History Main / NoNeedForNames

* in [[Website/SCPFoundation SCP-001]][[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/tanhony-s-proposal-ii (“The Black Moon”)]] when the [[Really700YearsOld The Administrator]] was a child he was known as The Boy, because there wasn’t enough people around for him to be confused with anyone. Later on he goes by [[ShapedLikeItself The Man]], [[TheManBehindTheMan The Administrator]] and [[barrierMaiden SCP-001-CAGE]] but doesn’t get a proper name.

* in [[Website/SCPFoundation SCP]][[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/tanhony-s-proposal-ii -001 (“The Black Moon”)]] when the [[Really700YearsOld The Administrator]] was a child he was known as The Boy, because there wasn’t enough people around for him to be confused with anyone. Later on he goes by [[ShapedLikeItself The Man]], [[TheManBehindTheMan The Administrator]] and [[barrierMaiden SCP-001-CAGE]] but doesn’t get a proper name.

'''Red beaked gargoyle[[labelnote:*]]Brooklyn[/labelnote]]:''' "Friend."

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', the gargoyles traditionally use no names among themselves; Goliath is only called this by the humans. When they arrive in New York the others finally decide to adopt names based on local landmarks and start using them amongst themselves. Most other clans in the world seem to pick up this habit over time as well, presumably because of close contact with humans. (And convenience, according to WordOfGod.) One of the New York clan is actively ''offended'' by the idea he needs a name, demanding to know if the sky or the river need them; when Eliza informs him the river is called the Hudson, he gives up and starts calling himself "Hudson" as well.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
** In ''Literature/MovingPictures'', Victor is on the beach talking to the animals that have been given sentience and language by Holy Wood. They don't have have names, and Victor inadvertently insults them when he says the mouse should be named Squeakers and the bunny, Thumper.

* In ''Literature/{{Stray}}''. Pufftail tells his grandson Kitchener that cats do not have names. Unlike humans, cats do not name things. Pufftail considers himself nameless, though everyone still calls him "Pufftail" nevertheless. This view is not universal amongst cats because his daughter Tabitha, who lives as a pet, considers it a point of pride and independence that her father refuses a name.

** ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'': Gaspode explains the same thing to Carrot when they "interrogate" a wolf for information on Angua's ''[[IncrediblyLamePun were]]''[[IncrediblyLamePun abouts]]. The book also features a wolf with a name, Gavin, who is an old friend of Angua. It's not so much his name as the name of somebody he ate, but it will do for human interactions.

--->'''Sovereign''': [[AC:In the end, what they chose to call us is irrelevant. We simply]] ''[[AC:are.]]''

* In ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'', the title character started out with no name and said she didn't see the point in having one when Yuji asked for her name, though some call her [[RedBaron Flame-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter]]. Yuji refused to accept this and started calling her Shana after her sword, Nietono no Shana. Shana eventually accepted it.
* A rival time-traveler from the future appears in the ninth ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' novel who actively shows disdain for even the existence of names, and prefers to not have one at all. But for the sake of reference, he suggests that the others call him Fujiwara. [[FirstPersonSmartass Kyon]] prefers to just call him The Sneering Bastard.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', the gargoyles traditionally use no names among themselves; Goliath is only called this by the humans. When they arrive in New York the others finally decide to adopt names based on local landmarks and start using them amongst themselves. Most other clans in the world seem to pick up this habit over time as well, presumably because of close contact with humans. (And convenience, according to WordOfGod.)

* [[ComicBook/{{Invasion}} The Dominators]] staunchly refuse to take individual names. ComicBook/WonderWoman ally Sakritt's decision to take one is just one of the many ways she rebels against the culture.

* By the 31st century Durlans do not traditionally take names and to adopt one like Reep Daggle/Chameleon of the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes is to functionally exile oneself from the Durlan community with the potential repercussion of execution should they decide to return. This was not always the case, originally those that forswore names were a fringe group of individuals whose genetics were so scrambled in the fallout from the Six-Minute War they lost a stable [[ShapeshifterDefaultForm default form]].

* By the 31st century Durlans do not traditionally take names and to adopt one like Reep Daggle/Chameleon of the ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} is to functionally exile oneself from the Durlan community with the potential repercussion of execution should they decide to return. This was not always the case, originally those that forswore names were a fringe group of individuals whose genetics were so scrambled in the fallout from the Six-Minute War they lost a stable [[ShapeshifterDefaultForm default form]].

* The Gorajo in ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' refer to each other only by their FantasticCasteSystem roles, and [[HumansThroughAlienEyes wonder if humans aren't confused]] having to remember so many individual names. The Exile in Ports takes a given name at the end of her individual story, as part of her adjustment to non-Gorajian society.