History Main / EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep

* ''Webcomic/MiasWorld'': The characters are not given actual names, simply a word used to describe something about them. (E.G, World, who is Mia’s uncle-in-law, and also Enemie, the boy whom she nicknamed such after a miscommunicated attempt at brushing her off, also later revealed [[spoiler:to have a crush on her]], plus King, her sister’s fiancé whom she mistook for royalty upon meeting him. [[Spoiler: as well as the character Lyer, in many fan theories a ghost or demon of some kind, and canonly the main antagonist, whose name was apparently misspelling of the word liar.]]) The only exceptions are Mia herself and her sister, '44, given a name in the side artwork ‘Mia’s Mates’ which was a drawing of all the characters together. '44 was simply called Big Sister in the comic.

* ''Webcomic/MiasWorld'': The characters are not given actual names, simply a word used to describe something about them. (E.G, World, who is Mia’s uncle-in-law, and also Enemie, the boy whom she nicknamed such after a miscommunicated attempt at brushing her off, also later revealed to have a crush on her, plus King, her sister’s fiancé whom she mistook for royalty upon meeting him.) The only exceptions are Mia herself and her sister, '44, given a name in the side artwork ‘Mia’s Mates’ which was a drawing of all the characters together. '44 was simply called Big Sister in the comic.

* ''Webcomic/MiasWorld'': The characters are not given actual names, simply a word used to describe something about them. (E.G, World, Mia’s uncle-in-law, Enemie, the boy whom she nicknamed such after a miscommunicated attempt at brushing her off, also later revealed to have a crush on her, and King, her sister’s fiancé whom she mistook for royalty upon meeting him.) The only exceptions are Mia herself and her sister, '44, given a name in the side artwork ‘Mia’s Mates’ which was a drawing of all the characters together. '44 was simply called Big Sister in the comic.

* ''Webcomic/MiasWorld'': The characters are not given actual names, simply a word used to describe something about them. (E.G, World, Enemie, and King) The only exceptions are Mia herself and her sister, '44, given a name in the side artwork ‘Mia’s Mates’ which was a drawing of all the characters together. '44 was simply called Big Sister in the comic.

* Meta-example: Other than the title character and a handful of others [[NoNameGiven no one in]] ''Webcomic/{{minus}}'' [[NoNameGiven has a name.]] Outside the comic, characters have to be referred to by one of their aspects, such as "the green-haired girl."

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', the Servants are called by their character classes to disguise their [[PublicDomainCharacter true identities]] (and thus, their [[PublicDomainArtifact legendary weapons]], abilities, and (most importantly) weaknesses) from their opponents. Unless the Servant is too arrogant to worry about such things, as in the cases of [[spoiler:Gilgamesh and the ''LightNovel/FateZero'' Rider, [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Iskander]]]].

* In ''VisualNovel/ShiningSongStarnova'', the main character[[note]]whose name is Kaoru Nishiyama[[/note]] is the producer for an [[IdolSinger idol group]], and just about everyone he interacts with calls him "Mr. Producer" or "Producer-san". This may be a reference to ''Anime/TheIdolmaster''.

!!Examples:

* [[BadassBystander A man]] killed the felon who fatally shot [[https://www.odmp.org/officer/printview/8242-patrolman-sammy-charles-long Patrolman Sammy Long]]. To this day, he is known only as "The Hunter" or "The Deer Hunter" for his use of a deer rifle in said shooting.

Different from OnlyKnownByTheirNickname, in that it is actually describing what they do. If the character initiates it, it's SpellMyNameWithAThe. May be the result of a NamelessNarrative or FeaturelessProtagonist. For parents, see UnnamedParent. Related to TheyCallHimSword. Compare/Contrast RaceNameBasis when race is used for this and the character may or may not have a name and ADogNamedDog.

* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', the [[EvilAlbino villain's]] [[TheDragon second-in-command]] is simply referred as the Wolf Boss.

->'''Coach''': Is there an Ernie Pantusso here?\\
'''Sam''': That's you, Coach.\\
'''Coach''': [''Into the phone''] Speaking.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep/{{Film}}

* In ''{{ComicStrip/BC}}'', the Fat Broad and the Cute Chick.

* ''ComicStrip/DeRechter'': None of the characters' real names are ever used. Aside from the Judge (who has a nickname used by his wife, “Beertje”), all of them are only known by their title or function.

[[folder:Mythology]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* The radio crime drama series ''Mr. District Attourney'' never gave a name for its titular character other than "D.A." or "the Chief."
* ''The Philadelpha Xperiment'' features a lobotomy patient (and [=WW2=] veteran) known only as "Patient X."
* The Professor in Radio/OldHarrysGame. His name is mentioned in the first episode and occasionally thereafter, but he is nearly always just called "the Professor".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Religion]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* [[BigBad The Godmodder]] in ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'' is always referred to as such. At least, until the players learned his real name, [[StealthPun Richard]].

[[folder:Pinball]]
* In ''Pinball/WHODunnit'', Victoria's manservant is referred to only as "Butler", except in one suspect's remark that reveals his real name as Walter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* {{Discussed}} in Creator/AllisonPregler's reviews of ''Series/Charmed1998,'' when we meet a villain known only as "the Crone," who is a seer...despite there having previously been another villain specifically ''called'' "the Seer."
-->"So the Seer seer was just the best seer in the world? Why does she get the Seer name? And if there's another seer or crone, are they just shit out of names? Are these their birth names, or like, nicknames they earned with their street cred?"
* The only reason the titular characters in ''WebVideo/AnAdventureOfSheepAndChicken'' call the antagonist "a hiker" is because they don't know his actual name and because... he's a hiker. They never do find out what the hiker's real name is.
* Creator/SlamacowCreations' Bartenderman is a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bartending enderman]]. He's also [[spoiler: Santa]].

* {{Discussed}} in WebVideo/CounterMonkey, "Dungeon Mastering a Great Game." Spoony is a big fan of roleplaying and doesn't like when players address each other by race and Everyone Calls Him Barkeep, "Elf, go identify that magic item" and "Thief, go pick that lock." He discusses causes for it and how you can avoid it in your TabletopRPG session.

-->"Nobody knows his name, so everyone calls him barkeep!"
-->"Oh, that is a problem, here's a solution: '''ASK HIM HIS FUCKING NAME!'''"
* The villain in ''Machinima/DiaryOfACamper'' is called, indeed, [A]Camper.
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Everyone calls Waterfall Girl 'WG', for short.
* The French [=MP3=] series ''AudioPlay/LeDonjonDeNaheulbeuk'' (''The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk'') never gave the names of its main protagonists, even when it got adapted into comics or novels. Being typical parodies of standard RPG playable characters, they're only identified by their race or class (the Ranger, [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame the Dwarf]], the Elf, the Barbarian...). [[ItIsDehumanizing It actually works quite well]] given the DysfunctionJunction nature of the party, [[ElvesVersusDwarves especially when the Dwarf and the Elf are involved.]]
* In ''WebVideo/EchoChamber'', the Administrator of Wiki/TVTropes is referred to only as "Mr. Administrator." No one taking orders from him [[MysteriousEmployer has any idea who he is]].
* [[Machinima/FalloutLoreTheStoryteller The Storyteller]] does have a name, but he's almost always just referred to as "Storyteller" and when people do say his real name [[RunningGag something keeps the viewers from hearing it]].

* [[http://www.hrwiki.org/index.php/Nondescript_Nouns Often used for comic effect]] in ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner''.
* The person interviewing Valentine in Literature/LastMage is only ever referred to as "the Writer."
* ''Machinima/TheLeetWorld'' has The Producer, the [[TheChessmaster mysterious]] owner of the Leet World RealityShow. Another example is the unnamed MysteriousMercenaryPursuer, who the housemates call the Domination Guy after his apparent obsession with domination (no, not like that.)
* Half the main cast of ''WebAnimation/LegoPirateMisadventures'' are referred to by their rank, not that rank [[MildlyMilitary means much to them.]] In Captain's case, at least, it's because of his EmbarrassingMiddleName: [[spoiler:Isaiah Jameson Clarabell Puddykins Gunnelsworth III.]]
* The WebVideo/LoadingReadyRun sketch "Johny Four" had the titular Johny tell the story of how he went to the local bar called Bar where he ordered a Beer brand beer which was served to him by a bartender called Bartender. Johnny is an UnreliableNarrator so we are not sure if that [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep is the guy's real name]] or just the name he uses at work to fit the bar's theme.

* The private detective in the 3D Movie Maker film-noir parody ''Pamela'' has the first name "Detective," giving him the name plus title of Detective Detective Joe Peterson. (So when another character calls him "Detective," he thinks she's on a first name basis with him.)
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':
** Season 2 introduces a medic with the name [=DuFresne=]. It's decided by the other characters that his name is too hard to pronounce and he is christened "Doc" for the remainder of the series.
** The Red Team Sergeant is an example for most of the series, known only as Sarge. However, it is eventually revealed his name [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep actually is Sarge.]]
** Sister is another example. Her real name is stated by the DVD profiles and season 15 to be Kaikaina (which is Hawaiian for "younger sibling of the same sex," which counts as a StealthInsult to Grif), but all characters, including her older brother, only ever call her Sister.
** The Freelancers have The Director (whose name is eventually revealed to be [[spoiler:Leonard Church]], but he's still rarely ever called by it), and The Counselor (whose name is eventually revealed as Aiden Price).
** VIC is a final example; while "Vic" is a real name, it actually stands for Virtual Intelligence Computer. Similarly, though FILSS is often referred to as "Sheila" (thanks to a StableTimeLoop), her real name stands for Freelancer Integrated Logistics and Security System. In both cases, their "names" are more descriptors of what they do than a unique name.

* ''AudioPlay/WereAlive'' has Gatekeeper who names himself after his current job. No indication on what his name is now [[spoiler: after overthrowing Marcus.]]
* ''Literature/TheTimTebowCFLChronicles'' is narrated by Tim Tebow. So if he doesn't know the name of an opponent, then his narrative just refers to them by their team's name: "REDBLACK" or "Other REDBLACK" or "Schooner".

* In the musical ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', the title character (who also goes as "Opera Ghost") is never called "Erik" or by any other proper name.

