History Main / AwesomeMcCoolname

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[[caption-width-right:350:[[IronicName It'll become ironic when he's in jail.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[IronicName Even more awesome when he's in jail.]]]]

The opposite of UnfortunateNames and AtrociousAlias, while SpecialPersonNormalName lies in between these two.

The story is set in a modern-day city, where everyone inexplicably has "cool" names. There's no one named Bill, Todd, or John. It's all "Anubis", "Scar", "Bullet", "Diamond", etc. Even better if these aren't [[TheMagnificent nicknames]], but their ''actual'' given names. It can double up as a MeaningfulName.

[[caption-width-right:350:Epic. [[IronicName Even more epic when he's in jail.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Epic. [[{{Irony}} Even more epic when he's in jail.]]]]

* AwesomeMcCoolname/RealLife

The opposite of UnfortunateNames and FailOSuckyname, while SpecialPersonNormalName lies in between these two.

[[caption-width-right:350:Epic. [[{{Irony}}Even more epic when he's in jail.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Epic. Even more epic when he's in jail.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Epic.]]

[[/index]]

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!!Examples:
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* AwesomeMcCoolname/Theater

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Advertising ]]
* A Fed-Ex ad features a WitnessProtection man who is given the name Eric Gustafson. Unfortunately he gets it taken away and becomes Paul Matheson
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]

