History Main / CodeName

* The ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' [[WesternAnimation/PixarShorts short]] "Party Central", Mike is called 'Beach Ball', Sulley is 'Throw Rug' and Art is 'Fuzzy Rainbow'.

In order to protect [[SecretIdentity one's identity]], or discuss a [[ThePlan 'Top Secret']] mission over a static-y radio, a {{Superhero}}, International Spy, or military operation, etc. will use a Code Name. For costumed heroes in particular, this ''NomDeGuerre'' will be indicative of their powers, origin, or national affiliation. Spies, missions, and objects will usually have a randomly assigned alias (and in comedies, [[EmbarrassingNickname silly ones at that]]). Often it's so descriptive as to defeat the purpose of not using a real name -- "Gee, this note says Agent Dynamite has been assigned to kill us, I wonder [[DemolitionsExpert what kind of attack]] we should expect?"

A common way of parodying it is a character with a stupid or silly codename who complains that, when the time came to choose theirs, all the good ones were taken. Frequently they claim it was a choice between their current codename or something far worse.

* In more realistic stories, code names may be deliberately meaningless. (For instance, in real life, "Operation Paperclip" had nothing to do with paperclips.) They might not even be identifiable as code names at all; a spy named Judy Malone might be code named "Margaret Thompson".

Military ranks, noble titles and other honorifics are occasionally incorporated into a [=Codename=], as is the case in ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and ComicBook/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.

** The PlayerCharacter supposedly has the callsign "Shade", but it's actually used maybe two times in the game, most characters preferring to use his last name, "Crenshaw". In a reveral, his wingmates "Casper" and "Talon" are not given any names other than their callsigns.

** The German military had a bad habit of using project code names which were [[RevealingCoverUp superficially cryptic but actually hinted towards the nature of that which they were supposed to disguise]]. British scientists determined that a device referred to in intelligence reports as "Wotan" was a single-beam navigation system; "Wotan" (a.k.a. Odin) is a one-eyed god in Anglo-Saxon mythology. There was also "Operation Sea Lion", the plan for a naval invasion of Britain, a country often symbolized by a lion. Yeah, good thinking on that one. Most infamously there was "Operation Barbarossa". The medieval emperor Barbarossa was known for - after a series of smaller wars to expand his empire - leading an army of Crusaders to the Holy Land with the intent to definitively seize it from the Muslims. Given the explicit Nazi opposition to Communism, desire to rule (then-Soviet-occupied) Eastern Europe, and tenuous non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, it wasn't hard for analysts to figure out "Crusaders = Nazis, Muslims = Soviets, Operation Barbarossa = attack the Soviets". Oh, and then a complete copy of the war plans were acquired by Soviet intelligence.

** Mime Creator/MarcelMarceau was born Marcel Mangel. "Marceau" was his code name in LaResistance, and he kept it as {{stage name|s}} after the war.

In order to protect [[SecretIdentity one's identity]], or discuss a [[ThePlan 'Top Secret']] mission over a static-y radio, a {{Superhero}}, International Spy, or military operation, etc. will use a Code Name. For costumed heroes in particular, this ''NomDeGuerre'' will be indicative of their powers, origin, or national affiliation. Spies, missions, and objects will usually have a randomly assigned alias (and in comedies, silly ones at that). Often, it's so descriptive as to defeat the very purpose of not using their real name, since [[AnimalStereotypes Iron Bear]] really could only be [[TheBigGuy one guy]].

** May be part of [[NamesToRunAwayFrom/ReligiousNames Names to Run Away From:]] NamesToRunAwayFrom/ReligiousNames.

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.

The trope started [[DiscreditedTrope going out of fashion]] somewhat, as evidenced by the fact that ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames. Though the latter usage remains popular in SpyFiction.

* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': At the titular SuperheroSchool, Whateley Academy, all students must have a codename, both to meet the requirements of the setting's SuperRegistrationAct and for security purposes (any reports going out to police or criminal organizations will ''only'' list the codename, protecting the student's family). This can present a problem, since many of the better names are already in use, either by active supers or as trademarks owned by the rightsholders of various comic book, video game, or film characters.

** The German military had a bad habit of using code names for projects or systems which were superficially cryptic but actually revealed the nature of the concept they were supposed to disguise. Specialists at Bletchley Park determined that a device referred to in intelligence reports as "Wotan" was in fact a single-beam navigation system; "Wotan" is, of course, the name of a one-eyed god in Anglo-Saxon mythology; English-speakers might know Wotan better by his Norse name "Odin". There was also "Operation Sea Lion", the plan for an invasion by sea of Britain, a nation often symbolized by a lion. Yeah, good thinking on that one. Most infamously there was "Operation Barbarossa". Emperor Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire was known for - after a series of smaller wars against everyone - leading the largest military contingent of the Third Crusade to the Holy Land with the intent to 'finish those darned Moslems off once and for all'. Hitler thought he was the best thing since sliced bread and the conceptual-ideological enemy of Nazism and Fascism was Socialism. 'Barbarossa = Hitler', 'Moslems = Socialists', and 'Operation Barbarossa = German-Soviet War' weren't exactly the hardest conclusion to draw even discounting the way a complete copy of the operational plans fell into the hands of the NKVD (precursor-agency to the KGB).

* ''TinkerTailorSoldierSpy'' uses a strictly realistic approach. "Tinker", "Tailor" etc. each serve as a code name for a specific person, and the names are intentionally meaningless so that nobody can figure them out. Also, various agents have "work names", which are perfectly ordinary names used as code names.

