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.
On the Discworld, we did eventually learn that the Librarian was named Horace Worblehat.
Ook.
Then there’s this Kids in the Hall sketch.
“Doing a little painting, huh?”
“That’s right Einstein; what tipped you off?”
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.
Wow, I’ve never seen that or it was just so brief I’d forgotten about it. Thanks.
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.
Frankenstein’s Monster was called Adam.
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).
In Neal Stephensons Cryptonomicon, Randy Waterhouse receives a strange email from the adress 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.
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!”
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.
I think Manco is a nickname. His real name is Joe Blondie.
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, the monster does say “I ought to be thy 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,[5] and Webling’s Victor Frankenstein does give the creature his name.
So Shelly hints at it, then the stage play confirmed it. Sorta.
Mrs. Howell’s name is actually supposed to be Lovee. I always assumed that was just Thurston’s pet name for her.
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.
Very cool indeed, since in the UK “Shirley” was originally a boy’s name.
He goes by many names, but I believe he is a man of wealth and taste.
That reminds me of another Simpsons one. Boy-band producer LT Smash is revealed to be … Lt. Smash.
