History Main / NamesTHeSame

* SignificantNameOverlap: A character's name is often so deeply entrenched to his/her unique identity, that writers try to avoid giving similar names to different characters, even if their names are very common in real life.

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16697781070.96463900 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dennis_the_menace_us_uk_min.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Left: {{ComicStrip/Dennis the Menace|UK}}.\\
Right: ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}}.]]

->''"It's probably just a coincidence, Homer. Like that guy named Creator/AnthonyMichaelHall who stole your car stereo."''
-->-- '''Marge Simpson''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "Homer to the Max"

When unrelated shows have characters who have the very same name. Most of the time it's unintentional. Nevertheless, sometimes the similarities in situation or personality are strong enough to inspire quite interesting {{Crossover}} FanFiction and EpilepticTrees.

This is, in essence, an [[AvertedTrope Aversion]] of a ShoutOut (although there are occasional cases where it's actually done as a Shout Out). Said characters happen to have a few similar attributes and the same name ('''unless the name is a single word, not "a similar name" nor "The same first name" nor "The same last name". The entire name is the same'''), but it's meaningless, or not overly significant.

AliceAllusion, MyHeroZero, and NameOfCain are subtropes. Compare and contrast JustForFun/OneMarioLimit and OneSteveLimit. See also UnfortunateNames, AcronymConfusion, TheDanza (when this trope applies to a character and his/her actor/actress) and NamedLikeMyName (when a character acknowledges that that character has the same name as a celebrity). When imposed on a character by the character’s parents (or other namers) may lead to a WhoNamesTheirKidDude. May lead to HistoricalCharacterConfusion.

In articles or discussions of obscure works featuring such a character, first mention of said character's name would be followed by the phrase, "No, not that one". This is more typical when the character shares a name with a much more well known counterpart. (Do not do this on TV Tropes, not unless it's a defining aspect of the subject. Most of the time, it's Trivia, and belongs in the Trivia tab.)

When this applies to a title, they are SimilarlyNamedWorks.

When there is a large number of entries in a section, they will be ordered in alphabetical order by last name first, to make it easier to find previous entries and the name that more than one party or thing has will be in bold. If you add an entry to a subsection organized this way, please go along, thanks.

!!Example subpages:

[[index]]
* NamesTheSame/RealVsFictional
* Cross Media
** [[NamesTheSame/CrossMediaAToG A to G]]
** [[NamesTheSame/CrossMediaHToM H to M]]
** [[NamesTheSame/CrossMediaNToZ N to Z]]
* NamesTheSame/AnimeAndManga
* NamesTheSame/ComicBooks
* NamesTheSame/FairyTales
* NamesTheSame/{{Film}}
* NamesTheSame/{{Literature}}
* NamesTheSame/LiveActionTV
* NamesTheSame/{{Music}}
* NamesTheSame/ProfessionalWrestling
* NamesTheSame/{{Radio}}
* NamesTheSame/{{Theatre}}
* NamesTheSame/VideoGames
* NamesTheSame/{{Webcomics}}
* NamesTheSame/WebOriginal
* NamesTheSame/WesternAnimation
* NamesTheSame/RealLife
** [[NamesTheSame/RealLife0ToF # to F]]
** [[NamesTheSame/RealLifeGToM G to M]]
** [[NamesTheSame/RealLifeNToZ N to Z]]
[[/index]]

!!Other examples:

