History Main / LastNameBasis

* Most characters in ''RedVsBlue'', due to the characters being in the military. The cast's full names are, Leonard L. Church, Michael J. Caboose, Lavernius Tucker, Dick Simmons, Franklin Delano Donut, and Dexter Grif. Sarge's first ''and'' last names are yet to be revealed.

* Then there's Ken Kennedy, who insisted on being referred to as "Mr. Kennedy" - and insisted on referring to himself as "Mister Kennedy....Kennedy!"

** Dr. Huang is almost never referred to as "George", not even by Cragen or Benson, perhaps in deference to his role as TheShrink. On the other hand, Dr. Warner usually refers to Benson and Stabler as "Elliot" and "Olivia", and in turn, they always address her as "Melinda" (though when people are talking ''about'' her, she's always "Warner").

* On ''AreYouBeingServed'', the staff of Grace Brothers - apart from very rare occasions - always addressed one another formally ("Mr. Lucas", "Mr. Humphries", "Miss Brahms", etc.). Among the characters, Captain Peacock and Mr. Grangier tended to use each other's given names (Steven and Ernest, respectively) most frequently in private conversation.

* In ''TheMentalist'', it's generally seen as jerky or disrespectful for anyone to call anyone in the workplace by first name. Van Pelt, however, is commonly called 'Grace' because she's a rookie (or used to be), Bosco and Lisbon are intimate enough to do this ({{Understatement}} no kidding), [[DaChief for some bizarre reason]], Jane always calls Minelli 'Virgil', and [[YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious we know that things are getting bad]] when Jane calls Lisbon "Teresa". Or that he's pulling another BunnyEarsLawyer UndercoverAsLovers gambit, which, this being [[TheChessmaster Patrick Jane]], is far more likely.

* In ''TheMentalist'', it's generally seen as jerky or disrespectful for anyone to call anyone in the workplace by first name. Van Pelt, however, is commonly called 'Grace' because she's a rookie (or used to be), Bosco and Lisbon are familiar enough to do this, and [[DaChief for some bizarre reason]], Jane always calls Minelli 'Virgil'.

* In the ''SuzumiyaHaruhi'' novels, Kyon refers to everybody except Haruhi by their last name. In the ninth novel, he strangely also calls the mysterious interface, Kuyo, by her first name, as well as Emiri Kimidori.

->'''Sally:''' Mr. Randall and I have a dreamy relationship.
->'''Tommy:''' Oh, yeah! You don't even call him by his first name.
->'''Sally:''' ''[after a beat]'' That's what sophisticated people do on this planet.
-->--''[[ThirdRockFromTheSun 3rd Rock from the Sun]]'', "See Dick Run"

* On ''[[LawAndOrderCriminalIntent Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'', the two original partners typically only referred to each other as "Goren" and "Eames." When Eames occasionally referred to Goren as "Bobby," it was universally an example of YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious. ThisTroper can't ever remember Goren referring to her as "Alexandra" or "Alex."
** He called her Alex in the episode where they finally solved her late husband's murder.

* American high school students tend to refer to female classmates by their first names and male classmates by their last names. The last name is treated somewhat like a casual nickname, and when a girl is referred to by her last name it can indicate that she is being treated as "one of the guys."
** Of course, with a country as big as the United States, that depends on where you are. Practices differ from region to region and even within a region may differ on the basis of race, class, and social group. For instance, white, working- and middle-class Michiganders tend to use first names regardless of sex, while blacks of similar social class will use nicknames (if they have them).
*** It can also be on an individual level as well. This troper had a friend in high school who was called by his first name, Daniel, by just about everybody except myself and one other friend, who called him Webster (his last name). So really the number of factors (adding to the above list the individual and the actual personal connection to the person) makes it impossible to generalize at all. Last name basis can also be used for teachers who students feel close enough to not use the phrase Mr., Ms., or Mrs, Or as a sign of disrespect.

** It's notable that Phoenix drops the LastNameBasis with Edgeworth at exactly one instance, where he remembers their childhood and refers to him as 'Miles'. The LastNameBasis quickly after this, however, and permanently sticks, even after they restore their old friendship. This was probably done in order to show that, despite being friends again, there relationship is still not the same anymore that it used to be prior to the DL-6 incident.