* Dizzy Cordova of ''ComicBook/OneHundredBullets'', with her true first name being Isabel. Also most of the rest of the Minutemen, with {{Meaningful Name}}s or {{Punny Name}}s like Jack Daw, Victor Ray, Cole Burns, and Lono, named after a Hawaian god.
* ''ComicBook/FallOutToyWorks'' has a character who changes her name to Gravity Welles.
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}''.
** Tintin means something along the lines of "nothing at all." It's apparently his last name.
*** "Tintin" sounds like a lot of French nicknames which take a syllable from a name and reduplicate it, such as ''Fifi'' (for Sophie, Yvonne, Josephine), ''Popaul'' (Paul) (''Bébel'' (Jean-Paul Belmondo) once played the titular hero of the film ''Dr. Popaul''), ''Didi'' and ''Gogo'' ([[Theatre/WaitingForGodot Vladimir and Estragon]]). ''Tintin'' could be derived from ''Célestin'', ''Constatin'' or ''Martin'', good Catholic names for the hero of a series created for a Catholic newspaper. The first serial hero Hergé created was the boy-scout ''Totor''.
** In French: Professeur Tournesol (Sunflower) translated as Calculus in English. Capitaine Haddock (like the fish), Bianca Castafiore, which in Italian means White Chasteflower, in ''Secret de la Licorne'' (''The Secret of the Unicorn'') the Loiseau brothers (Meaning Thebird brothers (just "Bird brothers" in the translation). {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d when they are identified by a man they shot pointing at birds). In ''Vol 714 pour Sydney'' (''Flight 714'') Laszlo Carreidas translates as Laszlo Four Aces (as in a poker game). Also in ''Flight 714'', first appearing in ''Coke en Stock'' (''The Red Sea Sharks''), is the pilot Szut. "Zut" is a very mild French expletive. Lampshaded when Captain Haddock thinks the man is cursing when asked his name. There are quite a few more, making Hergé a master of this trope.
* In ''Hopeless Savages'', the main character is called Skank Zero Hopeless-Savage. Her siblings' names are Rat Bastard, Arsenal Fierce and Twitch Strummer, all Hopeless-Savages. The reason being that their parents are punk musicians.
* Dr [=McLargehuge=] in ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'', a ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' ShoutOut. He also makes a brief appearance in ''[[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes City of Villains]]''.
* Weasel, best friend of SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}, just happens to be named Jack Hammer. [[SmugSnake Not that he]] [[ButtMonkey lives up to the name]].
* [[SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom Victor von Doom]] along with [[{{Marvel 1602}} Count Otto von Doom]].
* SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor is a fairly badass name as well. 'Lex' is Latin for law, and 'luthor' is a Middle English word meaning evil. So his name means '[[LawfulEvil evil law]]'.
** Lionel Luthor. Like Father, Like Son.
* MarshalLaw may not be his real name, but it ''is'' the baddest name alive.
* Astra Furst, first child of ''ComicBook/AstroCity''. When she runs away and tries to fit in with normal children she picks the name Creator/{{Astrid|Lindgren}}, which shouldn't really make things better.
* {{Zatanna}} Zatara of the DC Comics magic brigade.
* Comicbook/NickFury
* ''ComicBook/{{Casanova}}'': Casanova Quinn
* Detectives Walker and Pilgrim of ''Comicbook/{{Powers}}''.
* ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'': Jesse Custer, by God.
* Also in that vein, John Constantine from ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}''. Although the character himself may actually have been partly responsible for making his name take on such mythical proportions.
* ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'s Christian name is Hellboy, although the name given to him before his birth is ''Ahnung Un Rama''. Abe Sapien also qualifies.
* Comicbook/AtomicRobo interviews an Action Scientist candidate named Rex Cannon. There's also "Baron Heinrich von Helsingard" and Vanadis Valkyrie.
** As it happens, Doctor Atomic Robo ''Tesla'' isn't half-bad either.
* In ''Comicbook/PollyAndThePirates'', one of Polly's friends (who hails from [[{{Ruritania}} Fake Netherlands]]) has the amazingly awesome name Anastasia "Stasia" Van Vervendander.
* Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
* ''Comicstrip/{{Peanuts}}'': Joe Cool, anyone?
** Lampshaded in [[http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1997/07/19 this comic]]. Well... sort of, anyway.
* ''Comicbook/NewGods'': Mister Miracle, also known as... [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Scott Free]]. Justified in that Granny Goodness named him that deliberately to mock him, growing up as a prisoner in her nightmarish "orphanage."
* ComicBook/JonahHex
* Comicbook/GreenArrow's real name is Oliver Queen. A swashbuckler's name if ever I've heard one.
* The most famous Franchise/GreenLantern is a test pilot named Hal Jordan - that name screams "badass test pilot," and just sounds chill, bro.
* ''{{Etrigan}}'': Jason Blood
* ''Comicbook/ScottPilgrim'': Knives Chau. "Who names their kids Knives?!" Most of the Scott Pilgrim characters also qualify, including Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, [[AlliterativeName Gideon Gordon Graves]], and Envy Adams, though that's not her real first name (it's derived from [[StephenUlyssesPerhero Natalie V]]).
* The ''writers'' of comics, considering that Marv Wolfman exists.
* ''Comicbook/{{Transmetropolitan}}'': Spider Jerusalem.
* In ''{{Echo}}'', one of the main characters is Ivy Raven, [[ActionGirl secret agent extraordinaire]].
* The ComicBook/{{X-Men}} universe is full of them. Let's start with Noriko Ashida, [[Comicbook/{{Dazzler}} Alison Blaire]], Raven Darkholme, Cessily Kincaid, [[Comicbook/{{Gambit}} Remy LeBeau]], Jubilation Lee, Cain Marko, John Proudstar, Quentin Quire, Julio Esteban Richter, and Monet Yvette Clarisse Maria Therese St. Croix.
* Slade Deathstroke the Terminator. ''Comicbook/{{Deathstroke}}''. His actual name is Slade Wilson. Deathstroke the Terminator is his ''nom de guerre''. In''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', he just went by "Slade".
* Power Man was born Carl Lucas, but promptly changed his name to {{Luke Cage|HeroForHire}}. These days he goes by Luke Cage because frankly that's just as bad-ass as "Power Man." ([[Creator/NicolasCage Nicolas Coppola]] agreed that "Cage" was way better.)
* Pick a male Wolfrider from ''Comicbook/ElfQuest''; two out of three have names like Bearclaw, Strongbow, One Eye, Mantricker, Redlance, and so on.
* ''ComicBook/KingCity'': Max's full name is ''Maximum Absolute''. Appropriately for such a manly name, he was a dual-{{chains|awGood}}word-wielding [[NotUsingTheZWord xombie]] slayer in his previous career.
* ''[[ComicBook/TwoThousandAD 2000 AD]]'' has plenty of examples:
** [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Joseph Dredd]]. Justified in-universe: Dredd is a clone of Fargo, the founder of the Judges, and the name was specifically chosen to inspire... well, dread. Other examples include Sidney D'Eath AKA Judge Death, Judge Kraken [[TheSimpingDetective Jack Point]].
*** Lampshaded with the latter: "What's the point?" "Comes right after the Jack."
** [[Comicbook/StrontiumDog Johnny Alpha and Wulf Sternhammer]].
** All the ''Comicbook/ABCWarriors'': Hammerstein, Joe Pineapples, Happy Shrapnel, Deadlock...
** [[TheBalladOfHaloJones Halo Jones]].
** ComicBook/{{Slaine}}
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* According to many MarySue and MartyStu sporkers, this is the easiest way to spot such types of characters in {{Fanfic}}s.
** One obvious example is Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way from ''Fanfic/MyImmortal''. (Note the [[PunctuationShaker gratuitous apostrophe]], and that "Dementia" is quite a lovely-sounding name so long as you ignore what the word means.)
*** ... which is why the name was used for a gag at the end of ''[[Film/TheAddamsFamily Addams Family Values]]''.
*** Who will always be lovingly referred to as [[RougeAnglesOfSatin Enoby]] by fans and haters alike.
** And then, you've got {{Mary Sue}}s with names like "Chihuatlan Razortalon." Sure, "Razortalon" fits the model...but "Chihuatlan" [[{{Narm}} invokes small yappy lapdogs]] rather than the exoticism for which the author was no doubt shooting.
* In ''Fanfic/TheMadScientistWars'' we have the Tinker family, who '''all''' have this. For instance Andrew Omega-Particle prince Risk Tinker, or his son Frederic Zeta Risk Raize Tinker. This goes back pretty far- for instance, Grandpa '''Florian Blitz Viktor'''.
* A character in numerous fanfics on the Phineas and Ferb Fanon Wiki is named Goldfish Darkskull.
* All the ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' characters have ridiculously cool names. In the FanFic/ElementalChessTrilogy fanfic series, Riza Hawkeye gets an extra one. After she marries Roy Mustang, the men of their unit feel awkward calling her ''Hawkeye'', but they also can't call her ''Mustang'', so they refer to her by the affectionate nickname "Ladyhawk."
* ''Fanfic/{{Deserving}}'' has a character called Sin. The author apparently intended it to be a FailOSuckyname bestowed on the child by a father who hated him and his mother, and [[GiverOfLameNames calling him that]] is [[FelonyMisdemeanor allegedly]] a crossing of the MoralEventHorizon, but, well, ''[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Sin]]''.
* In ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'', we have the elf As'taris Farbound.
** Who is promptly nicknamed by the four “Ass,” “Asshole,” Santa's Ass,” and “Jeez-Ass” (after he gets resurrected).
* ''Fanfic/TheDilgarWar'' has captain Manly Power. At first the crew of the ''Space Race'' can't believe it, then they verify it and realize his crew has to call him Captain Power, and declare it the coolest name ever.
* In ''Fanfic/EbonyDarknessDementiaRavenWayVsCanon'', everyone in the [[MarySueHunter Mary Sue Extermination Association]] has a cool name--the most obvious being October Maynard and Aphrodite Adams.
* Lightning Bolt and Thunder Flicker in ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar''.
* ADMIRAL Awesome Yonasomun Armageddon in Fanfic/TwilightSparklesAwesomeAdventure.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* In ''Literature/LoneWolf'', all the Kai have names along the lines of "Adjective Animal", given upon their initiation. Many of them follow this trope. For instance, the main character started out as "Silent Wolf", but after the rest of the order was killed in the prologue to the first book, he took on the book-naming appellation ''Lone'' Wolf.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* [[Music/DaftPunk Guillaume Emmanuel de Homem-Christo]]
* Music/LupeFiasco's character Michael Young History, who then becomes The Cool.
* Englebert Humperdinck.
* [[Music/DoctorSteel Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel]].
* The stage names of {{steampunk}} band The Extraordinary Contraptions: Aelus von Stadberg, Dimitri von Stadberg, Sephora Bostwick, and Corbin Welch. (Their real names are Alex Stadler, David Tyberg, Sharon Burdick, and Kevin Guthrie, respectively).
* [[Music/TheMarsVolta Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez]].
* Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, the {{Stage Name|s}} of a former Misfits guitarist.
* Edward [[Creator/LudwigVanBeethoven Lodewijk]] Music/VanHalen, and his son (and current Van Halen bassist), Creator/{{Wolfgang|AmadeusMozart}} William Van Halen.
* The song "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" gives us Virgil Caine.
* Music/GreenDay's drummer has either his real name (Frank Edwin Wright III) or his stage name (Tré Cool).
** Billie Joe Armstrong (an example itself) named his youngest son Jakob Danger Armstrong.
* Peter Steele of Music/TypeONegative. His real name was Petrus Ratajczyk, thanks to his Polish heritage. It's a pretty cool name, although the surname appears hard to pronounce at first.
* Nikki Sixx, and Mick Mars from Music/MotleyCrue. Sixx's birth name is Frank Ferrana, which would still be an awesome name for a rock star.
* Hellhammer, the drummer of the black metal band Mayhem. His real name is Jan Axel Blomberg.
* Inverted by Music/{{Eminem}}'s real name, Marshall Mathers.
* Played straight by Music/MarilynManson and inverted by his real name, Brian Warner.
** Due to the above stage name's origins, Music/{{Garbage}}'s Shirley Manson double subverts this trope.
*** Her bandmembers might fit too - Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig.
* Britt Daniel, singer for indie rock band Spoon, records solo under the name Drake Tungsten
* Progressive rock band The Dear Hunter's singer goes by the rather awesome name of Casey Crescenzo.
* Two words: [[Music/FooFighters Dave]] [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Grohl]].
* The vocalist for Music/ESPosthumus' ''Cartographer'' is Luna Sans, which can be translated as "without moon".
* The song "Jimmy Recard". The whole premise is how much cooler his life would be if he just had a cooler name than Paul.
* Hip-hop artist Taio Cruz. WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows agrees.
* Music/{{Motorhead}}'s Ian Fraser Kilmister. So badass [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] simply labels his page "Lemmy".
* [[http://www.unknownhinson.com Unknown Hinson]]
* [[MesopotamianMythology Nergal]], [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Inferno]], [[ClassicalMythology Orion]], and [[Literature/TheBible Seth]] from Music/{{Behemoth}}
* Singer/songwriter Eagle-Eye Cherry. That is in fact his birth name: He got it because when he was a baby, he looked at his father for the first time with only one eye open. The name can cause a sort of inversion of IAmNotShazam, since "Eagle-Eye Cherry" just ''sounds'' more like a band name than it does a solo artist.
* Heavy metal guitarist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Mann-Dude Guy Mann-Dude]]. Apparently it's ''not'' a stage name.
* Voltaire [[Music/{{Voltaire}} (the singer, not the philosopher)]] takes his stage name from his given middle name. His full name is actually Aurelio Voltaire Hernández.
* The saxophonist who played the iconic solo in Gerry Rafferty’s "Baker Street" is named Raphael Ravenscroft.
* Can a pair of names count? Here's the interesting duet of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvsrndRrTgk Church and Winehouse]].
* Up and coming rapper Theophilus London.