** The Lady of the Lake.

[[folder:Western Animation ]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
** Nearly all of the [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses many, many princesses]] are simply referred to as "Princess (Whatever)." [[TheSmartGuy Princess Bubblegum]] is named "Bonnibel Bubblegum" (no one calls her by her first name but Marceline, which she seemingly does to annoy her), but the others [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep may not even have]] other names. Similarly with [[AnIcePerson the Ice King]]; his real name is [[spoiler:Simon Petrikov]], but it's only occasionally used by others since [[SanitySlippage he can't remember it himself]].
** The episode "The Cooler" [[GivenNameReveal reveals]] that Flame Princess' real name is [[spoiler:Phoebe]].
* In his guest starring role in ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' Art Garfunkle is called by what the show's version of him resembles, Singing Moose.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** The Earth King is never called anything other than "The Earth King." According to [[AllThereInTheManual Nickelodeon site]] he was born "Kuei," but was never referred as anything other than his title after being crowned at age four, which apparently was the same with all of the other kings. If a previous monarch needs to be mentioned specifically, they're simply referred to by number.[[note]]Kuei is the fifty-second.[[/note]] Book 3 of the SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' repeats this with his daughter, the then-Earth Queen (apparently the only one so far), named in the credits as Hou-Ting. Averted in Book 4 with her nephew Wu, who doesn't become a king due to the Earth Kingdom being dissolved and [[spoiler:Wu choosing not to continue the kingdom in the finale]].
** ''Avatar'' actually does this for quite a few people; Longshot, Smellerbee, Pipsqueak, Sneers, The Duke, The Foamy Mouth Guy, [[AtrociousAlias Sparky Sparky Boom Man]],[[note]]Thankfully, this was quickly changed to the much cooler-sounding Combustion Man.[[/note]] The Cabbage Guy, The Mechanist.
** For that matter, the spirit the Avatar is the host for has never been called anything but "The Avatar Spirit" even though all the other spirits have names. It has since been revealed in ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra The Legend of Korra]]'' that the Avatar Spirit's name is [[spoiler: Raava]].
* Justified in ''WesternAnimation/{{Bandolero|Animation}}'', as the titular character has to remain his true identity (Juan) a mystery to both governor Campomayor and Don Rodrigo.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' only refers to the Flash and Hawkman by their codenames, not their real ones. WordOfGod stated the Flash was Barry Allen and comments made by Hawkman confirm him to be Katar Hol.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' has Brother, Mama, Papa,[[note]]Mama and Papa are also an example of UnnamedParent.[[/note]] and Sister. Both family ''and'' friends refer to them as such, which--if you consider the fact that Mama and Papa are husband and wife--makes things decidedly Oedipal.
** Papa's "full" name was eventually revealed to be "Papa Q. Bear", also making him an example of HisNameReallyIsBarkeep.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Blackstar}}'s'' BigBad is The Overlord.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'': Except for Kirby (who is a vacuum cleaner), all of the characters are named after what they are, in a cross between this trope and ADogNamedDog. Also, the owner of the objects is only known as "The Master."[[note]]His name is eventually revealed to be "Rob", which the appliances also know since they were able to look up his name in a phone book.[[/note]] "Kirby" is actually the name of a brand of vacuum cleaner, however, so this trope still applies.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bravestarr}}'':
** Shaman, the title character's adviser and father figure.
** Quick, what's the full name of JB? [[spoiler: J.B. Mc Bride. Your guess for J.B. is as good as mine, which is "Judge Bride." Poor girl.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', the principal of the school was simply called "Sir" in the first season when addressed; his last name (Delmas) was not revealed until the second season, while his first name (Jean-Pierre) was not used until the third.
* Eustace Bagg from ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' is often referred to as "The Farmer."
* ''WesternAnimation/CowAndChicken'' features this trope, most commonly with the parents being known as 'Mom' and 'Dad.' Perhaps the most blaring example is when we see Cow and Chicken's school-teacher at her home, where the mailbox is marked 'Teacher.'
* ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'': The kid's name is actually "Pizzaface" on his name tag at some point.
* The General from ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines''. A comic book story (Fun-In #2's "It's Flop And Go-Go," an adaptation of the TV episode "Camouflage Hoparoo") identifies him as General Gibberish.
* ''WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer'': "SWIPER, NO SWIPING!!!"
* The Eager Young Space Cadet in ''WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers''. Though his name is probably "Porky Pig."
* ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' has Dungeon Master and Shadow Demon. For that matter, Dungeon Master almost always addresses the heroes by the titles he gave them, rather than their names: "Fear not, Ranger! Barbarian! Magician! Thief! Cavalier! And Acrobat!"
* Timmy's parents on ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', well, they do actually have names, but every time they tell their real names there is a loud sound muting their voices, afterward comes the "but everyone just calls me mom/dad/Timmy's mom/dad."
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Evil Monkey, Greased Up Deaf Guy, etc., etc.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
** "Mom," a [[VillainwithGoodPublicity company CEO with a lovable sweet image]] who is in fact a CorruptCorporateExecutive, her real name was not revealed for much of the series. [[spoiler:It's Carol]].
** Also ''That Guy'', a cryogenically frozen stock-broker from TheEighties whose name only appears in the credits (Steve Castle); through the episode he's just called ''That Guy''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'': Billy's dad's name is Harold and that was already established before a flashback episode showing him as a kid wearing a shirt with "Billy's Dad" written on it.
* The following line from ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'':
-->'''Judge Hiram Mightor''': State your first name, last name, and occupation.\\
'''Lizardman''': Lizardman, Lizardman, and uh... Lizardman.
** Though immediately after his testimony, the other Lizardmen in the courtroom call him "Bill."
* "Man-At-Arms" from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' is only referred to by his actual first name (Duncan) a handful of times.
* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' has several examples: Chocolate Boy (chocolate addict, who's still referred to as such without object even after he ''stops'' eating chocolate), and Peapod Kid (appeared in a pea pod costume in the first episode), Stoop Kid (guy who sits on his stoop at all times). Stoop Kid is a description/title, as Arnold and friends don't actually know him (at least at the beginning).
* The BigBadDuumvirate of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' are referred to exclusively in the show as The Almighty Tallests, or The Tallests for short. Their names (Red and Purple) are only shown in the script.
* On ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'', nobody knows what Uncle's real name is. Or, for that matter, whose uncle he is. For example, Jade's father believes Uncle to be his cousin and he's not sure of it either. This notably extends outside of the family, too. EVERYONE calls him Uncle.
* In ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon'' we have Jester and Smithy. And Pepper and Rake are only known by nicknames related to their occupations (which are cook and gardener respectively).
* The Awe Guy from ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'', a RecurringExtra whose sole purpose is to be a one-man CherubicChoir. Lucius explicitly calls him this in a Season 2 episode.
* ''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'':
** Experiment 625 was never given a "true name" until the GrandFinale of ''[[WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries The Series]]'', ''WesternAnimation/LeroyAndStitch'', when Lilo finally "caught" him and then helped him decide on a name. They chose Reuben,[[note]]"The classic corned beef and sauerkraut on rye."[[/note]] because he's good at making [[SatiatingSandwich sandwiches]].
** Likewise, Experiment 627, the first experiment made after Stitch, was never named due to being too evil to turn good. That didn't stop [[FanNickname the fans from giving him a name]], "Evile".
* On ''Literature/LittlePrincess'', amusingly enough, the only regular characters that have actual names are Little Princess' pets, the dog Scruff and the cat Puss. The title character is called either "Princess" or "the Princess" on the show itself. There's also the King, the Queen, the Chef, the Prime Minister, the Admiral, the gardener and the general.
* From the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "Deduce, You Say," a Daffy Duck/Porky Pig cartoon parodying Sherlock Holmes:
-->'''Porky''': Name?\\
'''Killer''': Shropshire Slasher.\\
'''Porky''': Occupation?\\
'''Killer''': Shropshire Slasher.
* Mayor, the mayor of Ponyville in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The ExpandedUniverse refers to her as Mayor [[SpeciesSurname Mare]].
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'':
** The Mayor (going so far that, when running for re-election, his slogan is "Vote Mayor for Mayor"), though in one episode his wife refers to him as Barney.
** "Him" (a caricature of Satan) is always referred to as "Him", regardless of the context or situation. Justified in that his real name is a BrownNote.
** Everyone refers to [[FatherlyScientist Professor Utonium]] as "the Professor" or "Professor", including his own daughters.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' does this a lot, with most of the kids outside the main gang known by descriptions such as "Swinger Girl" or "The Diggers". In one episode it was revealed that the kindergartners don't know the names of ANY "big kid" (those in 1st Grade or higher.) To them TJ was "Crazy Monkey Boy", Gretchen was "Smart Girl", Mikey was "Large Thoughtful Boy", Vince was "Kid Who Always Wins", Gus was "Friend Of Smart Girl", and Spinelli was "Girl Who Runs With Fists."
* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'': Velma apparently had an acquaintance known only in name by her body odor: Hot Dog Water. She had since been identified as Marcy Fleach, but Velma, after becoming friends with her between seasons, is the only one who calls her that.
* [[WesternAnimation/TheShnookumsAndMeatFunnyCartoonShow Schnookums and Meat]]'s owners are only know as Husband and Wife.
* WesternAnimation/ShaunTheSheep's owner is only known as The Farmer.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** Notably, Comic Book Guy and Sea Captain, both of whom have real names that are rarely used (Jeff Albertson and Horatio [=McAllister=], respectively); the latter had a name (Captain Alastor) ''before'' gaining the more popular nickname. There are also a number of other examples who show up less frequently, including the Squeaky Voiced Teen, Bumblebee Man, Blue Haired Lawyer, et cetera.
** One of Springfield's tourist attractions is Carl's Dad Caverns, with a sign stated they've been discovered by "Carl's Dad". Lenny's grandmother has a tombstone labeled "Lenny's Grandma".
** Even official government documents refer to them as Comic Book Guy, Blue Haired Lawyer, etc.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
** Chef, although a throwaway line in "Chef Aid" revealed his full name: Jerome "Chef" [=McElroy=].
** Gerald once referred to himself as "Kyle's Dad" in a commercial advertising his lawyer services. While not completely fitting the trope because the other adults still call him Gerald, the joke was still used with the same intent.
** Ever since becoming President of the United States in Season 20, Mr. Garrison has always been called "the President" or "Mr. President", but never by his actual name. In fact, the last time anyone actually called him Mr. Garrison was in "Not Funny". This is part of an attempt to prevent ContinuityLockout for newcomers, as Mr. Garrison is acting as a stand-in for UsefulNotes/FuckfaceVonClownstick (a name he's obviously never been called even before he became President).
* Glenn's wife from ''{{WesternAnimation/Squidbillies}}'' is never referred to as anything other than "Glenn's Wife".
* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' has Buff Frog, a muscular amphibian, real name [[spoiler: Yvgeny Bulgoyaboff]]
* The Inquisitor from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is generally just called the Inquisitor, though he was once [[spoiler:posthumously]] referred to as... the ''Grand'' Inquisitor, which is roughly equivalent to getting called "Barkeep" except by those who call you "''Head'' Barkeep".
* Snack Shack from ''WesternAnimation/{{Stoked}}'', nicknamed after where he works.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}'': The Warden, The Doctor, The Mistress.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' characters native to the Battle Nexus are all referred to in this manner -- "Daimyo", "Gyoji", "Healer", etc.--and it's not clear if they even have proper names.
* The Fat Controller in ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' is hardly ever referred to by his real name (Sir Topham Hatt) in the original (British) version of the series, although he is ''always'' called Sir Topham Hatt in the North American version.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'''s Chef. His full name seems to be Chef Hatchet, though. So it's a very convenient first name?
* In ''WesternAnimation/ToxicCrusaders'', Toxie's mother is called Mom by Toxie and "Toxie's Mom" by everyone else.
* Berk's boss on ''WesternAnimation/TheTrapDoor'' is known only as "The Thing Upstairs" or "Him Upstairs".
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' has a few in the Pirate Captain, the Monarch henchmen (except for #21,) the Alchemist (who is sometimes just called "Al", it is unknown if that is just short for the Alchemist or his real name), Orpheus' Master is just referred to as "Master", and the Outrider.
* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'''s title character is the former star of the sitcom ''Horsin' Around'', where he played a horse who adopted three human children. His character was only ever referred to as "(The) Horse", even in the opening credits.
* Carmen Sandiego's MissionControl in ''WesternAnimation/CarmenSandiego'', a male teenage PlayfulHacker, is only ever referred as "Player".
[[/folder]]

* Once a historical figure becomes a legendary figure, sometimes within their own lifetime, they often end up going by a title. Some examples are Emperor UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}}, [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} The Buddha]], UsefulNotes/JesusChrist, UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi, UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, and any Chinese philosopher whose name ends in "Tzu."

* Quite a few Middle Eastern historical figures are prone to this. Generally such-and-such "al-Din" would be a title or name adopted or given to a person later, as it refers to "the Faith," and people would take on such names as a result of exceptional piety or success at defending Islam. The Crusades tended to produce people known as things like Nur al-Din and Salah al-Din, neither of whom were born with those names.

* In ''Blood Wedding'', only one character, Leonardo, has a name. Everybody else is referred to as "the bride," "the bridegroom," "the mother-in-law," etc.

* Wallace Shawn's ''The Hotel Play'' had over 20 characters, all identified with names like "The Girl Who Broke the Bowl," "The Man Who Looks Like a Walrus," "The Hotel Clerk."

* Toys/RockRaiders: The captain of the LMS Explorer is only ever referred to as "Chief."

