History Main / LastNameBasis

* LastNameBasis/ComicBooks
* LastNameBasis/ComicStrips

* LastNameBasis/{{Theatre}}

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* Averted in the ''Literature/SeventhSon'' podcast novel trilogy, as 7 of the main heroes AND the Big Bad all have the same last name. Played straight though with the supporting heroes, who are almost always referred to as Hill and Kleinman; their last names.
* In ''Podcast/CriticalHit'', a live play ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' podcast, [[TheStrategist Ket]] refers to his teammates almost exclusively by their last name while giving orders in battle.
* Everyone in ''Podcast/Wolf359'' refers to one another by their last names, [[YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious with the exception of very emotionally heavy situations]]. This often leads to many characters only being known by their last names for a long time (Minkowski's first name - Reneé - wasn't revealed until the start of season 2).
** Averted with Cutter, who makes a point of referring to people by their first names.

[[folder:Radio]]
* In ''Radio/JohnFinnemoresSouvenirProgramme'', a very young Jerry Wilkinson complains that everyone at school thinks his name is "Wilkinson", and when his mother points out that it ''is'', he says yes but not ''really''; his name's Jerry. Interestingly, in later life he refers to his own kids collectively as "Wilkos".

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'':
** As a result of his upper-class upbringing, Benedict refers to the other characters exclusively by their last names. Finn also does so, but to a lesser extent, using first names for people that he's amicable with.
** Sarah Travers, being a government agent, is almost exclusively referred to by her last name.
* Depending on who's talking to who, ''Roleplay/OpenBlue'' falls in between LastNameBasis and address by rank for military characters, FirstNameBasis for civilians and/or pirates, or some mix of such. Even the addressing in narration differs between [=RPers=].
* Most of the terrorists in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' are only ever referred to by their surnames. (Danya, [=McLocke=], Kaige, Rice, Grossi, Garnett, Konrad, Chevalier, Hurst, Richards, Baines) [[TheWoobie Dorian]] is the sole exception.
** Among the students, we have Anna Chase of v4, who prefers to have people use her last name Chasewhen referring to her. Liam "Brook" Brooks (also v4) is a minor variation, but probably still fits. Occasionally other students get this treatment as well (sometimes [[AxCrazy J.R. Rizzolo]] is referred to by his last name Rizzlo or "Riz", for example).
* In ''Roleplay/ThisIsWar'' Logan specifically tells Tex to refer to him by his surname.

If only some characters in a work get this trope, it is frequently because they have a boring or common first name (like John), or an [[EmbarrassingFirstName embarrassing]] or [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude unusual one]]. [[SignificantNameShift Switching from last-name basis]] to FirstNameBasis may indicate a RelationshipUpgrade, platonic or otherwise.

Characters on a last-name basis are much more likely to be male than female. Sometimes there's a DoubleStandard for this trope: the same show may refer to men by their last names and women by their first names. In a few of Dan Brown's books, regardless of how the characters address each other, the narrator mostly calls men by their last name, and women by their first name, including protagonists or co-protagonists. Potentially due to MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial.

(These characters are not [[TheyCallMeMisterTibbs referred to with titles]], either.)

Compare FullNameBasis, TheyCallMeMisterTibbs. Contrast HeyYou and TermsOfEndangerment.

[[folder: Radio]]

Characters on a last-name basis are much more likely to be male than female. Sometimes there's a DoubleStandard for this trope: the same show may refer to men by their last names and women by their first names. In a few of Dan Brown's books, regardless of how the characters address each other, the narrator mostly calls men by their last name, and women by their first name, including protagonists or co-protagonists.

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
** Lie Ren is referred to in show as just Ren, and provides the R to his team's name (JNPR). This was the subject of much [[EpilepticTrees fan speculation]] about Western/Eastern name order, until Volume 4 confirmed that he goes by his surname.
** Professor Ozpin is variously called "Professor", "Ozpin" or "Oz". However, "Ozpin" is actually his surname. His personal name has never been revealed or hinted at, but writers have confirmed it exists. [[spoiler:His [[ResurrectiveImmortality original name]] is Ozma, an example of OnlyOneName. Calling him "Oz" is therefore a form of continuity for characters who know that he's immortal and reincarnates into different host bodies.]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{Shrapnel}}'': Reznya’s full name is Liliya Reznya, but very few characters call her by her first name.
* Enforced in ''{{WebAnimation/Autodale}}''. The citizens of Autodale don't ''have'' first names. The only named citizens we see are Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Robinson, and Robinson Junior, with Junior becoming the new Mr. Robinson once the old one is branded [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Ugly]]. Autodale treats its citizens like cogs in a machine, they're there only to work and raise replacements for themselves, so it makes sense that something personal like a first name isn't desired.
* ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner''. Derek Lucks, the BigBad of the first two seasons, is always referred to by his last name, with his first name not being revealed until late into Season 2.
[[/folder]]

** Professor Ozpin is variously called "Professor", "Ozpin" or "Oz". However, "Ozpin" is actually his surname. His personal name has never been revealed or hinted at, but writers have confirmed it exists. [[spoiler:His [[ResurrectiveImmortality original name]] is Ozma, an example of OnlyOneName.]]

** Roman is occasionally referred to as just "Torchwick".

If only some characters in a work get this trope, it is frequently because they have a boring or common first name (like John), or an [[EmbarrassingFirstName embarrassing]] or [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude unusual one]]. Switching from last-name basis to FirstNameBasis may indicate a RelationshipUpgrade, platonic or otherwise.

* Enforced in ''WebOriginal/TheAutodaleSeries''. The citizens of Autodale don't HAVE first names. The only named citizens we see are Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Robinson, and Robinson Junior, with Junior becoming the new Mr. Robinson once the old one is branded [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Ugly]]. Autodale treats its citizens like cogs in a machine, they're there only to work and raise replacements for themselves, so it makes sense that something personal like a first name isn't desired.