* The song "The Legend of Finn [=MacCumhail=]" by the Dropkick Murphys...which is also known by the name "The Legend of Finn [=MacCool=]".
* The lead vocalist of Welsh rock band Super Furry Animals is called Gruff Rhys.
* [[LoveItOrHateIt Highly divisive]] singer Music/LanaDelRey has this in spades. Just say it: "Lana Del Rey." Doesn't that feel good?
** Her birth name, though, is rather average: [[SpecialPersonNormalName Elizabeth Grant]]. One can kinda see why she changed it, especially with her EmbarrassingMiddleName of Woolridge.
** Not particularly cool when you realise [[BilingualBonus that it is Spanish for]] the wool of the king.
* John Rich of CountryMusic duo Big & Rich has two sons: Cash and Colt. That's right, Cash Rich.
* Country music band Diamond Rio, named after models of truck.
* [[Creator/WolfgangAmadeusMozart Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart]]. "Joannes Chrysostomus" is for the saint's day he was born on. "Wolfgang" was his grandfather's name. "Theophilus" means "beloved of God." Mozart is a family name which originates from the root words "motz" and "hart," which mean [[DumbMuscle "stupid" and "tough."]]
* Music/DierksBentley is a pretty cool name too. That's his birth name, even.
* The Hives as a whole. Nicholaus Arson, Dr. Matt Destruction, Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, Vigilante Carlstroem, and Chris Dangerous. ''Oh Hell yeah.''
** Though those are StageNames, the true ones aren't that far: [[BandOfRelatives Niklas Almqvist, Per Almqvist]], Mikael Karlsson, Mattias Bernvall and Christian Grahn.
* [[Music/{{Queen}} Freddie Mercury]], a {{Stage Name|s}} for the fairly too weird Farrokh Bulsara.
** Queen's bassist John Deacon, as well (which is his real name).
* [[Music/{{Sepultura}} Max Cavalera]]. His brother and bandmate Igor Graziano Cavalera too.
* Being musical {{Superhero}}es, every member of Music/TheAquabats has one. Standouts include current guitarist Eaglebones Falconhawk and his predecessor, Chainsaw, the Prince of Karate.
* Alisa Xayalith, lead singer of UsefulNotes/NewZealand SynthPop revival band [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_And_Famous The Naked & Famous]]. Though it sounds suitably [=synth-poppish=], the name is actually of Laotian origin.
* Nick ''Phoenix'' of Music/TwoStepsFromHell. An epic name for an epic music company.
* Chad '''Gaylord''' Smith, drummer for the Music/RedHotChiliPeppers. As stated by the man himself: "I am lord of the gays, so don't fuck with me."
** Chad doesn't actually have a middle name, he joked that it was 'Gaylord' in an interview once, but as he is a good sport he goes along with the joke when people bring it up.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/user/DeStorm DeStorm Power]]. ''Not'' a stage name.
* Vampire Weekend's guitarist Rostam '''Batman'''glij. Holy shit!
* Music/FiveFingerDeathPunch's rhythm guitarist is named Zoltan Bathory. Bonus points for being his real name.
* Trent Reznor of Music/NineInchNails, whose name sounds metallic.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a hero of CelticMythology, whose name is pronounced "Finn [=McCool=]."
* Cu Chulainn is an Irish hero whose name means "the Hound of Culann." This name was given to him when he ripped apart the blacksmith's (Culann) guard dog with his bare hands as a young boy. As a punishment he offered to take its place until a successor could be reared.
* OlderThanFeudalism from Jewish mythology:
** The angel known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metatron Metatron]]!
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samael Samael]], whose name means "Poison of God". Fittingly, he's one of the Angels of Death, and, depending on the sources, either the Devil or a [[DontFearTheReaper really cool guy]] who loves to [[SmartPeoplePlayChess talk with wise men while playing chess]].
** Jacob, one of the Hebrew patriarchs, was [[MeaningfulRename renamed]] ''by God Himself'' as "Yisrael" (anglicized to ''Israel'') meaning ''wrestles with God'', after Jacob [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome fought with an angel and won]]. The angel only defeated Jacob by [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem wounding Jacob]] [[GroinAttack in the inner thigh]]. [[note]]He "pinched" the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciatic_nerve sciatic nerve]], which in Hebrew is called the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gid_hanasheh gid hanasheh]]'', and which observant Jews do not eat to this day, in memory of Jacob's injury. Since the nerve must be extracted by hand, it's usually cheaper to just sell the hindquarters of a slaughtered kosher animal to a non-kosher (often halal) butcher, so Hebrew National advertises how it has no "butts" in its hot dogs, and it's nigh-impossible to find kosher filet mignon outside of Israel. The rule applies to hoofed mammals only; poultry are exempt.[[/note]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* Radio/TrueCapitalist Radio gives us Ghost.
* Public radio's Radio/CarTalk took a shining to a listener named Arup Gupta who wrote a letter to them back in the 1990's. His name has become a benchmark for other cool names encountered on the show.
* BigFinishDoctorWho story ''The Shadow Heart'' gave us an 'impossibly glamorous' bounty hunter called Vienna Salvatori. The Doctor remarked that he would never forget someone with a name like that.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* A lot of {{N|onPlayerCharacter}}PCs in the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'' have unconventional names. Most of them have some reason for it; [[TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem vampires]] and [[TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost changelings]] try to divorce themselves from their old mortal identities, [[TabletopGame/PrometheanTheCreated Prometheans]] never ''had'' mortal identities in the first place and often just grab what sounds fitting, TabletopGame/{{werewol|fTheForsaken}}ves often take "deed names" to reflect great acts, and TabletopGame/{{mage|TheAwakening}}s take "shadow names" to [[IKnowYourTrueName keep others from using their true names against them]]. And [[TabletopGame/GeistTheSinEaters Sin-Eaters]]? They're [[RuleOfCool just that awesome]].
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Scion}}'', another RPG by our friends at WhiteWolf, you play as the child of a God -- Hera, Loki, etc. For whatever reason, example characters have this odd tendency towards weird, unlikely names referencing their divine parent, even from a slant -- such as Horace Farrow, son of... Horus.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' gives us such varied names as Harmonious Jade, Seven Devils Clever, Excessively Righteous Blossom, Chejop Kejak, Tammiz Ushun, Ma-Ha-Suchi, Lilith, The Lover Clad In The Raiment Of Tears, The Bodhisattva Anointed By Dark Water, the Bull of the North... It's justified, though, in that the main characters and most of their opponents ''are'' legendary figures who are practically expected to have a mythic reputation.
** ''Shards of the Exalted Dream'', in the [[RecycledInSpace Heaven's Reach]] setting, mentions the Lunar emperor Heaven's Son, the reshaper of the cosmos named Immaculate Golden Engineer, and the Stal war hero Ungenerous-Hand-of-Reprisal 1-9-7-3.
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''
** The earliest days of the game seem to alternate between this trope and the total [[FailOSuckyname opposite:]] you'd get superb names like [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Vlondril, Dragotha, Mordenkainen, the Unnameable Hierarch and Count Strahd von Zarovich.]] Unfortunately, the [[FailOSuckyname less spectacular names]] are all the more painful for the contrast.
** D&D3 and later gives a list of sample names with each race, and sometimes...
*** Players who create [[TabletopGame/{{Eberron}} Warforged]] characters are encouraged to use names like Relic, Sigil, Wall, Shield, and Bastion. They did not have a name when first created. Now freed, Warforged tend to look for words that they feel "represent" them to use as name. The King of Breland's former bodyguard was called Bulwark for example.
*** Dragonborn of Bahamut (The 3.5e version, who are members of other races that undergo a voluntary transformation) are encouraged to take a new Draconic name. Draconic is one of the few D&D Races with an actually lexicon, so you can actually name yourself "Platinum Strongscale who killed the big mean red dragon" without sounding like a tool.
*** 4th edition, characters from the {{Wangst}}y half-demonic Tiefling race are instructed by the rulebook to take names like "Suffering" or "Melancholy" and so forth. To be fair, they also get "Art", "Hope" and... "Gladness"?!?
** ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' had ancient mad wizard [[http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Halaster_Blackcloak Halaster Blackcloak]]. The given name was Hilather, but he thought "Halaster" sounds cool.
** [[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4pod/AcqInc Jim Darkmagic]] of the New Hampshire Darkmagics, created by [[WebComic/PennyArcade Gabe]] for his first ever D&D session (he astounded the seasoned players by rolling 20s).
*** "Why don't you just name yourself Chet [=AwesomeLaser=]?"
*** Scott Kurtz, the guy playing a Dwarf character, was encouraged by Tycho to alliterate with his name, claiming that Dwarves lose abilities if they don't alliterate.
*** The whole crew have awesome names, Tycho is Ominifis Earwahr Dran, Gabe is the aforementioned Jim Darkmagic, Scott Kutz is Binwin Bronzebottom, and Wil Wheaton is Aeofel Elhromane. Also, at one point due to the general confusion of the table Tycho thinks Scott has renamed himself "Vanguard Crackhammer."
* [[http://albruno3.tripod.com/ "Lord Baron Whoopass Von Badass".]]
* One of the original 800 Clan warriors in TabletopGame/BattleTech is ''[[GratuitousJapanese Kami]] Sword'', and perhaps the most famous mercenary in the series is Grayson '''Death''' Carlyle, who proceeded to name his unit "The Gray Death Legion."
* Obviously, like a half of all names in [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} any]] ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' game counts. Highlights include:
** [[BadassPreacher Sebastian Thor]]
** [[BadassBureaucrat Malcador the Sigilite]]
** [[{{Salamanders}} Vulkan]]
** Just...all the [[SpaceWolf Space Wolves]]: Logan Grimnar, Ragnar Blackmane, Lukas the Trickster, Njal Stormcaller, Bjorn the Fell-Handed. The list goes on.
** [[TheParagonAlwaysRebels Horus Lupercal]]
** [[CrystalDragonJesus Sanguinius]]
* The NERO (actually a live action RPG) rulebook offers an example of a bad character history featuring "Nightblade Deathbringer Doomforge."
* ''TabletopGame/IronKingdoms'': numerous characters have awesome names, such as Lord Commander Stryker, Kommander Sorscha, Major Marcus "Siege" Brisbane, Vladimir the dark champion...and more.
* Miniature wargame rules publishers TooFatLardies pepper their rules with a subversion of this trope. Not only do they happily give names scatological acronym titles (Troops, Weapons and Tactics, Stout Hearts, Iron Troops etc) they tend to give the men in the examples joke names - the most reused being Hugh Jarce.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* Elphaba Thropp from the musical ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}''.
** According to WordOfGod, her name is a tribute to the initials of Creator/LFrankBaum, the creator of ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'' novels. (el-fa-ba = l-f-ba.)
** Fiyero Tiggular and Nessarose Thropp should count as well!
* Rum Tum Tugger, Munkustrap, Mr Mistofelees, Skimbleshanks and Jennyanydots from the musical ''Theatre/{{Cats}}''.
* Seaweed Stubbs and Motormouth Maybelle from the musical ''Film/{{Hairspray}}''.
* Mary Sunshine from the musical ''Theatre/{{Chicago}}''.
** Roxie Hart, too.
* Killer Queen and Scaramouche from the musical ''Theatre/WeWillRockYou''.
* Roger Elizabeth [=DeBris=] and [[OverlyLongName Ulla Inga tor Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson Bloom]] from ''Film/TheProducers''.
* The protagonist of ''The Pillowman'' is named Katurian Katurian Katurian. His parents were odd people.
* Leaf Coneybear in ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'', who comes from a hippie family. His siblings are named Marigold, Brooke, Pinecone, Raisin, Landscape, and Paul.
* An unintentional example in ''Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof''. Lazar (yes, pronounced "laser") Wolf might be a perfectly innocuous Jewish name in context, but to modern audiences it might suggest an ''Series/AmericanGladiators'' reject, a Creator/RobLiefeld character who never made it to print, or a ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' Maverick.
* Jean Valjean from ''Theatre/LesMiserables''
* Moritz Stiefel and Melchior Gabor.
* In ''The Adding Machine'', Daisy's full name is Daisy Diana Dorothea Devore. This is the only thing about her that isn't plain and ordinary.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:ThemeParks]]
* Played with in the soundtrack for Great America's Demon roller coasters, in one dialogue-segment of which a U.S. Army captain called "Bucky [=McMacho=]" tries to eliminate the ride-possessing demon by bombing it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''WebComic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'', the eponymous Dr. [=McNinja=]. A doctor of medicine who comes from a family of Irish ninjas. Nothing else need be said.
** This also applies to most known residents of the Radical Lands. This includes Ron Wizard, Sir Cowabunga of Clubs; Dame Dudeical of Diamonds; the [[spoiler:former king]] Sir Hellacious of Hearts; and King Radical, formerly Sir Sicknasty of Spades.
* ''Webcomic/DragonTails'' has the character named Enigma. It certainly doesn't help that he's a total {{Badass}}.
* ''Webcomic/BoyMeetsBoy'' and the sequel webcomic, ''Webcomic/FriendlyHostility''. Harlequin, Tybalt, Anubis, Cyanide, and many more. (There's Skids, but that's a nickname.) Also notable is Collin, who inexplicably has a Hindi last name despite his family being hardcore Caucasian conservative Christians. WordOfGod has it that at one point, Collin's parents traveled to India on missionary work, so they probably took a local name. This is probably because the ''Boy Meets Boy'' characters were based loosely on characters from an old and [[OldShame now-deleted webcomic]] by the same author, which was about vampires (or rather [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot gay vampire angels]]), who are kind of expected to have names like that. Frankly, you can't blame Mikhail's tattoo artist for [[http://boymeetsboy.keenspot.com/d/20011014.html making a mistake]].
