History NoNameGiven / LiveActionTV

* The real name of eponymous hero of the ''Series/TheRangeRider'' was never revealed.

** The character played by Majel Barrett in the first series pilot, "The Cage", is referred to only as "Number One", the unofficial nickname attached to her position as Captain Pike's first officer.

*** Cat’s parents are same, with the Cat Priest in “[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIWaitingForGod Waiting For God]]” only referring to them as “the Cripple and the Idiot” (“the Cripple” being his mom since “the Idiot” was explicitly confirmed to be Cat’s dad as he ate his own feet). [[spoiler: The only named member of their family is Roden, Cat’s long lost brother and the BigBad of The Promised Land special.]]

** While Rimmer’s brothers (John, Howard and Frank), his uncle (Frank), cousins (Alice and Sarah), sister in law (Janine) and biological father (Dungo Dennis) are all named, his mother and father are only known as Mr Rimmer and Mrs Rimmer. Lister’s family, his late father and Gran (later revealed to be adoptive since he was found under a pool table and [[MyOwnGrandpa is his own father]]) are similarly unnamed.

* ''Series/StrangerThings'': The names of the other agencies working alongside the Department of Energy and Army are never explicitly mentioned, but it can be assumed due to the consistent references to MKUltra that the CIA plays at least some role in the operation. It's also suggested the NSA is in cahoots as well, given that the houses close to the site are bugged, and Connie Frazier is briefly seen with what appears to be an NSA badge.

*** Cats’ parents are same, with the Elder Cat in “[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIWaitingForGod Waiting For God]]” only referring to them as “the Cripple and the Idiot” (“the Cripple” being his mom since “the Idiot” was explicitly confirmed to be Cat’s dad as he ate his own feet). [[spoiler: The only named member of their family is Roden, Cat’s long lost brother and the BigBad of The Promised Land special.]]

** The Cat, as Lister says in “[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIVDimensionJump Dimension Jump]]” doesn’t have a name is just “[[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Cat]]”. In the Red Dwarf novel ''Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers'' written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, it’s revealed Cat does actually have a name but he figures [[AwesomeEgo he’s the centre of the universe]] so if the others don't know his name already, he's not telling them. The failed American Red Dwarf pilot [[NamedByAdaptation gives]] Cat the name “Woo-fen”.

** It's a while before we find out Angel's real name is "Liam".

* On ''Series/{{Firefly}}'', Shepherd Book's real name was never revealed, not even in [[Film/{{Serenity}} the movie]] or the comic-book adaptation. Derrial Book [[spoiler: was the name he took from [[KillAndReplace a man he killed]]]].

* One of the main characters in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' is simply known as "The Janitor". His nametag and uniform also just say "Janitor", and he even calls himself "Dr. Jan Itor" when pretending to be a doctor. It was said (jokingly) that when the Janitor's name is revealed, the series will be over. One episode features JD discovering that the Janitor had a role in the film ''The Fugitive'', suggesting that the Janitor is actually supposed to be the actor portraying him (Creator/NeilFlynn), fallen on hard times. In one episode he fools J.D. by signing his name as "Dr. Rotinaj". In the last episode though,[[spoiler: he reveals to JD that his name is "Glenn Matthews". He never revealed his name, because no one ever asked. Someone immediately calls him "Tony", making the revelation dubious, but Word of God has confirmed that it is his real name]].

** The Doctor's name has never been revealed, with this mystery having been built straight into the show's title. The series initially implied that Time Lords did not have personal names, [[RetCon but this later got forgotten]]. River Song whispers the Doctor's name into his ear in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead "Forest of the Dead"]]. The Doctor confirms it towards the end of the episode, though naturally the audience never hears it. Other episodes have alluded to his name being hidden in some dark secret ([[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E4TheGirlInTheFireplace "The Girl in the Fireplace"]]; [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E2TheShakespeareCode "The Shakespeare Code"]]; [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E2TheFiresOfPompeii "The Fires of Pompeii"]]). The end of series 6 reveals [[spoiler:there is one time and place where he can be asked who he is and must answer truthfully — and that there are those willing to do anything to kill him and stop him ever answering]], making the running gag below deadly serious.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E11TurnLeft "Turn Left"]]: The universe-hopping [[spoiler:Rose Tyler]] never tells anyone what her name is. She explains that this is because saying the wrong word could "destabilize an entire causal nexus" (i.e. screw up an entire timeline). It also [[spoiler:delays the Doctor's OhCrap reaction at the end when Donna tells him about what happened]].

