# Well-known characters without actual names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286 "2008-11-24T18:02:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/21 "2008-11-24T18:45:31Z")
There’s the second Mrs. de Winter in _Rebecca_. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/22 "2008-11-24T18:46:50Z")
> [@A.I.Wintermute](#): > > Kyon Well, “Kyon” is a name, even if it’s a nickname, though it’s true that you never find out what the narrator’s real name is in **The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya**. But he has a younger sister, who only gets referred to as “Kyon no Imoto” (literally, Kyon’s younger sister), so she has even less of a real name. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/23 "2008-11-24T18:55:40Z")
Frankenstein’s monster. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/24 "2008-11-24T19:01:50Z")
Marilyn Monroe’s character in _The Seven Year Itch._ 10 out of _Twelve Angry Men_ _The Virginian_ ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/25 "2008-11-24T19:03:21Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > ETA: And “Preacher” from High Plains Drifter. The name of “The Preacher” in “Pale Rider” is never revealed. But the protagonist of “High Plains Drifter” pretty much reveals his identity to the little guy painting the name on the grave of “Marshall Jim Duncan” at the end of the movie (although the credits refer to him as ‘The Drifter’). Totally understandable mistake: they’re very similar characters and plots. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/26 "2008-11-24T19:06:56Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > I don’t think the protagonist in “Fight Club” was ever given a name. Unless his name actually WAS Tyler Durden. I believe the credits call him “the narrator”, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/27 "2008-11-24T19:07:03Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > The name of “The Preacher” in “Pale Rider” is never revealed. But the protagonist of “High Plains Drifter” pretty much reveals his identity to the little guy painting the name on the grave of “Marshall Jim Duncan” at the end of the movie. Totally understandable mistake: they’re very similar characters and plots. Damn, sorry. I \*knew \*I should have looked it up. I really like that movie, but I was just drawing a blank on it when I posted. I thought I finally picked the right one. Brain cramp. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/28 "2008-11-24T19:10:47Z")
In the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, the little mermaid had no name. Or at least, none was mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/29 "2008-11-24T19:12:00Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > There’s the second Mrs. de Winter in _Rebecca_. Darn you… This was on my mind because we recently got a new puppy, and our queen bee cat has been hovering about glaring at her from the shadows like Mrs. Danvers… ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/30 "2008-11-24T19:12:22Z")
Oddly enough, the only one who springs to mind is the Man in the Yellow Hat. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/31 "2008-11-24T19:15:45Z")
The gunfighter played by Charles Bronson in “Once Upon a Time in the West” was never given any name but “Harmonica.” ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/32 "2008-11-24T19:15:51Z")
Janitor in _Scrubs_. Unless his name really is Dr Jan Itor. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/33 "2008-11-24T19:17:16Z")
Come to think of it, none of the three little pigs had names either. Presumably, neither did that wolf fella. For that matter, some major characters in Disney’s _Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs_ were left unnamed – the queen, the prince, and the huntsman. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/34 "2008-11-24T19:26:49Z")
_Reservoir Dogs_ - Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown, Mr. Orange, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/35 "2008-11-24T19:28:14Z")
The “mousy agoraphobic Broadway fanatic” who narrates the musical [The Drowsy Chaperone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drowsy_Chaperone) is known only as Man In Chair. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/36 "2008-11-24T19:28:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Crazy Cat Lady In the 18th season, an episode titled “Springfield Up” gave the back-story for this character, and identified her as Eleanor Abernathy. ---
**Author:** ![DoubleJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DoubleJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleJ)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/37 "2008-11-24T19:31:41Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Well, “Kyon” is a name, even if it’s a nickname, though it’s true that you never find out what the narrator’s real name is in **The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya**. But he has a younger sister, who only gets referred to as “Kyon no Imoto” (literally, Kyon’s younger sister), so she has even less of a real name. Thanks for telling me who the heck that was. I think a few of these characters may fail the “random guy on the street has heard of them” test. But if manga is acceptable, I submit Hokuto’s Henchman from Cromartie High School. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/38 "2008-11-24T19:33:27Z")
In _Sandman_, Dream has an actual name (Morpheus), and his successor has a name (Daniel), but the other Endless are known only by their titles. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/39 "2008-11-24T19:37:58Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Did the Tolkiens ever name the “9 Kings of Men” anywhere in the Silmarillion or the auxilary works or somewhere? Just Khamûl. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/40 "2008-11-24T19:38:39Z")
The two leads in one of my favorite movies, “Once” aren’t named. They are identified as Guy and Girl in the credits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286.md?page=3)