* Between Rak Wraithraiser, Phonsekal Laure and Jaian Repellista Zahard, ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' has some pretty awesomely named characters.
* ''The Broken Mirror'' has Ariad Engel Moira. The last one claims her real name is Ariad Smith, and that she changed it because it was too boring -- but she's still named ''Ariad''.
* ''Webcomic/SuicideForHire'': the main characters are named Arcturus Winrock and Hunter Ravenwood. Hunter's occasionally-appearing love interest is named Chryseis, and Arcturus' co-workers in the food stand storyline were named Zharra, Morph, Magdalena, Tajaira, and Shileen. The briefly-appearing "Harv" and "Sarah" in a previous storyline seemed quite out-of-place.
* ''Webcomic/RoninGalaxy'': the main character's name is Cecil Onimaru, which (given the multiple meanings of Japanese names) can mean, "Oni's son." or "Oni-like son." For being a ronin, such a name seems extravagant. Also Leona Gallant - she couldn't possibly be a gallant knight, could she?
* ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'' gives us the relatively ordinary (for an Abyssal Exalted) "[[OverlyLongName The Most Secret and Sorrowful of the Bearers of the Endless Destiny of All Creation Which Wander Amidst Forgotten Sights and Fallen Tears Along the Tread of Ancient Ashen Footsteps Through the Shadow of That Which Comes and Into That Riotous Cacophony Which Births All Fools and Steals All Beauty, Who Heralds Through Her Silence the Stillness and Chill of Those Who Were Not Born and Who Will Not Fade 'til All Things Fall and... In That Most Grim Harvest Form the... Final Restful Tomb of... All Awakened Life and... All the... Sleep... less... De--]]" ''(passes out from lack of breath)''. Everyone calls her Secret.
* ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'': the student in [[http://xkcd.com/327/ Exploits of a Mom]] and according to AltText, his sister (who goes by her middle name, "Elaine").
* [[http://fancyadventures.com/2009/01/09/page-53/ Max Facepuncher...]] Yeah... And I think [[Webcomic/TheFancyAdventuresOfJackCannon Jack Cannon]], the title character, counts too.
* The main cast of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''? They go by the names Torg, Riff, Zoe, Gwynn, Bun-Bun, and Kiki. Hanging around with these people, you can kinda understand why Sam felt he had to change his name to "Sam da Man."
** Crushestro.
** Most of Hereti-corp has awesome names like Daedalus Hereti, Dr. Killum, Dan-Met, Kusari and Oasis. Irving Schlock? Not so much.
* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}: Life Through Their Eyes''. While goblins have names such as "Big Ears" and "Complains Of Names", one of them, "Fumbles", wants to become an adventurer (a PC, indeed) and changes his name to ''Senor Vorpal Kickasso''.
** The goblins are named by their village elder, who chooses their names based on a vision of their fate that she sees when they are born. For instance, the goblin who grows up to become the chief of the clan is named "Chief". However, one unfortunate goblin was given the name "Dies Horribly".
* ''Webcomic/VanVonHunter''.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'':
** O'benn warship names tend towards these. Mocked by Captain Tagon and Kevyn Andreasyn in on exchange:
--->'''Tagon:''' Let's slap a drive and crew quarters on it and christen it the Scrapyard of Insufferable Arrogance.\\
'''Kevyn''': [[LampshadeHanging Captain, making fun of Ob'enn ship names is like shooting fish in the barrel of circular swimming]].
** The dark matter entities, the Paan'uri, have a name which translates to either "that which lives where nothing should" or "that gravitic distortion is giving me the willies."
** Well Tagon's ship the ''Serial Peacemaker''... it's like it doesn't HAVE to get a name implying violence so directly, so it's placing itself above the poseur ship names the O'benn and others tend to take. But it sounds somewhat like 'serial killer' so it wouldn't be mistaken for something inoffensive!
* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'':
** Mr. Mighty's name is actually Marion John Mighty.
** Jane Mighty's mom was born Hannah Anne Combat; she had a sister, Ariel Combat. Their father was Mortimer Lawrence (or "Mort L.") Combat.
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' is loaded with awesome names, starting with Agatha's primary love interest: Gilgamesh Wulfenbach.
** Or Agatha's aunt, Demonica Mongfish. And Agatha's mother, Lucrezia Mongfish. See how the first name turns even mundane last into something Lovecraftian?
** In the same comic we have Heterodyne ancestors with names like "Faustus" and "Occam," the house of Sturmvoraus, and even chief minion Moloch (he claims his parents owned a [[TheBible Bible]] but didn't have time to actually read it).
* ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}'' is full of these names like Rocky Rickaby, Calvin "Freckle" [=McMurray=], Mitzy May, Dorian "Zib" Zibowski, Ivy Pepper, Nicodeme Savoy, Serafine Savoy, Moredecai Heller, and many more.
* ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'': one of Helen Narbon's recurring enemies is Dr. Lupin Madblood. No, that's his real name, and he even has a [=PhD=]. On the other hand, he still lived with his mother during a lot of the story.
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Pandora Chaos Raven. That is all.
* ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'': "'I am Grimm Shado,' said Grimm Shado. 'And I'm here to '''take it to the limit.''''
** And, to a lesser extent, Dr. Raven Darktalon Blood.
** How about Jim Darkmagic?
*** EVERYONE from The Song Of The Sorcelator apparently has a name like this, though we only get to know Grimm Shado's.
* Parodied in ''Hark! A Vagrant''. The Brontë sisters, concerned they won't be taken seriously as women authors, choose the pseudonyms "Johnny Guns," "Bruce Punisher" and "Daddy Smash."
* Cutter Edgewise in ''Webcomic/{{Starslip}}''. Memnon Vanderbeam may also count.
* ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'' has names like Fighter [=McWarrior=], Black Mage Evilwizardington, Prince Elf of Clan Khee'bler (a.k.a. Thief), Red Mage Statscowski, Prince Drizz'l of the Dark Elves, Vilbert von Vampire, Muffin the dragon, Chancellor Usurper of Clan Sahn'ta (real name King Astos of the Dark Elves), Dr. Swordopolis, Doctor Malpractice, Generic Half-Elven Dual-Class Ranger, Berserker Axinhed... It's a freaking gold mine of this trope! Fighter, Black Mage, Thief, Red Mage, White Mage, Black Belt, etc. are actually their REAL NAMES and not just their classes...
* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', the four main characters' names were all [[HelloInsertNameHere suggestions provided by readers,]] so awesome names like "Jade Harley", "Rose Lalonde" and ''"Dave Strider"'' were inevitable.
** The jury is still out on whether "John Egbert" sounds cool or not though.
** Dave's [[spoiler: biological father]] ''Dirk'' Strider.
** The [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Trolls]] mostly have cool names, such as Karkat Vantas, Vriska Serket, and ''Sollux Captor'' [[note]]Who, conveniently, has several similarities to the afore mentioned Mr. Strider[[/note]]. For bonus points, they're all {{meaningful|Name}}.
** Lord English gives us an interesting example of this trope- his name is written in green and [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004153 requires an animated gif to be written properly]].
*** Two of his minions also have names that beautifully [[PaintingTheMedium paint the medium]]: [[color:#2ED73A:D]][[color:white:o]][[color:#2ED73A:c Scratch]] and [[color:#2ED73A:Sn]]o[[color:#2ED73A:wman]]. All the other members of [[color:#2ED73A: The Felt]], and the gang itself, have names that are written in green.
** Vriska'a FLARP name is Marquise Spinneret Mindfang. [[spoiler: We later find out that she named herself after her FamousAncestor.]]
** There's also Eridan's FLARP name, Orphaner Dualscar. It turns out that he named his character after [[spoiler:his ancestor]].
** ''All'' of [[spoiler:the ancestors]] have ridiculously cool names: Neophyte Redglare (Who Terezi's FLARP character is named after [[spoiler:and is her ancestor]]), Expatriate Darkleer, the Grand Highblood...
** John names his "adopted" salamander [[Film/ConAir Casey]]. Rose names her/him '''Viceroy Bubbles Von Salamancer'''.
** Rose has a talent for this: she names her mutant kitten '''Vodka Mutini'''
** [[BigBad Jack Noir]], who also goes by Sovereign Slayer.
** There's also [[spoiler:Jack's InUniverse {{Expy}}]] Spades Slick.
** Sburb titles can turn out this way. Although occasionally you get a FailOSuckyName, other times you get people referred to as the Knight of Time, the Witch of Space, the Prince of Hope, the Knight of Blood, the Mage of Doom, etc., etc.
*** Dirk initially thinks his title, the Prince of Heart, sounds lame, but then [[spoiler: Calliope]] tells him that in the context of the game it means [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "Destroyer of Souls"]].
*** And now, with the [[SuperpowerLottery Master Classes]] we have the Muse of Space and the Lord of Time.
* ''Webcomic/DeadWinter'' has an assassin that goes by the name Black Monday Blues. He has a colleague named Sixgun Johnny Rhythm.
* Averted in Webcomic/{{Hiimdaisy}}'s ''Let's Destroy the Shagohod'', based on ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', Ocelot thinks Snake's real name is this (imagining that it's "Manly [=McBeefington=]"), when it's really simply "John". This visibly startles Ocelot.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' has Antimony Carver, Surma Carver (nee Stibnite), Zeta, Gamma, and Winsbury...
* In ''Webcomic/RegularGuy'', Reg decides he needs to get to know a girl better because of her name: Katie [[Film/BackToTheFuture DeLorean.]]
* ''Webcomic/EerieCuties'' gave [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/cast.html good part of cast]] pretty cool names, what with most of them meeting in AllGhoulsSchool... called "Charybdis Heights", by the way.
* In ''Webcomic/VoodooWalrus'' most character names seem to be more like alias or online handles, so this is rather prominent in names like Rip Flintlock, Shmeerm, Miriam Cyradwee, and Villemous Quetzacoatl CreepKnight
* In ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfShanShan'', [[http://shanshan.upperrealms.com/view.php?pageid=008&chapterid=1 Cassiopeia]]. The teacher has to work to pronounce it.
* Webcomic/ZokushoComics: Serge (pronounced like surge) Inverse. Nitrous Blight. Rotting Johnny. Drake Lephisto. Fizzbang the Goblin. That Guy. More than likely there's more to come.
* {{Justified|Trope}} in ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'' with the Jakkai. A generation is born on the same day, and they are given only first names until a suitable last name is devised that matches their appearance or personality. These include Snaketail, Thunderheart and, the current champion, Bloodeyes.
* ''Webcomic/OHumanStar'' Alastair Sterling.
* Creator/IsaacBaranoff used one of these in a TakeThat towards a cartoonist who ripped off Baranoff's comic strip, ''Comicbook/{{Horndog}}'': "Awesome MC Big Dick". (Intentionally drawn as a [[StylisticSuck bad stick figure comic]] to mock the rival cartoonist, this was invoked because Baranoff felt that the artist who plagiarized his work was using MarySue characters in the real-life {{Expy}}.)
* ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'': Commander Badass. That is all.
* Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, from the webcomic [[Webcomic/HeavenlyNostrils of the same name.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[Blog/{{Bronyism}} Zane McBane]]
** He invokes "[=SirZane McFiddlesworth=]" as this.
** Ryan [[RunningGag Chaosguntheburninator]] Kipps.
* The [[http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=fantasynameex Fantasy Name Extreme Generator]] from Seventh Sanctum is dedicated to creating those impossibly badass and sometimes ridiculous fantasy names like "[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud Strife]]" and "[[Webcomic/PennyArcade Grimm Shado]]."
** Also, Seventh's Sanctum's older, but similarly epic, [[http://www.seventhsanctum.com/gens/heroicname.html heroic-sounding name generator]].
* Adonis Zorba of ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest''.
* Spoofed with [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]], in his ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' comic review, where after getting fed up with the naming style in Azeroth, he refers himself as ''Awesome [=McBadassPowerfist=]''
* [[Music/DoctorSteel Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel]].
* Cortez Emilio Alejandro Jesus Cardinal, from ''Machinima/TheLeetWorld''.
* Website/{{Cracked}} presents [[http://www.cracked.com/article_14982_the-9-manliest-names-in-world.html The 9 Manliest Names in the World.]]
** [[http://www.cracked.com/article/195_7-things-good-parents-do-that-screw-kids-up-life/ Dicksmash McIroncock]]
** Suggested by [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19190_6-classic-movies-you-didnt-know-were-remakes.html this]] Website/{{Cracked}} article: Creator/{{Clint|Eastwood}} [[Creator/AkiraKurosawa Kurosawa]].
** One was generated [[http://www.cracked.com/article_17270_100-unintentionally-hilarious-spam-subject-lines.html here]] by a spambot: "Adventure Hayes".
* In [[WebVideo/BadMovieBeatdown Film Brain's]] [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/fbv/bmbe/23078-mega-shark-vs-giant-octopus review]] of ''Film/MegaSharkVsGiantOctopus'', he notes the director, Ace Hanna, had an awesome name (even if it was a pseudonym).
* Danny Sexbang from {{Game Grumps}}/{{Steam Train}} and {{Music/Ninja Sex Party}}.
* WebVideo/EpicMealTime Team's Muscles Glasses
* WebVideo/AgamemnonTiberiusVacuum.
* Suggested by [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19190_6-classic-movies-you-didnt-know-were-remakes.html this]] Website/{{Cracked}} article: Creator/{{Clint|Eastwood}} [[Creator/AkiraKurosawa Kurosawa]].
* ''Roleplay/{{Unregistered}}'' has names such as "Lance Lenin" and "Leviathan Alexander". Almost all names in this series are generated by the players, however.