* On many reality shows (one example being ''Series/BillyTheExterminator''), last names aren't given, even the ones of the people the show is about.
* Creator/TheBBC made a documentary about the research centre [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porton_Down Porton Down]], which is one of the most secret sites in Britain (think Area 51, but exponentially creepier). The site director was the only person interviewed whose surname was shown, and it is possible that "Alan", "Marcus" and "Cerys" were not those people's real names.
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* ''Series/AccordingToJim'': All but one of the cast members are only referred to by their first names. The one exception takes place in Dana after she gets married and adopts her husband's surname.

* From ''Series/{{Becker}}'', Linda and Bob's last names were never revealed.
* If you're trying to remember the full names of all the characters on ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', you might find yourself stuck when you get to Penny. We have six characters with fun-sounding three-word names, and then just... Penny. Heck, since her real name being "Penelope" was only implied, we can't even say for sure we know her ''first'' name.
** This was apparently an oversight. The writers created full names for the other characters because the production team wanted to create diplomas for their set design, while Penny was just Penny. This created a certain anticipation in the fanbase for when her name would be revealed, but unlike other examples the show never made her lack of a last name into a joke. By the later seasons she did gain a new last name, after marrying Leonard, [[TheyDo Penny Hofstader]].
** However, in season 2, episode 18, "The Work Song Nanocluster", Penny surname is send on the address label of a parcel that she received. It is Teller.
** Howard's mother was always referred to as Mrs. Wolowitz, at least until the eighth season when Stuart calls her Debbie.

** Faith's surname was not revealed as Lehane (probably a ShoutOut to the crime writer Dennis Lehane) until after the TV shows ended. It was first used in the support material for the official role-playing game. The lack of a surname subtextually places her among the show's supernatural entities and villains, most of whom have OnlyOneName.
** While we know that Spike's real name is "William", only after the shows ended did Joss Whedon reveal his last name is "Pratt".

* The BBC show ''Series/{{Bugs}}'' manages this with the three stars, Nick Beckett, Ros Henderson and 'Ed', who has no specified surname.

* Series/{{Columbo}}'s first name or his wife's is never given. He is only known by his rank. Being that his wife is [[TheGhost never seen]]. His badge does appear in several episodes showing his full signature but unfortunately never quite clearly enough to be read on VHS although it was clearly seen as "Frank" on the [=DVDs=]. Also in TabletopGame/TrivialPursuit and other games his name is a question and the answer is Philip, though this was placed as a trap by Fred L. Worth, to catch out those who infringed the copyright of his book, "The Trivia Encyclopedia". There was also a show called (among other things) ''Series/MrsColumbo'' in which her name is revealed to be Kate, but again it is not considered canon.
* Mac Taylor on ''Series/{{CSINY}}''. Mac *can* be a full name, but we've never found out for sure. Creator/GarySinise has said his name is [=McCanna=] (after Gary's son), but they've never said it onscreen.
* Speaking of ''Series/DangerMan'', due to the concept of the lead character often going undercover, there are many episodes in which his real name, John Drake, is never uttered on screen and is only revealed in the closing credits. The US broadcast of the series, retitled ''Secret Agent'', addresses the lack of name in its theme song "Secret Agent Man" ("They've given you a number/and taken away your name").

