# Instances where unnamed characters were named after all **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254 "2023-10-07T21:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/21 "2023-10-08T13:33:27Z")
It’s not a character name, but in “The Big Bang Theory” when Sheldon plays a prank on someone he always caps it with a “Bazinga!” It’s later revealed in “Young Sheldon” that “Bazinga!” was a brand name for line of practical joke props he saw on a display at a comic book store. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/22 "2023-10-08T13:57:53Z")
On the Discworld, we did eventually learn that the Librarian was named Horace Worblehat. Ook. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/23 "2023-10-08T14:24:21Z")
Then there’s this Kids in the Hall sketch. “Doing a little painting, huh?” “That’s right _Einstein_; what tipped you off?” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d-EgbhdcSKc/hqdefault.jpg "Einstein - Kids in the Hall") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-EgbhdcSKc) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/24 "2023-10-08T14:24:46Z")
Not sure if this qualifies. In **Memento** the character Teddy’s real name is revealed to be John Edward Gammell, meaning he is a “John G” and on the hit list. How about Dr Who’s River Song? Her original name of Melody Pond is hiding in plain sight. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/25 "2023-10-08T15:56:31Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Then there’s this Kids in the Hall sketch. Wow, I’ve _never_ seen that or it was just so brief I’d forgotten about it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/26 "2023-10-12T02:36:38Z")
In the long-running musical The Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom had no name. But in the (bad) novel the play and various movies of the same name are based on, which was published way back in 1923 (so I think “early on” counts), his name is Erik. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/27 "2023-10-12T02:57:31Z")
Frankenstein’s Monster was called Adam. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/28 "2023-10-12T03:03:24Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Like in _Kill Bill_, where Bill calls “The Bride” “Kiddo” and it turns out her name really is Kiddo. Or when Ted Lasso says to Coach (no first name) Beard “What chu talkin bout, Willis” and it turns out his name is actually Willis. Other examples? In the animated movie Sing, one character refers to his grandmother as “Nana”, and it’s only when you see some magazines with her picture (she was a famous actress) you realize that her name was actually “Nana” (Noodleman). ---
**Author:** ![Chelonaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chelonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chelonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/29 "2023-10-12T03:21:54Z")
In Neal Stephensons Cryptonomicon, Randy Waterhouse receives a strange email from the adress [root@eruditorium.org](mailto:root@eruditorium.org). He assumes this is from the sysadmin of the eruditorium server. He answers and inquires about this mysterious persons name. “I already told you my name, but perhaps you didn’t recognise it as a name” is the reply. Later it turns out the name of the email sender is Enoch Root. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/30 "2023-10-12T04:06:45Z")
The name of the Mother in _How I Met Your Mother_, Tracy, isn’t officially revealed until the end of the show. However it was actually subtly revealed much earlier when Ted meets a stripper with the same name and Future Ted shocks his kids by telling them, “and that’s how I met your mother!” ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/31 "2023-10-12T04:09:22Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > In the animated movie Sing, one character refers to his grandmother as “Nana” Oh damn, _Crazy Stupid Love_. The unseen character referred to as Nana was really Emma Stone’s character Hannah and “Nana” was revealed as her nickname. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/32 "2023-10-12T04:13:24Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > “The man with no name” actually had one. I think Manco is a nickname. His real name is Joe Blondie. > **[Man with No Name | Actual names or monikers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_with_No_Name#Actual_names_or_monikers)** > > In A Fistful of Dollars (1964), he is called "Joe" by the undertaker, Piripero, and Eastwood's role is credited as "Joe".\[citation needed\] > In For a Few Dollars More (1965), he is called "Manco" (Spanish for "one-armed"; in fact, in the original Italian-language version he is called "il Monco", a dialectal expression meaning "the One-armed one"), because he does everything left-handed, except for shooting.\[citation needed\] > In The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), Tuco calls him "Blondie" ("il B... ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/33 "2023-10-12T04:30:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Frankenstein’s Monster was called Adam. Is this in the book, or in any of the films? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/34 "2023-10-12T05:24:28Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > Is this in the book, or in any of the films? _Mary Shelley’s original novel never gives the monster a name, although when speaking to his creator, [Victor Frankenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Frankenstein), the monster does say “I ought to be thy [Adam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam)” (in reference to the first man created in the Bible)._… Within a decade of publication, the name of the creator—Frankenstein—was used to refer to the creature, but it did not become firmly established until much later. The story was adapted for the stage in 1927 by [Peggy Webling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Webling),[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein%27s_monster#cite_note-Hitchcock-5) and Webling’s Victor Frankenstein does give the creature his name. So Shelly hints at it, then the stage play confirmed it. Sorta. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/35 "2023-10-12T14:39:15Z")
[![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cwsr00VWIAAEyP3.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cwsr00VWIAAEyP3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/36 "2023-10-13T16:45:20Z")
Mrs. Howell’s name is actually supposed to be Lovee. I always assumed that was just Thurston’s pet name for her. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/37 "2023-10-14T21:22:46Z")
When did we learn “The Main in Black”'s real name in The Dark Towers series? Is his name Walter Padick or Randall Flagg? I don’t remember how that all worked out. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/38 "2023-10-15T08:42:16Z")
Very cool indeed, since in the UK “Shirley” was originally a boy’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/39 "2023-10-15T16:31:09Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is his name Walter Padick or Randall Flagg? I don’t remember how that all worked out. He goes by many names, but I believe he is a man of wealth and taste. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254/40 "2023-10-16T19:51:24Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > and he said his name was “Lieutenant” That reminds me of another Simpsons one. Boy-band producer LT Smash is revealed to be … Lt. Smash. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0WDi4tAqPkM/hqdefault.jpg "Simpsons Superliminal") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WDi4tAqPkM) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-unnamed-characters-were-named-after-all/991254.md?page=3)