* In ''LightNovel/DateALive'', organizations like the AST assign code names to the various spirits they track and try to kill or contain, though the spirits don't use these names themselves, and the organizations continue to refer to them by these names even if they learn their real names. Tohka Yatogami is "[[BattleBallgown Princess]]", Yoshino is "[[ShrinkingViolet Hermit]]", Kurumi Tokisaki is "[[AxCrazy Nightmare]]", Kotori Itsuki is "[[PlayingWithFire Efreet]]", the twins Kaguya and Yuzuru Yamai are both called "[[WeatherManipulation Berserk]]", Miku Izayoi is "[[IdolSinger Diva]]", Natsume is "[[CuteWitch Witch]]", [[spoiler:Origami Tobiichi]] is "[[LightEmUp Angel]]", [[VisualNovel/DateALiveRinneUtopia Rinne Sonogami]] is "{{R|ealityWarper}}uler", and a mysterious being who turns humans into spirits is called "Phantom".

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', almost everyone uses one, which protects their real life identity. Averted by Asuna, who, being an MMORPG noob, used her real name as her screen name.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'':

** Several characters have code names that are actually their real names: Mr. Mighty, Dolly Bird, Professor Odious, Doctor Unpleasant. Other heroes have more "heroic" appellations, which are still based on their actual names ([[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1895747/think-fast/ Dot Dash's]] real name is Dorothea, [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1895752/battle-for-great-drama/ Matt O'Morph]] is Matthew, etc.).
** The Mysterious Watchful Presence and his pilot use ''additional'' code names when arranging for pick-up... which the pilot complains are [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1888434/dramatic-exit/ unnecessary]].

** When the Cult of Kira takes over the world, and people start "doxxing" their enemies to Kira, people begin to go by codenames as a matter of course. Even husbands and wives don't know each other's real names, which shows just how much of a CrapsackWorld Kira's [[ConspiracyTheories/HToN New World Order]] is, that ''no one'' can trust ''anyone'' else, even members of their own families.

** FOXHOUND used the formula (Descriptive Word) + (Animal Name) -- for instance, Solid Snake or Sniper Wolf. The Cobra Unit from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' used emotions that were felt by the members on the battlefield -- for example, The Pain, The Sorrow, and The Fury. "The End" is a bit more esoteric, but comes from the total sense of oblivion he felt when on the hunt. Sometimes, the codenames were cool. Sometimes, not so much. Compare such names as "Psycho Mantis" or "Vamp" to such names as "Fatman" or "Revolver Ocelot". (Just don't do it to their faces...) Every last one is [[MeaningfulName a dead giveaway as to that character's skill and personality]], but serves the purpose of obscuring the individual's real name.

* Crusader, a [[DefectorFromDecadence Skrull infiltrator who decided he like humans better than Skrulls and became a superhero]], went out of his way to chose a code name that describes ''nothing'' about his origin, personality, or especially powers. He advised Curtis Doyle, a rookie hero who'd picked up a "[[GreenLanternRing Cosmic Ring]]", to do the same. The kid ignores the advice and calls himself Freedom Ring. [[spoiler:Freedom Ring later gets killed after [[TooDumbToLive specifically calling attention to the source of his powers]], leading to the villain of the story cutting off his finger to depower him.]]

** President Barack Obama's secret service codename is "Renegade". 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 - UsefulNotes/{{Bill|Clinton}} was "Eagle", UsefulNotes/{{Hillary|RodhamClinton}} was "Evergreen" and Chelsea was "Energy". George W. Bush's is "Trailblazer". Eleanor Roosevelt's codename was "Rover", while Cheney was "Angler".

** Diego Hargreeves/Number Two/The Kraken, whose last codename is a mystery to most readers.

* The SSB radios used by the bomber squadron in ''Film/DrStrangelove'' transmit an alphanumeric code which is then translated from a code book. They receive [=MGD135=] which is Wing Attack Plan R, the "go" code to bomb Russian targets under the assumption that Washington has been incapacitated from an enemy military incursion (it hasn't--GeneralRipper initiated Wing Attack Plan R for purely Freudian reasons).

* The CRM-114 used by the bomber squadron in ''Film/DrStrangelove'' transmits an alphanumeric code which is then translated from a code book. They receive [=MGD135=] which is Wing Attack Plan R, the "go" code to bomb Russian targets under the assumption that Washington has been incapacitated from an enemy military incursion (it hasn't--GeneralRipper initiated Wing Attack Plan R for purely Freudian reasons).

* Spoofed in the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse''. DM's code name is... Danger Mouse. Penfold's is The Jigsaw, "because when faced with a problem, he falls to pieces."

* ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy'' has the main seven characters, most of whom have "normal" names alongside the numbers they were initially given by their adoptive father (with the exception of Number Five). There's also the Handler, who seems to have no other name.

* 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 [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Dinobot]], so it's still kinda [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs badass]].

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' has the freelancer agents, each named after a different state. [[ThrowawayCountry Except Florida.]] [[NoodleIncident Poor Florida.]] [[spoiler:Well, there ''was'' an Agent Florida...]] Sarge also has a habit of using code names like "Maroon One" for Simmons.

** British Airways uses "Speedbird", which dates back to the dawn of commercial aviation as a reference to the logo of Imperial Airways, which was a forerunner of the modern airline.

* 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.