** In the classic series, UNIT stalwart Sergeant Benton was never referred to except as "Sergeant Benton" or "Benton". (In his first appearance he was "Corporal Benton".) The Fifth Doctor, long after the UNIT era, still referred to him as "Sergeant Benton" even after mentioning all of his other old UNIT pals by first and last name, and despite having also worked with Benton after he promoted to Warrant Officer. Fandom says his first name is John, probably derived from the name of the actor playing him (John Levene), but the name has only been used in expanded universe books and videos.

* [[TheUnreveal Not revealing]] Mrs. Doyle's first name became a RunningGag in ''Series/FatherTed''. At one point, she said it three times, but was drowned out by [[SoundEffectBleep a convenient noise]] each time. An early scene cut for time but included in the scripts book revealed it as Joan, which the scriptwriters regretted.

* ''Series/GetSmart'' has, er, a ''[[{{Pun}} number]]'' of examples:

** Ditto the Chief, who could only reveal his first name (Thaddeus) as a matter of national security.
** Most other CONTROL agents are identified only by number; on the other hand, Agent Larabee's number is not revealed.
* ''Series/GilligansIsland''.
** The conceptual material for the series listed Gilligan's name as "Willy Gilligan", but during the series, it was used as a first name, with the last name never revealed.
** Similarly, the Skipper (Jonas Grumby) and the Professor (Roy Hinkley) were known mainly by their titles.
** Mrs. Howell was called Lovey but this was a nickname. Her real first name, Eunice, was mentioned in only one episode.

* Cappie in ''Series/{{Greek}}''. Though it's not that ''all'' of the characters don't know his real name; in fact, one of them threatened to reveal it to everybody as blackmail. [[EmbarrassingFirstName He quickly complied]]. It was revealed in the final episode that his real name is Captain John Paul Jones. Similarly Beaver was known as that for most of the series and his name was just revealed a few episodes earlier to be Walter Boudreaux, only his girlfriend calls him by his name so when she asks for "Walter" nobody seems to know who he is.

** Mr. Bennet's partner, who appears fairly regularly, is never referred to as anything but "the Haitian". In season 4, people start calling him Ren&eacute out of the blue.

** Wendy the Waitress' last name is never given. Made even funnier when it's revealed she married one of Marshall's coworkers, who is only known by his last name "Meeker".
** Wendy's last name may be an enforced RiddleForTheAges, because the Ted of the year 2021 couldn't remember her name until she prompted him ("Hey! It's...uh...you...""Wendy the Waitress?""RIGHT! Wendy the Waitress!"), so one might assume the Ted of 2030, and everyone in the stories he tells, refers to her as Wendy the Waitress simply because the Ted of 2030 can't remember her last name. Like the girl whose name Future Ted couldn't remember and referred to as "Blah Blah", and so everyone in the past was depicted as calling her "Blah Blah" as well.

* Jeeves, from ''Series/JeevesAndWooster'', is universally known simply by his last name. It isn't until the final episode that we hear someone address him as [[spoiler:"Reggie", presumably for Reginald]]. Unfortunately, many descriptions of the character freely use his full name, which rather [[ItWasHisSled spoils the surprise]].

* On TV and in the radio, ''Franchise/TheLoneRanger'' was this trope. We know his last name was Reid, like his brother and great grand-nephew ''Radio/TheGreenHornet'', but we never learn his first name in those versions. It is given as 'John' in later media. In the final chapter of the 1938 Republic The Lone Ranger movie serial, he is revealed to be Texas Ranger Allen King. In the second serial, The Lone Ranger Rides Again, he identifies himself as "Bill Andrews".

* ''Series/{{MacGyver|1985}}''[='=]s first name was only revealed in the series finale.[[note]]It's "Angus", by the way.[[/note]]
* In ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', the family's last name is never spoken, but during the pilot, Francis wears a nametag that reads "Wilkerson", and during a deleted scene shown on the first season DVD, the name Wilkerson is also said. The pilot's script also refers to the family with the name Wilkerson.