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/AbsoluteDespairGirls'', the Warriors of Hope’s servant is only referred to as, well, “Servant.” However, anyone who has played ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2'' would immediately know his real name is Nagito Komaeda.
* The player characters of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' multiplayer seemed to have this at first. There's the Priest, Courtesan, Hunter, Doctor etc. Then the beta revealed that they do have names after all.
* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'', BigBad [[spoiler:Sarevok]] is at first known only as "Armoured Figure."
* The protagonist of ''VideoGame/{{Bastion}}'' is referred to only as "The Kid" by the narrator Rucks.
* In ''VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries'', when Bruce first meets ComicBook/TheJoker in Arkham Asylum, it is explained that he never gave his name to anyone. As a result, everyone knows him only as "John Doe".
* DownplayedExample in ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': Konoe A. Mercury's real name is known, but only to a small number of people and most of them don't use it. Her preferred name, and to most of the cast the only one they know, is 'Nine' of the Ten Sages.
* White Bomber from ''VideoGame/{{Bomberman}}'' is simply called Bomberman to some people.
* The Doctor, this one in ''VideoGame/CaveStory''. His real name, not readable before passing through the BonusLevelOfHell, is [[spoiler:Date Fuyuhiko]].
* ''VideoGame/ChzoMythos'': Trilby. A trilby is a type of hat and the character is always wearing one, the other characters are never told Trilby's actually name, but WordOfGod says that his first name is Malcolm.
* In ''VideoGame/CitizensOfEarth'', this applies to ''every character.'' The baker, the conspiracy guy, Mom, the cop, etc. You can rename them, though.
* ''VideoGame/ClubPenguin'' has Puffle Handler or PH for short. [[AllThereInTheManual Her real name]] is [[PunnyName Paige]], but nobody calls her like that in-game.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Crusader}}'' the Silencer is usually just referred to as "Captain" (his rank) or "Silencer" (his old unit). A few people give him nicknames ("Tin Man," "Red," etc.), but they aren't used more than a couple times.
* The {{player character}} of the ''VideoGame/DarkParables'' is addressed solely as "Detective," although later games in the series sometimes identify her as "the Fairy Tale Detective," which is how she has become known by reputation.
* The Commander in ''[[VideoGame/DawnOfWar Dawn of War II]]'' is only referred to as such by his fellow Space Marines. His CanonName, according to the novel, is apparently Aramus.
* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'':
** Straight examples of this trope are all over ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|CursedMemories}}''. Immediately obvious are Mom and Dad, but only slightly less noticeable are the Director and Cameraman who follow Axel around. And don't even get us started on [[spoiler:"Fake Zenon"]]. According to the [[AllThereInTheManual Disgaea 2]] art book, ''[[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep their names really are Mom and Dad]]''.
** ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'' also features a character only known as the School Board President.
** Vyers from ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' is never called anything other than [[MidBoss Mid-Boss]] by the other characters, to his great frustration. Any attempts to bring up his name are usually shot down before he can even say it.
* Happens to three characters in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy''. The Onion Knight from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'' is only referred to by his title with no indication of what his real name is (in accordance with the fact that the Warriors of Light from FFIII--not to be confused with the Warriors of Light from the original Final Fantasy--weren't assigned names until the DS remake). His title is also rarely used by characters in the game, except for the voiceover intro at the start of the chapter--he is generally just referred to as "the kid." The Emperor of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' does have a name, Mateus, but it is only used for his final weapon and never in the dialogue. The Warrior of Light also has a name [[spoiler:but in accordance with the story of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' he has amnesia and cannot remember it.]] Cloud of Darkness, also from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'', seems to invoke this trope, but although it appears as a humanoid female, the Cloud is not really human, and the name is a simple description of the entity--it doesn't actually have any other name.
* The only given name for The Red Prince in ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'' is... The Red Prince, despite other LizardFolk getting more normal names (Saam and Stingtail for example). It is possible that [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep that's his real name, however.]]
* In the original ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', Pauline was this at first. Until the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] version was released in North America, she was only ever referred to as "the lady".[[note]]It should be noted that in either case, she has no on-screen name. Any name she was given was only ever mentioned in [[AllThereInTheManual the arcade version's instruction card, and the NES version's instruction manual]].[[/note]]
* The Doomguy in ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} 3'' is only ever called "Marine."
* Commonplace in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series:
** The Qunari in general use ranks as names, at least to other races. Some of these are obvious, like "the" before Arishok, implying it's a leadership title. Saarebas ("dangerous thing") is a word/rank/name for a mage, which are treated a thousand times worse than human mages (their [[MouthStitchedShut mouths are sewn shut]], and the must wear chains and collars).
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
*** If the PlayerCharacter is from the Human Noble or Dwarf Noble Origins, they are occasionally addressed as Lord/Lady Cousland/Aeducan, respectively, but the rest of the time they are simply called "the Warden." If they hail from any other origin, they are the Grey Warden, period. This is a bit strange considering your character has a set, unchangeable last name regardless of which origin you pick. Chances are you forget what it was before getting through the prologue, seeing how it is hardly mentioned anywhere again after the character creation screen (unless you made a noble, as pointed out). Even stranger, Alistair is always an available party member for at least three-quarters of the game, and is a (slightly) more senior Grey Warden than the player character, yet it is the PC who is always addressed as "Warden."
*** Sten isn't the resident Qunari party member's real name, but a rank, as his real name cannot be pronounced by a non-Qunari.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', it's likely that most of your party will go through the Joining, becoming Grey Wardens, so the PC is now known as "Warden-Commander" or simply "Commander" to distinguish them from everyone else. This trope gets a bit of a lampshade as a result:
--->'''Ohgren''': You. Hey, you!\\
'''Warden''': That's "Commander Hey You," by the way.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', this trope is probably why the new PlayerCharacter now has a static last name, allowing everyone to simply call you Hawke. Conveniently, your siblings, mother, and uncle will use every pronoun and substitute word imaginable to avoid saying your first name (which you can pick), as it wouldn't make sense for them to call you Hawke. However, Cassandra consistently calls you the "Champion of Kirkwall" in the FramingDevice. With most ''Origins'' import options, the Warden from the first game will be referred to as "The Hero of Ferelden" by most [=NPCs=] in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''.
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' does something of a mix of the two above: your character does have a static family name (which changes according to the species you chose), and does get called by it earlier in the game, but most characters will just refer to you as "The Herald of Andraste," and later "the Inquisitor." Your name still gets some mentions however, such as Iron Bull mentioning in a conversation that a Qunari Inquisitor's name, "Adaar," means "weapon" in Qunari tongue.
* Subverted in the ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' game ''Dungeon Man 3'':
-->"Wait, the Pub Barkeep's name is actually Pub Barkeep?"
* ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege'':
** The protagonist is simply called "Farmer." The third game however gives the character the name of Lady Montbarron.
** Similarly for the PlayerCharacter from ''DS II'', who is often referred to as "Mercenary" in dialog, sometimes even when the text uses the name given by the player.
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', your character usually gets called "the Dragonborn" or "[[YouAreTheTranslatedForeignWord Dovahkiin]]," regardless of the name you gave to yourself. You can get other designations by joining and progressing through the ranks of various Guilds (Harbinger, Legate, Listener...), but you will never be called by your name except in letters and other documents.
* ''VideoGame/EmbricOfWulfhammersCastle'' has both the Duchess of Elstwhere and the Good Dwarf. While the former does have a name it is only mentioned in a handful of the MultipleEndings, otherwise referred to only as Duchess, and the latter also has a name ([[spoiler:or ''names'', rather]]) but no-one could understand him, so they compromised.
* The protagonist in ''VideoGame/FableI'' and ''VideoGame/FableII''. You can choose his(/her) title but most of them are exactly like this trope. All other characters have actual names, then again, although there is also The Guildmaster and The Archeologist. The expansion pack reveals that the Guildmaster's true name is Weaver.
* The Masters of the Bazaar in VideoGame/FallenLondon are known only by appellations related to their primary trade goods--Mr. Wines, Mr. Stones, Mr. Iron, etc. Nearly every other character you encounter has a similar non-name: the Repentant Forger, the Comtessa, the Revolutionary Firebrand, and so forth. This may have been a fashion started by [[UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria the Traitor Empress]], who no longer allows her real name to be spoken after [[DealWithTheDevil she traded London itself to the Masters]] [[spoiler:in order to save the life of her husband.]]
** Carries over to ''VideoGame/SunlessSea'', which gives us the Blind Bruiser, the Irrepressible Cannoneer, the Bright-eyed Sequencer, etc.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'':
** In the series you have always been allowed to name your player character, but how you are referred to by other characters has been different from game to game. In the first two games this trope is mostly averted since the majority of the dialogue is in text only, and as such you are frequently referred to by your given name. In any of the voiced dialogues, they typically avoided referring to you directly or occasionally by some sort of title (like "Initiate" by the leaders of the Brotherhood Of Steel in ''Fallout'' and "Chosen One" by the people of your home village in ''Fallout 2''). However, from ''Tactics'' onward all dialogue became fully voiced and this trope came into full effect. In all the later games your character (and retroactively, the protagonists of the first two games as well) is referred to only by a title: "[[VideoGame/{{Fallout1}} Vault Dweller]]," "[[VideoGame/{{Fallout2}} Chosen One]]," "[[VideoGame/FalloutTacticsBrotherhoodOfSteel Warrior]]," "[[VideoGame/{{Fallout3}} Lone Wanderer]]" and "[[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas Courier]]." This is an AcceptableBreakFromReality so the radio shows can refer to you by name. Somewhat subverted in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', as the game has a long list of names that will recognized as names and spoken in game, including the characters' canon names Nate and Nora. Unfortunately, only one character (Codsworth) will refer to you by your name, and some others resort to a nickname (Preston and the Minutemen will call you "General", Piper will call you "Blue", and Travis will call you "that Vault Dweller") - presumably because it was far too expensive to have the voice actors record ''thousands'' of names. Most fans use "Sole Survivor" to refer to Nate and Nora as a collective player character.
** "The Lone Wanderer" apparently is Three-Dog's FanNickname for the protagonist that ended up becoming an in-universe AscendedMeme, since his original description of them as "That Kid from Vault 101" sounded terrible on radio.
** In ''New Vegas'', the protagonist can introduce themselves simply as "The Courier," due to the fact that most people have heard of your miraculously survival from being [[MemeticBadass shot in the head and buried alive]] and that to be in your chosen profession, you are badass enough to walk across post-apocalyptic wastelands for a living. As Cass so eloquently puts it;
--> '''Cass''': ''Rule of the Caravan Wastes: Don't fuck with the guy who delivers your mail!''
* ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon F.E.A.R.]]'' loved this trope in the first "generation." The Point Man is only really addressed by Betters, as "Buddy" when called directly, and "my man" or "my point man" when he's talking to others about him. The Sergeant from ''Perseus Mandate'' fits squarely into this trope, being called exactly that by his squadmates Chen and Raynes. Nobody else even gets close to saying a vocative to them.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'':
** This trope's name is based on the character Barkeep. Characters refer to this Hypello crewmember as Barkeep because they inexplicably don't know his real name. ''He'' doesn't even know his real name.
** There's also Brother, one of the Al Bhed airship pilots. [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep Brother might actually be his name.]]
* The SilentProtagonist in ''VideoGame/FreeSpace2'' is ''always'' Alpha 1, or occasionally "pilot," at least as far as all the other characters are concerned.
* Mors' RightHandAttackDog in the ''Series/GameOfThrones'' RPG is just 'dog', sometimes 'my dog' when Mors is talking about him.
* In ''VideoGame/GoldenSun: The Lost Age'' and ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'', the elderly matriarch of Champa is called Obaba, which is just Japanese for "grandmother." Presumably, this makes her an [[HonoraryUncle Honorary Grandma]] to everybody, of the sort you [[NeverMessWithGranny never mess with]].
* For a while throughout the ''VideoGame/{{Guilty Gear}}'' series, the original BigBad was known only as "That Man" his true identity unknown to the rest of the cast excluding Sol. By the end of ''REVELATOR'', his real name has been revealed: [[spoiler: Asuka R. Kreuz.]]
* The G-Man from ''VideoGame/HalfLife1''. In fact, "gman" was just the name of his character model. Nobody in the game calls him anything, except for Eli Vance, who refers to him as "our mutual friend." In the manual for the ''Opposing Force'' expansion, however, Shepard writes about a G-Man watching him during his training and, indeed he can be seen during the tutorial mission. And he is listed as "[=GMan=]" (no hyphen) in the credits for ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' and its Episodes.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** The Arbiter's true name is never mentioned in the original trilogy, while the Master Chief is referred to only by his rank (or occasionally his designation number "117") until the very end of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}''. However, the books had already revealed that their true names were, respectively, Thel 'Vadam(ee) and John.
** Most pre-''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' Covenant characters are never addressed by their names in-game; the names of the Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret, the half-jawed Shipmaster, and the ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' Arbiter have only been revealed in non-game material[[note]]In case you're wondering, they're Ord Casto, Hod Rumnt, Lod Mron, Rtas 'Vadum(ee), and Ripa 'Moramee[[/note]].
** The ExpandedUniverse reveals that many high-ranking Forerunners were referred to only by their titles; the two main examples would be the Librarian and the Didact, who called each other as such even though they were ''married''[[note]]Their actual names are First Light Weaves Living Song and Shadow of Sundered Star, respectively[[/note]].
* ''Videogame/HarvestMoon'':
** The Doctor in ''Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town/More Friends of Mineral Town'' is just called "doctor," no matter what. Even if you ''marry'' him, he continues to go by just "Doctor." (However, in ''Harvest Moon DS'', he gains the name "Trent.")
** The Witch and Wizard in ''Animal Parade'' are referred to as just that by most of the town, though they'll reveal their actual names when married-- [[spoiler: Vivi and Gale, respectively]]. The Harvest Goddess and King turn out to have proper names as well under the same condition. [[spoiler: Theirs are Sephia and Ignis]].
* Linda from ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaMk2'' gets the moniker "Underling" from Nepgear and company, and the name at the top of the text box whenever she speaks is replaced with "Underling" from then on out.
* Despite being the title character, VideoGame/{{Iji}}'s brother is the only one to call her by her real name. All the aliens call her "(the Human) Anomaly" (even the friendly ones!) The only exception is [[spoiler:Ansaksie]] in a pacifistic run, right before Iji confronts Tor.
* The protagonist of ''VideoGame/INinja'' is named... Ninja. Yup. His sensei is similarly only called Sensei.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** In the first game, the off-screen WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse is only ever referred to as "The King" - up until the penultimate scene just before the credits, where he finally shows up in person. Goofy calls him by name, and Sora echoes it in the post-credits scene.
** This continues into ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainofMemories'', with Journal entries for him [[spoiler:and his Friend Card]] only using "The King." [[spoiler:At the end of Riku's half of the game, Mickey tells him he can drop the pretenses, whereupon Riku uses the king's name.]]
* Meta Knight from ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}''.
* ''Videogame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'':
** The player character is commonly referred to (in-universe and out) as the Jedi Exile. Atris' handmaidens all apparently go by Handmaiden, including the one who joins the party if the Exile's male (her real name, revealed late in the game, is Brianna). Her counterpart character for a female exile, whom you meet in the Jedi ruins of Dantooine, is known as "Disciple" (his real name is Mical).
** There's an interesting case with Mandalore, who is referred to by name only once in the whole game; Mandalore is his title. He spent the whole of the previous game being referred to by his name [[spoiler:Canderous]].
** The Jedi Exile is eventually given a CanonName--Meetra Surik--by ''Literature/{{Revan}}'', a prequel novel to TOR.
* From ''VideoGame/TheLastRemnant'', The Conquerer is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. He also looks like a 50/50 mix between Sephiroth and a Viking, but that's another story...
* In ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', the Church Guy is only known by the name he is given in the code, as he is never named in the game except as "that guy."
* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' has Coach. If Coach gets killed, Rochelle lampshades the trope by asking "Do you think Coach was his first or last name?" When the survivors introduce themselves to each other, Coach states that all his friends call him as such and that they (the other survivors) may as well do the same.
%% * ''VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy'' gives us Mermaid and Pearl Sprite.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' has the Postman as a character in several of the games. Both Nintendo 64 games also feature the Happy Mask Salesman
* In ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', this is literal, as the Barkeep in the Sundown Kid's chapter is literally named "Barkeep"
* The hero's team members in ''VideoGame/TheLordOfTheRingsTheThirdAge'' don't call each other by names but races and occupations, which is strange, since every character's name is fixed and they shouldn't had any problem with dubbing.
* The Illusive Man from the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series is a one-man [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness Omniscient Council Of Vagueness]]. Nobody knows who he is, where he came from, where he is currently located, and what he actually wants. The only thing that can be said about him for sure is that he looks like a human male about 60 years of age and apparently has almost unlimited resources at his disposal. He does get an origin story in the comic miniseries ''ComicBook/MassEffectEvolution'', which reveals, among other things, that his name is [[spoiler:Jack Harper]].
* ''VideoGame/MasterOfTheMonsterLair'': Many, many examples.
** Among Owen and Kate's fellow townsfolk only the furniture shop employees (Woody and Frau) are actually given names. The rest are all caled by their professions: the Mayor, the Trader, etc. Justified as Owen probably hasn't actually ''asked'' any of their names; he actively dislikes the [[SleazyPolitician ethically questionable Mayor]] and the obnoxious Magic Shopkeeper, is too shy to carry on a real conversation with the beautiful Trader, etc.
** Owen, likewise, is referred to as Dungeon-Digger by most of his fellow townsfolk. Shovel just calls him Buddy.
** Many of the boss enemies in the game are referred to by their species or title instead of by a name. Notable examples include the Devil Lord and his children, who even sign their letters to Owen this way.
** The talking, magical shovel, as well, is most often just called Shovel. Possibly subverted as Shovel even refers to itself this way, implying [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep that might be its actual name]].
* An odd example in ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends''. The main character is Mega Man Volnutt, but everyone calls him Mega Man. Later in the game, you encounter other Mega Men, with the implication that "Mega Man" is more of a title than a name.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/MedievalCop'' adventure series: (Drunken) Captain is a recurring character, and everybody refers to him as "Captain". One of the later episodes reveals that it had been his nickname long before he joined the police force. He grew up as boy without a name in the orphanage, a while he was leading other orphans, caretakers there gave him the name "Captain".
* The {{Space Pirate}}s in the ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' series refer to the heroine as The Hunter. When her EvilTwin shows up, they logically name it The Dark Hunter. The benevolent characters use her real name, though. The Chozo, who [[HappilyAdopted raised her]], sometimes refer to Samus as Hatchling or Newborn.
* The ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' series has the Voodoo Lady, the proprietor of the various Voodoo shops seen throughout the series, from the International House of Mojo to Voodoo 'n Things (formerly just Voodoo), and Guybrush's primary source of advice throughout the series (with a five-game contract with Creator/LucasArts). She insists that while her real name isn't important, names have power over people, and refuses to share hers.
* Every human character in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'', with the exception of the PlayerCharacter. The only story-relevant characters to have actual names are the two story-relevant Shakalakas Cha-Cha and Kayamba.
* ''VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles'':
** The protagonist in the series is referred to as "Detective" or "Master Detective," even when Cassandra Williams leaves her a voicemail at the beginning of ''Shadow Lake''. Apparently the Master Detective paid extra to get her phonebook listing under her nickname.
** Played with a couple times in ''Escape from Ravenhearst'', when [[spoiler:the game inserts the name you used for your current profile--a gravestone and a note to you from Charles will both have your profile name]].
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' referred to the player by name in the text of conversations, but the voiceovers just say "You."
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'':
** The game has your party calling you "our leader" and "our fearless leader" at various points. When you get promoted, it becomes "Captain" or "Knight-Captain" in most cases.
** The real name of the [[BigBad King of Shadows]] ([[spoiler:as in, the name he had when he was a human]]) has been lost to the ages. Even [[spoiler:the ghosts in the Illefarn ruins]] don't remember it.
* The assassins in the first ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' mostly go by codenames (with the exceptions of Rank 6 and, as clarified in the sequel, Rank 5). Their [[AllThereInTheManual character cards]] give the real names of all but the last three. The sequel averts this, as every assassin uses his or her real name save [[spoiler:New Destroyman]] and possibly Rank 9.
* The main characters of the ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' series are simply known as Overlord with the exception of Lord Gromgard of Videogame/OverlordDarkLegend.
* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona'':
** The voiced dialogue in both ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4'' only refer to the protagonists as "Leader", "Partner", or "Senpai". ''Persona 3''[='s=] MC is named "Minato Arisato" in the manga and "Makoto Yuuki" in [[Anime/Persona3TheMovie the movie]], and ''Persona 4''[='s=] MC is "Souji Seta" in the manga and "Yu Narukami" in the [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation anime]] and most of the canon spin-offs.
** Most of the [=NPC=]s wandering around school or town in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' and ''VideoGame/Persona5'' tend to be called something like "X student" or "Y girl/boy" with X and Y being their most obvious feature. Prominent examples in ''4'' are [[JiveTurkey Funky Student]] and [[CloudCuckoolander Spacey Girl]]. You can talk with these people all year long, but you never learn their real names.
* Crosses over with a DoubleSubversion of EarthAllAlong in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarZero''--the planet the game takes place on is simply called "the earth" and its moon "the moon," both in lowercase. These celestial bodies ''do'' have names, but they had been forgotten due to the Great Blank. In the mission "Mother's Memory," your party discovers pre-Great Blank records that reveal "the Earth" is really [[spoiler: Coral, the homeworld from ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'']].
* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'':
** TheJudge. In ''Justice For All'', he gives Phoenix a business card, but Phoenix is unable to make out the name on it.
** This applies to every judge in the series, aside from Justine Courtney. Except for the original judge, they are differentiated in the fandom by monikers such as "the Labyrinthian judge" and "the judge's brother".
** Likewise, the bellboy in the first game is always referred to as "the bellboy" or "that creepy bellboy."
** {{Parodied|Trope}} with recurring character Wendy Oldbag. Although her name is very well known, the name that shows up over her speech boxes is always "Security Lady." (Or later, Ex-Security Lady). Games staring Edgeworth however, put her name down as Oldbag because he is painfully aware of her identity
* Odds are very good that you won't name every single one of your Franchise/{{Pokemon}}, leaving them with their default names which just amounts to their species. Mercifully, if you do this, their name will update as they evolve; you won't still be calling your Blastoise "Squirtle." Unless you go out of your way to do so, of course.
* In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', all NPC trainers are only called by their character archetype/class (Bird Tamer, Lass, Gambler, Biker, etc.) Only the player character, the rival, Professor Oak, the gym leaders, and the Elite Four have names. Later games would give all NPC trainers actual names along with their class/title and the remake would also give everyone names.
* In ''{{Postal}}'', the Dude's wife is just called "[The] Bitch." Nothing else.
* The Sheriff from ''VideoGame/RealityOnTheNorm''.
* The hero of ''Videogame/RebelAssault'' can be either a male or female, but is always and only called "Rookie One."
* The merchant in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''. Inversely, the merchant refuses to know Leon's name, only referring to him as "stranger"--or ''strain-jah'' if you will.
* The ClassRepresentative of the main characters' class of Taiyo High from ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'', who prefers to be addressed as "Chairperson" instead of her actual name.
* The main antagonists of ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld'' are called Killer (a wanted SerialKiller) and Lady (a [[TheStoic stoic]] [[CuteMute mute]]). Lady is eventually identified: [[spoiler:Grace Garland.]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Shadowverse}}'', the Princess' actual name is not given. Erika simply refers to her as "princess" every time she calls her attention.
* The setting of ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' is (as revealed in [[AllThereInTheManual supplementary materials]]) named "Chiron," but every in-game quote acts as though "Planet" were its proper name. The ball of stone that everything lives on is Chiron. The entity formed of the miles and miles of xenofungus that covers Chiron named itself Planet, when it first learned to speak to humans, before it had a good understanding of English. The xenofungus entity is named Planet. The ball of rock is also called Planet (though it is named Chiron)--e.g. University of Planet, "Planet's atmosphere," "Planet's industry," "Planet's primary." Said supplementary materials when talking about Chiron at one point says, paraphrased, "the proper name of the planet the ''Unity'' crew arrived on is Chiron, but everyone calls it Planet."
* Doc, a doctor character introduced in the [[VideoGameRemake remake]] of ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'', may or may not be a case of this.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Snapimals}}'', the captain is only referred to as "The Captain".
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Unleashed}}''. Every NPC in the game has a name, except for The Ice Cream Man and Professor Pickle's Assistant.
** There's also the G.U.N. Commander in ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', who is only known as the Commander.
** On a more gradual level, Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik. What started out as a DubNameChange (Robotnik in the west, Eggman in Japan) was canonized as an AppropriatedAppellation in ''Sonic Adventure'' (Robotnik introduces himself as Robotnik, whereupon Sonic mocks him for being "A Giant talking egg!" and all the heroes just call him Eggman). In the years following that, Robotnik has been confirmed as his canon name, but absolutely no one calls him that, not even himself.
* Played as straight as can be in ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}--Shadow of Chernobyl'', in which a well-known trader and owner of a local bar is known only as "Barkeep". Funnily enough, this is in a game where even the less important random thug has a unique name.
* In ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'', you can enter whatever you want as your character's name, but Cartman will still insist on referring to you as "Douchebag".
* ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' actually has a few cases of this in its own right. Each one of the classes picks up an appropriate nickname. The Imperial Agent, for example, is given the code name "Cipher Nine." The BountyHunter is simply called "Hunter" (in the case of a male Hunter, Mako will sometimes call you "Big guy"). A couple of the ''party members'' also fall into this. Jedi Knight companion Doc prefers being called that to his EmbarrassingFirstName, and Consulars get the terrorist turned politician who goes only by "Zenith."
* The ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series has an interesting example of this. In the original Japanese ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', the black boxer was named "M. Bison" (an obvious reference to Mike Tyson), the masked Spaniard was named "Balrog", and the final boss was named "Vega". Fearing a Tyson lawsuit, Capcom changed the names around when bringing the game over internationally. Thus M. Bison became Balrog, Balrog became Vega, and Vega became M. Bison. Since this tends to cause a lot of confusion whenever Japanese and non-Japanese players interact, such as in fighting game tournaments, many players have come to use nicknames to identify them, naming Balrog "Boxer", Vega "Claw", and M. Bison "Dictator".
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Everyone Calls Them Scout, Heavy, Engineer, Sniper, Spy, Soldier, Demoman, Medic and Pyro respectively (and occasionally they further nickname each other in voice clips), leading to {{Fan Nickname}}s such as "Engie" or "Solly", or headcanon names for the purposes of writing fanfiction or participating in roleplaying groups.
** However, the comic that introduced the WAR! update revealed that the Demoman's name is Tavish [=DeGroot=] and the Announcer's name is Helen, the ''Loose Canon'' comic revealed the Engineer's name to be Dell Conagher and ''Meet the Director'' revealed the Sniper's last name to be Mundy. However, the WAR! comic also indicates Soldier has NoNameGiven because he's referred to as "Jane Doe" indicating even his employers don't know his name, and one item describes him as "a nameless man." Finally, as of "A Cold Day in Hell", the Heavy is called Mikhail or "Misha" by his sisters.
* The pilot of ''Videogame/TIEFighter'' is only named in [[AllThereInTheManual the supplemental material]] (his name's Maarek Stele, in case you wondered). Officers and wingmen in-game will only address you by your callsign, or occasionally as "pilot."
* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' has the Dragon, the single most powerful being in Gensokyo, which isn't known by anything else. However, given that [[TheGhost it is never seen]] it might not even be a dragon at all.
* The nation in which the {{MMORPG}} ''VideoGame/TreeOfSavior'' takes place is simply known as "The Kingdom." History books say that the Kingdom is comprised of all known nation-states that existed before it, and so neither its founder Emperor Zachariel nor his successors or the common people have felt the need to give it a more specific name beyond that.
* "El Presidente" in ''Videogame/{{Tropico}}''.
* In ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'', mortals refer to Lenneth simply as "the Valkyrie." This is played with to great effect in ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfileSilmeria'' when the fact that Rufus knows the given names of all three Valkyries is the first big hint that he's more than he seems.
* ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'': While your character does get several nicknames from various characters ("Kid" from Nines, "Demon" from Yukie, "Boss" from Gary...), you never get referred to by whatever name you chose at the beginning of the game, and are most commonly called "The Fledgling", a common term used by vampires to design someone who has been recently turned.
* ''VideoGame/WingCommander'': In addition to most pilots usually being referred to by their callsign only, the first game had a bartender named "Shotglass" (his callsign from his pilot days) and the second and fourth games had mechanics named "Sparks" and "Pliers" respectively. The latter was {{lampshaded}} in the novelization when Blair, initially unsure if he was hearing a nickname or an [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep actual if unlikely name]], has to ask if they ''really'' had a mechanic named Pliers.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
** The game includes a minor NPC named Mankrik who tasks you with finding his wife, who he fears has been killed. Sadly, he's right. Her body, when you find it, is named "Beaten Corpse."[[note]]Fanon ''ChooseYourOwnAdventure'' Parody Fanfiction ''You Awaken in Razor Hill'' finally gave her a name, over five years later. [[spoiler:Marya, or Mary for short.]][[/note]]
** Crosses between RealLife and VideoGames--players in ''World of Warcraft'' frequently fall victim to this too, when in pickup groups. "OK, the rogue will sap that one, the mage will sheep this one, and the tank (not even the class name) will hold the other two." "Tank, are you there?" "Rogue, do this and that."
** For some time, there was a human NPC named Captain Placeholder running around. Sadly, he was later replaced by somebody with an actual name.
** Because the game lets you choose your name, audio has to go out of the way to avoid names when addressing you. Whenever a character is talking, expect to be referred to as "hero," "champion," and a variety of others. ''Warlords of Draenor'' standardizes it with "Commander" and later "General."
* While most duelists in ''VideoGame/YuGiOhCapsuleMonsterColiseum'' address Yami Yugi as Yugi, Marik and Yami Marik refer to him exclusively as "Pharaoh."
* ''VideoGame/TreasurePlanetBattleAtProcyon'': Admiral Evar is never referred to by his name during the campaign, instead he is always called the Procyon Ambassador or Mr. Ambassador. His name is only revealed in the expandable crew log and the game files.
[[/folder]]

