History Main / CanonName

[[AC: Note:]] This is not about any game that lets you name the characters. Only cases in which you can name the characters in Game A, and the character's official name is stated in Game B or material in a non-interactive medium (such as films or books) released later should be added here.

* ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' lets you rename everyone... setting up a gag where you're given the "Rename" screen for [[spoiler:Roger Bacon]], who promptly informs you he ''isn't'' joining your party and you shouldn't be so presumptuous. ''Covenant'' reveals that the default names for everyone were the canonical ones, and does away with renaming (except that the screen ''still'' pops up for [[spoiler:Roger]]).

* In ''[[Franchise/DotHack .hack//]]'', as you could rename your main character in the [[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games first four games]] and you could load data from any of them to [[VideoGame/DotHackGU G.U.]] and it would [[spoiler:change the name of the final boss of Vol. 1 to your character's name in the first series]]. If you don't do that, however, the character's name is given as "Kite". This is also his name in his appearance in ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone''.

** Though the player can rename ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV''[='s=] protagonist, ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' only uses his default name Flynn.
** In a somewhat straighter example, the main character of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' isn't even given a set ''gender'', much less a name. However, [[SchrodingersPlayerCharacter the female version of the character]] appears in ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Persona2'' with the name Tamaki Uchida, and in ''P1'' she talks openly about the events of ''if...'', [[CuttingOffTheBranches establishing herself as the canon hero of that game]].

*** The main character of the first ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' is referred to in-game as only "Pierced Boy"/"Boy with Earring", but the manga refers to him as Naoya Todou, the audio dramas as Yuya Narumi, and the novelization as Jihei Suzakuin.

* In the original ''VideoGame/{{Fallout|1}}'' there are three premade characters, one of whom, Albert Cole, appears to be the character we see in flashbacks in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'', though his name is never actually mentioned there.
* In ''Videogame/{{Fallout 4}}'', you choose between a wife and a husband as your player character. The one you didn't choose is given the name Nate (the husband) and Nora (the wife).

* In ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'', the protagonist will always be dubbed "Douchebag" no matter what the players choose to name him. At the end of the game, the Big Bad Government Guy pursuing him reveals his true name: [[spoiler:[[Videogame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim "Dovahkiin"]]]].

*** ''VideoGame/Persona4'''s manga adaptation names the protagonist Souji Seta, while the [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation anime]] [[Anime/Persona4GoldenTheAnimation adaptation(s)]] names him Yu Narukami. The latter name was canonized in spin-off sequels ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'', ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''. In fact, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHvGEAQFv4 if you change the language from Japanese to English in Golden, the main character's name will be set to Yu Narukami]].
*** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'', where the main character has [[HelloInsertNameHere no static given name]] in the game, but always has the official ''nom de guerre'' of "Joker," which is the name used for most crossovers, most notably his appearance in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. As with most Creator/{{Atlus}} games, in Japanese promotional material the creators enter the name "主人 公" ("Protagonist"). In English promotional material, Atlus reps also joked everyone should name the protagonist "Xander," after his English voice actor Creator/XanderMobus. While he is named Akira Kurusu in the manga, the anime opts for Ren Amamiya; the latter is likely the canon name, given that it's used in ''VideoGame/Persona5DancingInStarlight'' and ''Anime/Persona5TheAnimation''. Similar to ''Persona 4 Golden'', [[https://twitter.com/ScrambledFaz/status/1583310540868239360 changing the language from Japanese to English in Royal will cause the main character's name to be set to Ren Amamiya]].

*** The protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has no static name in the game; in the manga adaptation, he is named Minato Arisato. However, in ''Anime/Persona3TheMovie'', his name is Makoto Yuki, while [[Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade the stage play adaptation]] gives him the name Sakuya Shiomi. The movie name is the most likely the "canon" one, given its use in ''VideoGame/Persona3DancingInMoonlight''. In the console and Steam release of '''Persona 3 Portable'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCJLyINn7-A if the player switches from Japanese to English, the protagonist's name will be set as Makoto Yuki]].

* ''Franchise/{{Mother}}'':

Game X gives you the option of [[HelloInsertNameHere naming your character]] at the start. [[NamedInTheSequel In the sequel]], that character appears as a BonusBoss, SecretCharacter, PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo, etc., and as such the developers had to give them a name. Alternatively, Game X [[NamedByTheAdaptation gets a book or movie adaptation/spin-off/sequel]], and rather than [[TheAllConcealingI set it in first person]], or have [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep everyone call them barkeep,]] they just make up a name for the character.