* ''Man in a Suitcase'' featured an ex-CIA man turned Private Eye who was known only as [=McGill=]. Supposedly his first name was John, but it was never used onscreen.
* ''Series/{{MASH}}''
** Radar's real name (Walter) wasn't revealed until episode 81 ("Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?") in season 4, even though it appears in the ''very first sentence'' of the [[Literature/{{Mash}} original novel]].
** Dr. B.J. Hunnicutt insists that his name was given to him by his mother, ''Bea'' Hunnicutt, and his father, ''Jay'' Hunnicutt, and his official Army files list only his initials.
** Sparky's last name (Pryor) is mentioned once, in Season 1. His first name is never mentioned at all.

* In ''Series/MrBean'', the title character's first name was never revealed although "Mr" and "Rowan" are seen, on different occasions, in the first name section of his passport. The book ''Mr. Bean's Diary'' included an old report card on which his first name was covered by an ink stain.
* Not only is ''Series/MrLucky''[='s=] first name never revealed, it's not even specified whether "Andamo" is his sidekick's first or last name.

* Nobody knows C.C. Babcock's full name in ''Series/TheNanny'' until it's revealed in the final episode: [[spoiler: Chastity Claire Babcock]].

* Many if not most series regulars on ''Series/{{Nikita}}'' start out this way. The title character stays with no last name until roughly the middle of season 2, when a TV reporter reveals it as Meers. Michael, Amanda, and Percy have no last name through the season 2 finale.

** There's also the fact that the names of the two main characters are aliases. While Reese's first name actually is 'John', his real surname is never revealed. Midway through the third season, flashbacks confirmed that 'Harold' really is Finch's first name, but his last name remains unknown.

* Two SixthRanger types in ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' and ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' never have their true identities revealed: The Phantom Ranger, and the original Magna Defender. Other Rangers have gone with only first names ever mentioned on camera. These include original Ranger Billy, Mystic Force sisters Madison and Vida, Samurai Rangers Mike, Kevin and Emily, Megaforce Rangers Troy, Noah, Jake, Gia and Emma. (Last names for all but the Samurai Rangers have been revealed in other media. Billy Cranston, Madison and Vida Rocca, Troy Burrows, Noah Carver, Jake Holling, Gia Moran and Emma Goodall.) There are also numerous Rangers of extra-terrestrial origin who are known only by one name, but it is possible that there planets do not have last names. (Andros, Zhane, Maya, Karone, Orion and the Rangers from Aquitar.)
* In ''Series/ThePretender'', virtually ''no one'' has a full name:
** Jarod, Sydney, Jacob, Brigitte, Sam the Cleaner, Willie the Cleaner, Angelo, Major Charles, Margaret, Emily, and Kyle are only known by their first names, and no last names are ever given.
** Miss Parker, Mr. Parker, Broots, and Mr. Fenigor are only known by their last names, and no first names are ever given.
** Only William Raines, Debbie Broots, and Catherine Parker (née Jamieson) get full names.
** Mr. Lyle is an interesting case, as that's an alias he adopted, and he may not even have a first name. One episode does reveal his full childhood name -- [[spoiler:Bobby Bowman]] -- but he would probably argue that [[DoNotCallMePaul that's not his name any more]], if it ever really was.

* ''Series/QuincyME'' is called one of four things: "Quincy", "Dr. Quincy", "Doctor" or "Quince" - while one episode has a shot of his business card showing his first name begins with the letter R, said name is never used. Not even by his girlfriends. Not even by the ''officiating pastor'' in "Quincy's Wedding, Part 2" when the main man takes a new bride!

* In ''Series/SimonAndTheWitch'', the witch and Simon's mother are never named. This is turned into a running gag with the former being called "Mrs... Er..." or "old tatty lady" and the latter "Mrs Woman". Simon and Sally's surnames are never revealed.