When it's not just a moniker but their actual name, it's the subtrope, HisNameReallyIsBarkeep.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Kevin, the ButtMonkey of ''Series/AlFondoHaySitio'', is often called Pollo Gordo ("Fat Chicken").
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** "The Host" had been appearing for nearly a full season before we learned his name was Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan, Lorne for short. He stated that he preferred not to go by Lorne because his green skin would cause people to crack Lorne Greene jokes.
** His real name was not only unknown to the audience, but the main characters as well. They never bothered to ask.
* The main characters of ''Series/{{Backup}}'' all work closely together in one police response van. Thus Sergeant Parkin is just Sarge, Susan Li is called Bruce, ditto Token, Oz, Thug, Flub, Dippy etc etc. When Bruce has been temporarily in command, she is called up over an incident involving PC Barrett. If it wasn't for the scene immediately afterward when Thug is being asked questions about the same incident you'd probably never guess who Barrett was.
* ''[[Series/{{Batman}} Batman TV Series]]'': Miss Iceland from ''Green Ice / Deep Freeze'' is never known by his real name.
* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'':
** Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol wasn't referred to by his full name until well into the series. Even his lover, Sharon Valerii, calls him "Chief." WordOfGod was originally she was going to use his name when [[spoiler:she was shot]] but his name had not been mentioned before and they didn't want people suddenly being jerked out of the moment by his being referred to as Galen for the first time. Even after he is later demoted several people call him Chief, probably by force of habit.
** Similarly, most of the pilots are rarely if ever called by anything except their call signs; even Helo's lover (also Sharon Valerii, but a different one) calls him Helo. Hence the subtle power of the scene where she is given the call sign Athena. It shows that the pilots now understand she is a different person to Boomer (the original Sharon Valerii) and have accepted her as one of them despite the fact that they know full well she is a Cylon.
* The Australian version of ''Series/TheBiggestLoser'', has the Commando. While his real name (Steve Willis) is openly known, he's nearly always called Commando on-screen.
* Nursie in ''Series/{{Blackadder}} II'', sort of. She certainly goes by her title, even though it's not even role she properly fills anymore (granted she continues to do so anyway) but she does admit her real name as being Bernard.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** The Master. His name is actually Heinrich Nest, but nobody has called him that in centuries.
** Downplayed with Buffy herself. Most people call her by her name, but villains usually just refer to her as "the Slayer".
* The first barkeeper on ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' was known as "Coach" because he was Sam's coach when he was a major-league pitcher. Although [[TheDitz Coach himself]] thought he got the nickname because he always traveled cheap.
* In the TV adaptation of James Clavell's ''The Children's Story'', the new teacher explicitly tells the children to call her "Teacher" whenever they ask her name. (In the original book, the narrator refers to her throughout as "the new teacher," but she does tell the children her name when asked--the narrator just doesn't say what that name is. Clavell wanted her to represent an idea without being specifically tied to a particular nationality or ethnicity.)
* ''Series/{{Community}}'':
** Starburns. His real name is Alex Osbourne, but good luck getting anyone to remember that.
** Dean Pelton is called Dean more than he's called Craig. The fact he constantly makes dean-related puns (it's his whole i-dean-tity) doesn't help.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Doctor, along with several other Time Lords like the Master, the Rani, the War Chief, and the Monk, operate like this, although most known Time Lords do have names. {{Fanon}} has that it that losing their name is an intrinsic part of becoming a renegade Time Lord, though some Renegades still have them. Drax seems to get away with using his real name, but then again, he isn't ''nearly'' as big a troublemaker as the other Renegades.
** The Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse has given names to all the major renegades, apart from the Doctor. [[spoiler:The Monk is Mortimus, the Master is Koschei, the War Chief is Magnus and the Rani is Ushas.]] However, it's not clear whether any of these are birth names, or Time Lord Academy nicknames like the Doctor's (Theta Sigma, or Thete).
*** It's also worth noting that [[spoiler:Magnus first appeared in a ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' comic strip, where the intent seemed to be that he was the Master. Then David [=McIntee=] named the Master Koschei, and Gary Russell attributed Magnus to the War Chief to [[ContinuityPorn tie everything up]].]]
*** Interestingly, even at the time a letter to ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' asking whether [[spoiler: Magnus was the Master or the War Chief]] was met with an enigmatic "You're right, it is one of those."
** When the Tenth Doctor encounters a woman from his own future whom he has not yet met, [[spoiler:his future wife]], she convinces him that he will one day trust her implicitly by whispering his true name in his ear.
** Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart is usually referred to as ''TheBrigadier''.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife "The Doctor's Wife"]], the Doctor receives a message from a Time Lord named the Corsair. [[spoiler:Turns out it was a trap. He finds ''part'' of the Corsair, though.]]
** In fact, it has been revealed that the oldest question in the universe, the one the Doctor has been running from his entire life is [[spoiler:[[TitleDrop "Doctor Who?"]]]] Bad Things can happen if it's revealed to the wrong people for reasons revealed over the arc.
** However, it turns out that the name chosen by a Time Lord is a "real name" to a sufficient degree that when the Doctor and the Master are addressed by Lord President Rassilon, it's as "Lord Doctor" and "Lord Master". And for all we know, names like "Rassilon" or "Romanadvoratrelundar" could be similar words in other languages - quite likely since taking a name with a meaning seems to be the custom. The "the" in "The Rani" demonstrates this; we don't know what a Rani is (unless the alien MadScientist considers herself a Hindu queen for some reason) but there's such a thing and she calls herself one of those. Long story short: the Doctor's birth name is not the only name considered their "true" name.
** In the alternate reality created by [[spoiler:River Song refusing to shoot the Doctor, causing a fixed moment in time not to occur]], Amy is the leader of a resistance movement, and Rory is her second-in-command, who she only knows as "Captain Williams". When she meets the Doctor she tells him that she has vague memories from the original universe of being married to a man called "Rory" but can't remember anything about him. The Doctor asks her what Captain Williams' first name is, and she simply replies "Captain".
* Mountain Man, the Robertsons' slow-talking neighbor from ''Series/DuckDynasty''.
* In ''Series/EmeraldCity'', the Cardinal Witches are usually referred to by the name of the Cardinal point they represent, i.e. "East" and "West". Only Glinda's personal name has been revealed and regularly used.
* In ''Series/{{Entourage}}'', Ari's wife is always referred to as "Mrs. Ari Gold" and her first name is never mentioned until the final season (it's [[spoiler:Melissa]]).
* Lieutenant Murtagh from ''Series/FamilyMatters'' had his first name name legally changed to "Lieutenant." When he told this to Carl, and Carl asked him what his name was before the change, he answered that it was "Sergeant."
* Pilot from ''Series/{{Farscape}}''. He (and other members of his race) have names the translator microbes couldn't cope with.
* The ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episode "The One With The Breast Milk" features Joey's rival in the world of spraying cologne at department store patrons, a laconic cowboy known only as "The 'Hombre' Guy." When he loses his poise in the last scene, his name turns out to be Todd.
* The One-Armed Man, in ''Series/TheFugitive''.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** The Spice King, who receives Daenerys outside Qarth, lampshades it by insisting his name is too intricate for foreigners to pronounce.
** The wildling leader who captures Jon and Qhorin is known only as Lord of Bones.
** The head of the Faith of the Seven forsakes his name upon ascent and is known only by his rank: High Septon.
* ''Series/GetSmart'':
** Agent 99 is always referred to as 99. In the episode where she and Max get married, her real name is presumably said during the wedding vows. But a wedding guest gets bored and falls asleep and his snoring [[TheUnreveal drowns out that part of the vows]]
** In season one, The Chief's first name is revealed to be Thaddeus. But he's usually just called "The Chief" or "Chief"
* ''Series/GilligansIsland'' had the Skipper and the Professor. (And Gilligan, too, although that at least was the character's actual last name.) Technically, they have names. It's just that they aren't used outside the pilot. The Professor is "Roy Hinkley," and the Skipper is "Jonas Grumby." There is no official word on Gilligan's first name, but the fan rumor is "Willy."
* The Waitress and The Lawyer on ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia''. The fact that no one knows the Waitress' name after all their interactions with her is a RunningGag.
* ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'': Apparently by official policy, the head of Section 1 is referred to as Operations and addressed as "Sir," except sometimes by Madeleine, who is of very high rank, and George, whose position outranks Operations.
* "Daddy's assistant" (also TheGhost) in ''Series/TheLatestBuzz''.
* In the ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' episode "The Bottle Job," the villain [[AllDevouringBlackHoleLoanSharks Mark Doyle's]] two henchmen are repeatedly introduced as "Liam" and "Liam's Brother."
* Subverted in ''Series/MissFishersMurderMysteries'' with Mr. Butler. It is his actual last name, and just a funny coincidence.
* The Duke of Cornwall in the ''Series/{{Merlin 1998}}'' series. His name in [[Myth/ArthurianLegend the actual legends]] is usually Gorlois or Hoel, or sometimes not mentioned. In this series, however, he is simply referred to as "Cornwall." Made even stranger in the novelizations, where the name Gorlois was attributed to him, but many characters continued to call him Cornwall.
* ''Series/{{Misfits}}'': Rudy routinely refers to Alex, a good-looking bartender as the "Handsome Barman". Matt Stokoe, who plays Alex, even refers to his character by that name in an online Greatest Hits video.
* ''Franchise/TheMuppets'':
** Several characters on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' are known by their titles/professions only. Famous examples are the [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign Swedish Chef]] and the [[DeadlineNews Newsman]]. (An OverlyLongName was given for the Swedish Chef by the guest star in one episode,[[note]]"But we call him Tom."[[/note]] but it was very possibly a joke.)
** In ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'', Sweetums is only referred to as "Jack." As he puts it, "[[HulkSpeak Jack not name, jack job]]!" For those that don't get it, his job is moving cars around at Mad Man Mooney's... which he does by lifting them up by the bumper.
* Earl always refers to Darnell on ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'' as "Crab Man," and his relatives (or pets) as "Crab Man's (insert position of relative or pet)." [[WholeEpisodeFlashback "Y2K"]] shows us why-when Earla dn Darnell first met, Earl couldn't remember his name and the nickname just stuck. Darnell himself uses it when he gets his own version of the theme song.
* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' gave us "Brain Guy," whose official name was actually "Observer," even in the credits, for quite a while. Eventually "Brain Guy" stuck, though, especially when he was forced to confront his former fellow Observers in favor of humanity.
* Mall Cop from ''Series/NaturallySadie''.
* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' has a few, such as Backpack Boy and Coconut Head.
* The Hero of the ''Series/{{Olympus}}'' gets called anything ''but'' his real name. ''Mercenary'' and Son of [[spoiler:Aegeus]] are often used.
* Control in ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' is known only by her codename. She serves as the head of a covert intelligence agency.
* The Quartermaster, a.k.a. QM, in ''Series/{{Pixelface}}''.
* Ned from ''Series/PushingDaisies'' is always referred to by the narrator as "The Pie Maker" (and "Young Ned" in childhood flashbacks), although most of the characters in the show do call him by his first name. His last name hasn't been given.
* ''Series/RedDwarf'': The Cat is a member of a species of humanoid cats.
* In ''Series/RobinHood'', the Sheriff of Nottingham is usually just called "the sheriff". This is especially funny after Isabella becomes the sheriff, because since the audience doesn't know that his real name is Vaisey, she still calls him "the sheriff", even though he isn't.
* As with the CEO in the third movie, OCP's head in ''Series/RoboCopTheSeries'' is only referred to as "the Chairman".
* In ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'', Sabrina always calls her quizmaster "Quizmaster." She later finds out in one episode that his name is Albert, and she remarks that she always thought his name really ''was'' Quizmaster and the fact that it was his occupation was just a happy coincidence.
* ''Series/ScreamQueens2015'': The Chanels do have names, but [[AlphaBitch Chanel Oberlin]] (AKA Chanel #1) [[InvokedTrope refuses to even learn their names]] and so it takes longer for the Pledges to learn them as well. Chanel even attempted this with the pledges but did learn their names out of necessity since Zayday and Grace refused to go along with that shit. It's even considered a form of membership into the Kappas to be deemed a Chanel Number, as [[spoiler: Hester]] becomes Chanel #6 during the series.
* The Janitor from ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' -- he even calls himself that. [[spoiler:In the final episode, he tells J.D. his real name is Glenn Matthews]]. But unfortunately as soon as J.D. leaves, [[spoiler:an orderly walks by and says "Hey Tommy". The Janitor responds with "What's up?", thus leaving his true name a mystery]]. That is, until WordOfGod confirmed that the Janitor was telling the truth for once.
* The Governor from ''Series/TheSlammer''.
* Government ministers on ''Series/{{Spooks}}'' are consistently referred to by their titles, even semi-regular characters like the Home Secretary.
* ''Series/StarTrek'':
** In the first ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' pilot, "The Cage," Captain Pike's second-in-command is only addressed as "Number One" (i.e. first officer). It's uncertain whether this would have persisted had that version of the show become the actual series. A [[ExpandedUniverse novel]] by D.C. Fontana claims she hails from a planet where everyone is genetically engineered, and her name actually ''is'' "[[YouAreNumberSix Number One]]."
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' subverts this: Quark specifically asks people not to call him "barkeep" and gets very annoyed when they do.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' has the Emergency Medical Hologram, but since that was too long, they just called him The Doctor, which he kept for the entire series despite frequent prodding by other crew members to come up with a name (and the occasional ResetButton when an episode had him adopt one on his own). In his case, it was because he had a computer's knowledge of languages, and everything he liked the sound of tended to mean something offensive in ''some'' language or another. He did eventually decide on a name for himself in the series finale: [[spoiler:Joe.]] However, the timeline in which he decided on this name was negated by ''Voyager'' coming home.
** Chef in ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise''. (No, he was ''not'' Will Riker.)
* ''[[Series/StellaUK Stella]]'': "Daddy," the undertaker, is known as such by everyone in Pontyberry. Similarly, Aunty Brenda introduces herself as "Aunty Brenda"--she even ''runs for the council'' with posters saying "Vote Aunty Brenda."
* The main antagonist for the first two seasons of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' is known only as "The Demon" for the first season, which is expanded to "the Yellow-Eyed Demon" for the second (out of necessity after other demons started showing up). His real name, Azazel, was only revealed [[spoiler:four episodes into the season ''after'' his death.]]
* Zigzagged with host Greg Davies in ''Series/{{Taskmaster}}''. Everyone calls Greg by his name in the studio, but in the pre-recorded challenges, he is called The Taskmaster instead.
* As of season three of ''Series/TeenWolf'', Stiles' [[UnnamedParent dad]] has only ever been referred to as Sheriff Stilinski or simply [[TheSheriff the sheriff]].
* Many of the White Lodge and Black Lodge residents in ''Series/TwinPeaksd'' are known only by a title- "The Man From Another Place," "The Giant," etc.
* In the game shows ''Series/WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego'' and ''Series/WhereInTimeIsCarmenSandiego'', as in all other related media, Lynne Thigpen's character is referred to only as "The Chief" with no actual name for her character ever being given.
* In ''Series/TheXFiles'', the Cigarette Smoking Man's first name was never revealed, and he didn't even get a last name or initials until midway through the sixth season. Many other significant characters are only given descriptive names like "the First Elder" and "the Well-Manicured Man."
* In ''Series/YesMinister'', the Prime Minister is only referred to by his title. Extraordinarily, this is kept up when Hacker gets promoted into ''Series/YesPrimeMinister'': he only gets referred to as "His/Your/My Predecessor." Make what you will of that (ghostwritten) SelfInsertFic by UsefulNotes/MargaretThatcher ...
[[/folder]]

