History Main / NameMeaningChange

** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', every line of mobile suits use a distinctive inner frame. Gundam are 72 machines that use the "Gundam Frame" which is built with two Ahab Reactors's working in unison instead of the standard one. They were invented three centuries in the past as humanity's solution to a RobotWar against the Mobile Armor (which in this continuity refers to genocidal AI-operated {{Robeast}}s).

** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', every line of mobile suits use a distinctive inner frame. Gundam are 72 machines that use the "Gundam Frame" which is built with two Ahab Reactors's working in unison instead of the standard one and are responsible for winning the Calamity War.

* In ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' canon, Skarloey the engine is named after the Skarloey Railway, which is named after the Skarloey Lake. But since engines name themselves in ''WebAnimation/TheStoriesOfSodor'', the railway used to be called the Crovan's Gate Railway, but was later renamed the Skarloey Railway after the engine became famous.

** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'', "GUND-ARM" is derived from the "GUND Format" that links the suit to the pilot's nervous system with Gundam being a common nickname. An easy way to recognize a Gundam in this setting is the black "shell unit" that glows red TronLines when GUND Format is activated. They're also the only suits that use wireless {{Attack Drone}}s.

** In [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam the original Universal Century continuity]], "Gundam" doesn't have an exact meaning, but it was part of a line of suits with a "Gun[X]" name formula, the others having the more descriptive names [[TankTreadMecha "Guntank"]] and "Guncannon". The name then took on a life of its own after the One Year War, gaining an almost religious meaning.
** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', their name refers to "Gundanium" the [[MadeOfIndestructium hyper-durable]] metal alloy they're uniquely constructed from.

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', UNIT stood for United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, however after the advent of the new series in 2005 this was revised to Unified Intelligence Taskforce due to the fact that the real life UN was less than pleased with being associated with the fictional organization.

When something's title becomes [[ArtifactTitle outdated]], it may be renamed, but often the original name sticks because of familiarity or because it would be difficult to change. Sometimes, however, the creators deal with this by changing not the name, but the ''meaning'' of the name. This can happen in different ways, such as changing the meaning of an acronym, or using wordplay that [[LuckyTranslation conveniently fits the original name]]. If the title refers to someone or something ambiguous, it may be re-explained as actually referring to a different character or plot point. This can come as a result of a of {{Retcon}}.

** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'', "GUND-ARM" is derived from the "GUND Format" that links the suits to the pilot's nervous system with Gundam being a common nickname. An easy way to recognize a Gundam in this setting is the black "shell unit" that glows red TronLines when GUND Format is activated.

** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', Gundam refers to mobile suits that utilize the "GN Drive," a solar-powered reactor that makes them outperform every other machine.
** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', every line of mobile suits use a distinctive inner frame. Gundam are machines that use the "Gundam Frame" and are responsible for winning the Calamity War.
** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'', "Gundam/GUND-ARM" is derived from the "GUND Format" that links the suits to the pilot's nervous system. An easy way to recognize a Gundam in this setting is the black "shell unit" that glows red TronLines when GUND Format is activated.

** In [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam the original Universal Century continuity]], "Gundam" doesn't have an exact meaning, but it was part of a line of suits with a "Gun[X]" name formula, the others having the more descriptive names [[TankTreadMecha "Guntank"]] and "Guncannon".

** In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'', "Gundam/GUND-ARM" is derived from the "GUND Format" that links the suits to the pilot's nervous system.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/BorutoNarutoNextGenerations'', Orochimaru named his ArtificialHuman child Mitsuki with the characters "Mi" meaning [[AnimalMotifs snake]] and "Tsuki" meaning vessel because he was empty and without his own will. Upon Mitsuki asserting his own personality and goals he changes the second character in his name to the character "Tsuki" meaning moon and leaves his father to find his sun to learn what it really means to be human.
[[/folder]]

* In ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', Nico Minoru's Staff of One was originally named because it could only cast any spell once. In ''ComicBook/RainbowRowellsRunaways'', it's revealed that the name actually comes from the fact that it's powered by an entity called The One. The same series also retconned the origin of the Gibborim's name; apparently, they're not really fallen angels (as the name implies) but three godlike beings who happen to be named Gib, Bo, and Rim.

[[folder:Web Comics]]