* Many of OlanRogers' characters, as well as himself. Lightwave, Emperor Laboosh, Ferris, Dutch, Valavingee, Scar....
* The web game Website/NationStates can lead to names like this [[http://www.nationstates.net/nation=awesomepolis]]
* During the Olympics episode of WebAnimation/BowsersKingdom, Hal decides to give the team he and Jeff are on the name "Super Awesome Dynamite Platinum Bros". Jeff thought it was a FailOSuckyname and crossed it off, leading them to be called Team No Name. Turns out the name was already used by the 12-time champions.
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' has a number of really cool names, like Strong Bad, The Cheat, Coach Z, and the title character himself.
* The full names belonging to some of the characters in ''{{Noka}}''.
** [[TheHero Noka]]: Nokari de Baatz
** [[TheCaptain K]][[CloudCuckooLander T]]: Krieg Armand Torin
** [[SociopathicHero Found]]: Felix Isaac Vallon
** [[OurElvesAreBetter Aziu]]: Azalais Henri Urien
** [[MissionControl E]][[DeadpanSnarker x]]: Ashley Excel Fox
* ''[[Website/TheOnion The AV Club]]'' reviews of ''Series/{{Glee}}'' enthusiastically remind us when he appears that the name of the actor who plays Sam is CHORD OVERSTREET!
* ''Literature/SkippysList'' has examples:
-->2. My proper military title is "Specialist Schwarz" not "Princess Anastasia".
-->37. Our medic is called "Sgt Larwasa", not "Dr. Feelgood".
-->38. Our supply Sgt is "Sgt Watkins" not "Sugar Daddy".
* There was once a topic on ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' Forums where someone was asking for suggestions on what they should legally change their last name too. The general consensus? "Your new name is Hellsing."
* [=Shades McCoolguy=] is a superfluous example of this from ''Blog/ChickenMaker''.
* Wiki/MultiversesWiki gives us Bloodburn, Deadflame, Death's Shadow...
* One of [[http://www.youtube.com/user/jacksfilms JacksFilms's]] characters is stereotypical [[WackyFratboyHijinx Frat boy]] named Chad "Broseph" Huntington.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
** Spoofed in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E13HomerToTheMax Homer to the Max]]" when Homer changes his name to Max Power ("I got it from a hair dryer"). Homer also suggested Handsome B. Wonderful, Hercules Rockefeller, and Rembrandt Q. Einstein; the judge allowed Max Power because it was the only one he had spelled correctly. He also suggested new names for Marge including Chesty [=LaRue=], Busty Sinclair, and Hootie [=McBoob=].
** While on the lam in "The Dad Who Knew Too Little", Homer and Lisa check into a hotel. Lisa calls herself "Lady Penelope Ariel Ponyweather". Homer tells the clerk that his name is Rock Strongo. The clerk immediately calls Homer out for using such an obvious fake name and asks for his real one.
--->'''Homer:''' ... Lance Uppercut.\\
'''Clerk:''' Sign here, Mr. Uppercut.
** Homer has also used the alias "Elvis Jagger Abdul-Jabbar."
** Bart says he's going change his name to Joe Kickass. Homer suggests Homer Junior. "The kids could call you ''[=HoJu=]!''"
** Homer's one-time boss Hank Scorpio.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', "Irregarding Steve" has a FakeActionPrologue where Klaus turns out to be a world-saving action hero, and he tells Francine his real name is "Professor Max Hammer."
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'', you gotta admit, [[BigBad Father's]] real name, [[spoiler:Benedict Uno]], is pretty catchy.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': Rocket Impossible!! (Which is also an [[AGoodNameForARockBand an awesome name for a band!]])
** The dudes what write the show are "named" Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick.
** We also have Molotov Cocktease, Jefferson Twilight, and Doctors Byron Orpheus and Henry Killinger.
** Guys, guys, ''Brock Samson''.
** Heinrich "Herr Trigger" Triggermensch, Russel "Go-Fish" Sturgeon, and Jean-Claude [=LeTueur=].
** Also, minor, minor background characters like General Manhowers, Rick Danger, Chairman Wow, the Sea Anenemy, Sergeant Hatred...
* [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Jimmy Neutron]]'s full name is James Isaac Neutron.
** There's also Film/JamesBond CaptainErsatz Jet Fusion and [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter Beautiful Gorgeous.]]
* WesternAnimation/KimPossible. Ron Stoppable. Duff Killigan. Dr. Drakken (whose real name unfortunately is Drew Lipsky, no wonder he changed it)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}''!
-->'''Early Cuyler:''' I dub thee, "Hershel Walker Cuyler Them Dogs Is Hell Don't They"! (later on) "Come along now, Hershel Walker Cuyler Them Dogs Is Hell Don't They!"
* ''WesternAnimation/CoolMcCool'' (A cartoon from the 60s named after the main character)
* ''WesternAnimation/SheepInTheBigCity'' is full of 'em. The main cast.
** For instance, [[OverlyLongName Mrs. Smythe Robertson Johnson Wethermocker von Herbertsonberskie and Ivanovich Malcovich Ivanich Fiftyskitch Fall-In-A-Ditch That's-A-Good-Pitch Romanov]]; the latter was changed, in the Brazilian dub, to the equally funny [[OverlyLongName Banavich Marcovich Ivanavich Psicaindich Caiunumpiche Tomoumduche Romanov]].
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Master Splinter. Moreso in 2K3 where they occasionally use the surname Hamato. There's also Shredder, Krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady.
* ''WesternAnimation/WildWestCowboysOfMooMesa'' had a ton of great names like Moo Montana, Cowlarado Kid, Dakota Dude, Buffalo Bull, Lilli Bovine, Cowlamity Kate and many more. The villains had some great names also, like the Masked Bull, Bat Blastagun, Skull Duggery, Shock Holiday, Boothill Buzzard, Saddlesore Scorpion, and plenty of others.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheReplacements'': Dick Daring, Ace Palmero, Travis Bodie, and in what might be the straightest possible example of this trope, Sierra [=McCool=].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''
** After [[spoiler: being mutated into animal hybrid things by a mad scientist]], a few characters in decide to ditch perfectly ordinary names like [[spoiler: Derek]] in favour of identifying as Claw, Fang and Talon. They don't need to hide their previous identities; they do it just because.
** Originally, the Gargoyles didn't take names of their own, although their leader was known as Goliath by the humans they protected. When they found themselves in 20th century New York they took on names fitting to their new surroundings; Hudson (the old veteran), Brooklyn (the tough guy), Lexington (the smart skinny guy), Bronx (the dog), and Broadway (the mellow one).
** Demona, [[spoiler: [[MeaningfulName who was named that by Macbeth because he said that she fought like a demon.]]]]
** And also David Xanatos... because he planned it that way. It's ''David'' vs. ''Goliath'', with a reversal of hero and villain.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'': Nathan Explosion! Skwisgaar Skwigelf! Toki Wartooth! William Murderface Murderface Murderface! [[OddNameOut And Pickles.]]
* The Rocket family (father Ray, daughter Reggie, son Otto) from ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower''. It's heavily implied (or at least NOT implied otherwise) that "Rocket" is their actual last name. The viewer is never given a reason to think that it's not, and that's good enough.
* Some Franchise/{{Transformers}} just luck out with the names. Slugslinger, Caliburst, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Ironhide, Devastator, Bonecrusher, Wreck-Gar, Ultra Magnus, Thundercracker, Demolishor, Sunstorm, Dirge, Ruination, Sinnertwin, Gutcruncher, Scourge, Rampage, Mixmaster, Soundwave, Starscream, Razorclaw, Omega Supreme, Sentinel Prime, Elita One, Moonracer, Silverbolt, Superion, Fortress Maximus, Big Daddy, Grimlock, Ravage, Slayride.
** Optimus Prime's name before he became carrier of the Matrix of Leadership (and thus a Prime)? ''Orion Pax''. Megatron also named himself after "Megatronus", who is the TF equivalent of Judas Iscariot and [[NameOfCain Cain]] rolled into one (and thus became known as The Fallen). Also see the other members of The Thirteen.
* The Headmaster of ''WesternAnimation/SchoolForVampires'' has a name that could only be given to a truly ''badass'' vampire: Count Alarich von Horrificus.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'':
** Billy's name for an alien dog-thing: "Admiral Wolverine Lightningbolt, because those are the three coolest words in the universe!"
** There's also [=DelGado=]. Hoss [=DelGado=].
* While the girls of ''WesternAnimation/SkyDancers'' got off pretty easy, the guys ended up with the names "Slam" and "Breeze".
* In ''Franchise/GIJoe'', every single member of the G.I. Joe organization had a nickname. Most had nicknames relating to their specialties: Doc was a doctor, Lifeline was a medic, Torpedo was a submarine pilot, Mutt had an attack dog, Alpine was a mountaineer, Snow Job specialized in fighting in the snow, etc. Some of the names were meaningful for other reasons, as in the case of redhead Scarlett. Some of the names, though, were just cool, like Duke and Lady Jaye.
* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' was full of these, along with the title character. Especially with the villains like Megavolt, The Liquidator, Steelbeak, Splatter Phoenix, and many more.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'''s resident [[BlatantLies military genius]] Zapp Brannigan. Also Barbados Slim.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', we have plenty of great names like Aang which means [[MeaningfulName "Soaring Wind"]]. Sokka, Katara, and especially Toph Bei Fong.
** More so Sokkas secret fire nation identity: ''"Fire. Wang Fire."''
** Meta Example: Michael Dante [=DiMartino=].
*** ''Dante Basco''.
* From ''ComicStrip/TheBoondocks'', "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin A Pimp Named Slickback]]" Also Grandmaster Bushido Brown.
* Lord Monochromicorn and Princess Bonnibelle Bubblegum from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.
** Also Goliad, the name of Princess Bubblegum's {{immortal|ity}} creation. It kinda sounds like the title of an epic. Go on, say it: '''GOLIAD!'''
** Lady Rainicorn, Marceline Abadeer (aka Marceline, the Vampire Queen) and her gender-swapped alter ego Marshall Lee, Hunson Abadeer, Simon Petrikov, Susan Strong, Earl of Lemongrab, Ancient Sleeping Magi of Life-Giving, NEPTR (an acronym for Never Ending Pie Throwing Robot), BMO (pronounced BEE-mo), Tree Trunks (a pygmy elephant), and even the main character Finn the Human. In fact there are more awesome names than not in Adventure Time.
** And while we're talking about it, the multitude of Princesses are also pretty rad: the aforementioned Princess Bonnibelle Bubblegum, Lumpy Space Princess (aka L.S.P.), Irregular Topography Expanse Princess, Truth Field Projection Princess, Princess Chewypaste, Princess Monster Wife, and Princess Princess Princess.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' we have Rainbow Dash, who has one of the coolest names a fictional horse can have. [[spoiler: This is even more epic and meaningful when you see her pull off the legendary Sonic Rainboom.]]
** Don't forget her pet tortoise, Tank, who's [[StoneWall impervious to harm]] and [[{{Determinator}} never gives up.]]
** This seems to be a running theme with the Wonderbolts; the four named ones are Spitfire, Soarin', Fleetfoot, and Rapid Fire.
** And then in the [[YouMeanXmas Hearth's Warming Eve]] pageant, Dash gets to play a figure in pony history with an even ''cooler'' name and title: the ancient leader of the pegasi, named ''Commander Hurricane''!
** The first villain of the show is named Nightmare Moon. Seriously, [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast you don't mess with someone with a name like that]].
** There's also "The Great And Powerful Trixie", from the episode "Boast Busters". [[WordOfGod Her full name is Trixie Lulamoon]], which is a great name for a stage performer.
** In the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown Putting Your Hoof Down]]", Fluttershy seeks assertiveness training from a character named ''Iron Will''.
** Then there's Shining Armor who is [[spoiler: Twilight Sparkle's older brother.]] Too bad [[spoiler:his sister's]] got [[UnfortunateNames a good name for a mosquito]].
** There's also a pegasus named Thunderlane, with younger brother Rumble.
** Vinyl Scratch, though it's a FanNickname, has the stage name DJ PON-3 (Deejay Pwn-three) which has been used in official promotional material.
** Prince Blueblood, though he's, well, [[PrinceCharmless a horse's rear end]].
** The ace flyer Lightning Dust.
** Background pony Cloudchaser (which is already a fairly cool name) [[AllThereInTheScript was originally planned to be called Stormwalker]].
* In this [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW3dg9VURMU skit]] on ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'', Calvin joins Franchise/GIJoe, and says that since he's a ColdSniper, he'd like his codename to be: "Dead-Eye", "Killshot", "Dr. Killshot", "Sureshot", or "Triggerman". Unfortunately, he slips, so they call him "[[FailOSuckyname Fumbles]]". They pay for it. Dearly.
* Was the plot of an episode of ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow''. Rigby, after seeing one of his favorite bands on television hears the superstar rocker [[spoiler:The Edge (which is his literal name)]] tell about the origins of his name. Rigby then decides to choose two random sounding words, coming up with [[spoiler: Trash Boat]]. Needless to say, once Mortecai finds out, ''Hilarity Ensues''.
** However, in an ironic (and very Regular Show-ish) manner, it turns out that [[spoiler: Rigby's new name makes him extremely famous]]. However, this has a worse downside, as [[spoiler: The Edge, now a superpowered wizard rocker, returns from the future to kill him because the name Trash Boat made Rigby more famous than The Edge, himself.]]
*** It helps that after the situation is cleared, [[spoiler: The Edge suffers a ''KarmicDeath'' at the hands of another superpowered wizard rocker, who in turn is killed by another. Who is killed by another. Who is killed by more. Can anyone say chain reaction?]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centurions}}'' gives us Max Ray, Jake Rockwell, Ace [=McCloud=], Crystal Kane, Rex Charger, and John Thunder.
[[/folder]]

