History Main / SelfAppliedNickname

* In ''Literature/{{Oreimo}}'', "Kuroneko" is this, wearing GothicLolita dresses, threatening people with curses, and [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible enjoying shows because they're hard to understand]]. It's a while before the audience even learns what her real name is.

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': In the toon "79 seconds left", Strong Bad announces that he wishes to be known as "The Leg" (pronounced like "Ledge", short for "The Legend") from now on. It doesn't catch on. This name is classic Strong Bad, a poorly-thought-out attempt to seem awesome with obvious flaws.

* In ''Anime/LoveLiveSunshine'', {{Chuunibyou}} Yoshiko Tsushima often embraces a made-up persona as a fallen angel, and insists that people call her "Yohane" (she usually corrects people if they ever call her Yoshiko).
** She even goes so far as to cross out her real name in her introduction and replace it as such.

* Okabe from ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate'' often refers to himself as Houoin Kyoma the MadScientist. He frequently insists the other characters call him Houoin when they call him by his real name, even making Kurisu cry in one instance because of this.
* In ''Anime/JoseeTheTigerAndTheFish'', Kumiko insists on being called Josee when Tsuneo decides to work as her caretaker. [[ShoutOut The name is taken from]] a character of Josee's favorite writer, Francoise Sagan.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''

* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Action'', Izzy decides she'll be called Kaleidoscope or E-Scope for short and [[InsistentTerminology insists]] everyone refer to her as such, even going so far as to not respond unless called by that name.
** Around the same time, Ezekiel starts referring to himself as "The Zeke".
* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', instead of wearing his usual news reporter attire, Toby Determined sports a punk rocker look during Weirdmageddon and insists on being referred to as "Bodacious T." Wendy instantly shoots down that notion, saying, "no one will ever call you that." [[spoiler: After the events of Weirdmageddon, news reporter Shandra Jimenez actually refers to Toby as Bodacious T. during a televised news report.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/LegoCityAdventures'': TotallyRadical Police Chief Wheeler is constantly trying to convince his officers to call him "Wheely." He even suggests someone name their daughter Wheely in his honor. They typically stick with "Chief," to his disappointment.

* Ugly Dog from ''WesternAnimation/{{Uglydolls}}'' insists the nickname of his musical side-persona is "Slick Dog", despite the fact he's the only one to call himself that.
-->'''Ugly Dog:''' Folks call me Ugly Dog...\\
'''Wage:''' Because that's his name.\\
'''Ugly Dog:''' ...But those close to me call me "Slick Dog"!\\
'''Wage:''' Which is ''not'' his name.

* In ''LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}'', "Kuroneko" is this, wearing GothicLolita dresses, threatening people with curses, and [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible enjoying shows because they're hard to understand]]. It's a while before the audience even learns what her real name is.

* In ''[[WebAnimation/TheChampions2018 The Champions]]'': Thomas Muller insists on being called Raumdeuter, which means Space Interpreter or Space Investigator.

* Waylon from ''WesternAnimation/CliffSide'' frequently refers to himself as Two-Bit Jerry in an effort to sound badass. The only person to call him by his given nickname is Cordie, who became his first and only admirer when he stood up for her against a pterodactyl.

When the nickname is badass sounding (i.e like a RedBaron), it's also a way of showing off his high ego. Youngst characters with {{Chuunibyou}} usually are subject of this trope, getting a better (nick)name than the real one made by themselves. See also DoNotCallMePaul when they insist on being called by the nickname. Also ThatManIsDead when they outright change their names.

[[folder:Film — Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie: When inviting himself on Peach and Mario's quest, Toad tells the former that he is Mario's best friend despite only knowing him for a short amount of time. Not only that, but in that time, he's unknowingly exasperated the plumber with his [[InnocentlyInsensitive inconsiderate behavior]]. All of which is why Mario doesn't exactly reciprocate the feelings.
-->'''Toad''': Hey, Mario!\\
'''Peach''': You know this guy?\\
'''Mario''': Uh-\\
'''Toad''': We're best friends!\\
'''Mario''': [unsure]...but are we?
[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'': Isabella Swan would much rather be called Bella. One of her reasons to dislike her move to Forks is having to start all over again telling people that.

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''. In his introductory scene when facing off with Korath, Peter Quill calls himself Star Lord, only to find no-one's heard of him. Later we find out that nobody else uses the name apart from him; Dey keeps calling him Star Prince or something similar. [[spoiler: It's actually in fact a nickname his mother used to call him.]] Fortunately Quill runs into Korath again who, only knowing Quill from their previous encounter, calls him Star Lord which pleases Quill immensely. The anger in the villain's tone as he snarls the name at the sight of him makes it all the better.

* At the end of ''Videogame/Yakuza0'', [[spoiler:Keiji Shibusawa]] reveals that he has a green dragon tattooed on his back and declares that his goal is to become [[spoiler:the "Dragon of Dojima"]]. Kiryu instead shoots back that a title that someone gives themselves is meaningless and the two agree that [[spoiler:[[ThereCanOnlyBeOne there can only be one true "Dragon"]]]].

* Waylon from ''WesternAnimation/CliffSide'' frequently refers to himself as Two-Bit Jerry in an effort to sound badass. The only person to call him by his given nickname is Cordie, who became his first and only admirer when he stood up for her against a [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs pterodactyl]].

* The eponymous ''Film/LadyBird'''s real name is Christine McPherson but insists people call her the former.

* In ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'', wannabe IntrepidReporter Mika Masuko insists on being referred to as "Masukomi-ka", but nobody else ever calls her that.

->'''Rhomann Dey:''' Peter Jason Quill. He's also known as Star-Lord.\\
'''Nova Corps Officer:''' Who calls him that?\\
'''Rhomann Dey:''' Himself, mostly.
-->-- ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''

* In ''Anime/JoseeTheTigerAndTheFish'', Kumiko insists on being called Josee when Tsuneo decides to work as her caretaker. {{ShoutOut The name is taken from}} a character of Josee's favorite writer, Francoise Sagan.

** Oliver has better luck getting people to stop calling him "[[InTheHood The Hood]]" in favor of "The Arrow". In this case he gives the new name to [[TheCommissionerGordon Quentin Lance]] and it apparently filters through the police (and later the media) from him. Villains he's already acquainted with from Season One still tend to refer to him as The Hood though.