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* The Chinese name '''Keke''' (可可, pronounced "koko") has been used for Chinese cartoon characters at least thrice. First, there's Keke the cat hat-wearing girl from ''Animation/NanaMoon''; secondly, there's Keke the actual cat (a FunnyAnimal one) from the seventh season of ''Animation/HappyHeroes''; and thirdly, there's [=KeKe=] the second-grader from ''Animation/KekesStory''.
* '''Motu''' is either the samosa-loving fat man from ''Animation/MotuPatlu'' or one of the annoying mice from ''Animation/PakdamPakdai''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* The Literature/{{Discworld}} as expanded by Creator/AAPessimal has evolved into an interesting place where there are at least ''six'' women characters all called Johanna Smith-Rhodes. Arguably there were at one time ''seven'' - a scene in the Series/TheBigBangTheory crossover ''Fanfic/TheManyWorldsInterpretation'' has the principal Johanna duplicated in time after Sheldon Cooper gets over-excited with an anomolous magical field, where two versions of her, separated by about a fortnight, run around the same time-loop again until she comes up with a solution to this. An older Johanna has a daughter, with her husband Ponder Stibbons. She inherits her father's magical ability and becomes a Witch. As the first ever magic user in the Smith-Rhodes family, Rebecka becomes aware of four deceased members of the family from previous generations, all of whom carried the name Johanna Smith-Rhodes. The deceased Johannas become her [[SpiritAdvisor Spirit Guides]]. [[note]]They differentiate each other by using middle names: family foundress Johanna [[Series/DieLieweHecksie Livinia]] Smith-Rhodes, Johanna Cornelia Smith-Rhodes, Johanna Martia Smith-Rhodes and Johanna Francesca Smith-Rhodes.[[/note]]. Bekki's mother is Johanna Famke, and a cousin is Johanna Viktoria.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:In-Universe Examples]]
* In the ''Series/FullHouse'' episode "Another Opening, Another No Show", Joey tells Jesse that he has managed to book Music/{{REM}} for the grand opening of the Smash Club. Unfortunately, he doesn't find out until mere hours before the club is set to open that the group he books is composed of a triplet of older women (played by the Del Rubio Triplets), [[FunWithAcronyms who name themselves "R.E.M." because their names are Renee, Esther, and Martha, respectively]]. Jesse is not pleased upon discovering this.
* ''Literature/JaineAustenMysteries'': InUniverse, [[spoiler:it's revealed there are two Clyde Wilkins]] in "The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies". One is a famous cardiologist, the other is a resident of Tampa Vistas. [[spoiler:The Tampa Vistas one is not a doctor (he used to be a pipe fitter), even though the residents think he is. When the book's victim (and an actual doctor) Preston [=McCay=] finds this out, he plans to expose Wilkins, which leads to [=McCay=] being murdered.]]
* ''Series/AbbottElementary'': Used for a gag in "Wrong Delivery". Barbara has a habit of mixing up white and black celebrities (eg. saying Music/CarrieUnderwood instead of Creator/KerryWashington). When she praises "Michelle Williams" as a "[[TheDiva diva]]" her coworkers are gleeful because she actually correctly referred to [[Music/MichelleWilliams a black celebrity]]...only for her to loop back around and praise Creator/MichelleWilliams's Oscar win.
-->'''Janine:''' So close.
* Tony Goldmark makes a joke out of this in the opening of ''Film/TheCountryBears'' episode of ''Podcast/EscapeFromVaultDisney'', falsely saying that the episode is sponsored by the Godiva Goldmark Collection chocolates, blatantly stating at the end he only made the bit because he just found out about the product.
[[/folder]]

* The Literature/{{Discworld}} as expanded by Creator/AAPessimal has evolved into an interesting place where there are at least ''six'' women characters all called Johanna Smith-Rhodes. Arguably there were at one time ''seven'' - a scene in the Series/TheBigBangTheory crossover ''Fanfic/TheManyWorldsInterpretation'' has the principal Johanna duplicated in time after Sheldon Cooper gets over-excited with an anomolous magical field, where two versions of her, separated by about a fortnight, run around the same time-loop again until she comes up with a solution to this. An older Johanna has a daughter, with her husband Ponder Stibbons. She inherits her father's magical ability and becomes a Witch. As the first ever magic user in the Smith-Rhodes family, Rebecka becomes aware of four deceased members of the family from previous generations, all of whom carried the name Johanna Smith-Rhodes. The deceased Johannas become her SpiritGuides. [[note]]They differentiate each other by using middle names: family foundress Johanna [[Series/DieLieweHecksie Livinia]] Smith-Rhodes, Johanna Cornelia Smith-Rhodes, Johanna Martia Smith-Rhodes and Johanna Francesca Smith-Rhodes.[[/note]]. Bekki's mother is Johanna Famke, and a cousin is Johanna Viktoria.