*** The protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has no static name in the game; in the manga adaptation, he is named Minato Arisato. However, in ''Anime/Persona3TheMovie'', his name is Makoto Yuki, while [[Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade the stage play adaptation]] gives him the name Sakuya Shiomi. The movie name is the most likely the "canon" one, given its use in ''VideoGame/Persona3DancingInMoonlight''.
*** The female protagonist of UpdatedRerelease ''Persona 3 Portable'' is named Kotone Shiomi in [[Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade the stage play]].

** In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'', the male hero is Solo and the female hero is Sofia, according to the instruction booklet for the Japan-only Playstation remake (or so [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] says), and confirmed by cameos in the ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' remake.

*** The Hero has TWO of them. The one used in the US releases of DQV is Madason. His name in the ''Anime/DragonQuestYourStory'' movie is Luca.
*** The game gives default names (which you can change) to the twin children of the hero in any remake and modern spinoff: ''Rex'' and ''Tabatha'' for Japanese locale, and ''Parry'' and ''Madchen'' for English DS version. The aforementioned ''DQVI'' remake also cameos the ''V'' cast, confirming the kids' names and dubbing the hero as Madason (which in the original game was his father's choice for his name before going with the player-provided one). The manga adaption gives uses the names Abel for the hero and Sora and Ten for his children. Various other adaptations tend to name the hero Lucas (which is sometimes transliterated as Ryuka).

** Due to the MassiveMultiplayerCrossover element of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters Battle Road,'' featuring Rex and Tabatha as player's avatars, most unnamed supporting heroes are named in this series.

*** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': Lucas

** The ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'' characters are generally [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep known by their titles]]: The Prince of Laurasia (or of Midenhall, depending on the translation), the Prince of Cannock, and the Princess of Moonbrooke (or just Laurasia/Midenhall, Cannock, and Moonbrooke for short). When they made appearances in Japanese versions of ''VideoGame/FortuneStreet'', Cannock and Moonbrooke were named Cookie and Pudding, respectively. A ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' cameo later gave them English names of Princeton and Princessa. Laurasia/Midenhall remains unnamed.

*** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'': Allen

** Every game in the series (except ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures Four Swords Adventures]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'') lets you name the hero; canonically, however, his name is always Link.

*** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'', where the main character has [[HelloInsertNameHere no static given name]] in the game, but always has the official ''nom de guerre'' of "Joker." As with most Creator/{{Atlus}} games, in Japanese promotional material the creators enter the name "主人 公" ("Protagonist"). In English promotional material, Atlus reps also joked everyone should name the protagonist "Xander," after his English voice actor Creator/XanderMobus. While he is named Akira Kurusu in the manga, the anime opts for Ren Amamiya; the latter is likely the canon name, given that it's used in ''VideoGame/Persona5DancingInStarlight'' and ''Anime/Persona5TheAnimation''. Similar to ''Persona 4 Golden'', [[https://twitter.com/ScrambledFaz/status/1583310540868239360 changing the language from Japanese to English in Royal will cause the main character's name to be set to Ren Amamiya]].

*** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'', where the main character has [[HelloInsertNameHere no static given name]] in the game, but always has the official ''nom de guerre'' of "Joker." As with most Creator/{{Atlus}} games, in Japanese promotional material the creators enter the name "主人 公" ("Protagonist"). In English promotional material, Atlus reps also joked everyone should name the protagonist "Xander," after his English voice actor Creator/XanderMobus. While he is named Akira Kurusu in the manga, the anime opts for Ren Amamiya; the latter is likely the canon name, given that it's used in ''VideoGame/Persona5DancingInStarlight'' and ''Anime/Persona5TheAnimation''.

*** ''VideoGame/Persona4'''s manga adaptation names the protagonist Souji Seta, while the [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation anime]] [[Anime/Persona4GoldenTheAnimation adaptation(s)]] names him Yu Narukami. The latter name was canonized in spin-off sequels ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'', ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''.

* In ''VideoGame/CrusaderOfCenty'', you name the main character at the start of the game, but the manual identifies him as Corona.

