# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/141 "2008-11-27T14:13:05Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Several characters from _Catch-22_ spring to mind for me, namely Major ----- I may have got the wrong character, but are you referring to Major Major Major Major - the first instance being his rank, and the other three being his first, middle and last names? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/142 "2008-11-27T14:44:19Z")
Maybe not so well-known today, but the 1971 film _Two Lane Blacktop_, with James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, didn’t assign names to any character. Even lead characters were simply known as “The Driver,” “The Girl,” “The Mechanic,” and so on. The closest anybody gets to being given a name is “GTO,” but that’s only because he’s another driver, who as you might guess, drives a Pontiac GTO. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/143 "2008-11-27T15:07:50Z")
The Phantom of the Opera. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/144 "2008-11-28T14:53:18Z")
> [@audit1](#): > > The Deaf Man from Ed Mcbain’s 87th Precinct novels In 1984 McBain’s alter ego Evan Hunter published a novel called “Buddwing” about a man who wakes up in NYC with no memory. The last chapter has him remembering his whole life, and ends with something like “I know my name.” But the guy’s name is never actually given. A very strange, wonderful read. ---
**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 28, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/145 "2008-11-28T16:24:15Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The Phantom of the Opera. His name was Erik. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/146 "2008-11-28T16:39:13Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > His name was Erik. Missed it by 10 minutes. (I recently reread the novel, quite a bit darker then then show or movie) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/147 "2008-11-28T17:10:36Z")
My Bad. I thought “Erik” was an invention of screen and stage writers and was not in the original book. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/148 "2008-11-28T17:16:41Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > My Bad. I thought “Erik” was an invention of screen and stage writers and was not in the original book. Erik was probably not his birth name, we’re not told if he was even given a name by his mother. One that would qualify from Phantom (the novel) is the Persian. He is a police chief that followed Erik from Persia to Paris. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/149 "2008-11-28T17:31:56Z")
[John Doe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe_(TV_series)) from the TV series “John Doe” which starred a pre-Prison Break Dominic Purcell. “John Doe” was later used as an episode title on Prison Break. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/150 "2008-11-28T23:56:52Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > I came in to mention Potiphar’s wife and Lot’s wife. Although identified only by these spousal designations in the Bible, these and other characters are [named in such sources as](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_names_for_the_Biblical_nameless) Middrash, the [_Book of Jasher_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jasher), and the _Sefer Hayyashar_. > > Many people who know the Magi as Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior are unaware that these names are not appended to the Wise Men in the pages of the New Testament. True - nor, indeed, are there stated to be three of them. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/151 "2008-11-29T00:27:15Z")
The Haitian. Or is he not well-known enough? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/152 "2008-11-29T01:40:59Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And M too. How did I forget M. :smack: M’s name- explicitly mentioned several times in the Ian Fleming novels- is Sir Miles Messervy. Interestingly, it’s implied in the recent version of _Casino Royale_ that the Judi Dench “M” character also has a name that begins with M. Q is also referred to in both the novels and the movie _Dr. No_ as being “Major Boothroyd”, so I don’t think he counts either. The Doom Guy is given a name in the novels- Flynn Taggart. I don’t know if these are considered “Canon” or not, though, so for all intents and purposes I guess he is nameless. ---
**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 29, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/153 "2008-11-29T01:57:24Z")
As specified in the OP it’s characters whose names are not very well known. The OP lists comic book guy, who does in fact have a name, but fairly obscure. Likewise, most people would know who Q and M are. Not many would know who Gyles Boothroyd or Miles Messervy are. They count. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/154 "2008-11-29T02:10:08Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > As specified in the OP it’s characters whose names are not very well known. The OP lists comic book guy, who does in fact have a name, but fairly obscure. Likewise, most people would know who Q and M are. Not many would know who Gyles Boothroyd or Miles Messervy are. They count. I got the impression that The Comic Book Guy counted because they came up with a name for him something like 16 years after he first appeared in the show. M and Q were given names straight off the bat and I think they’re reasonably well known- not as well known as the “Q” and “M” monikers, but I don’t think they’re really obscure enough to qualify for the OP either, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/155 "2008-11-29T13:21:36Z")
In the comic strip “Calvin & Hobbs” Calvin’s parents have no names. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/156 "2008-11-29T13:43:44Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > ‘The Youth’ from _Red Badge of Courage._ My back shuddered every time he was referred to…that was a long book. I haven’t read it since high school… but wasn’t his name given as Henry Fleming? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/157 "2008-11-29T14:40:44Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > _Reservoir Dogs_ - Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown, Mr. Orange, etc. Mr. Blonde’s name is Vic Vega, and Mr. White’s first name is Larry. I can’t remember if Orange is given a first name or not, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he reintroduces himself to the cop in the chair. ---
**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 29, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/158 "2008-11-29T15:45:02Z")
Mr Orange was Freddie. It was said a number of times. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/159 "2008-11-29T16:03:03Z")
The man in the brown macintosh? (James Joyce’ _Ulysses_.) ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286/160 "2008-11-29T21:20:22Z")
In _Keeping up Appearances_, Hyacinth and Richard Bucket are about the only characters with full names: Daisy, Rose, Onslow, Violet, and Bruce have no last names. Emmett has a last name, Hawksworth, that’s mentioned only once the whole series. Emmett’s sister Liz, whose last name wouldn’t be Hawksworth because she’s married to an unseen husband working “abroad”, has no last name. The Vicar and the Vicar’s wife have no names. Hyacinth’s father is merely Daddy. Hyacinth and Richard’s son, Sheridan, has a roommate known only as Tarquin. Neither is ever seen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-characters-without-actual-names/474286.md?page=9)