* In ''Pinball/WHODunnit'', Victoria's manservant is referred to only as "Butler," except in one suspect's remark that reveals his real name as Walter.

[[folder:Theater]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/TheAlchemist'', almost every character is referred to by their occupation (the titular alchemist, the crystal salesman, etc.), and only a select few characters actually have names (including the main character, Santiago the shepherd, but even he is victim to this trope; his name is only mentioned in the first line of the book and he is simply referred to as "the boy" afterward). It could be an allusion to Ernest Hemingway's ''Literature/TheOldManAndTheSea'', for the main character's name was also Santiago, but he is almost strictly referred to as 'the old man' throughout the novel.
* There are three characters in ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' with names; Alice herself and the White Rabbit's servants, Pat and Bill. (There's also the Rabbit's maid, Mary, and Alice's cat Dinah, but they don't actually appear.) The rest are only known by their species (the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mock Turtle, etc.), their title (the King, Queen and Knave of Hearts, the Duchess) or their profession (the Hatter, the Cook, the Footmen).
* In Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/AllYouZombies'', the narrators is only referred to as "the barman," but is at the end of the story [[spoiler:revealed to be the same person as the other characters, originally called Jane.]]
* In ''Literature/AmericanGods'', Shadow's real name is never mentioned. Late in the story, he [[spoiler:gives it to Bast]] and apparently goes without from then on. In the sequel novella ''Monarch of the Glen'', Shadow's name is revealed to be [[spoiler:Baldur Moon.]]
* In Janwillem van de Wetering's ''Amsterdam Cop'' novels, the most senior of the three protagonists, the Commissaris, is always referred to only by his police rank and his name is never revealed.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'':
** [[{{Chessmaster}} The Ellimist]] in the books has three names: his real name, his "chosen" name, and his "game" name. Ironically enough, his game name is the one we're familiar with; his chosen name is rarely-used Toomin, and his real name is the even ''more'' rarely used Azure Level, Seven Spar, Extension Two, Down-Messenger Forty-one. Makes sense, huh?
** And the Drode. According to the... er, being himself, it means "wild card."
* The characters in ''Literature/TheAnnalsOfTheChosen'' are either known by their profession or [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname a meaningful nickname]]. For example, the titular Chosen are generally known by nicknames based on their role, such as the Leader being Boss and the Swordsman being Blade or Sword.
* ''Literature/AnnalsOfTheWesternShore'': In ''Voices'', the (former) Waylord of Ansul is always called Waylord by Memer and the other people in his household. It's jarring when RebelLeader Desac shows up and calls him by his first name, Sulter.
* In ''Literature/BalzacAndTheLittleChineseSeamstress'', the title character is always referred to as the Little Seamstress.
* None of ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' has known names. The parents are referred to as "Papa" and "Mama" while the children are "Sister" and "Brother". This could be justified if only family members called them that, but ''everyone'' uses those titles. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] when another girl makes fun of Sister's name. Before Sister was born, Brother was just called "Small Bear."
* In Terry Fallis' ''The Best Laid Plans'' and ''The High Road'', set in the Canadian Parliament, the party leaders are only ever called the NDP, Conservative, or Liberal Leader, unless the reference is to the leader of the governing party ([[spoiler:Conservatives until just over halfway through the latter, then Liberals]]), who is called "the Prime Minister." Indeed, only five elected [=MPs=] ever get named in either book: [[spoiler:[[TheHero Angus McLintock]] and the four people who become Minister of Finance, since the Member he [[SpringtimeForHitler accidentally defeats]] in ''Best Laid Plans'' had that portfolio]]. TruthInTelevision as explained under Real Life, but very much an ExaggeratedTrope.[[note]]It's also {{justified|Trope}} as both have the underlying idea that if dedicated, knowledgeable, ethical people got into office, government would function better. Most [=MPs=] in this universe have none of those qualities and thus are not memorable enough to merit names.[[/note]]
* In ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' novels, wizards are either known only by a title that describes their position and powers or OnlyKnownByTheirNickname, since a wizard's true name holds power over them and can even be used to strip their magic away. The Dominator, the Lady, Soulcatcher, and Shapeshifter are all examples of the "known by a descriptive title" version.
* In [[Literature/TheLightbringerTrilogy Black Prism]] we are briefly introduced to a pirate shooting a musket at the protagonists. One of the protagonists recognizes him as a rather famous marksman who most people know simply as Gunner. At the end of the book, after his ship is sunk, Gunner has control of the only working lifeboat and decides that a promotion is in order so he requests that his crew call him Captain Gunner.
* The alien subject named "Subject" from ''Literature/BlindLake''. Done deliberately by the scientists who named it to avoid the temptation to anthropomorphize it.
* In Jose Saramago's novel ''Literature/{{Blindness}}'', none of the characters have a name. They are referred to by their profession or physical appearance.
* Chaucer's pilgrims in ''Literature/TheCanterburyTales'' are never given names. They're merely identified by their position (The Pardoner), Occupation (The Miller), or status (The Wife of Bath, The Knight). There are only two exceptions: the Miller, whose name is Robin, andthe Friar, whose name is Hubert. There's also Lady Eglantyne, but that's actually only a title.
* Done frequently and hilariously in ''Literature/CatchTwentyTwo'': Nately's whore, Nately's whore's kid sister, Nately's whore's pimp, the Texan, the Soldier in White, the Soldier Who Saw Everything Twice, the C.I.D. Men, the Maid in the Lime-Colored Panties, and Dreedle's Girl.
* The old Provincara from the ''Literature/WorldOfTheFiveGods'' is never given a name, not even by her daughter or brother.
* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'':
** In ''Literature/TheSilverChair'', the fourth (or sixth) book, the BigBad is merely called "the Witch," "the Queen," or "the Lady of the Green Kirtle."
** The White Witch (who, confusingly, is also called "the Queen" and "the Witch") actually gets a name: Jadis. However, no one actually refers to her by name, she's "The Witch" to most Narnians and "the Queen" to her servants. The name "Jadis" is mentioned maybe once or twice in each book she appears in.
** Caspian's wife is never called anything but "Ramandu's Daughter."
* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'', the BigBad of the first book is always called the Horned King. Only Prince Gwydion, the BigGood of Prydain, ever learns his real name - because that is the tool with which he can be defeated. Even when Eilonwy asks what the real name is, he tells her it must stay a secret, adding, "I assure you it was not half so pretty as your own."
* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'':
** The entity who created the Land is only ever referred to as "the Creator" or as [[spoiler:"The man in the ocher robe."]]
** Gods in this setting seem to have a descriptive title as their "true" name; there's also [[BigBad the Despiser]] and [[LoveGoddess the Lover]], though both of these are given other names by mortals and as such don't fit the trope as well.
* In Jeramey Kraatz's ''Literature/TheCloakSociety'', the Tutor, who instructs the children of the Cloak Society.
* The titular villain of "Literature/ClockpunkAndTheVitalizer", The Vitalizer (a reference to his powers, which allow him to bring inanimate objects to "life" under his control).
* In Literature/TheCosmere, Vessels of Shards tend to be known both in and out of universe by the Intents of their Shards, rather than by their mortal names. (Ati tends to be called Ruin, Leras tends to be called Preservation, Tanavast tends to be known as Honor, etc.) {{Justified}} by the fact that holding a Shard warps your mind to fit the Shard's Intent, so that after a few millennia the Intent is a more accurate descriptor than their human name. And of course we don't actually ''know'' all of the Vessels' mortal names yet, so a few can ''only'' be referred to by their Intents out of universe. Notably Hoid, who knew the Vessels before they took up their Shards is one of the few characters who often calls the Vessels by their original names.
* The "man in the yellow hat" from the ''Literature/CuriousGeorge'' books. In TheFilmOfTheBook, he's named Ted.
* ''Literature/{{Daemon}}'' gives us The Major, who is never known by any other name. [[spoiler:Turns out, he's not even a Major in any branch of any military, though it seems he used to be.]]
* ''Literature/TheDemonHeadmaster'' has no given name or, for that matter, backstory; [[ArtifactTitle although he's only a Headmaster in the first book]], the heroes still call him that because that's how they first met him (and it's just easier). He does have a name, and in fact what his real name is is an important plot point in the fifth book, but the prose always finds a way to avoid saying it. (This was taken to extremes in the TV adaptation of the second book, where a list of names with his on it was also an important part of the plot but still managed to avoid showing his name.)
* The emperor in ''Literature/DetectivesInTogas'' is mentioned several times, but never by name. From the dates given in the story, we can conclude it's Tiberius, second Roman emperor.
* The woman in yellow in ''Literature/DirgeForPresterJohn'', called Theotokos, which is clearly not her real name. She is an authority figure, but how literally we should take this title is unclear as yet.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** The Librarian of Unseen University, simply named "The Librarian." In his case, he actually takes great pains to hide his real name ([[spoiler:apparently Horace Worblehat]]) in order to keep the staff of Unseen University from turning him back into a human, since he prefers his current orangutan form. [[BerserkButton Just don't call him a monkey]].
** Most of his faculty colleagues just go by their job descriptions as well, such as The Dean, The Lecturer in Recent Runes, and the [[CloudCuckoolander Bursar]]. The Bursar's real name has been given as Arthur A. Dinwiddie ("That's Dinwiddie with an o."), but it's rarely used. This was {{lampshade}}d in ''The Last Continent''.
--->''"One of us must know his name, surely? Good grief, I should hope we at least know our colleagues' ''names.'' Isn't that so..." he looked at the Dean, hesitated, and then said, "Dean?"''
** According to ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'', the Dean's first name is [[spoiler: Henry.]] Ridcully at least has the excuse with regard to the Librarian that he was away from the University for 40 years and didn't know him before his accident. The Dean even uses his title to refer to himself. In ''Discworld/SoulMusic'' he monogrammed onto a leather jacket.
** {{Anthropomorphic Personification}}s tend to be "named" after whatever they're personifications of, for example Death and Time. Although [[spoiler:Time retired in ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'' and now the job is done by her son who goes by Lobsang Ludd.]]
** There are a few in ''Discworld/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents'': Rat Catcher 1, Rat Catcher 2, the piper and the Stupid Looking Kid. At least until:
--->'''Stupid Looking Kid''': I think it [my name]'s Keith.\\
'''Maurice''': You never said you had a name!
** The Duck Man, a Canting Crew regular, doesn't seem to ''remember'' his name from before he became a homeless beggar. Nor does he seem aware of the duck on his head, meaning that he doesn't realize this trope applies when people call him that.
** In ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'', the young man whom the conspirators set up for the role of dragon-slayer, with the intention of making him king of Ankh-Morpork, doesn't last long enough for the populace to learn his name. One character assumes his name is "Vivat Rex" because that's what all the banners hung in his honor say.
* The main character and narrator of ''Literature/TheDivingUniverse'' is known only as Boss, neither giving nor using her real name.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** Defied. When Harry meets The Archive in ''Death Masks'', a little girl who possesses the sum of all human knowledge, he insists on giving her an actual human name: Ivy.
** ''Small Favor'' reveals that some in the White Council believe this habit of Harry's has potential for some dangerous consequences.
** At this point he has also named [[spoiler: Demonreach, a sentient island and a nexus/origin of leylines]]. That one has been more or less explicitly stated by the Gatekeeper to have been a really stupid move.
** At first glance, the Gatekeeper himself also seems like this, but at one point someone mentions that his name is Rashid.
** Again, at first glance, there's Chauncy, a demon Harry summons for information on occasion. The demon's True Name is actually Chaunzagorath (Or something along those lines), which is a bit of a mouthful, so Harry probably calls him Chauncy for the sake of not having to pronounce his name. [[spoiler: Also, the previous novel showed it's unwise for demon-callers to blab the real names of beings they summon where enemies might overhear.]]
* In Creator/StanislawLem's novel ''Eden'', the characters (the crew of a spaceship) are only referred as the Captain, the Engineer, the Doctor, the Chemist, the Physicist, and the Cyberneticist. Lem subverts his own convention halfway through the book, when in the only scene dedicated to character development, The Doctor gets a name--Henry.
* In ''[[Literature/{{Paradox}} Even the Wingless]]'' Chatcaava don't put much value in names, thus the highest ranked ones are known by their titles. Emperor, Slave Queen, Second, Third, etc.
* ''Literature/EverythingsBetterWithElves'': Laura and Kim are the only humans with names; everyone else is known by various descriptions, most prominently the girl with improbably long hair, and her roommate, mostly called the "Elf Goddess."
* The BigBad of the ''Literature/{{Fablehaven}}'' series is always called "the Sphinx" (or "the Ethiopian" at one point). He's not really a sphinx, he's just called this because he's full of riddles and mysteries.
* Creator/RobinHobb's [[Literature/RealmOfTheElderlings Farseer trilogy]] has The Fool.
* In Chuck Palahniuk's ''Literature/FightClub'' the main character never gives his proper name. He is referred to as one of the many aliases he uses in his support groups and later in the film/book he is referred to as [[spoiler: Tyler Durden]], but his true name is never told to us. In fact, he is only listed as The Narrator in the credits for the film.
* The children in Literature/TheFireUsTrilogy had their brains rather scrambled by trauma and forgot their real names. Some of them chose names that fit the roles they took after the virus. Hunter "hunts" for supplies to scavenge from houses and stores. Teacher gives the younger children lessons on the world before the virus, and Mommy takes care of them.
* ''Literature/{{Fool}}'' by Creator/ChristopherMoore has a royal food taster whose actual name is Taster. Several of the nobles are also referred to solely by their titles as well.
* "Dead names" in ''Literature/{{Ghostgirl}}'' are somewhere between this and OnlyKnownByTheirNickname, though in this case the characters are named after what they ''did''. Some characters have nicknames attached to their names related to how they died.
* ''Literature/TheGiver'':
** The Giver's real name is never revealed and he is always just called "Giver" by Jonas and "Receiver" by other characters.
** The Chief Elder's real name is never revealed.
* Not all the ghosts and heavenly beings in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'' are named, and Creator/CSLewis usually gives them nicknames (like the Big Ghost, the Hard-Bitten Ghost, and so on). The ghosts and Bright Ones whose names we do learn are usually learned in passing in conversation. There are only two exceptions to this: [=MacDonald=], whom Lewis recognizes, and Sarah Smith.
* Everyone in ''Literature/HardBoiledWonderlandAndTheEndOfTheWorld''.
* Conrad's ''Literature/HeartOfDarkness'' only has three characters that have names (Marlow, Kurtz, and a minor character called Fresleven). Others include the Narrator, the Accountant, the Manager, the Director, the Director's Uncle, the Pilot, Kurtz' Mistress, Kurtz' Intended, Marlow's Aunt, the Russian, etc.
** ''Literature/TheSecretAgent'' does this as well with the Assistant Commissioner and the Professor.
* In ''Literature/{{Hexwood}}'' by Creator/DianaWynneJones, four of the five Reigners are only referred to as Reigner Two, Reigner Three, etc. The only one whose name we find out is Reigner One.
* One ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'' book has a young fugitive prince from a German province put in Hornblower's ship as a midshipman: His Serene Highness the Prince of Seitz-Bunau. Everyone calls the kid Mr. Prince. [[NoNameGiven His actual name is never stated]].
* The Seeker and Doc from ''Literature/TheHost''. Regarding the latter; Wanda actually asks him why that is, and it turns out he finds his real name embarrassing. [[spoiler: It's Eustace.]]
* Kyrie's boyfriend in ''Literature/HouseOfLeaves'' is only ever referred to as "Gdansk Man," Gdansk being the city in Poland he was born in.
* The man that Katniss bought her sister's goat from in ''Literature/{{The Hunger Games}}'' is only known as the Goat Man.