* There aren't given any default names for the heroes of ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', but the Japanese instruction manual calls them Randi, Purim and Popoie. Interesting in that nobody is really sure what gave them the idea to use those names in the Enclosed Instruction Book. Some say that it was from a magazine previewing the game.
** The mobile version does, in fact, give them the default names of Randi, Primm, and Popoi.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyBraveExvius'' also uses Randi, Primm, and Popoi as the names of the heroes.
** The [[VideoGameRemake remake]] has the canon name as the default name for each character.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'''s protagonist can be named in the first game, but Creator/{{Capcom}} uses the default name (Subaru Hoshikawa in Japan; Geo Stelar in North America) for the second and third.
* While ''VideoGame/DiabloII'' hints at the fate of the three possible characters from the original game, it only explicitly states that one of them (hinted to be the Warrior) became Diablo, and [[WakeUpCallBoss Blood Raven]], the Rogue, is the only one given an actual name. ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' states that the warrior of the first game is named Aidan. Further materials reveal the Rogue used to be named 'Moreina' before corrupted into Blood Raven.

*** Some unused data suggests that the male Barbarian might make an appearance in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' and if that happens, Blizzard already prepared a CanonName for him: Kronan.

* In ''Videogame/TorchlightII'', the Vanquisher of the [[Videogame/{{Torchlight}} previous game]] is given the name Commander Vale, though the Alchemist and the Destroyer are still known by their class names.