----
!!Examples of groups, places, and things with exceptionally cool names:

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', Lilith is housed in Terminal Dogma, the lowest level of NERV HQ. The chamber in question is behind a giant bulkhead christened "Heaven's Door"; this area is also referred to as Level-EEE.
** The control center is called Central Dogma which is also a scientific term (biology, to be exact).
** There's also another control center called the Pribnow Box, a well-known term in genetics.
** ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' appears to have switched out the two names. Also, the second film has "The Key of Nebuchadnezzar", a miniature human skeleton encased in amber.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* There's plenty of cool names in the ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'' like ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'', or ''ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* "[[Literature/HarryPotter Death Eaters]]" is pretty awesome. Considering that the translation to Spanish wouldn't be that cool, editors decided to use a latinized version and called them "''Mortífagos''" (Latin for "Mortis", Death and "Fagi", to eat), which ends up being awesome.
* In the final book of the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' novels, due to an inability to compromise between two equally unwieldly epic names, a ship is christened "Great Descent into Maelstrom of Solar Flare of Righteous Vengeance Against Enemies of the People's State."
* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' there's a chess-like game called Hneflbaflsniflwhifltafl, commonly nicknamed [[AC:Thud!]]. It's a parody of a real game, Hneftafl.
* ''Literature/{{Stravaganza}}'''s name of its AlternateUniverse Venice -- Belleza.
* Creator/HPLovecraft (who had a badass name himself) had a knack for creating badass names for his horrors, with examples such as: Azathoth (a memo he wrote to himself regarding it simply said 'AZATHOTH - hideous name') aka The Nuclear Chaos and Nyarlathotep aka The Crawling Chaos aka The Haunter of the Dark. There's a reason the metal community likes Lovecraft so much.
* ''By Blood Alone'' (the second book in the lengthy series about the (No longer) French (No Longer) Foreign Legion [[RecycledInSpace IN SPACE!]]) has a section that takes place during travel on a ship called ''The Warm Wind That Blows Happiness Through The Universe'', or as her crew affectionately know her, ''The Iron Bitch''.
* ''Literature/{{GONE}}'' is a subversion; some characters have names Sam or Mary, but then you have some characters called ''Orc'', ''Pack Leader'', ''Sanjit'' (''"It means invincible! I can't be vinced! Go ahead, try and vince me!"''), ''Caine Soren'', ''Toto'', ''Astrid'', ''Hunter'' and ''THE GAIAPHAGE''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}''
* ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' and its Megazords.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Chainswords]]. Seriously. Chainswords.
** 40k is ''full'' of these. Valhalla, Macragge, Witchblades, Lightning Claws, Thunder Hammers, the Eye of Terror...
** The names of Space Marine chapters: Ultramarines, Imperial Fists, Dark Angels...Even the Chaos Space Marines: Black Legion, Iron Warriors, Red Corsairs..
** Then there's the [[RedShirtArmy Imperial Guard]]: Mordian Iron Guard, Morbidian Skull Takers, Cadian Shock Troops, Armageddon Steel Legion, Mordant Acid Dogs, Krieg Death Korps...
* TabletopGame/BattleTech, hundreds of battle mechs have awesome names. Such as the Battlemaster, Marauder, Timber Wolf, Summoner, Awesome...
** Several Clan names count, such as Jade Falcon, Goliath Scorpion, Ghost Bear...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' random names can bestow this (or OminousMundanity) on characters (through acquired titles) locations and artifacts.
* Aside its characters mentioned above, ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' brings us Santa Destroy, the city where the events of the game take place. It also includes locations with names like Burger Suplex and Body Slam Beach.
* From the [[Franchise/MetalGear Metal Gear series]]: Shadow Moses Island, FOXHOUND, the two-man NGO Philanthropy, [[AncientConspiracy Wisemen's Comittee]], the Nomad, [[TheConspiracy The Patriots]], Outer Heaven...
** The titular Metal Gears such as [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid REX]], [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty RAY]] and the [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Shagohod]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'': The Four Devas of the Mountain (Shuten Douji). Scarlet Devil Mansion (lorded by vampire sisters). [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace The Mound of the Nameless]].
* Any Covenant fleet in ''Franchise/{{Halo}}''. The one that destroyed Reach was called ''The Fleet of Particular Justice'', while others had as fancy names as ''The Fleet of Righteous Vigilance'' or ''The Fleet of Furious Redemption''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'', where every single boss has a prominently-displayed name. Some examples of this trope include:
** Titanic Lance, a name befitting of its sheer, six-screen length.
** The lobster mech known as Dual Shears.
** The Coronatus family, including Dark Coronatus, Vermillion Coronatus, and Lightning Cornatus.
** Neon Light Illusion.
** Peace Destroyer.
** The GiantEnemyCrab, Hysteric Empress.
* Many genre names in ''VideoGame/{{beatmania}} IIDX'' and ''VideoGame/PopnMusic'' are made up, but it doesn't stop them from sounding {{Badass}}:
** "KAMAITACHI" and "Sol Cosine Job 2" are classified as "Freeform Hardcore".
** DJ YOSHITAKA has a lineup of songs with the "Hard Renaissance" label.
* For that matter, a lot of song ''names'' in Franchise/{{Bemani}} games as well. Especially FinalBoss songs.
** ''beatmania IIDX 13 [=DistorteD=]'' brings us the FinalBoss of the Cardinal Gate extra stage system, "Nageki no Ki", which translates to "Tree of Lament".
** "perditus†paradisus" from ''beatmania IIDX 18 Resort Anthem'', which roughly means "Paradise Lost" in [[AltumVidetur Latin]].
** ''beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro'' has the penultimate boss of the Legend Cross event, "Thor's Hammer".
** The final boss of the ''Private BEMANI Academy'' event, "Elemental Creation".
** ''VideoGame/ReflecBeat colette''[='=]s [[SeasonalBaggage winter season]] ([[LostForever 2012]]) features an unlock system themed around climbing mountains. The final unlock is called "Valanga", which is Italian for "Avalanche".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomic]]
* ''Webcomic/MeatShield'': Clan Punchintheface.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Roleplay/EquestriaChronicles'' has more then a few of these.
* In ''Podcast/TheYoGPoD'', Simon has mentioned that he considers "Jesus Nails" to be a really cool name.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The city known as ''Climax'', Georgia. Not to mention ''Intercourse'', Pennsylvania.
* "Lightning rod"
* "Flame Thrower:" ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin which is what makes it so cool. One-upping it: "Flame Sprayer". It doesn't shoot out flames per se. It shoots out '''molten metal'''.
* A "boom" mike and "shotgun" mike.
* The "Street Sweeper" shotgun.
* The ''[[http://hdl.handle.net/2246/5013 Ninjemys]]'', a horned turtle. Yes, it was named after [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles that]].
* The M67 "Zippo" flame throwing tank. Ironically, the British soldiers' less than complimentary nickname "[[FailOSuckyname Ronson (lighter)]]'' for the Sherman tank makes the same comparison.
* [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships The Royal Navy]] is especially fond of this trope with aircraft carriers. HMS Ark Royal. HMS Eagle. HMS Courageous. HMS Glorious. HMS Furious. HMS Illustrious. HMS Victorious. HMS Formidable. HMS Indomitable. HMS Implacable. HMS Indefatigable...
* There is a gene known as "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_hedgehog Sonic hedgehog homolog]]". The enzyme that potentially ''inhibits'' it has been dubbed "Robotnikinin." There's also a retinal protein named "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikachurin Pikachurin]]". There's a huge debate over naming proteins/genes since defects in these genes can have serious consequences. It puts doctors in the awkward situation of telling heartbroken people ''"I'm sorry but the reason for your miscarriage was that you unborn child had a defect in gene encoding for the Sonic Hedgehog Hormone."''
* The [[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/photogalleries/100630-leviathan-mellvillei-sperm-whale-fossils-science/#whale01-leviathan-rendering_22737_600x450.jpg newly-discovered prehistoric giant killer whale]] called [[Literature/TheBible Leviathan]] [[Literature/MobyDick Melvillei]]. However, [[http://svpow.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/the-new-miocene-sperm-whale-leviathan-is-now-livyatan/ thanks to an odd situation involving junior synonyms]], it's ''Livyatan'' now, which has the same meaning for Hebrew speakers.
* A general trend in the dinosaur paleontology world seems to be to give dromeosaurs (raptors) names that are as badass as possible. Examples include ''Pyroraptor'' and ''Atrociraptor''. One aversion is ''Bambiraptor'', which funnily enough is closely related to ''Atrociraptor''.
* Soviet/Russian spacecraft are launched from the '''Baikonur Cosmodrome'''.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Antarctic_Stareater.PNG Behold the Stareater!!!]] An 8-inch fish found in the cold depths of Antarctica, it looks like it would be comfortable [[SpaceIsAnOcean in the cold depths of SPACE!]] devouring suns.
* Though the name [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_Ridge,_New_South_Wales Lightning Ridge]] sounds like the name of a dungeon from a role playing video game, it is actually a mining town in New South Wales, Australia. Not that it makes it any less awesome.
* The rather ugly car Dodge Magnum.
** And it's cousin, the Dodge Charger.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Cabinet The Shadow Cabinet]], anyone? Sounds more like something from ''Franchise/StarWars'' than government.
* They may have combined the expense of a battleship with the inadequate (when compared with real battleships) armour of a cruiser, but has there ever been a cooler name for a class of ship than [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlecruiser Battlecruiser]]? The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnought Dreadnought]] would like to have a word with you.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman,_Turkey Batman, Turkey]]. Capital of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_Province Batman Province]]. On the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_River Batman River]]. Yeah. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments They even sued Christopher Nolan over using their name without permission because of it!]]
* From Australia: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Batman#Places_named_after_John_Batman Batman Bridge, Batman's Hill, Division of Batman]] and so on. What is now the city of Melbourne, he originally founded as [[EgoPolis Batmania]].
* Oregon has a Nine Devils Road. Seriously, how on Earth does a place get an awesome name like Nine Devils Road?
* TheodoreRoosevelt's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Party_(United_States,_1912) Progressive Party]] -- better known as the ''Bull Moose Party''.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_Party_%28Sweden%29 The Pirate Party]]. They have two seats at the European Parliament and 45 in German state parliaments.
* The exact translation of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah Hezbollah]]'s name is "The Party of God".
* Britain actually derives its name from one of these. The Romans named the islands after the Priteni, meaning "The Tattooed Ones". Rather fortunate, actually. Because there are two kinds of Celts. P-Celts, who called themselves the aforementioned Priteni, and Q-Celts who called themselves Cruteni. The difference is that P-Celts used "p" sounds where Q-Celts used "k" sounds. Hence the Scottish "mac" and Welsh "map" for "son of" in surnames. Anyway, Prethanik got Hellenized into Pretanikos by the Greeks, then Italicized into "Britannia" by the Romans. Imagine living in modern Crutain. Would you want to be a Crut?
* ''HMS Glowworm'', a British destroyer during WWII.
* Seventh Standard Road runs through Kern County, California, USA. The name is actually just a surveying term, but it sounds rather like something out of Revelations.
* Has there ever been a gun with a cooler name than the Desert Eagle?
** How about the Super Redhawk?
* Before ''[[http://www.geologi.no/data/f/0/21/02/6_2401_0/NJG_2_3_2012_13_Knutsen_etal_Scr.pdf Pliosaurus funkei]]'' was formally described in 2012 it was referred to in the paleontological community as Predator X.
* This trope is probably one of the reasons why ''TyrannosaurusRex'' is so popular. It gets better: in Latin, it means Tyrant Lizard King.
* An aptly named portrait reputedly from New York, titled ''Muhammad Jesus Gautama''. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin It does depict Muhammed, Jesus, and Gautama in one canvas]].
* The State Capital of Arizona is named Phoenix.
* The Megalodon a ginormous prehistoric shark the size of a whale and can eat one.
* We used to have the giant squid. Now we have the Colossal Squid in the Antarctic which attacks blue whales.
* Thunder Bay, Ontario.
* The suburb of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly,_New_South_Wales Manly]] in Sydney, Australia, home of the [[RugbyLeague Manly Sea Eagles]]. RatedMForManly, anyone?
** Legend has it that the British Naval Officer whose ship landed at that very location named it as such specifically ''because'' he was in admiration of how well-built and athletic the "manly" native Indigenous Australians were, so this was very much intentional.
* Town of Kotka, Finland. Who wouldn't like to live a town whose name means plainly and simply "Eagle" ?
* The biggest steam locomotive in the world is called the [[http://rlkitterman.deviantart.com/art/Union-Pacific-Big-Boy-No-4014-in-Pomona-284561845 Big Boy]]. Other trains with cool names include Evening Star, Lord President, Cock of the North, Challenger, Daylight, Super Chief, Zephyr, the "Raven Pacific" class, the "Klondike" class, and Defiant.
* While the naming theme of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes averts this with rather mundane names, the new system of naming winter storms plays this straight. So far, there have been winter storms dubbed names as [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons Draco]], [[NorseMythology Freyr]], and one of the possible names for the next one could be [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]]. Needless to say, one has to wonder why Hurricanes aren't given such intimidating and poignant naming.
* A couple of dozen people in the UK changed their name, specifically so they can say "Danger is my middle name"...
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Gary_Powers Gary Powers]] an American pilot who got shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960.
* The german entertainer "King Size Dick". (Note: Dick is the German word for fat.)
* The AC-47 Spooky gunship has a pretty cool name to begin with, but got the rather odd nickname of "Puff" through the rather cool sequence of: Dragonship to Dragon to Puff, the Magic Dragon to Puff.
* Former Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Sin (first name Jaime)