* All the characters in ''Literature/TheHuntingOfTheSnark'', except one who has NoNameGiven.
* The Consul in Creator/DanSimmons' ''Literature/HyperionCantos''.
* At the end of the first ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' book, Eragon gets a telepathic message from someone called "The Mourning Sage," or "The Cripple Who Is Whole." [[spoiler:Subverted in that in the next book, we find out his name is Oromis.]]
* The Kzinti in Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/KnownSpace'' universe do not have names until they earn them through acts of heroism or importance, although they can earn partial names that combine a real name and their rank or role. Until then, they're known by their rank or role, or familial relations until they've gained a role of some sort: Short-Son of Chiirr-Nig, Flyer, Engineer, Telepath, Speaker To Animals (diplomat to aliens). Speaker earns his name (Chmeee) after returning from the Literature/{{Ringworld}}. The Kzin captain in "Literature/TheSoftWeapon" has a "partial name," Chuft-Captain. [[spoiler:He doesn't get a chance to upgrade it later, being killed by the titular weapon's SelfDestructMechanism.]]
* In Mickey Zucker Reichert's ''Literature/TheLastOfTheRenshai'' series, there is a character that goes by "Captain" who is, in fact, a captain of a ship. When other characters ask for his real name, he says that "Captain" ''is'' his real name, because it's the name he uses for himself. Although Frey does eventually reveal Captain's original name.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} [[Franchise/WarcraftExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]'' novel ''Literature/LordOfTheClans'', one of the few good humans is called only "Sergeant."
* ''[[Literature/{{Conqueror}} Lords of the Bow]]'' includes a nameless assassin and spy who infiltrate the Mongol camp during the siege of Yenking. The spy goes by the name Ma Tsin, though this is a pseudonym, and the sections told from his PointOfView only ever refer to him as 'the spy'. ''Bones of the Hills'' features the Old Man of the Mountains, imam of the [[ProfessionalKiller Assassins]].
* In Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/TheMagicGoesAway'' series, the Warlock was so powerful that his nickname became a name for all wizards. Much like [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]], names in the ''Magic Gone Away'' world had power, so he took steps to prevent it. He was so powerful and so old that he had induced mutations in humanity such that no-one was even ''able'' to pronounce his real name anymore.
* In Robert [=McCloskey=]'s ''Homer Price'' and ''Centerburg Tales'' the town sheriff is referred to only by his title.
* [[TheFagin Fagin]] from ''Literature/OliverTwist'' is named, but almost solely referred to as [[ValuesDissonance "The Jew"]]. Averted in later editions.
* ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen'''s "Curley's Wife" is a classic example.
* In the epic Polish NarrativePoem ''Pan Tadeusz'', many of the major characters are referred to solely by their nobility titles (The Judge, The Chamberlain, etc.)
* In the original novel ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' by Gaston Leroux, there is a rather plot-central character known only as the Persian. He was, however, cut from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical based on said book, with Madame Giry somewhat taking over his role.
* Near the beginning of ''Price of the Stars'' Beka Rosselin-Metadi is rescured from assassins by an old man who (aside from the blasters and skill with them) struck her as an instructor in languages and deportment at a finishing school and promptly started calling him 'Professor.' Despite revealing his position as Armsmaster to House Rosselin, he made no attempt to correct her (or anyone else) nor provide another name save at the end of a hand-written letter given to her some months after his death.
-->The letter closed with a line of symbols in a script and language Beka didn't recognize. It took several seconds, staring at the page with blurring eyes, before she understood that the alien symbols were a signature.
* ''Literature/ProfessorMmaasLecture'' has Dr. Arsene's Private Detective, Professor Soul's First Assistant and Professor Soul's Second Assistant.
* In the ''Literature/QueensThief'' books, the magus of Sounis and Eddis' Minister of War have gone through four books without ever being referred to by their names. (Although the latter is sometimes known as Gen's father.)
* ''Literature/{{Ragtime}}'':
** The main Caucasian family are only referred to by their designation within the family--"Mother," "Father," "Mother's Younger Brother," "Grandfather." When this was adapted to musical theatre form in 1998, "The Little Boy" was given the name of Edgar (named after E.L. Doctorow, who wrote the novel).
** Similarly, the Jewish immigrant family is referred to as "Mameh," "Tateh," and "The Little Girl," the former two being Yiddish for "Mother" and "Father." Aside from the Walkers, almost everyone in the novel with a name is [[InThePastEveryoneWillBeFamous an actual person]].
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'':
** The book ''The Bellmaker'' features a baby mouse who is only ever referred to as "mousebabe." Brian Jacques, when asked what the mouse's real name was, responded "Didn't you ever know a family who always referred to the baby as just 'the baby'?"
** In most likely every book in the series, there's also at least one otter character whose title is "Skipper of Otters," and is referred to throughout the book as "Skipper," though they all probably have their own names. There are also the Gousim Log-a-logs, who have their own names but are normally referred to as "Log-a-log So-And-So", and the leaders of the Redwall moles have the title of "Foremole" and are either referred to by just their title or have their names attached to it.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: ''Literature/TheRifter'': Kahlil may have had a name once, but now he’s only known by his title (the Kahlil) or its anglicized variant, Kyle.
* The Moidart; despite being a major character in half the ''Literature/{{Rigante}}'' series we never learn his name. The same goes for another minor character, the Moidart's rival, The Pinance.
* The two main characters of Creator/CormacMcCarthy's ''Literature/TheRoad'' are only ever referred to as the Man and the Boy.
* Very few characters in ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe'' and its lesser-known sequel are given proper names, with the exception of Friday and a couple others. Instead we have "the Spaniard," "the captain," "Friday's father," "my wife," etc.
* In ''Literature/TheSeaOfTrolls'' and the sequels, the mentor is only referred to as "the Bard" or "Dragon Tongue."
* In ''Literature/TheSecretsOfDrearcliffGrangeSchool'', the school's custodian is known to one and all as "Keys" because she carries an enormous bunch of keys for every door in the school.
* In ''Literature/{{Shogun}}'', only the ruling class have actual names: everyone else is called things like "Old Gardener" (except prostitutes who take the names of flowers). The protagonist ends up being called Anjin-san, which is a polite way to refer to his job as Pilot of a ship.
* In the LightNovel version of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'', Lina's home country is ruled by a demigoddess known only as the Eternal Queen.
* ''Literature/TheSouthernReachTrilogy'': Expedition members are stripped of their names. During ''Annihilation'' no names are used for any of the characters, and the expedition members are only known as the psychologist, the biologist, the surveyor and the anthropologist.
* In Emily St. John Mandel's ''Literature/StationEleven'', a number of characters are known solely by their function. The conductor of the Traveling Symphony prefers to be called "the conductor." One of the viola players changes her name to "Viola." The prophet also abandons his given name.
* In ''Literature/{{Survivor|Dogs}}s'' certain dogs in a pack are known by their titles: The pack leader Alpha, their second-in-command Beta, and the lowest pack member Omega.
* In the classic Japanese novel ''Literature/TheTaleOfGenji'' (which is considered by some to be the first modern novel), characters, especially women, are only referred to by titles, descriptions, and honorifics; their actual names are never mentioned. (Doing so would have been considered very rude.)
* "The Old Man," erstwhile owner of "The Tell-Tale Heart" in the Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's story of the same name.
* In Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TillWeHaveFaces'', the King is known only as the King, except for once in the beginning when his name is given as Trom. Similarly, the first priest of Ungit is only ever the Priest.
* Creator/HGWells' ''Literature/TheTimeMachine'' has a framing story of the Traveler telling his tale to a group of men. Apart from Filby, all are identified by their description: The Editor, The Provincial Mayor, The Medical Man, The Time Traveller and so on. In Creator/StephenBaxter's authorised sequel, ''The Time Ships'', the Traveler refers to his friend the Writer ... who is clearly Creator/HGWells, but never named as such.
* In ''Literature/TheTraitorSonCycle'', many characters are only known by their functions, like the Red Knight, the King, the Keeper of Dorling, the Patriarch of Liviapolis and so on.
* In Creator/RuthFrancesLong's ''Literature/TheTreacheryOfBeautifulThings'', TheFairFolk call Tom "the piper."
* The man in the yellow suit from ''Literature/TuckEverlasting'' is always referred to as such.
* "The Bane" from ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles'', though in ''Gregor and The Marks of Secret'', [[spoiler:we find out that his name is [[EvilAlbino Pearlpelt]].]]
* The Rostov children's uncle in ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' is only referred to as Uncle.
* In Andy Hoare's Literature/WhiteScars novel ''Hunt for Voldorius'', an in-universe example: Voldorius refers to Skall solely as "the equerry."
* Gabriel from the ''Literature/WickedLovely'' series. The leader of the hounds is always the Gabriel. It's a name of rank, not birth. Not always, or at least, there's a DistaffCounterpart. When Ani talks about wishing to succeed Gabriel, she says she wants to be "Their [the hounds] Gabrielle." Gabrielle is the female form of Gabriel.
* In one of Rick Cook's ''Literature/WizBiz'' novels, the main character asks his wife "What's his name, anyway? Everyone calls him Dragon Leader." His wife replies "Ardithjanelle. It means 'Shy flower of the woodlands.' It seems his parents were expecting a girl." The main character decides just to call him Dragon Leader.
* Diane Duane's Literature/YoungWizards books have the Lone Power--the other Powers we meet seem to have actual names, but the Lone Power is only ever referred to as such or by the name some specific culture calls It. JustifiedTrope. Naming any Power in the Young Wizards books seems (probably a deliberate move on Duane's part) to be like naming a god in certain real cultures: even if you can obtain and pronounce Its true name, the sheer extra-dimensionality and, well, power that comes with invoking such a name will probably kill or injure you in the process. However, the two main characters manage to speak the true name of the Lone Power ''once'', while at the peak of their power as wizards. Mainly because being able to speak someone's true name allows them to alter it; [[spoiler:this allows the main character to open a path for the Lone Power's eventual redemption.]]
* In ''Zeitgeist'' by Creator/BruceSterling, the members of the international girl-group G7 are uniformly referred to as "the [nationality] One". This is not only done when referring to them indirectly ("The French One is my favorite. She can almost carry a tune."), but even when addressing them directly. ("What seems to be the problem, American One?") This helps remind them (and everyone else) that they're all quite replaceable, and, in fact, several get replaced during the course of the book.
* Creator/JRRTolkien's Middle-earth:
** The Mouth of Sauron from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' is only ever referred to as the Mouth or the Messenger (both titles descriptive of his role in Sauron's hierarchy--he's the one who takes Sauron's words and relays them to both minions and enemies). This is because he gave up his real name so long ago that even ''he'' has forgotten it.
** Like the other wizards, Gandalf revealed his real name (Olórin) to very few people in Middle-Earth, so he's mostly known by the the descriptive names he's been given in various languages: Mithrandir ("Grey Wanderer"), Gandalf ("Wand Elf"), and so on. At a few points, people who're asked whether they know Gandalf say that they don't know his real name, and just call him what everybody else does.
** At the beginning of ''Fellowship of the Rings'', Aragorn is known in Bree as "Strider." The narrative refers to him by this name until his "real" name is revealed at the Council of Elrond. (He gets around, and has [[IHaveManyNames a lot of names]], and picks up even more over the course of the trilogy.)
** Farmer Maggot's wife is never referred to by name.
** In ''Literature/TheHobbit'', neither the Elvenking nor the Master of Lake-Town are named--though in ''The Lord of the Rings'', the Elvenking's name is revealed to be Thranduil.[[note]]Since ''The Hobbit'' wasn't written to be part of Middle-Earth, the use of real Norse names for the dwarves necessitated a complicated scheme in ''The Lord of the Rings'' in which dwarves never reveal their real Dwarvish names to outsiders, instead [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname adopting "outer names"]] in nearby human tongues, which were ''themselves'' "[[TranslationConvention translated]]" by Tolkien into Old Norse. Imagine if the human and elf characters had to receive the same treatment![[/note]]
** Throughout ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', Círdan the Shipwright's real name is never once uttered. "Círdan" just means "shipwright" in Grey Elven. Even back in the First Age, most elves didn't actually know the guy's real name, it hadn't been used in so long. Towards the end of his life, Tolkien [[Literature/TheHistoryOfMiddleEarth wrote that]] some Grey Elves ''speculated'' it was [[spoiler:Nōwē]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films--Animation]]
* ''Animation/AnimalsUnited'': The Leopard and Hunter's names are never mentioned. Even stranger, one of the human characters refers to the Hunter as "Hunter" instead of his real name.
* The Candlemaker from ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife''. He's the ''Candlemaker''.
* ''WesternAnimation/DisneyAnimatedCanon'' :
** ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'': The Beast is only ever called well, "the Beast" ("the" optional), except for his servants, who call him "the Master."
** ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'':
*** Aladdin's genie is known only as Genie, or sometimes The Genie. In the sequels and series this becomes particularly [[FridgeLogic strange]], as Jafar is also a genie and another named genie is introduced.
*** One episode of ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'' also features a character that's only known as Wazir. It makes more sense than the genie example, as the king he works for is not only a child king, but moody and egocentric, i.e. not the type to be bothered with learning his wazir's name.
** A bit of a GeniusBonus from ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'' is that if one cross-references the storyline with history and myth and accepts that the "Huns" in the film are actually the Xiongnu, the BigBad is in fact never referred to by his name but by his TITLE, as Shan Yu means "Majesty Sun of Heaven."
** The BigBad of Disney's ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}'' for some reason, is always referred by everyone as "The Carnotaurus." Guess what dinosaur he actually is! (hint: it's not [[TyrannosaurusRex the one you expect]]) It's probably because, unlike the herbivores, the two Carnotaurs are unable to talk.
** ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'':
*** Doctor Facilier, the main villain, is ''always'' referred by everyone in the film as "The Shadow Man," although no explanation is given as to why.
*** Also, according to WordOfGod, Evangeline (the Evening Star and Ray the firefly's love interest) is actually [[Disney/{{Pinocchio}} the Blue Fairy's]] real name.
* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', the [[EvilAlbino villain's]] [[TheDragon second-in-command]] is simply referred as the Wolf Boss.
* The Prince and the Shapeshifter from ''WesternAnimation/{{Faeries1999}}''.
* The Mayor from ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' (though some of the merch gives him the name [[PunnyName Hizzonor]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePiratesInAnAdventureWithScientists'' takes this trope to its extremes by applying it to the entire main cast. The Pirate Captain leads a crew consisting of The Albino Pirate, The Pirate With Gout, The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate, and various others. Assuming they have actual names, we never learn what they are. The only crew member with a revealed name is Polly, their pet Dodo. The Pirate Captain's second-in-command is referred as only Number Two in the movie, but the credits and a DVD special feature short call him "The Pirate With The Scarf."
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress'', the credits list the main characters as "Hero Boy" and "Hero Girl."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films--Live Action]]
* ''Film/TheAmericanPresident'' has this as such a driving theme that it's reflected in the title of the movie. Andrew Shepard can't even get his best friend to address him by name when they're shooting pool. [[spoiler:Once their romantic relationship takes off, Sidney becomes the only member of the cast to call him by his name (other than his daughter by his first wife, who calls him "Dad").]]
-->'''A.J.:''' Nice shot, Mr. President.\\
