History Main / EmbarrassingFirstName

* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'': In the spinoff mini-series ''Death: The Time of Your Life'', Foxglove's "minder" is Boris, who partly fits the trope of a ScaryBlackMan. Unfortunately, there are some things you can't hide from Death, so when in the course of a conversation she addresses him by his real name, Endymion, he hastens to point out to everyone present that he really prefers to be called Boris.
* ''ComicBook/ShadeTheChangingMan'': Issue 56 of Creator/PeterMilligan's run has a man who's embarrassed that his given name is Horatio.

* Toadspit Hahn of Lian Tanner's ''Literature/TheKeepers'' novels picked out that name after escaping the [[SuperFunHappyThingOfDoom Blessed Guardians]], and despises his old first name - Cautionary.

* ''WesternAnimation/RoyalCrackers'', the titular character Stebe, not “Steve”, Stebe, with a “b” as in “biscuit”. He was unfortunately given this name by his bad father, who couldn’t bother to correct his name, and to give him a painful reminder of how weak of a person he is.

* In ''Manga/OshiNoKo'', Ai Hoshino named her twin children ''Aquamarine'' and ''Ruby''. Aquamarine is really not thrilled with first name -- he even envies his sister Ruby for having a somewhat more generic name -- so he usually goes by "Aqua" instead.

* The Dog from ''ComicStrip/FootrotFlats'' has a given name so embarrassing that [[NoNameGiven he refuses to let it ever appear in the comic]], and tends to attack anyone who tries to say it. In fact it's ([[spoiler:Cyril]])

* ''Series/{{MacGyver|1985}}'' always seemed embarrassed by his first name. Even former lovers only ever called him "[=MacGyver=]" (his grandfather called him "bud"). In one of the show's final episodes, his first name was revealed to be [[spoiler:"Angus"]], which isn't really all that embarrassing. His embarrassment was probably based on the name originally scripted for him, which was "Stacey".

* ''Literature/BadNewsBallet'' has {{Tomboy}} [=McGee=] who refuses to be called by her first name Kathryn (even by her mom; she is on a LastNameBasis with everyone); Rocky Garcia, who does not like being called "Rochelle"; nd Gwen who hates being called Gwendolyn.

* ''Literature/BadNewsBallet'' has both {{Tomboy}} [=McGee=] who refuses to be called by her first name Kathryn (even by her mom and is on a LastNameBasis with everyone) and Rocky Garcia, who does not like being called "Rochelle."

* In ''Series/{{Friends}}'' Chandler's first name is considered embarrassing, though not so embarrassing that he doesn't use it. In one episode, they name one of Phoebe's brother's triplets after him:

* ''Series/RadioEnfer'': After constantly being asked questions about being in the army by the main characters, Sgt. Brodeur starts breaking down and complains that his superior is constantly giving him orders all while yelling his last name as if like he never had a first name when that's obviously the case, leading to this exchange:

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Stoked}}'': Reef's real name is Leslie. He's not happy about it.
* While it may have been a reasonable first name when the comic books were first written, the AnimatedAdaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' pokes fun at the fact that [[{{Shapeshifting}} Beast Boy]] has the first name... ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}''.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'': [[spoiler:Balthier's]] true name is eventually revealed to be [[spoiler:Ffamran mied Bunansa]]. It's not clear whether [[spoiler:he]] considers it embarrassing because [[spoiler:he hates his father]] or because the name itself simply sounds stupid even in a fantasy world where the likes of Penelo and Vaan are real names.

I wish they named be something normal! %% Quoting directly. Yes, that "be" is probably a typo.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'': The episode "First Name Ashley" reveals Spinelli's first name is Ashley. While she ''does'' like it, as she was named after a beloved grandmother, she was hiding it to avoid being forced to join the school's snobby clique of preppy girly-girls called "The Ashleys".

* When ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' foe the Penguin first revealed his full name, he said, "Yes, my name is Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot. And, please, no jokes." Although many would consider his middle name and surname more embarrassing than the first one...
* Few characters in the ''Brit'' series of comics realize that the title character's name is short for Brittany.

