernicus

* Stand-up comedian Creator/ChristopherTitus, with a few exceptions, has gone by his last name since at least high school. Also, at least one album has just used "Titus" on the front cover.

* Colonel (Harland) Sanders (founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken)