History Main / CodeName

There's also the enemy pilots' call signs in the first film all being types of food.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film]]

* ''TheTakingOfPelhamOneTwoThree'' features crooks in a train heist who use color-themed codenames to protect their identities.

* Used cleverly in the ''Film/{{Clue}}'' movie. Since the boardgame characters name are reference to the color of their game piece, the film has the names being codenames so the people attending the dinner remain anonymous - Mr. Green, Prof. Plum, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Scarlet, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, [[spoiler:Wadsworth The Butler]]. It's not clear if Mr. Boddy or Yvette the FrenchMaid are a pseudonym. In a touch of irony, unlike the board game, none of the characters wear the color they represent in the game - Mrs. Scarlet and Mr. Green wear blue while Mrs White wears all black, Colonel Mustard and Prof Plum wear brown and Mrs Peacock wears gold.

* ''LaFemmeNikita'''s codename in both the movie and the TV show was "Josephine."

* Shown correctly in, of all things, ''[[Film/FlightOfTheIntruder Flight of the Intruder]]'', in which one new pilot is given the callsign "Razor" because he'd missed a bit while shaving the morning they were doling out names. Reverting back to trope, he later became Straight Razor "because you've become a real weapon, kid". Sheesh. In the book the movie was based on, Razor's callsign was because he was the only pilot in the squadron with a mustache. In the movie, the mustache was given to "Tiger" Cole.

* In the page quote from ''[[Film/XMen1 X-Men]]'', Wolverine ridicules the fact that they have code names. Which is some HypocriticalHumor on his part, as he does too.

* ''Film/SmokeyAndTheBandit'': Back in the CB radio days everyone used some kind of appropriate code-name (referred to as their "handle"): Bandit, Frog, Grave Robber, Silver Tongued Devil, etc.
** Jerry Reed's character was Cletus Snow, known better by his handle, Snowman.

* In FatherGoose, Commander Frank Houghton is Big Bad Wolf, Ensign Stebbings is Bo Peep, the base at Kingsport is Briar Patch, and Walter Eckland is Mother Goose.

[[folder:Pinball]]
* In ''[[Pinball/F14Tomcat F-14 Tomcat]]'', the player is only identified by his code name "Hitman".
* Creator/DataEast's ''Pinball/SecretService'' pinball addresses the player as "Agent 001".

[[folder:Oral Tradition]]
* RobinHood of course.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* The original ''CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons'' used these quite extensively, along with uniforms ColourCodedForYourConvenience. The reboot downplayed it a bit.

* All the state alchemists in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' have code names... which may function more like titles, since any random person off the street seems to know, say, that the Fullmetal Alchemist is Edward Elric.
** Except when they think it's [[AnimatedArmor Alphonse]].

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', some members of Celestial Being have codenames. For example, Setsuna F. Seiei's real name is [[spoiler:Soran Ebrahim]]
** Not just some, most of them do, including the members only featured in the side-story materials.
** Heero Yuy of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' is also a code name; his real name is never revealed. He briefly borrows Duo Maxwell's name at one point, when his original code name would have attracted attention.
* L from ''Manga/DeathNote'' has a variety of codenames: L, Ryuuzaki, Ryuuga Hideki, Eraldo Coil, and Deneuve. [[spoiler:Although it turns out "L" is his ''actual first name''.]]

** The policemen in the task force are also assigned... well, not so much code names as garden-variety aliases; this is quietly dropped (with a brief resurgence when Matsuda finds himself in a room full of Kira conspirators), presumably because the main villain knows all their real names already, but deems them NotWorthKilling. (The SPK members, while certainly worth killing [[IncrediblyLamePun in Light's book]], use their aliases a lot more consistently.)
* In ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'', the members of the original Shuffle Alliance are only referred to by their card-themed codenames (King of Hearts, Ace of Clubs, Queen of Spades, Jack of Diamonds and Black Joker, although the protagonist already owns the first title).
** The sidestory manga ''G Gundam: Fight 7th'' reveals their real names by showing them as [[NotSoDifferent Gundam Fighters representing Japan, America, China, France, and Russia]]. Yes, that means the manga gives a real name to [[CoolOldGuy Touhou Fuhai]] [[BadassGrandpa Master Asia]]. [[spoiler:It's Shuji Kurosu.]]

* [[Anime/ReadOrDie Yomiko Readman]], [[PaperMaster The Paper]].

