History Main / OnlyOneName

* Everyone in the Community in ''Literature/TheGiver''. {{Justified}}, since all of them are raised by adoptive parents assigned by the government, and have no reason to carry family names. This also prevents people from becoming too attached to their adoptive families, since familial love is one of the many emotions that society has let go of.

** {{Justified}} in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'', as soldiers of Keves and Agnus are born from PeopleJars and have no concept of family or lineage to justify a surname (and such concepts would be actively stamped out by [[NebulousEvilOrganization Moebius]] if they ever did spring up). The closest they get is [[RedBaron a title relating to their combat abilities or prowess,]] and at least one colony doesn't even allow its inhabitants to have ''[[YouAreNumberSix first names]]'' until the party liberates it. [[LaResistance The City]] on the other hand somewhat averts this, as much of its population comes from one of six noble families [[HeroicLineage originating from the City's founders,]] making family names a big deal for them, though there are still plenty of {{NPC}}s whose surnames aren't shown, even if they have them.

* ''VideoGame/GreedFall'': It seems that the only people who ''do'' have last names are royalty, nobility, or gentry. De Sardet is on the opposite end in that people treat them like they don't have a first name[[note]]In effect, they don't. The game never lets you input a first name[[/note]]. Although Vasco zig-zags this trope, as a Naut he only has a first name, but [[spoiler:it's revealed he was born of a noble family, and his birth name was Leandré d'Arcy]]. [[spoiler:He decides to keep his Naut identity, [[ShedTheFamilyName erasing his nobile identity]].]]
* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'':
** There are only a handful of playable characters in this series who ''don't'' abide by this rule: Sol Badguy ([[ThatManIsDead ori]][[MeaningfulRename gin]][[AppropriatedAppellation ally]] Frederick Bulsara), Ky Kiske, Millia Rage, Chipp Zanuff, Axl Low, Kliff Undersn, Anji Mito, Jam Kuradoberi, Sin [[spoiler:Kiske]], Leo Whitefang, Kum Haehyun, Goldlewis Dickinson, and--arguably--Happy Chaos (which is an alias he adopted during ''REV 2''; his original name remains unknown). Justice too, on account of TheReveal ([[OpenSecret sort of]]) in ''Xrd'' that she's [[spoiler:Sol's girlfriend Aria, who was given the last name Hale in materials following ''Xrd''[='s=] release]]. Originally, there was a pretty good balance in terms of "full names vs. only one name" but it started to go out the window from ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGearX X]]'' onward, not helped by a majority of characters [[ShoutOut/GuiltyGear being named after]] rock bands and musicians (ex. [[Music/BrianMay May]], Music/{{Testament}}, Music/{{Slayer}}, [[Music/BrianEno I-No]], [[Music/FrankZappa Zappa]], etc.) due to AuthorAppeal on the part of Creator/DaisukeIshiwatari. Some of the characters who follow this naming convention (and even some who don't, such as Baiken) may instead fall under NoFullNameGiven, but it's yet to be clarified in-universe.
** Testament is an unusual case, as they were actually adopted by Kliff (Testament is presumably the name they were given after [[WasOnceAMan their conversion into a Gear]]), meaning their surname would logically be Undersn via adoption. Despite their fondness for their father even after losing and regaining their memory, Testament's [[MisanthropeSupreme low opinion of humans]] prior to ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGearStrive -STRIVE-]]'' and probable lack of legal status (on account of [[FantasticRacism being a Gear]]) most likely explain why they never reclaimed their last name.
** Since she never knew her parents, Dizzy only goes by, well, "Dizzy." Though by ''Overture'' she could arguably be called Dizzy [[spoiler:Kiske]], and later material suggests her full birth name should be something along the lines of Dizzy [[spoiler:Hale-Bulsara]].
** Due to mishearing a line from the ''GGX Drama CD'', several English-speaking players believed Johnny's last name to be Sfondi, [[{{Fanon}} which then circulated throughout the Western fandom]]. Officially, it's just Johnny, which may be an example of NoFullNameGiven.
** The original Valentine of ''Overture'' was succeeded by three new Valentines in ''Xrd'' (Ramlethal, Elphelt, and Jack-O'). This could retroactively indicate LastNameBasis was in play (as Valentine appears to be a SpeciesSurname for any [[CloningBlues clones]] of [[spoiler:Aria]]), though it's equally possible that her name was simply Valentine.

** Other exceptions include Chris ([=McLean=]), Harold (Norbert Cheever Doris [=McGrady=] V), D(evon).J(oseph)., Alejandro [[EmbarrassingLastName (Burromuerto)]], Dakota (Milton), Cameron (Corduroy Wilkins), (Mildred) Blaineley (Stacy Andrews O'Halloran), and Nichelle (Ladonna).

