History Main / TheNameless

** Ichibei Hyosube has the power to literally erase a person or object's name. IKnowYourTrueName is very important in this universe, because they affect the power of something or someone has. Therefore, anyone or anything affected by this ability loses its powers. Unfortunately for him, [[BigBad Yhwach]] was powerful enough to completely counter the ability and remember his name.

* In ''Literature/JonathanStrangeAndMrNorrell'' the character so-called 'Stephen Black' is apparently not actually named Stephen Black, or so it would seem according to the rules of magic, because 'Stephen' was a slave name and not his true name given to him by his mother at his birth (which has been lost). As such, Magic considers him to be "TheNameless King", which is problematic because there is also a historical figure prevalent in the story, the Raven King, who was also given a slave name that was not his real name, John Uskglass, and is also referred to as "TheNameless King". Spells meant to address the latter Nameless King accidentally affect the former Nameless King.
** As to "[[TheFairFolk the Man with the thistle-down hair]]", he is not TheNameless, rather his [[NoNameGiven name is simply never given]].

* Trowa Barton from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' was separated from his family as a baby and raised by a band of mercenaries, who never named him. He remains nameless his entire life until the eve of [[ColonyDrop Operation Meteor]], when he lifts the moniker of the man originally trained to pilot the Gundam Heavyarms. After [[TheMovie Endless Waltz]], he considers himself nameless once more, until his friends convince him to keep it.
** Of course, early on in the show, it's demonstrated that he still hasn't fully accepted the new name:
-->'''Trowa:''' Battle Record 001, pilot's name...let's go with Trowa.\\

* "Scar" in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. When Yoki asks Scar's name, Scar responds that to Ishvalans, a person's name is the most important thing; the name is regarded as a gift from God. So Yoki asks again, and Scar's response is "I threw it away. I threw away my own ''name''." Yoki doesn't dare ask him again. At the end of the series, [[spoiler:he ''still'' refuses to give his name and says you can just call him whatever you want to.]]

* In ''Manga/DragonBall''/''Anime/DragonBallZ'', the Namek who [[LiteralSplitPersonality split into Piccolo and Kami long before the start of the series]] is never named. Neither Piccolo nor Kami remember what their pre-split name was, and when they [[SplitPersonalityMerge merge back together]], the resulting entity calls himself "the Namek who has long since forgotten his name". This doesn't last long, as he soon just goes by Piccolo for the sake of convenience.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In Dreamwave's Transformers comic series [[ComicBook/TransformersGenerationOne "The War Within: The Dark Ages"]], a character is introduced who is only ever referred to as "the Fallen," as his name was taken away from him by his fellow Transformers after he betrayed Primus and sided with Unicron. This is especially significant since Transformer names are not only personal labels, but usually define their entire purpose, personality, and/or function. (In the novel "Transformers Exodus", his original name is given as "Megatronus Prime").

* In ''Comicbook/{{Hellblazer}}'', The Beast was a denizen of Eden who refused to be named by Adam. It hated the idea of being defined, and thus limited, by man. As a result, The Beast became a powerful spirit who lacked a body to call its own who is dedicated to wiping out humanity.

[[folder: Fan Fiction ]]

* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'':

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* In ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', narration discloses that Sauron's spokesman had long forgotten his own name; he introduces himself to the emissaries of the West by his function, the Mouth of Sauron.
** To an extent this applies to many of the enemies. "Sauron" is itself an epithet given to the enemy by the Elves (meaning "abhorred"), and ordinarily his own servants are not allowed to use it. The Nazgul have no names in the published books (though some of Tolkien's other writings gave names to one or another of them). And in the end, Saruman is known as "Sharkey", which Tolkien speculates is from a BlackSpeech word meaning "old man".

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

* In the backstory of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' {{Shapeshifter}} Odo was originally called "unknown sample" in Bajoran but the Cardassian overseeing the project gave it the closest approximation in Cardassian instead: "odo'ital," which translates literally as "nothing".
** From the same series, the Changeling species does not use names. The one who oversees the war in the Alpha Quandrant is content to be referred to as "the female Changeling" and explains to Odo that they have no need for names among themselves, as they exist naturally in a liquid "Great Link." When Odo asks her how they distinguish one Changeling from another without names, she explains that [[HiveMind they don't]].
* In ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', the telepathic [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Wraith]] do not use names. When individual Wraith get captured for interrogation or just become recurring characters, [[TheNicknamer Colonel Sheppard randomly assigns human names to them]] so they can be called something other than "that Wraith".

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Roleplay ]]

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', Snake says that he has no name. Various characters call him different names, including Big Boss (his title [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame given to him by the CIA for his actions in]] ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''), John (his birth name), and Snake (his code name from [=MGS3=]), which is the name he dislikes the least.

* The plot of the Literature/LiadenUniverse prequel ''Crystal Dragon'' involves a school of sorceresses who go their entire lives without names (being born and raised within the school so that this can be ensured). Being equipped with telepathy and other powers helps smooth over the potential social awkwardnesses. The school teaches that being nameless is a strength, rendering a person immune to IKnowYourTrueName types of magic, but it's suggested that it also somehow weakens their individuality and makes them susceptible to being dominated by the school's masters. Some of the sorceresses who break from the school over the course of the story find names for themselves, but the one who gets the most page time never does, and is referred to throughout the series only by description.

* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle has amnesia. While his friends just call him "The Other Yugi" (or Yami in the English dub), others call him "Spirit of the Nameless Pharaoh". [[spoiler:In the final arc, it is learned that his name is Atem.]]

