History Main / MascotsNameGoesUnchanged

A similar effect can occur in title translations - the reason why the English translation of ''Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni'' (literally ''When the Cicadas Cry'') was titled ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' is probably because the name "Higurashi" had brand recognition.

* ''Manga/DoctorSlump'': The Italian dub of the 80s changed many of the characters' names (including Senbei, who is renamed [[IAmNotShazam Dr. Slump]]), but the main protagonist and mascot Arale always keeps her name. The second dub, released in 2003-2004, restores all the original names.

** The Italian old dub (made in the 80s) of the first 1973 anime changed the names of all the characters except Doraemon. However, the much better known second dub, which started in 2003 and covers both the 1979 and 2005 anime adaptations, uses all the original names.

* In the English translation of Brazilian comic book series [[ComicBook/MonicasGang Monica's Gang]], the entire titular Gang had their names changed: Cebolinha became Jimmy Five, Cascão became Smudge and Magali became Maggie. The Leader Mônica, however, kept the Brazilian name (but without the circumflex).

* ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'' had most names get changed for ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'',, with one-and-a-half exceptions. Lynn Minmay/Minmei kept her name, and Roy Focker's spelling and pronounciation were changed [[note]]the spelling likely to make the historical reference in the name more prominent (after aviation pioneer Anthony Fokker and the famed fighter planes he designed), and the pronunciation to avoid angry parents mistaking the name for an obscenity [[/note]]

* ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'': Latin American and most European dubs changed the names of most characters except Doremi herself. Averted in the English dub, where even Doremi's name is changed into Dorie Goodwyn.

* Despite the English dub [[ThinlyVeiledDubCountryChange taking place in America]], the protagonist of ''Anime/{{Hamtaro}}'' has the same name as he did in the original.

* For ''Franchise/YuGiOh'', most characters will be given an English name in the dub. However TheProtagonist of each respective series will retain their Japanese name: Yugi [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Muto/Moto]], Yusei Fudo, Yuma Tsukumo, and Yuya Sakaki. The only exception is ''[[Anime/YuGiOhGX Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'' protagonist, Judai Yuki, whose name got changed to Jaden in the dub.

* Inverted in [=TokyoPOP=]'s translation of ''Manga/MiracleGirls''. Everyone keeps their Japanese names, except the main twins and their two love interests.
* ''Anime/BakuganBattlePlanet'' replaces several of the ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'' characters. For example, Marucho is replaced with Wynton and Runo/Julie is replaced with Lia. However, Dan is still around with Drago as his bakugan, even though he has a new design.
* In later official ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'' translations, many characters (including Nobita) get renamed; Doraemon himself, however, retains his name.

* In the English translation of Brazilian comic book series ComicBook/{{Monica'sGang}}, the entire titular Gang had their names changed: Cebolinha became Jimmy Five, Cascão became Smudge and Magali became Maggie. The Leader Mônica, however, kept the Brazilian name (but without the circumflex).

* ''Franchise/DragonBall Shenron No Nazo'': Goku's name is left unchanged in the US version (which was called ''Dragon Power''), while various other characters were renamed, examples being Bulma, Yamcha, "Hermit" and Oolong (renamed "Nora", "Lancer", "Hermit" and "Pudgy", respectively). Even the Kamehameha ("Wind Wave") and the eponymous Dragon Balls ("Crystal Balls") were renamed!

!!Examples

* For ''[[Franchise/YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'', most characters will be given an English name in the dub. However TheProtagonist of each respective series will retain their Japanese name: Yugi [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Muto/Moto]], Yusei Fudo, Yuma Tsukumo, and Yuya Sakaki. The only exception is ''[[Anime/YuGiOhGX Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'' protagonist, Judai Yuki, whose name got changed to Jaden in the dub.

[[folder:ComicStrips]]

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more punny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo[[note]]"buffalo" in Swahili/Kikuyu[[/note]] and Bellwether, whose name is a rather obscure pun even in English.

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more punny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo[[note]]"buffalo" in Swahili/Kikuyu[[/note]] and Bellwether, whose name is a rather obscure pun even in English.