* ''WesternAniamtion/TheDragonPrince'': Like in [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Avatar]], there's no reference to any of the main characters having surnames. The only exceptions are the famous explorer "Sir Phineas Kirst" and Callum making up a name during a IHaveThisFriend story.

** Other exceptions include Chris ([=McLean=]), Harold (Norbert Cheever Doris [=McGrady=] V), D(evon).J(oseph)., Alejandro [[EmbarrassingLastName (Burromuerto)]], Dakota (Milton), Cameron (Corduroy Wilkins), and (Mildred) Blaineley (Stacy Andrews O'Halloran).

** In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'', this seems to be the case for most Homs and Nopon, including all those who join the party. The only party member with a last name, Melia Antiqua, is a [[SpaceElves High Entia]] and a princess on top of that, so her surname is actually somewhat important. A handful of NPC Homs do have last names (ex: Emmy Leater), but it's likely that there's just not a large enough Homs population for surnames to be important.
** In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', nobles like Mòrag (Ladair) and Zeke (von Genbu) have last names, but commoners like Rex, Nia and Tora as well as [[ArtificialHuman Blades]] like Pyra, Brighid and Pandoria only have one. Rex is an orphan who considers [[HappilyAdopted his entire hometown of Fonsett Village]] to be his family, while Tora's family seems to follow the same lack-of-surname convention as the Nopon from Bionis. [[spoiler: And Nia is actually a Blade, so like other Blades, she never had a last name to begin with.]]
** {{Justified}} in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'', as soldiers of Keves and Agnus are born from PeopleJars and have no concept of family or lineage to justify a surname (and such concepts would be actively stamped out by [[NebulousEvilOrganization Moebius]] if they ever did spring up). The closest they get is [[RedBaron a title relating to their combat abilities or prowess,]] and at least one colony doesn't even allow its inhabitants to have ''[[YouAreNumberSix first names]]'' until the party liberates it. [[LaResistance The City]] on the other hand somewhat averts this, as much of its population comes from one of six noble families [[HeroicLineage originating from the City's founders,]] making family names a big deal for them, though there are still plenty of {{NPC}}s whose surnames aren't shown if they have them.

** {{Justified}} in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'', as soldiers of Keves and Agnus are born from PeopleJars and have no concept of family or lineage to justify a surname (and such concepts would be actively stamped out by [[NebulousEvilOrganization Moebius]] if they ever did spring up). The closest they get is [[RedBaron a title relating to their combat abilities or prowess.]] [[LaResistance The City]] on the other hand mostly subverts this, as most of its population comes from one of six noble families [[HeroicLineage originating from the City's founders,]] making family names a big deal for them.

** In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', nobles like Mòrag (Ladair) and Zeke (von Genbu) have last names, but commoners like Rex, Nia and Tora as well as [[ArtificialHuman Blades]] like Pyra, Brighid and Pandoria only have one. Rex is an orphan who considers his entire hometown of Fonsett Village to be his family, while Tora's family seems to follow the same lack-of-surname convention as the Nopon from Bionis. [[spoiler: And Nia is actually a Blade, so she never had a last name to begin with.]]

** In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'' nobles like Mòrag (Ladair) and Zeke (von Genbu) have last names, but commoners like Rex, Nia and Tora as well as [[ArtificialHuman Blades]] like Pyra, Brighid and Pandoria only have one. Rex is an orphan who considers his entire hometown of Fonsett Village to be his family, while Tora's family seems to follow the same lack-of-surname convention as the Nopon from Bionis. [[spoiler: And Nia is actually a Blade, so she never had a last name to begin with.]]

** In fact, it's easier to list the non-Leaf village ninja in [[Manga/{{Naruto}} the original series]] that ''do'' have last names; the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist minus Chojuro, the members of Team Dosu, [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Mizukages]] Mei Terumi, Gengetsu Hozuki, and Yagura Karatachi (though his surname was only revealed in SequelSeries ''Manga/{{Boruto}}''), Suigetsu Hozuki, [[SealedInAPersonShapedCan Two-Tails jinchuuriki]] Yugito Nii, and bit-characters [[http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Shibito_Azuma Shibito Azuma]], [[http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Kiyoi_Yotsuki Kiyoi Yotsuki]], and [[http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Ashina_Uzumaki Ashina Uzumaki]]. Even in the Leaf Village, a number of characters go without surnames, such as the Sannin (Tsunade does ''not'' use her grandfather's clan name of "Senju") and Tenten (the only one of the Konoha 12 to never be given a surname).