* Chloe Valens of TalesofLegendia would prefer to call people by their last names.
* Sam Fisher of SplinterCell is almost always referred to by his last name, especially by his VoiceWithAnInternetConnection, Lambert. That's ''Irving'' Lambert. And then there's Grimsdottir. OK, pretty much everyone is called by their last name in this series.

* Most of the pilots in Angels2200 are referred to by their callsign or last name.

* ''KimPossible'' has [[DarkActionGirl Shego]], who inverts this. [[{{Fanon}} It is suggested that her last name is "Go"]], but she has "She" in front because she [[FaceHeelTurn used to be good]] and part of a team with her brothers, and she was the [[TheSmurfettePrinciple the only girl]]. It's also possible their names relate to their first names, but they're never given. Lampshaded by Ron in ''Go Team Go''.

*** It can also be on an individual level as well. This troper had a friend in high school who was called by his first name, Daniel, by just about everybody except myself and one other friend, who called him Webster (his last name). So really the number of factors (adding to the above list the individual and the actual personal connection to the person) makes it impossible to generalize at all.
**** Last name basis can also be used for teachers who students feel close enough to not use the phrase Mr., Ms., or Mrs.
***** Or as a sign of disrespect.

*** Besides, in Spanish "Maes" sounds alot like "Maese" which is a rather archaic term that was used as "Master" to respectfully address someone, specially in old written media, so you could think that 1) he was being very polite and 2) it would be nice if we could know his first name. Then again, only if you have read old books and are familiar with the word.

* The first episode of DigimonAdventure lists the full Japanese names of the characters, but Izzy (Koushiro Izumi) is the only one whose Americanised name is based on his Japanese first name. Even his parents call him Izzy.

** The Eleventh Doctor ''sometimes'' calls Amy Pond by her first name, but just as often calls her "Pond", as in "Come along, Pond!" Possibly this is because he preferred "Amelia".

* Kanda ''[[EmbarrassingFirstName Yu]]'' of ''[=~D.Gray-Man~=]'' tends to threaten people who don't address him this way with violent death.

* Surnames are said to be uncommon in the world of ''DragonBall'', but the main character, Son Goku, has one. While most characters refer to him as Goku, his given name, Bulma, his first friend, refers to him exclusively by his surname. Piccolo and Tenshinhan often do the same but not always.

* Done hillariously where Hardboiled private dick Malone as referred to as such by everyone... Including his mom.

* ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' is a slight subversion. Commodore Norrington's first name is never mentioned in the first movie, but second and third movie reveal that it is James. However this can be concidered as a double subversion, because a great deal of the fanbase still refer to him by his last name, not his first.

** Being in a low-level position, Kenneth calls everyone "Mr./Mrs./Miss [last name]" or "sir/ma'am". In one episode, Liz noted that he "calls Tracy's lizard 'sir'."

* In {{Bleach}}, Ichigo, Inoue and Ishida are on a LastNameBasis with one another, including Sado, though he does call Ichigo by his first name (Ichigo misread "Sado" as "Chad", so that more or less counts). Rukia is on LastNameBasis with the gang except for Ichigo and Renji. Ishida is on LastNameBasis with most everyone (excluding some minor characters), and the only person who refers to ''him'' by his given name in the Japanese version is his father (and later Pesche).

** With or without addressing their respective ranks, most seated officers call one another by their surnames (such as Ukitake and Kyoraku), with the majority of the fandom following suit; aside from Marenoshin (Omaeda's dad), Chikane (Iba's mom), Gin, Seinosuke (Hanataro's brother), Jin'emon (Sentaro's dad), Isane, Nanao, Mayuri, Nemu, Hanataro, Kiyone, Miyako, Sentaro, Kenpachi, Yachiru, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Ginrei (Byakuya's granddad), Sojun (Byakuya's father), Hisana, Byakuya, Renji, Kaien and for dub-watchers - Rangiku, they call every other officer by their surnames.