* ''Series/TeenWolf'':
** Stiles' first name is unknown, and is supposedly {{embarrassing|FirstName}} and [[NoPronunciationGuide very hard to pronounce]]. According to his dad, Stiles himself was the one who decided that he wanted to be [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname called Stiles]], which is derived from their last name, Stilinski.
** Stiles' dad is this as well; his first name is never revealed, and he is referred to as [[TheSheriff Sheriff]] Stilinski. A [[{{Fanon}} surprising amount of fans]] prefer to call him John.

* Almost none of the characters in ''Series/TrailerParkBoys'' have any last names given. Given that they're often in court for their various crimes, this becomes comical as the judge always just refers to them as Ricky, Jules, Bubbles, etc. (especially Bubbles, as this is explicitly said to be a nickname. We never find out his real first or last name). Jim Lahey and his related family (and Sam Lasco) are the only recurring characters who get both first and last names.

** This was apparently an oversight, the writers created full names for the other characters because the production team wanted to create diplomas for their set design, while Penny was just Penny. This created a certain anticipation in the fanbase for when her name would be revealed, but unlike other examples the show never made her lack of a last name into a joke. But by the later seasons she did gain a last name after marrying Leonard, [[TheyDo Penny Hofstader]].

%%* ''Series/TheVirginian'' was this trope.

** The mother is not named throughout most of the show. Mostly justified in that none of the characters have met her yet, but great pains have been taken to conceal her name anyway. In "Girls vs. Suits", when Ted goes out with a [=PhD=] student who was the mother's roommate, she refers to the mother as "my roommate", even when she talks about her in some detail. [[spoiler: Season 9 reveals her name is Tracy McConnell.]]

** The mother is not named throughout the show. Mostly justified in that none of the characters have met her yet, but great pains have been taken to conceal her name anyway. In "Girls vs. Suits", when Ted goes out with a [=PhD=] student who was the mother's roommate, she refers to the mother as "my roommate", even when she talks about her in some detail.

* ''Series/{{Bones}}'' has never revealed the name of Angela's father. Or her real name for that matter. We know her dad is Billy Gibbons in real life, but he never is given an onscreen name. And Angela named herself when she became an adult, due to her dad giving her an EmbarrassingFirstName.

* One of the main characters in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' is simply known as "The Janitor". His nametag and uniform also just say "Janitor", and he even calls himself "Dr. Jan Itor" when pretending to be a doctor. It was said (jokingly) that when the Janitor's name is revealed, the series will be over. One episode features JD discovering that the Janitor had a role in the film ''The Fugitive'', suggesting that the Janitor is actually supposed to be the actor portraying him (Neil Flynn), fallen on hard times. In one episode he fools J.D. by signing his name as "Dr. Rotinaj". In the last episode though,[[spoiler: he reveals to JD that his name is "Glenn Matthews". He never revealed his name, because no one ever asked. Someone immediately calls him "Tony", making the revelation dubious, but Word of God has confirmed that it is his real name]].

* All but one of the cast members in ''Series/AccordingToJim'' are only referred to by their first names. The one exception takes place in Dana after she gets married and adopts her husband's surname.
* The sketch comedy ''Series/AlmostLive'' regularly features "Mind Your Manners", kung-fu parody skits in which the hero Billy Quan always delivers a beat-down on the same unnamed and unrepentant {{Jerkass}} (played by the show's host John Keister.)
* GOB's wife on ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' is never given a name, to reflect the fact that GOB doesn't know it. She's listed as "Bride of GOB" in the credits and "Wife of GOB" in other material. GOB makes several guesses to it, including "Krindy", "Amy" (Amy Poehler, Will Arnett's wife, plays the role), and "Saul" (actually her divorce lawyer). Michael knows what it is, but the opportunity never arises for him to use it.

* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'': In one of the "Totino's Pizza Rolls" sketches, the housewife (played by Creator/VanessaBayer) is seduced by Sabine (Creator/KristenStewart). When Sabine asks her name, the housewife replies, "I... I've never had one."

** We never learned Mrs. Wolowitz's (Howard's mom) name.