History Main / SignificantMonogram

* ''Literature/TheMagicMap'': [[spoiler:The General Overseer’s title can be abbreviated to “G.O.”, and he turns out to be the AnthropomorphicPersonification of ''geo''graphy.]]

* ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'':
** '''M'''aria '''C'''ampbell's indicates she's the intended '''M'''ain '''C'''haracter in ''[[FictionalVideoGame Fortune Lover]]'', but after Catarina regaining her PastLifeMemories, the game's plot got completely OffTheRails.
** Catarina's friend '''S'''ophia '''A'''scart just so happens to share her initials with '''A'''tsuko '''S'''asaki (bear in mind that she's Japanese and would have her surname listed first), her best friend in her previous life, [[spoiler:a hint that the former is actually the latter's reincarnation.]]

* From ''Literature/TheHost2008'', written by Stephanie Meyer: the [[BodySurf main character's]] [[GrandTheftMe host]] Melanie Strider. Bonus points in that the two names sound alike.

Compare to SignificantAnagram, MeaningfulName, NamesTheSame and FunWithAcronyms. Distinguished from ThemeInitials in that ThemeInitials are used for multiple characters in a story or universe and may have no significance outside of their recurrence, whereas {{Significant Monogram}}s may be used for only one character in a story but refer to someone or something outside of that story. However, when {{Significant Monogram}}s are used for multiple characters in a universe or work of fiction, it may easily become a case of ThemeInitials.

* ''Literature/TheLaundryFiles'': The main protagonist is Robert [[Literature/BastardOperatorFromHell "Bob" Oliver Francis Howard]]. In one of the stories, he gets an intern, Peter-Fred Young.

A monogram is a symbol made from two or more letters - usually a person's initials. Sometimes a character's personality or destiny is indicated by his or her full name, whether it be a StevenUlyssesPerhero or a LouisCypher. Sometimes, however, the character's full name seems perfectly ordinary, until you spot his or her monogram on a handkerchief or pen and find [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything a funny "coincidence"]]. This trope is about when a character's initials bear some significance to the story.

* The ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fic [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/35124724 Evillustrator: The Romantic Akuma]] gives Lila Rossi the middle names Imani and Angelica, making her full initials LIAR. [[ConsummateLiar It's incredibly accurate]].
** By the same author, ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27236230 Heart Thief]]'' and ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/31413872 Riot and Empath]]'' (among other stories) identify Marc's [[BastardBoyfriend horrible ex-boyfriend]] as '''L'''ucien '''R'''ebois. Given Lucien's skill at lies and manipulation, it's probably not a coincidence that he shares his initials with '''L'''ila '''R'''ossi.

* The ''WesternAnimation'' fic [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/35124724 Evillustrator: The Romantic Akuma]] gives Lila Rossi the middle names Imani and Angelica, making her full initials LIAR. [[ConsummateLiar It's incredibly accurate]].

* Of the theatrical duo GilbertAndSullivan, William Schwenck Gilbert would often be identified by his initials WSG, but Arthur Seymour Sullivan was... not.

* ''TheSimpsons'': It took long but Krusty the Klown understood the unfortunate implications of naming his show the "Krusty Komedy Klassic". To his chagrin, this came ''after'' beginning its performance at the Apollo Theater.

* From ''Literature/TheHost'', written by Stephanie Meyer: the [[BodySurf main character's]] [[GrandTheftMe host]] Melanie Strider. Bonus points in that the two names sound alike.

* John Connor in the ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise, the future saviour of humanity from the machines.

* Music/JarvisCocker refers to his own initials in the first line of {{Music/Pulp}}'s ''The Dishes'', and then compares himself to Jesus in the chorus - "I am not Jesus, though I have the same initials... I'd like to make this water wine, but it's impossible."

However, sometimes initials may be used as a ShoutOut to another, pre-existing fictional character. It's almost certainly not a coincidence that so many fictional super-spies in the late 20th and early 21st century have had the initials "[[Film/JamesBond JB]]" ([[Franchise/TheBourneSeries Jason Bourne]], [[Series/TwentyFour Jack Bauer]], [[Series/{{Alias}} Jack Bristow]], et al.) And sometimes the similarities may be [[SubliminalSeduction subliminal]] or [[DeathOfTheAuthor completely unintentional]], as for instance with Creator/GeneRoddenberry's dashing, womanizing, handsome young [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries hero who first debuted in 1966]]. Although ostensibly named after Capt. James Cook, his "JTK" monogram would be merely a stroke and a half away from the commonly-used monogram for a certain dashing, womanizing, handsome young president who had been martyred, in the eyes of many Americans, merely three years previously. Er... [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical probably]]. In many cases, initials may be used to indicate an AuthorAvatar, especially in MarySue or MartyStu circumstances.

-->'''M.F. Thatherton:''' M.F. Thatherton. Thatherton Fumes.

* ''TheSimpsons'': It took long but Krusty the Klown understood the unfortunate implications of naming shows with three words that start with the letter K.

* Averted heavily in ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies'', as there most definitely ''is'' a Christ-figure in the narrative but as his name is Simon the monogram would simply be "S".

* If you come across any character with the initials "RF" in a Creator/StephenKing book, there's a good chance that character is actually [[Literature/TheStand Randall Flagg]].

* ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'': Catarina's friend '''S'''ophia '''A'''scart just so happens to share her initials with '''A'''tsuko '''S'''asaki (bear in mind that she's Japanese and would have her surname listed first), her best friend in her previous life, [[spoiler:a hint that the former is actually the latter's reincarnation.]]

* Nineteenth-century military buff Hiram U. Grant was reportedly [[GenderBlenderName always embarrassed by the weak-sounding implications of his monogram]]. That is until his application for West Point, when his Congressman, who nominated him for acceptance, apparently mistook his middle name for his first name and his mother's maiden name for his middle initial and submitted him under the much more patriotic initials "UsefulNotes/UlyssesSGrant," which Hiram kept throughout the remainder of his career as general and later as president.

* UsefulNotes/UlyssesSGrant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant, but had it changed because his initials spelled out "Hug" (according to some accounts; others claim it was a clerical error). During UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar he became known as "'''U'''nconditional '''S'''urrender Grant".