* Played with in ''Franchise/DragonBall'', where many characters names get spelling changes in dubs such as Kuririn to Krillin or Freeza to Frieza. However TheProtagonist Goku and his sons' names remain unchanged, although western adaptations tend to drop his family name "Son" and just call him by his given name.

* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more punny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo[[note]]"buffalo" in Swahili/Kikuyu[[/note]] and Belleweather, whose name is a rather obscure pun even in English.

* Back when the Mexican Editorial Novaro translated Creator/DCComics in the 1960s and 1970s, all civilian names (either secret identities or supporting characters) were changed into Latin American Spanish ones, sometimes fully and sometimes just the first or last name (Ex. [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson to "Bruno Díaz" and "Ricardo Tapia"), but the one who kept his full name in English was [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]].

* Back when the Mexican Editorial Novaro translated Creator/DCComics in the 1960s and 1970s, all civilian names (either secret identities or supporting characters) were changed into Latin American Spanish ones, sometimes fully and sometimes just the first or last name, but the one who kept his full name in English was [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]].

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': In pretty much any translation at least some of the characters get a new first and/or last name, but Harry himself always remains Harry Potter.

* In the Dutch dub for ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'', pretty much all characters had their first and/or last names changed from English to Dutch names (Carl became Bram for example), but the main character Ginger kept her original English first name even though "Ginger" is not a common name in Dutch.

* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more punny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo[[note]]"buffalo" in Swahili/Kikuyu[[/note]] Belleweather, whose name is a rather obscure pun even in English.

* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more punny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo[[note]]"buffalo" in Swahili/Kikuyu[[/note]], and the villain [[spoiler:Belleweather]], whose name is a rather obscure pun even in English.

* ,In ''Anime/GlitterForce'', most characters get {{Dub Name Change}}s to go with the ThinlyVeiledDubCountryChange, but the two {{Fairy Companion}}s keep their names.

* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more punny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo, whose name wasn't a pun to begin with, and the villain [[spoiler:Belleweather]].

** Secondary mascot Whisper also goes by his Japanese name in the all other translations.

** Secondary mascot and BreakoutCharacter Komasan, along with all of his [[{{Expy}} expies]], also go by their Japanese name in all other translations. The same can be said for the third mascot, Usapyon.

In many series where characters names [[DubNameChange are changed in translations]], there is often one exception: the SeriesMascot or main character(s). Often times this ends up making them [[OddNameOut stand out]] amongst the characters, which actually [[HeroWithAUniqueName helps distinguish them]].

* In later official ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'' translations, many characters (including Nobita) gets renamed; Doraemon himself, however, retains his name.

** Inverted in the Latin American Spanish dub of ''Anime/InazumaEleven''. Most of the names are left untranslated from the Japanese version. However, the protagonist's first name is changed from Mamoru to Satoru [[CleanDubName because his Japanese name sounds like an inappropiate word in Spanish]].
** The European dubs (including the English one) play a variation of this trope with the soccer teams/schools. The main team Raimon keeps its original name, while most, if not all opposing teams have their name translated.

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* In ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'', every character has a different PunnyName in every language except for the two iconic protagonists, Asterix and Obelix (and any HistoricDomainCharacter that appears).
* Back when the Mexican Editorial Novaro translated Creator/DCComics in the 60s and 70s, all civilian names (either secret identities or supporting characters) were changed into latin american ones, sometimes fully and sometimes just the first or last name, but the one who kept his full name in english was Clark Kent.

* The Latin American dub of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' had basically all the names changed to keep the puns in Spanish. But both Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde keep their names, not even changing their surnames for more puny ones. The only other big exceptions were chief Mbogo, that's wasn't a pun to begin with, and the villain [[spoiler: Belleweather]].

[[folder: Video Games]]

* Inverted in ''Franchise/MegaMan'', whose Japanese name is Rockman, but many other Robot Masters have their name unchanged. 2 other prominent robot characters, Proto Man and Bass, are Blues and Forte in Japan.

[[folder: WesternAnimation]]