[[folder: Films -- Animation]]
* From Disney's ''Disney/TheAristocats'', there's Abraham [=DeLacey=] Guiseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley Cat. You can call him Thomas.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'':
** Lightning [=McQueen=] as well as Finn [=McMissile=] and Leland Turbo in the sequel.
** Torque Redline. Well, technically his name's Rod and 'Torque' is only a nickname, but come on, ''Torque Redline''.
* ''WesternAnimation/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'': Flint Lockwood. Technically, this is [[WhatCouldHaveBeen left over from when his character was a]] [[ScienceHero suave, successful scientist]].
* ''Disney/LiloAndStitch'': Cobra Bubbles.
* Something about ''SurfsUp'''s "Cody Maverick" exudes "extreme sports legend". It's youthful, has the word "maverick" in it, and sounds smooth off the tongue.
* ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'': Flynn Rider. [[spoiler: His real name is Eugene Fitzherbert.]]
* [[DarkActionGirl Vitani]] from ''Disney/TheLionKing 2'' with a little help of BilingualBonus. Her name is a melding of Suahilian "Vit" - "war" and "Shetani" - "demon".
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'': Buzz Lightyear. Maybe Woody [[AllThereInTheScript Pride]], too.

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]
* ''Film/{{Idiocracy}}'' Heavyweight President of the World: President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho.
* Captain Jack Sparrow in ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''.
* [=RiffRaff=] and Rocky Horror from ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow''
* LaResistance and the people of Zion from ''Film/TheMatrix'' tend toward this, mainly to separate themselves from their former identities in the Matrix; having presumably chosen the names themselves at least partially {{justifie|dTrope}}s the trope. Even some native-born residents of Zion sport handles for names, like Tank and Dozer.
* Snake Plissken in ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''.[[note]]I thought he was dead![[/note]]
** I was ExpectingSomeoneTaller
* "Film/DonnieDarko? What the hell kind of name is that? It's like some sort of superhero or something."
* In ''Film/MysteryMen'', when Mr. Furious is asked his real name, he gets out "Phoenix Dark Dirk" before finally admitting it's really just "Roy".
* In the Podcast/RiffTrax treatment of ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', when Elektra initially refuses to tell Matt Murdoch her name, Mike Nelson fills in for her: "The name's [=Frigid McTurndown=]." Then, when Matt and Elektra start sparring, Bill Corbett adds, "Okay, I lied. The name's Stompy Von Asskick." When the character does reveal her full name (Elektra Natchios), they add "Electric Nachos?" Just can't win.
* In ''Franchise/StarWars'': Luke's original surname was "Starkiller", but after a reworking of the character it was changed to Skywalker, which most people think is still pretty cool. Starkiller was later given to the player's character in the ''Force Unleashed'' video game. Many other characters have made-up names that some people find cool. Mace Windu, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian and Darth Vader are a few of the most popular examples.
* Series/{{M|ysteryScienceTheater3000}}ST3K classic ''Film/TheFinalSacrifice'' had Zap Rowsdower.
* [=MST3K=]'s riff on ''Film/SpaceMutiny'' has an absolute firestorm of these, such as Gristle [=McThornbody=] and Big [=McLargeHuge=]. So many that a few of the others on this page are direct Shout Outs. The funniest is the last one; [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Bob Johnson]].
* Ray Allen's character Jesus Shuttlesworth from ''He Got Game''.
* Creator/LaurenceFishburne's character, Furious Styles, in ''Film/BoyzNTheHood''.
* Inverted with ''Film/TerminatorSalvation'', in which an actress with the {{Badass}} name of Korinna Moon Bloodgood plays an A-10 Warthog pilot with the boring name of Blair Williams.
* Trevor Reznick in ''Film/TheMachinist'', an admitted riff on dark rock icon [[Music/NineInchNails Trent Reznor]].
* [[Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossThe8thDimension Buckaroo Banzai]].
* ''Film/CaptainBlood''. The eponymous captain is a doctor-turned-pirate who also happens to be (somehow) an Irishman.
* Parodied in ''Film/SouthlandTales'' when The Rock (whose character is named "Boxer", as it happens) is describing a film role he wrote for himself, ending with, "His name... is ''Jericho Cain.''"
* Ahnuld's name in ''Film/EndOfDays'' is, in fact, Jericho Cane.
* James Woods' character in ''Film/{{Diggstown}}'' is Gabriel Caine.
* Rocket Ray Tracy, Black Cloud, and White wolf from ''Film/BlackCloud''.
* John Shaft, the eponymous private detective of ''Film/{{Shaft}}''.
* In ''Film/{{Superbad}}'', Fogell gives himself the name "[=McLovin=]" on his fake ID. A cop says it "[[MissingTrailerScene sounds like a sexy cheeseburger.]]" They also believe it and become friends with him. [[spoiler:Until TheReveal that they were just playing along to try to give him role models he never had.]]
* The quarterback in ''VarsityBlues'', Lance Harbor.
* Inverted in ''Film/AlmostFamous'', where Cameron Crowe (mull that name over in your head...) named his AuthorAvatar character "William Miller"; the DVDCommentary mentions this was a subtle LampshadeHanging of the trope. However, there is a character called [[Music/TheBeatles Penny Lane]].
* ''Film/TheFifthElement'' -- [[GaryOldman Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg]].
* Film/NapoleonDynamite.
* The ''Film/{{Rocky}}'' series is lousy with awesome names for his opponents. They include "Spider" Rico, Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, Tommy "The Machine" Gunn, and Mason "The Line" Dixon.
* Castor Troy in ''Film/FaceOff''. He and his brother Pollux are named for the Gemini of Greek mythology.
* Parodied in ''Film/DodgeballATrueUnderdogStory'':
-->'''White Goodman:''' Allow me the pleasure of introducing you to Blade... Laser... Blazer...
* Derek Film/{{Zoolander}}.
* The Australian short film ''The House of Names'' revolves around two protagonists who spend all their time trying to think up something cool to change their names to.
* In ''Film/BoogieNights'' the main character changes his name to Dirk Diggler. That's just okay, but the name of his character (in the Kung Fu ... er ... ''something''-em-up he wrote) is named Brock Landers. (His partner Reed Rothchild's character is the even better Chest Rockwell.)
* The B-scifi movie ''Film/{{Trancers}}'', and its many sequels, revolve around a time-travelling future cop by the name of Jack Deth. In a subversion, everyone he meets outside of his own time period [[LampshadeHanging mocks his name relentlessly.]]
* The unlikely-named John Spartan and Simon Phoenix in ''Film/DemolitionMan''.
* The eponymous protagonist of ''Film/MajorPayne''. His full name is Benson Winifred Payne, which isn't too great at all, but once he's joined the Marine Corps and attained the rank of Major...
* ''Film/BlackDynamite''. PlayedForLaughs, as this is apparently his real name. In one scene, a few neighborhood girls remark that both their mothers told them that "Black Dynamite" is the name of their father. Looking guilty, our hero asserts, "A lot of cats have that name..."
* Clear Rivers in ''Film/FinalDestination'' and its first sequel.
* While many Germanic names sound this way to the English-speaking ear, Wolf Helius from Creator/FritzLang's film ''The Woman in the Moon'' probably qualifies.
* ''Film/ZackAndMiriMakeAPorno''
-->'''Zack''': What's your name?
-->'''Lester''': Lester... Lester the Molester Cockenschtuff.
-->'''Zack''': Wow. That's a great porn name.
-->'''Lester''': I get to pick a porn name?... Then I want to be called... Pete Jones.
* The titular Nemo Nobody in ''Film/MrNobody'', who is the last mortal human after advances in medical technology have cured aging and decrepitude.
* ''Film/KillBill'' has several of them, like Elle Driver, Vernita Green, Sophie Fatale and [[spoiler:Beatrix Kiddo]] isn't shabby either. Also Go-Go Yubari.
* One of the main characters from ''Film/SmokeSignals'' whose surname is Build-A-Fire. His grandmother is known as Grandma Builds-A-Fire.
* In ''She Devil'' is a character, an overly developed, and quite healthy woman named Olivia Honey.
* Most ''Film/JamesBond'' films have cool names, such as Jaws, Pussy Galore, and Goldfinger. Ironically, "James Bond" was chosen as a good spy name because it's so ordinary.
* In ''Film/DownPeriscope'', the electricians name was "Nitro". But he was looking for a cool nickname - "What do you think of this ... Mike"
* Junito Rocket Racer Rebel Cortez or Juni for short, from ''Film/SpyKids''.
** What about his sister, Carmen Elizabeth Juanita Costa-Brava Cortez?
* Jericho "Action" Jackson in ''Action Jackson''.
* Creator/SamuelLJackson gets one, "Mister Señor Love Daddy" in ''Film/DoTheRightThing'', as is his due.
* Creator/LeslieNielsen's secret agent parody ''Film/SpyHard'' had Agent WD-40: Dick Steele
* In Creator/GuillermoDelToro's ''Film/PacificRim'', character names such as Raleigh Becket, Yancy Becket, Newt Gotlieb, Tendo Choi, Herc Hansen, and Stacker Pentecost.
** And that's before we get into the names of the robots themselves. Like, for example, Cherno Alpha, Crimson Typhoon, Gipsy Danger, Coyote Tango, '''''Brawler Yukon'''''...
*** And the name of the Kajius, Tresspasser, Raiju, Knifehead, Leatherback, Scissure.
**** Heck, ''Every'' single name in the movie is awesome.
* From ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', the protagonist's name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. Sounds like a serious individual and he is.
* Han Solo Berger in ''Film/ThatsMyBoy''. No one can figure out why he uses the name Todd Peterson for his profession.
* One of the characters of ''Film/{{Giant}}'' is named Jett Rink, which is made even cooler because he's played by Creator/JamesDean (in his final role).
* Several characters in ''Film/{{Apocalypto}}'', including [[TheHero Jaguar Paw]], [[BigBad Zero Wolf]], and Snake Ink.
* The cast of ''Film/TheExpendables'' and its sequel, including such greats as Lee Christmas, Toll Road, Hale Caesar, Yin Yang, and Gunnar Jensen.
* From ''Film/GetShorty'' and its sequel ''Film/BeCool'' we get Chili Palmer.
* Will Smith's character in ''Film/AfterEarth'': ''Cypher Raige.''
* Almost everyone in ''Film/NowYouSeeMe'' but J. Daniel Atlas and Jack Wilder are particularly cool and epic, even if the former is possibly a stage name.
* ''Film/PacificRim'':
** ''All'' the Jaegers:
*** Brawler Yukon (USA)
*** Cherno Alpha (Russia)
*** Chrome Brutus (Canada)
*** Coyote Tango (Japan)
*** Crimson Typhoon (China)
*** Diablo Intercept (Chile)
*** Echo Saber
*** Eden Assassin (Russia)
*** Gipsy Danger (USA)
*** Horizon Brave (China)
*** Hydra Corinthian
*** Mammoth Apostle
*** Matador Fury (Mexico)
*** Nova Hyperion
*** Puma Real (Panama)
*** Romeo Blue (USA)
*** Shaolin Rogue (China)
*** Solar Prophet (Peru)
*** Striker Eureka (Australia)
*** Tacit Ronin (Japan)
*** Vulcan Specter (Australia)
** [[RunningGag All the Humans]]: Idris Elba plays Marshal Stacker Pentecost. Creator/RonPerlman is Hannibal Chau. Charlie Day is Newton Geiz ler. Charlie Hunnam is Raleigh Becket. The older Australian pilot is Hercules Hanson.
** [[RuleOfThree All the Kaiju]]: "Trespasser", "Dengue", "Slattern", "Raiju" (literally "Lightning Monster"), "Onibaba" ("Grandmother [[{{Youkai}} Ogre]]") "Knifehead", "Leatherback", "Otachi", "Scissure", "Kaiceph", "Verociter", "Karloff", "Belobog" and "Scunner".
* ''Film/CaptainKronosVampireHunter'' has Kronos himself, and his assistant, Professor Hieronymous Grost.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* In ''Literature/LoneWolf'', all the Kai have names along the lines of "Adjective Animal", given upon their initiation. Many of them follow this trope. For instance, the main character started out as "Silent Wolf", but after the rest of the order was killed in the prologue to the first book, he took on the book-naming appellation ''Lone'' Wolf.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': "Death Star", "Star Destroyer", "Lightsaber", ...
* Franchise/IndianaJones.
** Even the character admits it in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'':
--> '''Henry Jones''': That's his name. Henry Jones, Junior.\\
'''Indiana Jones''': [[DoNotCallMePaul I like Indiana.]]\\
'''Henry Jones''': [[WeNamedTheMonkeyJack We named the dog]] [[TributeToFido Indiana]].
[[/folder]]

