History Sandbox / NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast

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People make a big deal out of names, and writers are no exception. Even if they eschew ThemeNaming and other NamingConventions they'll still use names they think are cool and dignified, powerful and appropriate, or sinister and fearsome. This is why there are inevitably certain Names To Run Away From Really Fast. For much the same reason it's unlikely [[AliceAndBob Bob]] will turn out to be the [[EvilMakeover outrageously stylish villain]] bent on absorbing the planet's [[TheLifestream life stream]] [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII t]][[VideoGame/LastScenario o]] [[AGodAmI ascend to godhood]],[[note]][[Webcomic/BobAndGeorge well...]][[/note]] and someone with a name like oh, say, Hannibal Murder von Uberbastard, probably won't be selling cookies for charity. If he does, [[{{Series/Hannibal}} don't eat the cookies]].

!!The following types of Names To Run From have their own trope pages:

* {{Alucard}} (Dracula spelled backwards)
* TheButcher
* NameOfCain
* DarknessVonGothickname
* DoomyDoomsOfDoom
* DrFakenstein
* TheGroup
* GunmanWithThreeNames
* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace
* LouisCypher (Lucifer)
* TheMaster
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate
* MyHeroZero
* OneBadMother
* RedBaron
* SpellMyNameWithAThe
* AVillainNamedKhan
* AVillainNamedZrg
* XMakesAnythingCool
* XtremeKoolLetterz

!!Examples:

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[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Anime/CControl'': The Midas Bank, named after a king who destroyed everything he cared for due to his own short-sighted, greedy wish. It should not be hard to guess the odds on a loan from ''them'' having unpleasant, unexpected outcomes.
* ''Manga/{{magico}}'': Shion's older brother's name is Myth/{{Faust}}. It really explains [[DealWithTheDevil everything you need to know about him]].
* ''Manga/ReikoTheZombieShop'': Roses Killmister. She's technically just a flunky, but she does her best to justify the trope.

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[[folder:Comic Books]]

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': The Deathwalker robots, made by mad South Korean scientists in the 50s. Steeljack dryly notes that even if they weren't lumbering, entirely black death-robots, the name would still be a hint as to what they're like.

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[[folder:Films]]

* ''Film/AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon'': "The Slaughtered Lamb," with a grisly picture of a severed wolf's head on the sign. Old British pubs do tend to have rather blunt names, though.
* ''Film/BladeTrilogy'': "Blade" is actually a real name, but here it's obviously being milked for sounding scary.

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[[folder:Literature]]

* ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'':
** Mr. Wonka's corrupt rivals are Prodnose, Ficklegruber, and Slugworth. Prodnose suggests someone who is prodding and nosy -- all three were this utilizing spies to steal recipies from the Wonka factory. The latter two have names that bring disgusting creatures to mind (grubs and slugs) and also have a K sound and a TH ending, respectively. (Also counts as MisterDescriptor.)
** The PunnyName of the Golden Ticket forger? Charlotte Russe (pronounced ''ruse''), which is also a Shady Name.
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
** {{Mordor}} the Black Land, for one, ruled by the the DarkLord Sauron, guarded by the Morannon, the Black Gate, and Minas Morgul, the Tower of Sorcery.
** Deliberately evoked by Tolkien when he designed Orcish and the Black Speech: he wanted everything (including names) to seem furious, discordant, and threatening.
** A more minor example: Grí­ma ''Wormtongue''. Appropriately, more creepy and insinuating then a direct threat.
** It might be just a coincidence, but Gil-galad is only one syllable away from [[Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh.]]

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[[folder:Live-Action TV]]

* ''Series/{{Bones}}'': Subverted with series protagonist Bones (she's a forensic anthropologist). Played straight with a variety of criminals; The Gormogon, Arthur Graves, the Master, and The Gravedigger.
* ''Series/GreysAnatomy'': The doctors have nicknamed the hospital "Seattle Grace Mercy Death" because of [[{{lampshading}} their awareness]] of one's inexplicably likely chances of dying or being seconds from death if you work there. Thankfully it doesn't extend to the patients, who actually have a pretty good survival rate because the (remaining) doctors are really good at saving lives. After the plane crash, Cristina curses it, and Alex refrains from asking a girl out with this excuse, completely seriously.
-->'''Alex:''' She works here at Seattle Grace Mercy Death. So I'm sure she's pretty much going to go crazy, or get cancer, or be shot by a gunman, or hit by a truck.
* ''Series/{{Grimm}}'': If you know German (and can get past the BlindIdiotTranslation pain/giggles), then names like Blutbad and Daemonfeuer are this in spades. (Means "Blood Bath" and "Demon Fire" respectively). Some of the other Wesen names are none too cuddly sounding as well.
* ''Series/{{Hex}}'': Azazeal and most of the Nephilim (Baraquel, Araquiel, Sariel, Ramiel). On the good side, Ella Dee, daughter of John Dee.

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[[folder:Tabletop Games]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Aberrant}}'':
** A lot of them exist, but Totentanz comes to mind most readily. Translated from German, his alias means "''The Dance of Death''". Fitting, considering he's a Nova mercenary with absolutely ''monstrous'' fighting abilities.
** Divis Mal means something along the lines of "Wicked God".

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[[folder:Video Games]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Action 52}}'': ''Satan'' Hosain, the apparent main antagonist of ''Storm over the Desert''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Awakening}}'': Dreadmyre. [[spoiler:It's a twist, though, in that the ''original'' Dreadmyre - Patrick Dreadmyre, the royal magician - was a really nice guy.]]

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[[folder:Webcomics]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Gaia}}'': Bhaal, a [[GodOfEvil Demon God]]. Seemingly subverted with Lili--her full name is ''Lilith'', but to all appearances she's the nicest person in the comic. [[spoiler: At least until we learn she's destined to destroy the world.]]

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[[folder:Western Animation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Epic}}'': Mandrake, which otherwise refers to a magical plant with human-shaped roots that emitted a deadly scream upon being picked and the leaves of which were poison.

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