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', Snake says that he has no name. Various characters call him different names, including Big Boss (his title [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame given to him by the CIA for his actions in]] ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'']]), John (his birth name), and Snake (his code name from [=MGS3=]), which is the name he dislikes the least.
** In a similar vein, in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', Liquid implies that he and Solid Snake have no names, no history beyond their programmed lives as clones. [[SubvertedTrope Snake counters that he]] ''[[SubvertedTrope does]]'' have a name]], angering Liquid, who doesn't identify by his own at all. The end of the game reveals that his first name is David.

* In ''{{Literature/Moonflowers}}'', the antagonist is the Horned Hunter of Myth/CelticMythology, frequently just called "the Hunter." Maidin the river-spirit explains that he's a Force of Nature, and would have given up his name on taking the position.

* In ''{{Literature/Moonflowers}}'', the antagonist is the Horned Hunter of Myth/CelticMythology, frequently just called "the Hunter." Maidin the river-spirit explains that he's a literal force of nature--[[AnthropomorphicPersonification that force being predators]]--who gave up his name on taking the position. Given that the Hunter has an in-story children's game about him, he'd be ''extremely'' old.

** In the spin-off ''The Bridge: Humanity's Stand'', the creature from ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' says that he has no name. For the sake of identification, the others may call him Gojira if they wish, a nickname that the ancient people called him.

Often a sign of BlueAndOrangeMorality to some extent, since having a name is necessary to function in society. As such, it's common for free spirits WalkingTheEarth to not have a name, or for members of a HiveMind without individual identities. Also frequently the case with amnesiacs, though unless they specifically choose to remain nameless they usually get a placeholder name.

** Ichibei Hyosube has the power to literally erase a person or object's name. Since IKnowYourTrueName is very important, since they affect the form and power of something or someone. Therefore, anyone or anything affected by this ability loses its powers. Unfortunately for him, [[BigBad Yhwach]] was powerful enough to completely counter the ability and remember his name.

* The cat in ''Literature/{{Coraline}}'' has no name. According to him only humans have names. Cats don't have names because they know who they are but humans are more fickle with their identities and 'need' names.

* The Nameless One from ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. He actually had a name, but due to his amnesia he can't remember what it is. He can eventually relearn his name; however, [[TheUnreveal the player can't.]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* The title characters in ''WesternAnimation/TwoStupidDogs'' have no names, as they are just stray dogs. The show's credits simply identify them as "Big Dog" and "Little Dog".

** Kenpachi had no name growing up, the district of his origin being filled with people little better than animals. After discovering Yachiru, a toddler who also had no name, he decided to name both of them and started his journey to the Seireitei. For a long while Kenpachi's zanpakuto was nameless since Kenpachi never bothered to learn it. Being a BloodKnight who likes handicapping himself to make fights more challenging, the fact that this made his sword less powerful didn't bother him. After his draw against Ichigo, he finds himself sympathizing with his sword since he too knows the pain of living without a name and resolves to learn his sword's name one day. [[spoiler:In the final arc he finally learns its name: ''Nozarashi''.]]
** Ichibei Hyosube has the power to literally erase a person or object's name. Since IKnowYourTrueName is a big thing in this series, anyone or anything affected by this ability loses its powers. Unfortunately, [[BigBad Yhwach]] was powerful enough to counter the ability and remember his name.

* In the ''Literature/{{Earthsea|Trilogy}}'' series the Nameless Ones, formerly the main deities of the Kargad religion, are manifestations of Earth's more malevolent aspects. Some reside in the labyrinths on the island of Atuan.

* In VideoGame/''TouhouProject'', this is, in a manner, Junko's special ability: She is able to purify beings to a priordial state by removing their TrueName. She used this power on herself, too, in order to turn herself into an AnthropomorphicPersonification of pure resentment, which is why she's the only character with no BossSubtitles.

* Not a character, but a game itself: ''VideoGame/NanashiNoGame'''s title translates as "The Nameless Game."

* In ''{{Literature/Moonflowers}}'', the antagonist of the story is the Horned Hunter of Myth/CelticMythology, largely just called "the Hunter." Maidin the river-spirit explains that he's a literal force of nature [[AnthropomorphicPersonification who embodies the concept of "predator hunting prey,"]] and he gave up his name on taking the position. Given that the Hunter has an in-story children's game about him, he'd be ''extremely'' old.

** Monster X's masters only saw him as a weapon and did not see fit to give him an actual name, only using X as a designation so they know who they're talking about.

* In ''{{Literature/Moonflowers}}'', the antagonist of the story is the Horned Hunter of CelticMythology, largely just called "the Hunter." Maidin the river-spirit explains that he's a literal force of nature [[AnthropomorphicPersonification who embodies the concept of "predator hunting prey,"]] and he gave up his name on taking the position. Given that the Hunter has an in-story children's game about him, he'd be ''extremely'' old.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': All Daleks are nameless due to them being "pure" and so similar that they're effectively hiveminds. There are very specific exceptions, such as the Cult of Skarro.

* Every denizen of the shovel-beam-powered hamlet in ''BlankIt''. In fact, they take pride in their namelessness, and anyone who is given a name is immediately rejected from the society. [[http://blankitcomics.com/2009/05/04/introductions/ Here it is]] [[http://blankitcomics.com/2009/05/07/antagonistic-behavior/ in action.]]