'''President Shepherd:''' 'Nice shot, Mr. President?' You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?\\
'''A.J.:''' [[Creator/DrSeuss I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.]]\\
'''President Shepherd:''' At ease, A.J., at ease.
* In ''Film/{{Australia}}'', Hugh Jackman's character is only called the Drover.
* ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'': The Black Queen is only ever called that, or by the typical royal titles. Alternatively "Great Tyrant" when she has yet to show up and the movie is trying to fake you out regarding her gender. She did get a proper name (Slupe) in the original comics, but she was probably lying about it.
* In ''Film/BicentennialMan'', the [[RobotMaid robot butler]] Andrew calls his human owners Sir, Ma'am, Miss and Little Miss. The characters are also listed that way in the credits. Everyone except Ma'am has their name said out loud at some point, but it's easy to miss.
* From ''Film/{{Bunraku}}'', the bartender is known only as Bartender. Or occasionally Barkeep.
* The majority of characters in ''Film/CemeteryMan'' refer to Francesco as "Engineer." Nobody calls him by his first name, except perhaps [[MindScrew Franco.]]
* {{Subverted}} with Lady Tremaine from ''Film/{{Cinderella 2015}}''. In the [[http://cdn2-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/2014/12/Stepmother-Poster-Large.jpg promotional material for the film]], Tremaine is credited as "The Wicked Stepmother." She is, however, identified as "Lady Tremaine" throughout the actual film. (In the original animated Disney version, she is never addressed as such, although the herald at the Prince's ball calls Anastasia and Drizella "the daughters of Lady Tremaine.")
* One of the protagonists in ''Film/CirqueDuSoleilWorldsAway'' is an acrobat known only as the Aerialist.
* In Film/{{Clue}} The Cook, the Cop, the Motorist, and the Singing Telegram are only ever referred as such, even by the characters that know their names. May also count for Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard, who are a professor and colonel, respectively, and the colors are not their real surnames.
* In ''Film/TheCuriosityOfChance'', Chance and his sister refer to their Army officer father as "Sir."
* The Butcher and the Postman in ''Film/{{Delicatessen}}'' constantly refer to each other as "Boucher" and "Facteur" (it's a French movie).
* The Driver from ''Film/{{Drive}}'' is never given a name, not even in the end credits.
* None of the characters in ''The Driver'' have names. In the credits they're listed as The Driver, The Detective, The Player. etc.
* The title character of ''Film/ElMariachi'' is only known by that name, even in the sequels where he can no longer play guitar. By ''Film/OnceUponATimeInMexico'', people treat it like it's his real name and shorten it to "El."
* In ''Film/ErikTheViking '', one of the character's is known as Sven's Dad... because he's Sven the Berserk's dad. He's even listed as "Sven's Dad" in the credits.
* The cab driver from ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'' even introduces ''himself'' as "Cabbie."
* Many of the characters in ''Film/TheFall'', including the Indian, the Black Bandit, and "the actor with only one leg."
* The ''Film/{{Feast}}'' series rarely gives the main characters actual names; no names are ever mentioned in the dialogue and the in-film bios and the credits just use nicknames ("Hot Wheels," "Shitkicker," "Secrets," etc.) or just refer to the characters by what they are ("Heroine," "Bartender," "Bossman," etc.)
* ''Film/HocusPocus'': Max is repeatedly called "Hollywood" by Salem, Massachusetts, delinquents Jay and Ernie ([[DoNotCallMePaul sorry]], ''Ice'') because he has recently moved to Salem from Southern California--and in Jay and Ice's minds, the only important thing about Southern California is Hollywood. (And the fact that "Holly" is a female name might also be a factor in humiliating Max.)
* Though they are given names in the film proper, marketing for ''Film/{{Inception}}'' referred to the main characters by their role in the heist (The Extractor, The Architect, The Tourist, The Mark, The Shade, The Point Man, and The Forger).
* In ''Film/InTheNameOfTheKing'', Creator/JasonStatham's character is always called Farmer. When asked by his son, he explains that it's his belief that everyone should be called by his or her job. Some sources claim that his real name is Damon. In fact, his real name is revealed to be [[spoiler:Prince Camden Conreid]], although he doesn't know it for much of the film.
* In the ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' sequel ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'', when the Tyrannosaurus rampages through the streets of San Diego, one poor man makes a failed attempt to get into a locked building [[DeathByCameo and becomes dinosaur food]]. He's forever memorialized in the credits as "Unlucky Bastard." Talk about truth in advertising...
* In ''Film/KillBill'' the protagonist is known as The Bride. Later, she is called by the nickname Kiddo. Only later do we discover her real name is [[spoiler:Beatrix Kiddo]], but she is still called The Bride in the credits. The second film adds "a.k.a. Black Mamba a.k.a. [[spoiler:Beatrix Kiddo a.k.a. Mommy]]"
* ''Film/TheLastWitchHunter'':
** The leader of the witches is simply known as the Witch Queen.
** Axe and Cross' [[SecretKeeper Dolans]] seem to use no name beyond [number]th Dolan.
* To some extent in ''Film/LegendOfTheBlackScorpion'', due to rank. The Empress says that it has been so long since anyone called her by her real name that she had forgotten it.
* ''Film/LuckyNumberSlevin'' has major characters named The Rabbi, The Fairy and so forth. When anyone asks why they are called what they are, the answer invariably is "because he is one."
* In ''Film/TheMatrix'', some programs are named after their function (e.g. the Oracle, the Trainman, the Keymaker, the Architect). Others are named for a distinguishing feature (e.g. the Merovingian, the Twins).
* ''Film/MonstersCrashThePajamaParty.'' The MadScientist is named "Mad Doctor" and even has it on his lab coat, and is only ever addressed by that name.
* In ''Film/TheMonsterSquad'', we never find out Fat Kid's name until his TheyCallMeMisterTibbs moment of utter badassery, in which he informs his former bullies that his name is '''''HORACE!'''''
* In ''Film/MoonriseKingdom'', the woman from social services is known only as "Social Services."
* In ''Film/MysteryRoad'', Sarge is only ever addressed as 'Sarge' or 'Sergeant': never by his name.
* During Freddy's rampage at the pool party in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreetPart2FreddysRevenge'', one of the partiers tries to reason with him, and we're treated to a sequence of the guy treating Freddy like some kind of animal while trying talk him down ("It's okay, nobody's gonna hurt you"); Freddy hurls the guy at a barbecue, which blows up when the kid hits it. The credits just list the character as "Do-Gooder."
* The Bootlegger from ''Film/NightNurse''.
* The Professor, the spymaster in Hitchcock's ''Film/NorthByNorthwest''.
* Several Soviet comedies by Leonid Gaidai (including ''Film/OperationYAndShuriksOtherAdventures'' and ''Film/KidnappingCaucasianStyle'') feature a trio of bumbling crooks, whose names are never spoken aloud. In fact, the only way to know even their nicknames is from the end credits, where they're revealed to be the Coward, the Fool, and the Pro.
* The two Blackbeard's voodoo zombies in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'' are referred to only as "Quartermaster" and "Gunner."
* ''Film/TheProducers'': TheBartender is called "innkeeper" by Bialystock while he and Bloom celebrate the expected failure of ''Springtime For Hitler''.
* The coffee shop owner in ''Film/PulpFiction'' is credited as "Coffee Shop" due to his only line in the film being "I'm just a coffee shop--" before being interrupted.
* Lady from ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead''. She has a real name, but nobody in the town knows it and the audience doesn't learn it till quite late in the movie.
* ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'' abounds with these characters--Grave-Robber, Single Mother, Band Leader, News Reporter, and the Repo Man all count.
* ''Film/RobinHood2018'': The Sheriff of Nottingham isn't referred to by name.
* In ''Film/RoboCop3'', the head of OCP is simply referred to as the "CEO".
* Hilariously used in ''Film/RockNRolla'', with the Councilor, to the point when another character gives him something and says "It has your name on it," it actually says "The Councilor."
* "The Girl" in the play and movie ''Film/TheSevenYearItch''.
* In ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman'', the Huntsman is exclusively known by his job title, though his real name is supposedly Eric.
* In the Russian film ''Film/{{Stalker}}'' by Creator/AndreiTarkovsky the three main characters are Stalker, Writer, and Professor, each named for his profession. The viewers are never told their "real" names.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' did this at first, later adding in the names.
** TheEmperor was never named, although the [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse novel adaptation]] supplies the names Palpatine and Darth Sidious, which are used in the prequels.
** In ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', everybody refers to Boba Fett as "Bounty Hunter". ''Film/TheStarWarsHolidaySpecial'', his first actual appearance, gave his name, which is (barely) used in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.
* ''Film/TankGirl''. Tank Girl only calls Jet Girl by that name or some variation (e.g. Jet, Jettina, etc.).
* In ''Film/ThatThingYouDo'', not only is the bass player never referred to by any other name, but he is listed in the credits as T. B. Player.
* The character Creator/CharlieChaplin played in most of his films was usually just called "The Tramp," as well as being an example of TheTramp.
* Pretty much everybody in ''Film/UndercoverBrother'': Undercover Brother, Conspiracy Brother, Smart Brother, Sista Girl, the Chief, the Man, Mr. Feather, and White She-Devil. The only main character with a clear name is Lance, the token ''white'' guy.
* ''Film/TheWaterboy'': Everybody refers to Bobby Boucher's [[MyBelovedSmother overprotective mother]] as "Mama". Bobby later finds out from old letters that her first name is [[spoiler:Helen]].
* In ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', the main character is known only as the Mariner. Subverted in the extended edition, wherein after the heroes reach Dry Land, Helen gives the Mariner a real name just before he heads back out onto the ocean. [[spoiler: It's "Ulysses," the name of the sailor who was the main character of Homer's ''Odyssey''.]]
* Sarah Silverman's character in ''Film/TheWayOfTheGun'' is credited simply as "Raving Bitch".
* In ''Film/TheWhiteRibbon'', children have names but adults only referred as The School Teacher, the Doctor, the Baron, etc.
* In ''Film/{{Zathura}}'', the astronaut is referred to by everyone (including himself at one point) as "The Astronaut", on account of him never saying his name.
* ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'': all the main characters call themselves after the city they are from instead of their names, a tradition started by Tallahassee.
* ''Film/RedSparrow'': Matron's real name is never given, even in the credits; her dress uniform at the end of the film doesn't even have a nametape on it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In true fairy tale fashion, ''everyone'' in [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9217083/1/Dwarfed-or-The-Blessed-Disaster The Blessed Disaster]] gets this treatment, giving us a cast that includes the Old Miner, the Pale Girl, the Queen, and so on.
* ''Fanfic/ACertainUnknownLevel0'': Accelerator. No one knows his birth name anymore.
* ''Fanfic/DeadOfNight'' has the Detective, the AU's version of [[Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName Zombie]]. Technically he ''was'' given a name (Marc Raney) after he woke up having [[IdentityAmnesia totally forgotten the first thirty years of his life]], but hates using it because he's sure it's not his own.
* Averted in ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'', as in the series, with certain exceptions, [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep every Smurf's real name is based on either a profession or a personality]], including its main character Empath.
* [[BigBad The Gryphon King]] in ''Fanfic/EquestriaTotalWar'' is only referred to as such. Apparently it's actually ''forbidden'' to use his name.
* In the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', the Guys In White have a MadDoctor operative known simply as "Doctor."
* ''Fanfic/FairyWithoutWings'' introduces [[BlackKnight Dark Blade]] as part of the Edolas arc. The character in question picked the nickname because [[ThatManIsDead the person they are inside is long since dead]]. Even people who know Dark Blade personally, like Erza Knightwalker, refer to the Knight of Seven by this nickname [[spoiler:except when the armor comes off, it would seem]].
* In the ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'' fanfiction sequel, ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6848091/1/Ghost-Trick-Twisted-Fates Twisted Fates,]]'' Sissel tends to refer to the other characters as their defining traits (Cabanela is "Lean and Lanky," Kamila is the "Little Lady," etc). Given that [[spoiler:he knows this time that he's a cat]], it makes sense that he'd have a different view of the other characters. The author uses the alternate names given in-game, and also provides new ones for the original characters.
* In ''Fanfic/GodSaveTheEsteem'', Quinn is shocked to discover that a member of her gang whom everyone calls "[[ReallyGetsAround Slutty Girl]]" actually has a name ([[{{Fanon}} Jackie Wentworth]]).
* ''FanFic/TheHamsterballShow'':
** Ranger Fink, who is actually not a ranger at all! Her name actually comes from VideoGame/{{Hamsterball}}'s high score table (the name "R. Fink" at the top). For some reason, the author thought of "Ranger Fink" when he saw it, and it became the character's name. [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Her real name]] is ''Rachel'' Fink. Her sister, Peepums, [[AccidentalMisnaming mispronounced her name as "Ranger Fink"]] once and it stuck.
** Mr. Raptis is usually called "Professor" by the other characters.
* In the ''FanFic/{{Horseshoes and Hand Grenades}}'' sidestory ''Wheel of Fortune'', Mei Shirakawa's male 'friends' are simply known as Ros and Guil because she always keeps forgetting their names. This also extends to the forums she visits and [[spoiler: when they're killed off, Renenutet doesn't even bother to even reveal what they are.]]
* ''FanFic/HotspringSouls'' has the Hunter, the Chosen Undead, the Bearer of the Curse, the Slayer of Demons... [[PlayedWith An interesting case]] regarding the Doll -- everyone else calls her "The Doll", except for the Hunter, who calls her by her real name, "Evetta".
* In ''Fanfic/InquisitorCarrowChronicles'', the narration always refers to the God-Emperor Of Mankind as "the God-Emperor of Mankind," or just "The God-Emperor." Also, Dumbledore's letters to him address him as "Dear Mr. God-Emperor." Though he apparently goes by Jon Schmidt to his human colleagues.
* ''Fanfic/MakeAWish'': Most, if not all of the recurring characters. From Henchgirl to the Mechanic... who are a female henchman and a mechanic respectively. Though in Henchgirl's case it's once revealed that her legal name (if not birth name) ''is'' Henchgirl.
* In ''[[FanFic/MyLittleMagesTheNightmaresReturn My Little Mages: The Nightmare's Return]]'', [[TheDragon the Grand Master]] of the [[{{Cult}} Shadow Blades]] is usually just referred to by his title, or as the more generic Shadow Blade by Nightmare Moon. His real name is [[spoiler: Clydesdale Pie]].
* In ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', the Samurai kid from the fourth episode of the anime is a RecurringCharacter, but his real name is never revealed. There's also the Hiker from "Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden" who stars in his own sidestory, although unlike the Samurai, he does reveal his real name: [[PunnyName Monty Near Hawkings.]]
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11251745/24/The-Power-of-Love The Power of Love]]'' Gatekeepers have such an important role in goblin society that any goblin who obtains the position is known only as "Gatekeeper" for the rest of their life, ''even by family members''.
* One of the villains in Fanfic/TwilightSparklesAwesomeAdventure is always referred to as Enemy Boss Leader.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'' turns the Kung-Fu Dugongs into a race of this (except for the TWDS). Their leader is Chief Dugong. His second is Lancer Dugong, who also wields a spear. Their greatest martial arts master and teacher is Sifu Dugong. His only student used to be called Disciple Dugong, until Sifu left and Disciple was acknowledged as the best fighter in the tribe and was renamed Boss Dugong. He also happens to be in charge of the TWDS.
* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Hisashi's boss is only referred to as "the Professor" for the first six chapters of the story. His full name is later revealed to be Martin Stein, after which he's referred to as Professor Stein.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* ComicBook/TheBeano extends this to relatives of the characters so named--The teacher of the Bash Street Kids is called "Teacher" and his wife is "Mrs. Teacher." Similarly, one strip features the headmaster's brother--Mr. Headsbrother. The comic once claimed in response to a reader's letter that Dennis the Menace's father was actually named "Dennis' Dad" at birth, and knew he had found his future wife when he met a girl called Dennis' Mum.
* In ''ComicStrip/BeetleBailey'', most unlisted men refer to Sarge as simply "Sarge", and not his full name, Sergeant Orville Snorkle. (He's never expressed dislike of his name, but still...)
* The Reach Negotiator from the 2006 ''ComicBook/BlueBeetle'' series.

