Discussion Main / MeaningfulRename

Would this trope count for switching between First-Name Basis and Last-Name Basis, it's not an active rename but it does demonstrate a change in the relationships between characters or the way a character is treated by the narrative.

For example in the Cold Cold Hear DLC of Batman: Arkham Origins Batman starts off referring to Victor Fries as Fries or Freeze, and Feris Boyle as Feris, but after learning the truth about Freeze's origin he switches to Victor and Boyle, showing that he now views Victor sympathetically while holding Boyle in contempt for his actions.

Another example is the Novelisation of Iron Man which refers to Tony Stark as Stark initially before switching to Tony when he escapes Afghanistan, demonstrating that Tony has been significantly changed by his experience.

If this doesn't count as a meaningful rename then does anyone know what trope it does count as, if any. If it doesn't we should probably make one.

Quite a few examples cover the "rename" part without explaining anything "meaningful" about it.

Bobby Moore changed his name to Ahmad Rashad? I'm assuming that was after winning the World Cup?

EDIT - got it now - American Football player called Robert Moore who changed his name. Not the footballer called Bobby Moore who lifted the World Cup for England. We'd have noticed if he took an Asian name and converted to Muslim!

Article disambiguated.

What if the new name had the same meaning as the original, but just happened to be less sucky?