* The teens in Marvel Comics' series ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' initially had codenames, but they were abandoned after a while.
** Which makes perfect sense, since one would expect a bunch of kids to a) come up with 'cool" sounding code names for themselves and b) get bored with them fairly quickly.

* In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', the ridiculous codenames given to the characters which have nothing to do with anonymity (as demonstrated by them using them for each other in the most mundane of situations) that give rise to the page quote are explained as a result of precedent established by teenagers in over their heads in the CIA.
** Parodied relentlously in the Podcast/{{Rifftrax}} who suggested names after everything, such as "on-your-own-o", "you-should-go-o" and "kidnap-o". Adding "o" to the end of anything works as a [=Codename=].

* ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' was probably inspired by ''Pelham'', using color-themed codenames for a group of crooks. The heist boss assigns them the names Mr. White, Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown, Mr. Orange and Mr. Pink. The crook dubbed Mr. Pink tries to object, but the boss insists on picking the names himself. He mentions having allowed crooks on a past job to name themselves and it resulted in a fight over who got to be Mr. Black.
** When you think about it, each [=Codename=] fits the character perfectly. Mr. White is the most moral of the group. Mr. Blonde is in it purely ForTheEvulz. Mr Orange has his outer layers peeled off throughout the film. Mr. Pink [[spoiler: survives the film by hiding, something considered effeminate.]] Mr. Blue [[spoiler: gets captured by the police, i.e. "The Boys in Blue."]] We don't really see much of Brown, though.

* The Zucker Brothers' film ''Film/TopSecret'' featured members of the French Resistance with a set of bizarre French code names - one group has French phrases for names, including Détente, Avant Garde and Déjà Vu, while another has food names, including Soufflé, Croissant, the TokenMinority character Chocolate Mousse, and the frequent AlmostDeadGuy Latrine.
** Also one is named Déjà Vu.

** Not forgetting the enemy pilots' call signs in the first film all being types of food.
* Shown correctly in, of all things, ''[[Film/FlightOfTheIntruder Flight of the Intruder]]'', in which one new pilot is given the callsign "Razor" because he'd missed a bit while shaving the morning they were doling out names. Reverting back to trope, he later became Straight Razor "because you've become a real weapon, kid". Sheesh.
** In the book the movie was based on, Razor's callsign was because he was the only pilot in the squadron with a mustache. In the movie, the mustache was given to "Tiger" Cole.

* No mention of ''Film/SmokeyAndTheBandit''? Back in the CB radio days everyone used some kind of appropriate code-name (referred to as their "handle"): Bandit, Frog, Grave Robber, Silver Tongued Devil, etc.

* The actives in the ''{{Dollhouse}}'' have code names based on the [=NATO=] phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Echo, November, Sierra, Victor, and Whiskey.
** That was the Los Angeles branch we're mostly familiar with. The Washington D.C. branch used the names of Greco-Roman gods.

*** After Big Boss' fall, when Roy Campbell took over FOXHOUND he revitalized the codenaming procedure, which could account for the odd names. Additionally, the animal name was not the rank, but an indication of their passing grade.
*** It should be noted that characters aren't usually referred to by their full codenames; Solid Snake is almost always called "Snake", Revolver Ocelot is just "Ocelot", and so on. So they actually have ''nicknames of'' their codenames.

* ''StarWars: TheForceUnleashed'''s main character is better known by his codename, "Starkiller", rather than his real name, Galen Marek. It's almost an IAmNotShazam situation, if it weren't for the fact that Galen is often referred to as "Starkiller" in the various media based on ''Force Unleashed''.
** [[MythologyGag 'Starkiller' of course was Luke's surname in the earliest versions of the script]], [[ContinuityNod as well as the surname of]] [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Taris' former best deathmatch duelist (now deceased)]].

** the Mysterious Watchful Presence and his pilot use ''additional'' code names when arranging for pick-up ... which the pilot complains are [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=76141 unnecessary]].

* RedVsBlue has the freelancer agents, each named after a different state.
** Sarge also has a habit of using code names like "Maroon One" for Simmons.
*** One word: [[OverusedRunningGag Puma]].