* The World's Greatest scientist in ''ComicBook/{{Catstronauts}}'' is only ever called "The World's Greatest Scientist".
* ''ComicBook/FallOutToyWorks'' has the Toymaker. As for his real name, the synopsis for the second issue had it as Jasper, one of the data files Mr. Moth brings up in the fourth issue has his name as [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep "Chris Toymakeras"]]. [[spoiler: The final page of the final issue reveals his name is actually Alistair and brings up the possibility of his last name actually ''being'' Toymaker.]]
* The Sage and The Minstrel from ''ComicBook/GrooTheWanderer''. They have never had any other names and WordOfGod says they never will (and many speculate they ARE their names, and are possibly magical spirits of some sort). Sage's dog, however, got a name after much fan needling ("Mulch," based on a running gag from the letter's page).

* From ''ComicBook/{{Nextwave}}'', the Captain. According to Aaron Stack, if the Captain ever had a real name, he's forgotten it. (He is not actually the captain of anything.) It is later revealed he'd tried everything, including ''Captain ☠☠☠☠'' ('☠☠☠☠' being an unspecified but extremely rude word), but had been sued and/or beaten up by Captain America until he settled on ''The Captain''. And he still had to pay "some Marine-looking [[UnusualEuphemism melon-farmer]]" royalties.\\\
The book's theme song, when describing each character's notable trait, includes the words "The Captain! / ...HIS NAME IS THE CAPTAIN!" (while describing, for instance, that one other character "Is going to microwave your ass").
* ''ComicBook/{{Planetary}}'': The Drummer. First name ''the'', second name ''Drummer''.
* ''ComicStrip/DeRechter'': None of the characters' real names are ever used. Aside from the Judge (who has a nickname used by his wife, “Beertje”), all of them are only known by their title or function.
* ComicBook/RichardDragon and Bronze Tiger's martial arts instructor, or sensei, is has been known only as "O-sensei" since the 70s. Whether the O stands for part of his actual name or is something someone tacked on to the front of sensei he took a liking to has been left unanswered.
* In ''{{Comicbook/Shazam}}'' comics, the Marvel family gets their powers from a wizard named [[TheChooserOfTheOne Shazam]], and (except for Freddy) [[HenshinHero activate and deactivate]] their powers by [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull saying his name]]. This happens ''any''time they say his name, even if they don't want to transform. As a result, they normally just refer to him as "the Wizard," and his name as "the Magic Word." In the ComicBook/New52 reimagining, this was altered so intent matters: if they say his name with intent to transform, then they'll change, but if they don't intend to transform, it has no effect.
* Franchise/TheSmurfs:
** Most of the Smurfs don't have names, but refer to one another by their most prominent personality trait: Brainy Smurf, Handy Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, etc. This gets taken to the extreme in the [[Film/TheSmurfs live-action movie]] with the mention of Passive-Aggressive Smurf.
** A few exceptions: The female Smurfling named Sassette, and an adult Smurf in the AnimatedAdaptation called Marco Smurf, named after [[Literature/TheTravelsOfMarcoPolo Marco Polo]].
** One cartoon featured a Smurf who had no name at all, seeing as he didn't have any talent he knew of that he could name himself after - he simply called himself "Nobody Smurf". When he eventually became the hero by defeating an evil goblin ''because'' he had no name or talent (the goblin was a trickster who inflicted {{Baleful Polymorph}}s on victims depending on their personalities) they decided to call him "Somebody Smurf".
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'s'' constant companion is known only as Captain Haddock until the second last comic in the series, and Tintin rarely refers to him by anything else other than simply Captain. In said comic, the Captain's first name is revealed to be Archibald.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' comic series "The War Within: The Dark Ages," a character is introduced who is only ever referred to as "the Fallen," as his name was taken away from him by his fellow Transformers after he betrayed Primus and sided with Unicron. His name used to be Megatronus Prime, and he was one of the original Thirteen before becoming The Fallen.
* The Beast from ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}''. He presumably has a name but it's never shown on-screen, and claims everyone just calls him "The Beast" -- including his own kids. Also Spider's old boss who is [[TheUnseen never shown in person]] whom he only refers to as "The Whorehopper".
* Used in a significant manner in ''ComicBook/VForVendetta''. The Head is only referred to by title for the bulk of the story... [[spoiler: but people start referring to him by his actual name once his VillainousBreakdown causes a loss of faith in him.]]
* In ComicBook/{{WITCH}}, everyone refers to the Oracle as Oracle. Which leads to trouble while asking who was elected Oracle. ("What's the Oracle's name?" "You just said it"). A fallen Oracle is even unable to remember his name.

* The professor in ''ComicBook/ZombiesCalling'' is only known as Professor.
* In ''{{ComicStrip/BC}}'', the Fat Broad and the Cute Chick.