'''Strange:''' Wong. Just Wong? Like... Adele? Or Aristotle? Drake? Bono? Eminem?

* Scottish-born electronic musician [[Music/{{Sophie}} SOPHIE]].

* In Daniel Clowes' one-shot comic "Gynecology," protagonist Epps was born ''Raymond'' Epps, but had his forename legally excised from all government records, apparently as part of one of his many efforts to reinvent himself.

* In ''Literature/EndoAndKobayashiLive The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte'', commoners like Fiene don't have surnames, following pre-industrial European (and [[WeAllLiveInAmerica Japanese]])) customs. [[spoiler:Ceases to be this after she's been adopted by Marquis Bruno later on.]]

* Myth/ArthurianLegend: Merlin, Sir Kay, Guenivere, Percival... pretty nearly every character in the Arthurian myths. Only Arthur and his father have a known surname -- Pendragon.

->''"My name is Ennis...just Ennis."''
-->-- ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}''

* Ennis is the only character with no last name in ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', being an [[OurHomunculiAreDifferent Homunculus]] made by Szilard Quates. The light novels reveal that she eventually does acquire a last name after a number of decades: [[spoiler:[[HappilyMarried Prochainezo]]]]

* Kino of ''LightNovel/KinosJourney''. It's not even their original name, but one adopted from another traveler.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': The vast majority of characters are like this. Most of the family names that are given, have to do with TheClan {{Ojou}} Reina Lawrence is from, revealed later in the web novels.

* ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'':

* ''LightNovel/TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfOtomeGamesIsToughForMobs'': This is used to reflect social status: Just like in medieval Japan, nobles have family names, while commoners don’t.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'' averts this with everyone except for Legion, Jack, and ([[spoiler:until he joins Clan Urdnot]]) Grunt. Then again, except for Ashley, Kaidan, and a few formal situations involving Tali, almost nobody's last name is ever mentioned. Due to limitations on the system, the player character is only ever called by his/her last name, Shepard.

* In ''LightNovel/EndoAndKobayashiLiveTheLatestOnTsundereVillainessLieselotte'', commoners like Fiene don't have surnames, following pre-industrial European (and [[WeAllLiveInAmerica Japanese]])) customs. [[spoiler:Ceases to be this after she's been adopted by Marquis Bruno later on.]]

** The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series is an unusual case. Originally, the characters were all intended to have only one name, but over the years several characters have implicitly gained surnames, mostly as a quirk of localization. "Toadstool" became Peach's surname when she began going by "Peach" in English, similarly, Bowser's surname is suggested to be "Koopa", his name in Japan. And then there's the question of "[[RepetitiveName Mario Mario]]" and "Luigi Mario"; originally, it was just something made up by western sources, like the [[Series/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow animated productions]], and the [[Film/SuperMarioBros movie]] to justify the name "Mario Bros.", [[FlipFlopOfGod but as of 2015]], "Mario" was confirmed as their last name. [[note]]The name came about in the [[VideoGame/MarioBros 1983 arcade game]] because of Luigi originally just being a {{palette swap}} of Mario, and both of them being brothers (hence "Mario Bros.").[[/note]]

* In general, Japanese adaptations of ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' have a translation convention which causes this trope. To prevent NamesTheSame issues when people are on LastNameBasis--Chinese surnames are short, often homophonous, and are relatively few--the characters' first and last names would be mashed together and treated as if it was a last name. For example, Liu Bei (Bei of the Liu family) would be call Ryuubi (not Ryuu Bi as it should be), and when Japanese etiquette requires LastNameBasis, he would be called Ryuubi-san, rather than Ryuu-san. No, the naming convention in ''Manga/IkkiTousen'' wasn't an invention but rather a existing convention. Additionally, these will also refer the characters by their courtesy names (a unique name given later in life according to Chinese tradition). For example, Zhuge Liang is usually referred to as "Konmin", a Japanese rendition of Kongming, Zhuge Liang's courtesy name.

* Music/{{Raffi}}.

* Before she achieved stardom as Music/JenniferWarnes, Warnes launched her career as Jennifer ''Warren'' before temporarily billing herself as simply "Jennifer" for a couple of years.

* Music/{{Pharrell}}.

* From the 60s, Donovan, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Engn3Ar3k Melanie]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAnpvh6nC4U Melissa]] and [[Creator/RichardBrautigan Victoria]].

* Kristine, a Greek retro {{New Wave| Music}} artist.

* Harry Nilsson, another singer from the 1960s, was sometimes credited as simply "Nilsson".