* An episode of ''Mighty Ships'' set on the largest carrier in the world, the ''USS Nimitz'', showed a rookie pilot getting his callsign, which is usually done by consensus of other pilots in the rookie's flight group. This particular pilot had made no mistakes even when landing on a carrier at night, but when catapulted off for the exercise had, in his own words, screamed like a little girl. Another pilot noted that "screams like a girl" could be [[FunWithAcronyms acronymed]] into "slag", which is also a British slang term meaning, roughly, slut, and (though this wasn't mentioned on the show) is originally an industrial term for waste product from smelting.
** It's also the name of a [[{{Transformers}} Dinobot]], so it's still kinda [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs badass]].

** Every time a new president is elected, the Secret Service comes up with codenames for the president's family (and, if TheWestWing is to believed, the senior staff--CJ Cregg's was "Flamingo")...and then the media immediately reports what they are. Huh?
*** The presidential codenames are more for brevity and clarity in communications rather than secrecy, as confirmed by a former Secret Service agent.

* One word: Strippers!

* Used by the superheroes/villains in ''Spinnerette''. Tiger (a black hero) is [[InsistentTerminology especially insistent]] that his code name is NOT Black Tiger.

* ''MageTheAwakening'' has most mages adopting "shadow names" among their own culture, given that referring to each other by their ''real'' names [[IKnowYourTrueName often opens them up to attack]]. As names have power, no matter how true they are, the shadow name usually matches the character's outlook and personality, and may serve to guide how they develop amongst the Awakened.

* Inverted in ''SuperRobotWars''. W17 at first didn't care about names, but on her mission to sneak onto the good guys' group, she made up her own [=Codename=] 'Lamia Loveless'. The [=Codename=] now sounds more common than the real name.

* The titular ''{{Gladiators}}'' from the [[TheNineties '90s]] sports game show all had suitably [[RuleOfCool impressive-sounding]] handles. The black ones did tend to get the names like "Shadow", "Nightshade" and "Saracen", a fact pointed out by Jeremy Hardy on his ''Talk to the Nation'' radio series.

* ''PowerPack'' used them out in public. Originally, Alex was Gee, Jack was Mass Master,Julie was Lightspeed,and Katie was Energizer. Later, the powers changed kids after getting transferred to a Super-Snark for a time, Alex was Destroyer, Jack was Zero-G, Katie was Counterweight,and Julie was Molecula. [[FantasticFour Franklin Richards]] was Tattletale when he joined the group.

* Another real life example: President Barack Obama's secret service codename is "Renegade". (A few nut-jobs claim that the word is from the Spanish ''renegado'': one who has renounced Christianity!) At least with the Obama family, all the members of the First Family have codenames that start with the same letter (Michelle's is "Renaissance"). The same held true for the Clintons - some of whom are still under Secret Service protection - [[BillClinton Bill]] was "Eagle", [[HillaryRodhamClinton Hillary]] was "Evergreen" and Chelsea was "Energy". George W. Bush's (he'll get protection for another decade) is "Trailblazer". Eleanor Roosevelt's codename was "Rover", while Cheney was "Angler".

* In MarvelComics' NewUniverse the "ComicBook/{{DP7}}" group on the run from the sanatorium they were being held in tried using code names, but after they set them up nobody ever used them except "Skuzz," whose power was an acidic exudate coming out of his pours making anything he touches disintegrate in a few minutes. And that was his nickname ''before'' he got his powers.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has Robin, whose [=Codename=] (like his costume) is a throwback to his former life in the circus. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Cyborg]] and [[{{Animorphism}} Beast Boy's]] [=Codenames=] are very much of the descriptive variety, but [[CuteBruiser 'Starfire']] and [[DarkMagicalGirl 'Raven']] are actually the girls' names.

* Since it is a superhero setting, it is easier to list the [[AvertedTrope aversions]] of this trope from the ''GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse, like Michael Kayle, David Thorn, Charles Carr, Nicholas Chandler, Josiah Brimstone, and Pamela Odd, all of whom are superheroes and most of whom are Badass Normals.

In order to protect a SecretIdentity, or just to make identifying a person easier over a static-y radio, a SuperHero, International Spy or even AcePilot will have a CodeName. In the case of a SuperHero, this ''nom de guerre'' will be indicative of their powers, origin, or national affiliation. International spies and {{Ace Pilot}}s will more frequently have a randomly assigned CodeName (and in comedies, silly ones at that). Often, the CodeName is so descriptive as to defeat the very purpose of not using your real name, since [[AnimalStereotypes Iron Bear]] really could only be [[TheBigGuy one guy]].