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[[folder: Advertising]]

[[folder: Comics]]

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[[folder: Advertising]]

[[folder:Advertising]]

[[folder:Comics]]

See also Names To Run Away From Really Fast, NamesToTrustImmediately, XtremeKoolLetterz, PunctuationShaker, MyNaymeIs, AerithAndBob, LawOfAlienNames and WhoNamesTheirKidDude.

* ''Fanfic/{{Deserving}}'' has a character called Sin. The author apparently intended it to be a FailOSuckyname bestowed on the child by a father who hated him and his mother, and [[GiverOfLameNames calling him that]] is [[FelonyMisdemeanor allegedly]] a crossing of the MoralEventHorizon, but, well, ''[[[=NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast=] Sin]]''.

** The earliest days of the game seem to alternate between this trope and the total [[FailOSuckyname opposite:]] you'd get superb names like [[[=NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast=] Vlondril, Dragotha, Mordenkainen, the Unnameable Hierarch and Count Strahd von Zarovich.]] Unfortunately, the [[FailOSuckyname less spectacular names]] are all the more painful for the contrast.

*** Dirk initially thinks his title, the Prince of Heart, sounds lame, but then [[spoiler: Calliope]] tells him that in the context of the game it means [[[=NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast=] "Destroyer of Souls"]].

** The first villain of the show is named Nightmare Moon. Seriously, [[[=NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast=] you don't mess with someone with a name like that]].

See also NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast, NamesToTrustImmediately, XtremeKoolLetterz, PunctuationShaker, MyNaymeIs, AerithAndBob, LawOfAlienNames and WhoNamesTheirKidDude.

* ''Fanfic/{{Deserving}}'' has a character called Sin. The author apparently intended it to be a FailOSuckyname bestowed on the child by a father who hated him and his mother, and [[GiverOfLameNames calling him that]] is [[FelonyMisdemeanor allegedly]] a crossing of the MoralEventHorizon, but, well, ''[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Sin]]''.

** The earliest days of the game seem to alternate between this trope and the total [[FailOSuckyname opposite:]] you'd get superb names like [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Vlondril, Dragotha, Mordenkainen, the Unnameable Hierarch and Count Strahd von Zarovich.]] Unfortunately, the [[FailOSuckyname less spectacular names]] are all the more painful for the contrast.

*** Dirk initially thinks his title, the Prince of Heart, sounds lame, but then [[spoiler: Calliope]] tells him that in the context of the game it means [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "Destroyer of Souls"]].

** The first villain of the show is named Nightmare Moon. Seriously, [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast you don't mess with someone with a name like that]].