** ''VideoGame/GodEater3'': Luca Pennywort
*** The female protagonist also shares the same name.

* Eivor in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla'' has the surname Varinsdottir as revealed by Goodwin's letter and the ''Song of Glory'' comic series which confirms that the character is a woman.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** The hero from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' is officially named Red, and his rival is Blue (Green in Japanese). Both names are revealed when you fight them in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver''. The female choice from ''[[VideoGameRemake FireRed and LeafGreen]]'' eventually had her name canonized as Leaf in ''VideoGame/PokemonMasters''.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' gave us the hero Gold and the rival Silver, though this was less canon and more so player assumption based on the naming conventions of the previous games. The remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', ''[=HeartGold and SoulSilver=]'', would later establish Gold's real name as Ethan. Silver didn't receive a new name ''per se'', but his default name was changed from "Silver" to "Soul," while his data is still stored under the name "Silver." ''Pokemon Masters'' cemented this as his canon name. The heroine from ''[[UpdatedRerelease Crystal]]'' is Kris, as noted in the game description on the back of the box, who was replaced in the aforementioned ''HGSS'' by a new character named Lyra.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' has the hero as Brendan and the heroine as May. TheRival is whichever gender option you didn't choose. Pre-release material for the ''[[VideoGameRemake Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]'' (including the demo) had them known as Orlando and Anna, however.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' has Lucas and Dawn as your playable choice (again with the non-chosen character appearing as an NPC), and a rival in the form of Barry, who can be freely named by the player in these games. Though Barry's name was de-facto canonized by the anime, it wouldn't appear in a games contest until ''Pokémon Masters'' over a decade later.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', the player characters are named Hilbert and Hilda on the Battle Subway. Their pre-release names were Blair and Whitlea, referencing the game titles.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', the protagonists are again named by the Battle Subway: Rosa and Nate, a pun on "Resonate" when said together, one of the game's themes. Though this is usually missed because people tend to list the male name first.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' the official names are Calem and Serena, with the non-chosen character as a rival yet again, but their pre-release names were Xavier and Yvonne, once again reflect the game titles.
** The names of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'''s protagonists were notably never officially revealed, and many went by their pre-release names of "Elio" and "Selene," or reverted to the convention of naming them after the game titles. Merchandise would later reveal that they retained their pre-release names.
** The canon names of the protagonists of ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' are Victor and Gloria. Pre-release material also gave their names as Sword and Shield.
** Most ''Pokémon'' spin-off games follow this rule as well. Surprisingly, the protagonists of ''VideoGame/PokemonConquest'' avert this; they are literally [[TheHero Hero and Heroine]] otherwise.
** It is worth noting that the most popular manga adaptation, ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', retains the pattern of naming the protagonists after the game versions, even after the games abandoned this. For example, the manga counterparts of the aforementioned Brendan and May are Ruby and Sapphire; Lucas, Barry, and Dawn are Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum; Hilbert and Hilda are Black and White; Nate and Rosa are Lack-Two and Whi-Two [[note]]although in the former's case "Black 2" is a codename due to being an international police officer like Looker within the continuity of the manga[[/note]]; and Calem and Serena are X and Y [[note]]even though that clashes with the names of Trevor, Tierno and Shauna due to the AerithAndBob trope[[/note]]. A few translations, such as the English one, take minor liberties in order to make the names plausible while still referencing the game titles; with X and Y becoming Xavier and Yvonne (though still carrying the ''nick''names X and Y) and Lack-Two and Whi-Two becoming Blake and Whitley. [[note]]Though, again, Blake retains "Black no. 2" as a police codename.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings'': Originally the protagonist had no official name. The name "Ninten" [[note]]as written in Japanese, にんてん[[/note]] was used in the manual for the Famicom version, but it's a placeholder name that Nintendo typically used in games where the protagonist can be named (examples can be seen in the various ''Zelda'' manuals). However, the name Ninten stuck around and became the definite name for the character.
** Similarly, the main characters in ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' and ''VideoGame/MOTHER3'' are Ness and Lucas, respectively. In fact, all of the canonical names for nameable characters in the series are the first names given to you from the name creator's "Don't Care" option. These names are also all used in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.
* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'':
** The protagonist of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' is given the name of Naoki Kashima in the radio play adaptation, but is known as Shin Managi in the novelization.
** The player character of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' is called Murdock in most of the English manual's screenshots. However, one set of screenshots near the end calls him Langdon Alger. It's unlikely that either is his "real" name, but it's as close as the game gets. In the drama CD (and supplementary japanese materials), however, he is given the name Tadano Hitonari, a pun on "tada no hito nari" which means "just an ordinary person" in Japanese.
** Though the player can rename ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV''[='s=] protagonist, ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' only uses his default name Flynn.
** In a somewhat straighter example, the main character of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' isn't even given a set ''gender'', much less a name. However, [[SchrodingersPlayerCharacter the female version of the character]] appears in ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Persona2'' with the name Tamaki Uchida, and in ''P1'' she talks openly about the events of ''if...'', [[CuttingOffTheBranches establishing herself as the canon hero of that game]].
** ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
*** The main character of the first ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' is referred to in-game as only "Pierced Boy"/"Boy with Earring", but the manga refers to him as Naoya Todou, the audio dramas as Yuya Narumi, and the novelization as Jihei Suzakuin.
*** While you can name the protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona2: Innocent Sin'' whatever you want, his name will always be Tatsuya Suou in the sequel ''Eternal Punishment''.
*** The protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has no static name in the game; in the manga adaptation, he is named Minato Arisato. However, in ''Anime/Persona3TheMovie'', his name is Makoto Yuki, while [[Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade the stage play adaptation]] gives him the name Sakuya Shiomi. The movie name is the most likely the "canon" one, given its use in ''VideoGame/Persona3DancingInMoonlight''.
*** The female protagonist of UpdatedRerelease ''Persona 3 Portable'' is named Kotone Shiomi in [[Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade the stage play]].
*** ''VideoGame/Persona4'''s manga adaptation names the protagonist Souji Seta, while the [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation anime]] [[Anime/Persona4GoldenTheAnimation adaptation(s)]] names him Yu Narukami. The latter name was canonized in spin-off sequels ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'', ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''.
*** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'', where the main character has [[HelloInsertNameHere no static given name]] in the game, but always has the official ''nom de guerre'' of "Joker." As with most Creator/{{Atlus}} games, in Japanese promotional material the creators enter the name "主人 公" ("Protagonist"). In English promotional material, Atlus reps also joked everyone should name the protagonist "Xander," after his English voice actor Creator/XanderMobus. While he is named Akira Kurusu in the manga, the anime opts for Ren Amamiya; the latter is likely the canon name, given that it's used in ''VideoGame/Persona5DancingInStarlight'' and ''Anime/Persona5TheAnimation''.
*** Subverted and played with in ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth''. Regardless of which path you take, you have to name both the ''Persona 3'' hero and the ''Persona 4'' hero. In both menus, there's an option to randomly generate a name, but, amusingly, ''none'' of the names that are usually considered canon (Minato Arisato and Makoto Yuki for the ''P3'' protagonist, or Yu Narukami and Souji Seta for the ''P4'' protagonist) are available in the random generator. In fact, some of those names (Minato Arisato and Yu Narukami) can't be inputted in the English version due to character limitations. ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' follows suit, with the protagonists from ''P3'', ''P4'', and ''P5'' as well as the female protagonist from ''[=P3P=]'' all getting the same treatment.
** The ''VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy'' prequel novelization gives the eponymous protagonist the first name Jouhei, as "Raidou Kuzunoha" is actually his title, not his birth name (which is chosen by the player in-game).
** The protagonists of the two ''VideoGame/{{Devil|Survivor}} [[VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2 Survivor]]'' games are named by the player and don't have a set name. The protagonist of the first gets named Kazuya Minegushi in the manga adaptation, though the protagonist of the second gets two names depending on the adaptation, either Hiro Kageyama in the manga or Hibiki Kuze in the [[Anime/DevilSurvivor2 anime adaptation]].
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' uses it at times:
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'' allowed the player to name all four characters. The official manga serialization gave them the names Muuchi, Doug, J. Bowie, and Melfi. The DS remake decided instead to make them four unique characters of their own, with the canon names of Luneth, Arc, Refia and Ingus. ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' simply calls the hero representing the game "The Onion Knight", though his first alternate costume in ''Duodecim'' is called "Luneth" as a ShoutOut. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyRecordKeeper'' ''[[TakingAThirdOption uses both]]'', as both the Onion Knight from ''Dissidia'' and Luneth's gang from the remake are in the game.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' doesn't even have canon ''characters'', let alone names. Similar to how it handled ''FFIII'', ''Dissidia'' dubs the ''FFI'' representative (the Warrior from the Famicom version's packaging illustration) "Warrior of Light." In ''Duodecim'', the Warrior of Light does not remember his past, and thus, never reveals his name.
*** In the ''Final Fantasy - Memory of Heroes'' novel, the Warrior's name is given as Zest. Whether or not that makes it the official name of the "Warrior of Light" from ''Dissidia'' is uncertain.
*** The prequel/{{Revision}} to ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', ''VideoGame/MobiusFinalFantasy'', gives the Warrior's name as "Wol" (a likely nod to the [[FunWithAcronyms acronym-based]] FanNickname that originated with ''Dissidia'') although the player can still rename him (and is encouraged to do so via the social mechanics).
** The [[AllThereInTheManual instruction booklet]] for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'' says the main character's name is Benjamin, though you can name him [[HelloInsertNameHere whatever you want]].
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' for the SNES, an NPC named Namingway allowed you to change the character's default names (Cecil, Rosa, Kain, Edge, and Rydia). However, since the DS version (and its ports) added voice in cutscenes, you cannot rename the characters in that version. This severely disappoints Namingway and creates a completely new sidequest where Namingway [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife tries to find his place in life]].
** The ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' ending uses movie-style "CharacterAsHimself" credits ("[Player-selected Name] as Canon Name") to show everyone's canon names, including surnames that never come up elsewhere. If you kept the default names, you get something like "Cyan as Cyan Garamonde."
** When one of the previously playable and player-named Turks from ''VideoGame/BeforeCrisis'' appears in ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' in a prominent role, she initially introduces herself to Zack as "Cissnei." However, she later reveals that the name is an alias, implying whatever name the player gave her in ''Before Crisis'' is still valid in some capacity.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' had an interesting time dealing with the absence of this trope, as the protagonist of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is officially named Tidus, but, for some reason, they declined to name him in ''X-2'' despite him not being present [[spoiler:until the GoldenEnding]]. This resulted in every single character being required to obliquely refer to him through titles or nicknames (especially jarring given the presence of voice acting).
* The ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' games let you rename characters, but in voice clips (both inside and outside battle), the original name is always used.
* In ''[[Franchise/DotHack .hack//]]'', as you could rename your main character in the [[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games first four games]] and you could load data from any of them to [[VideoGame/DotHackGU G.U.]] and it would [[spoiler:change the name of the final boss of Vol. 1 to your character's name in the first series]]. If you don't do that, however, the character's name is given as "Kite". This is also his name in his appearance in ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone''.