* ''Literature/JaineAustenMysteries'': InUniverse, [[spoiler:it's revealed there are two Clyde Wilkins]] in "The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies". One is a famous cardiologist, the other is a resident of Tampa Vistas. [[spoiler:The Tampa Vistas one is not a doctor (he used to be a pipe fitter), even though the residents think he is. When Preston [=McCay=] finds this out, he plans to expose Wilkins, which leads to [=McCay=] being murdered.]]

* In the ''Series/FullHouse'' episode "Another Opening, Another No Show", Joey tells Jesse that he has managed to book Music/{{REM}} for the grand opening of the Smash Club. Unfortunately, he doesn't find out until mere hours before the club is set to open that the group he books is composed of a triplet of older women, [[FunWithAcronyms who name themselves "R.E.M." because their names are Renee, Esther, and Martha, respectively]]. Jesse is not pleased upon discovering this.

[[folder:Fictional Examples]]

[[AC:AsianAnimation]]

In articles or discussions of obscure works featuring such a character, first mention of said characters name would be followed by the phrase, "No, not that one". This is more typical when the character shares a name with a much more well known counterpart. (Do not do this on TV Tropes, not unless it's a defining aspect of the subject. Most of the time, it's Trivia, and belongs in the Trivia tab.)

->''"It's probably just a coincidence, Homer. Like that guy named Anthony Michael Hall who stole your car stereo."''

[[caption-width-right:350: Left: {{ComicStrip/Dennis the Menace|UK}}\\
Right: ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}} ]]

* NamesTheSame/CrossMediaAToG
* NamesTheSame/CrossMediaHToM
* NamesTheSame/CrossMediaNToZ

* [[NamesTheSame/TropePantheons TV Tropes Pantheon]] (JustForFun)
** [[NamesTheSame/TropePantheonsAToM A to M]]
** [[NamesTheSame/TropePantheonsNToZ N to Z]]

AliceAllusion, MyHeroZero, and NameOfCain are subtropes. Compare and contrast OneMarioLimit and OneSteveLimit. See also UnfortunateNames, AcronymConfusion, TheDanza (when this trope applies to a character and his/her actor/actress) and NamedLikeMyName (when a character acknowledges that that character has the same name as a celebrity). When imposed on a character by the character’s parents (or other namers) may lead to a WhoNamesTheirKidDude. May lead to HistoricalCharacterConfusion.

AliceAllusion, MyHeroZero, and NameOfCain are subtropes. Compare and contrast OneMarioLimit and OneSteveLimit. See also UnfortunateNames, AcronymConfusion, TheDanza (when this trope applies to a character and his/her actor/actress) and NamedLikeMyName (when a character acknowledges that they have the same name as a celebrity). When imposed on a character by their parents (or other namers) may lead to a WhoNamesTheirKidDude. May lead to HistoricalCharacterConfusion.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Asian Animation]]

[[/folder]]

AliceAllusion, MyHeroZero, and NameOfCain are subtropes. Compare and contrast OneMarioLimit and OneSteveLimit. See also UnfortunateNames, AcronymConfusion, TheDanza i(f this applies to a character and his/her actor/actress) and NamedLikeMyName (if a character acknowledges that they have the same name as a celebrity). When imposed on a character by their parents (or other namers) may lead to a WhoNamesTheirKidDude. May lead to HistoricalCharacterConfusion.

AliceAllusion, MyHeroZero, and NameOfCain are subtropes. Compare and contrast OneMarioLimit and OneSteveLimit. See also UnfortunateNames and AcronymConfusion. If this applies to a character and his/her actor/actress, see TheDanza. When imposed on a character by their parents (or other namers) may lead to a WhoNamesTheirKidDude. If a character acknowledges that they have the same name as a celebrity, it's NamedLikeMyName. May lead to HistoricalCharacterConfusion.

[[caption-width-right:350: Left: {{ComicStrip/Dennis the Menace|UK}},\\
right: ComicStrip/{{Dennis the Menace|US}}. ]]