# You know their name, but don't realize it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202 "2020-01-30T00:14:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/1 "2020-01-30T00:14:51Z")
Saw a movie recently where someone was called “kiddo” and it reminded me of Kill Bill. In part one, we know Uma Thurman’s character only as “The Bride.” Except in flashbacks, Bill calls her “kiddo”, which turns out to not be a term of endearment but her actual name. So can you think of other instances where the chacater’s name is hidden in plain view? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/2 "2020-01-30T13:38:12Z")
Lovey Howell from Gilligan’s Island. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/3 "2020-01-30T14:08:16Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Lovey Howell from Gilligan’s Island. That’s a good one. I didn’t realize that was her actual name until the internet came along. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/4 "2020-01-30T14:19:03Z")
Homer J. Simpson knew his middle initial but neither he nor the audience knew what it stood for until one episode revealed that he was, in fact, Homer Jay Simpson! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/5 "2020-01-30T14:30:59Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > Homer J. Simpson knew his middle initial but neither he nor the audience knew what it stood for until one episode revealed that he was, in fact, Homer Jay Simpson! Similarly, in the TV show _M.A.S.H._ B.J. Hunnicut’s real names were revealed to be “Bea Jay”. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/6 "2020-01-30T15:30:55Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > That’s a good one. I didn’t realize that was her actual name until the internet came along. Now you mention it, I don’t think I knew that until Cecil Adams mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/7 "2020-01-30T16:16:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Similarly, in the TV show _M.A.S.H._ B.J. Hunnicut’s real names were revealed to be “Bea Jay”. His real name was B.J. He was named _after_ his parents Bea and Jay. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/8 "2020-01-30T17:25:08Z")
Took me a couple of seasons before finding out _ATHF_’s Carl’s last name was Brutananandilewski. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/9 "2020-01-30T17:30:14Z")
I remember the flashback episode of Bonanza when Hoss was born. His mother Inga wanted to name him Eric after her father, and Ben wanted “Hoss” a mountain term for a nice, friendly person. Finally Ben said “We’ll name him both and see what name sticks.” Since his mother died soon after that in an Indian attack, Hoss it was. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/10 "2020-01-30T18:41:55Z")
Aside from Winston Smith, there is exactly one character in _Nineteen Eighty-Four_ whose full name is revealed to the reader - everyone else is referenced solely by surname or is the love interest, Julia. Tom Parsons, Winston’s vapid neighbor ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/11 "2020-01-30T18:52:25Z")
The narrator in _Fight Club_ is a perfect example. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/12 "2020-01-30T19:18:18Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Took me a couple of seasons before finding out _ATHF_’s Carl’s last name was Brutananandilewski. So some guy named Carl from something called ATHF. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/13 "2020-01-30T19:38:02Z")
The creator of Gilligan’s Island has said in interviews that her real name is Eunice “Lovey” Howell (née Wentworth). He also said Gilligan’s first name is Willie, so take it for what it’s worth. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![icantdraw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@icantdraw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icantdraw)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/14 "2020-01-30T20:19:25Z")
“A Friend” from the movie Disclosure. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/15 "2020-01-30T22:09:55Z")
> [@icantdraw](#): > > “A Friend” from the movie Disclosure. There was a character named “Afrend”? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/16 "2020-01-30T22:58:07Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > So some guy named Carl from something called ATHF. The only reason I know that refers to _Aqua Teen Hunger Force_ is that I looked it up to when someone referenced the poster **Frylock’s** username. I never watched the show, but I’m unclear how that fits the OP. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/17 "2020-01-30T23:48:01Z")
I haven’t been watching as much the last couple seasons, so I’m sure there have been some developments, or somebody will point out that my understanding is totally wrong but… Doctor Who. After decades of playing keep away about what his real name is they have lately been hinting, and edging ever closer to canonizing that not only did the word “Doctor” become kind of a universal language constant meaning helper/healer because of the work he has done throughout time/space, but it is actually his real name. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/18 "2020-01-30T23:53:56Z")
“Rain Man” turned out to be Raymond. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/19 "2020-01-31T00:18:00Z")
“And what did you find, Junior?” “Junior? Dad…” “Please: what does it always mean, this, this ‘Junior’?” “That’s his _name!_ Henry . . . Jones . . . Junior!” “I like ‘Indiana’.” _“We named the dog ‘Indiana’!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202/20 "2020-01-31T00:40:12Z")
Well, if we’re going to invoke comedy routines, there’s _Murder by Death_: Dora Charleston: What’s your name? Butler: Bensonmum. Dora Charleston: Thank you, Benson. Butler: No, no. Bensonmum- my name is Bensonmum. Dick Charleston: Bensonmum? Butler: Yes, sir. Jamessir Bensonmum. Dick Charleston: Jamessir? Butler: Yes, sir? Dick Charleston: Jamessir Bensonmum? Butler: (slightly annoyed) Yes, sir. Dick Charleston: How odd. Butler: My father’s name, sir. Dick Charleston: What was your father’s name? Butler: Howard. Howard Bensonmum. Dick Charleston: Your father’s name was Howard Bensonmum? Dora Charleston: Leave it alone Dickie, I’ve had enough. And _Airplane 2_: Witness : Striker was the squadron leader. He brought us in real low. But he couldn’t handle it. Prosecutor : Buddy couldn’t handle it? Was Buddy one of your crew? Witness : Right. Buddy was the bombardier. But it was Striker who couldn’t handle it, and he went to pieces. Prosecutor : _Andy_ went to pieces? Witness : No. Andy was the navigator. He was all right. Buddy went to pieces. It was awful how he came unglued. Prosecutor : _Howie_ came unglued? Witness : Oh, no. Howie was a rock, the best tailgunner in the outfit. Buddy came unglued. Prosecutor : And he bailed out? Witness : No. Andy hung tough. Buddy bailed out. How he survived, it was a miracle. Prosecutor : Then Howie survived? Witness : No, 'fraid not. We lost Howie the next day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-their-name-but-dont-realize-it/847202.md?page=2)