* In ''VideoGame/FossilFighters,'' the hero has no default name--and indeed, you can change his name as often as you like! However, the official mini-manga gives his name as "Hunter," probably after the series' Japanese name (''Fossil Hunters'').
* ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' lets you rename everyone... setting up a gag where you're given the "Rename" screen for [[spoiler:Roger Bacon]], who promptly informs you he ''isn't'' joining your party and you shouldn't be so presumptuous. ''Covenant'' reveals that the default names for everyone were the canonical ones, and does away with renaming (except that the screen ''still'' pops up for [[spoiler:Roger]]).
* In ''VideoGame/GoldenSun1'' and its first sequel ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'', you could name TheHero (along with the rest of the player characters if you punched in certain codes at the naming screen) whatever you wanted. In ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'', however, the Warriors of Vale all go by their default names.
* Basically every hero from the ''VideoGame/ShiningSeries'' allows you to choose what to call your hero. Most allow you to choose the name of every major character thereafter too.
* Each of the ''VideoGame/{{Lufia}}'' games past the first have a canon name for their hero (with Maxim's name established in the first game). You can still change Maxim, Wain, and Eldin's names, except in ''VideoGame/LufiaCurseOfTheSinistrals'' where Maxim's name is used during voice acting.
* You're asked to enter a four-letter name without any context when you begin ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII''. If you leave the space blank, it defaults to Rolf.
* The protagonist of ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'' is named whatever you want to call them (with voiced characters getting around that by only calling them "Captain"), but in canon the name of the protagonist is Gran for male and Djeeta for female.