The TokenMinority may fall victim to a having a CaptainEthnic CodeName; for decades, almost all black superheroes had names with the word "Black" somewhere in them.

Military ranks, noble titles and other honorifics are occasionally incorporated into a CodeName, as is the case in CaptainAmerica and DoctorFate. Closely related to NomDeGuerre, which would be when they use the name all the time, and not just "out in public". ReportingNames are essentially Code Names for enemy equipment, especially when the real name is unknown or impossible to pronounce in your own language.

** Parodied relentlously in the Podcast/{{Rifftrax}} who suggested names after everything, such as "on-your-own-o", "you-should-go-o" and "kidnap-o". Adding "o" to the end of anything works as a CodeName.

** When you think about it, each CodeName fits the character perfectly. Mr. White is the most moral of the group. Mr. Blonde is in it purely ForTheEvulz. Mr Orange has his outer layers peeled off throughout the film. Mr. Pink [[spoiler: survives the film by hiding, something considered effeminate.]] Mr. Blue [[spoiler: gets captured by the police, i.e. "The Boys in Blue."]] We don't really see much of Brown, though.

* The ConceptAlbum ''Scenes From A Memory'' has "the Sleeper", Julian (who is somewhat lazy), and "the Miracle", his brother Edward, a senator. One interpretation is that Victoria's CodeName is "Metropolis". Technically, these are nicknames.

* Inverted in ''SuperRobotWars''. W17 at first didn't care about names, but on her mission to sneak onto the good guys' group, she made up her own CodeName 'Lamia Loveless'. The CodeName now sounds more common than the real name.

* Since it is a superhero setting, it is easier to list the [[AvertedTrope aversions]] of this trope from the ''GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse, like Michael Kayle, David Thorn, Charles Carr, Nicholas Chandler, Josiah Brimstone, and Pamela Odd, all of whom are superheroes and most of whom are BadassNormals.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has [[BadassNormal Robin]], whose CodeName (like his costume) is a throwback to his former life in the circus. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Cyborg]] and [[{{Animorphism}} Beast Boy's]] {{CodeName}}s are very much of the descriptive variety, but [[CuteBruiser 'Starfire']] and [[DarkMagicalGirl 'Raven']] are actually the girls' names.

** If you're Airborne, Gerhardt's callsign ("Dirt Diver") is hilarious. [[hottip:* :A newbie Airborne trooper is sometimes called a "Dirt Dart".]]

* {{SHIELD}} Agents go by numerical designations that actually convey rank within the organization. Best example would be SharonCarter AKA Agent 13.

* ''TheDescendants'' loves these. Students at the SuperHeroSchool self enforce it as a tradition, but other characters have picked them up from the media or just by being that nerdy.

* Shows up on ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' when the Scoobies are trying to fight vampires while Buffy is gone in the beginning of season 2. Xander is 'Nighthawk'.

* In ''RaisingArizona'', Gale snaps at Evelle for constantly dropping his name during a bank robbery. After an awkward pause, Evelle suggests that "Gale" is actually his code name, and Gale weakly tries to back up his ruse.

* The code names for Pachycephalosaurus and Parasaurolophus are "Friar Tuck" and "Elvis" in ''TheLostWorldJurassicPark''.
* A fan theory about the Film/JamesBond films is that the name James Bond is an alias passed down from one agent to the next. This neatly justifies TheNthDoctor.

* "Eagle" and "Sparrow" are Clarisse and Mia's Code Names in ''ThePrincessDiaries''.

* In ''VisualNovel/NineHoursNinePersonsNineDoors'', all of the main characters go by these throughout the game in order to protect their identities. Each codename corresponds with the number their bracelet has been assigned: Ace (the card representing one), Snake (snake eyes, which is two), Santa (derived from the Japanese word for three, 'san'), Clover (referring to a four-leaf clover [[spoiler: though subverted when her name is revealed to [[RealNameAsAnAlias literally be Clover]]]]), June (the sixth month), Seven (Uhh... Seven...), and Lotus (a plant which has eight petals). The 9th Man never revealed a code name before his death, but is referred to as this [[spoiler: until his real name is revealed in the Safe and True endings]]. Junpei (number five), the protagonist, also subverts this in that his name was revealed to the group before everyone selected code names. Made better in that many of these names turn out to have double meanings.