* It turns out that ComicBook/{{Galactus}}'s first name is [[Creator/JackKirby Kirby]].
* ''ComicBook/Gen13'' team member Grunge has the unenviable first name Percival. He doesn't like his middle name, Edmund, much either -- he goes by "Eddy" at times but he mostly prefers the name "Grunge."

* In ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'', Crutch is a tough as nails biker and ex-con. It turns out his given name is Leslie.
* In ''ComicBook/TheScorpion'', Hussar's first name is Aristotle. His father thought it would help him become a great philosopher.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', badass Irish vampire Cassidy goes by his last name. His first name: ''Proinsias'' (the Irish form of "Francis", but that wouldn't help his image any). "It's... a perfectly respectable Gaelic name... ''Oh Jaysis, Jesse, don't '''tell''' anyone!''"
* ComicBook/{{Quasar}}'s first name is Wendell, and whilst he doesn't exactly hate it, he was apparently called [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] (his middle name) in college.

* Sonic's name is a nickname in the ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics''. Sonic is embarrassingly referred to by his father as "Maurice". It is quickly revealed to be merely his middle name, and Sonic interrupts his father before he can give his son's birth name, implying that it's unspeakably worse. Creator/KenPenders has revealed that he planned on it being [[spoiler:Ogilvie]].
* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' supporting character Flash Thompson, who has been a big part of the feature from the very first story. Roger Stern eventually revealed that his real first name is Eugene.
* Volume 2 of Creator/DCComics's ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' series introduces Federation protocol officer R. J. Blaise, assigned to Kirk to rein him in after a number of high-profile interstellar incidents in quick succession. It's never revealed during her original appearance what "R. J." stands for, though when she whispers it to Uhura while the pair are relaxing on shore leave, it's made clear to be ''quite'' embarrassing, with Uhura trying hard not to laugh. It's finally revealed by Kirk (whom she told it to off-camera during a tryst) when she returns a number of years later in a story in ''Star Trek Special'' #1: Raspberry Jam. Hilariously, the name was the result of a reader contest run by the series editors.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' comics, the first name of Captain Haddock is only mentioned once (in the last finished album, no less). The Captain gets momentary amnesia after getting hit on the head, and when told by Tintin that his first name is Archibald, he snarks and says that the name is ridiculous. This might explain why nobody ever calls him by his first name otherwise. (Then again, few people get called by their first name in the series, except Tintin, who doesn't seem to have any other name, and minor characters like Igor, Irma, and Allan.)
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Thomas Asquith Randolph has what would be a perfectly acceptable first name to most, but given his aspirations as a magician he refuses to be called by or respond to Thomas or any derivatives, instead going by Asquith.
* In the ''ComicBook/XForce'' sequel mini-series ''Dead Girl'', Dead Girl finally admits to Dr. Strange that she can remember that her first name is "Moonbeam". Apparently, her parents must have been hippies.
* Jubilation Lee in ''ComicBook/XMen''. Her friends call her ComicBook/{{Jubilee|MarvelComics}}.

* The main character in ''Literature/TheOutsiders'' is named "Ponyboy" and his brother is "Sodapop".

* The Blyndeff siblings in ''Literature/EpithetErased''. While never stated in the show or books themselves, side material and WordOfGod states that Molly is actually short for "Molly-Wolly-Doodle-All-the-Day", while Lorelai is short for "Lorelinebacker". Spending just five seconds with [[{{Manchild}} their father]] should explain how this happened.

This does not necessarily need to cross UnfortunateNames territory. Most of the time, the first name is a very normal one that only sounds embarrassing to the bearer, especially if the bearer is trying to be intimidating or respected but has a too humble name; when this apply to a villain, see TomTheDarkLord. A GiverOfLameNames causes this. If people continue to call the character by that first name anyway, it may lead to a DoNotCallMePaul scenario.

* In ''Beyond the Magic Sphere'', the main character's name is S.B. Fields. She refuses to tell anyone her real first name, which turns out to be Strawberry.

* Lucifer C. Dye is the protagonist of ''The Fools in Town Are on Our Side'' by Ross Thomas. He would go by his middle name, but that's "Clarence."