* ''VideoGame/EnsembleStars'': The name that pops up if you don't call the protagonist anything is "Anzu". [[spoiler:Appropriately enough, this gives a hint to who is the [[TheGhost erstwhile character]] referred to as "Angie" throughout ''Ensemble Girls!''.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Littlewood}}'': The player can name the village they are rebuilding what they want, but the game's title is its default name.

* In ''VideoGame/OgreBattle: March of the Black Queen'', the player can choose between a male Lord and a female and name either one. In ''Ogre Battle 64'', the male version of the Lord appears as a character named Destin Faroda, while the female Lord is named Europea Rheda.
* The [[PurelyAestheticGender hero(ine)]] of ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'' has the default name Revya. The ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice'' cameo ''appears'' to [[RoadCone establish Revya as female]] [[spoiler:and taking the Normal Path]], but who can say with Creator/NipponIchi? It literally calls her just the hero from Soul Nomad "(default name: Revya)".

* The guy from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'' is named Claude, revealed in a cutscene in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]''.

* ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity'' lets you pick a male or female character and write a name for them. In every game afterwards they are canonically male and named Lucian, allowing him to appear in other games throughout the series.

** In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'', the male hero is Solo and the female hero is Sofia, according to the instruction booklet for the Japan-only Playstation remake (or so [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] says), and confirmed by cameos in the ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' remake.

* Like all Toys/{{amiibo}}, the ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' series amiibo can be named by the player. The [[https://youtu.be/kQsZPYB0vMw?t=28m44s Splatoon Direct]] showed the name for the orange Inkling Girl as Inky, the blue Inkling Boy as Inked, and the green Inkling Squid as Slippy.

** Similarly, the main characters in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' and ''VideoGame/MOTHER3'' are Ness and Lucas, respectively. In fact, all of the canonical names for nameable characters in the series are the first names given to you from the name creator's "Don't Care" option. These names are also all used in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.

Game X gives you the option of [[HelloInsertNameHere naming your character]] at the start. In the sequel, that character appears as a BonusBoss, SecretCharacter, PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo, etc., and as such the developers had to give them a name. Alternatively, Game X gets a book or movie adaptation/spin-off/sequel, and rather than [[TheAllConcealingI set it in first person]], or have [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep everyone call them barkeep,]] they just make up a name for the character.

* Basically every hero from the ''Franchise/ShiningSeries'' allows you to choose what to call your hero. Most allow you to choose the name of every major character thereafter too.

* Originally suggested as a joke, the player in ''VideoGame/Minecraft'' is named "Steve" or "Alex" depending on the default skin.

** The player character of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' is called Murdock in most of the English manual's screenshots. However, one set of screenshots near the end calls him Langdon Alger. It's unlikely that either is his "real" name, but it's as close as the game gets.

* ''VideoGame/{{Littlewood}}'': The player can name the village they rebuilding what they want, but the game's title is its default name.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', you get to name the Fallen Child. [[spoiler:It's [[TomatoSurprise eventually revealed]] that you actually named the ''first'' child who fell into the Underground, not your character. Your character's real name is Frisk. Additionally, the first fallen human is commonly referred to by fans as "Chara"[[labelnote:*]]A programming abbreviation of "'''CHARA'''CTER".[[/labelnote]]-- not only does the text "the true name" appear when one uses that name, but it's also what the game defaults to if the player somehow skips the naming sequence.]]