History OneSteveLimit / LiveActionTV

* ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'': This Canadian sci-fi show likes to re-use names. There are two Edwards; two families with the similar last name Meyers and Myers; Joe and Josephine, who are both [=HAPs=]; another Joe, Joseph and Josie; a Lilian and a Lillian. Even the names of two of the main characters, Helen and Henry, are oddly alike.

* Unlike ''Game of Thrones'', which made an effort to differentiate names for its major characters, ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'' never bothered to change similar-sounding names from [[Literature/FireAndBlood its source material]].

** This is actually used as a [[SignificantNameOverlap major plot point]] towards the end of the first season: a [[KingOnHisDeathbed dying]] and delirious King Viserys, in his last words before passing, talks about the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire to his wife Queen Alicent while believing her to be his daughter Rhaenyra, whom he told about the prophecy years prior (Rhaenyra is Viserys's eldest child and Alicent's stepdaughter). Alicent doesn't know about the prophecy, and when Viserys talks about "uniting the realm" and "Aegon" (without mentioning ''The Conqueror'') she thinks he means that their son Aegon (who's [[InadequateInheritor notoriously]] [[TheWrongfulHeirToTheThrone unfit to rule]]) must be put on the throne. Though in the end that doesn't matter to Alicent's father Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, who spent years planning a [[TheCoup coup]] to install his grandson on the throne as a PuppetKing with himself running the show; it just comes as another handy way of justifying the coup, in addition to [[HeirClubForMen Aegon being male]].

** Producers changed several names when adapting from [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire the books]] in order to avoid name confusion: Robert Arryn was changed to Robin (a nickname from the books) because his name was the same as Robert Baratheon. Asha Greyjoy was changed to Yara because it was too similar to Osha. Hodor's real name was revealed to be [[spoiler: Wylis]] instead of [[spoiler: Walder]] because of [[spoiler: Walder Frey]].
** {{Averted|Trope}} with the White Walkers and their zombie minions, the wights since "white" and "wight" are homophones.

** Lyanna Mormont is a rare aversion for the TV show, which, as mentioned above, otherwise went out of its way to enforce a One Steve Limit onto the source material. The showrunners argued, with some validity, that while the long books could get away with multiple characters with the same first name, it would have been too confusing in the more condensed format of a TV series. Lyanna Mormont was a rare exception, because it's a plot point that she's a DeadGuyJunior, named after Lyanna Stark.
** Jon Snow shares his first name with Jon Arryn, Great and Small Jon Umber, and (phonetically, at least) Yohn Royce. [[spoiler: His true name, Aegon Targaryen]], is shared not only with five historical kings, but also his half-brother. The Targaryens have about ten names that they keep using over and over, and many of those names look/sound alike. This makes it difficult to figure out which Aeron, Aemon, or Aegon is being discussed in a specific moment.
** Robb Stark, Robert Baratheon, and Robett Glover all have variations of the same name, despite the diffrent spelling.
** Arya's direwolf is called Nymeria, which is also the name of one of the Sand Snakes in Season 5. Of course since the wolf flees into the wild in the second episode of the series, it's not that relevant. Even so, Nymeria Sand is only ever called "Nym" on screen. Hilariously [[spoiler: in the Season 7 episode where Nymeria the wolf makes a reappearance, Nymeria Sand is killed off to enforce the trope]].
** The source material features several characters named Jeyne, and two were going to appear on the show. Jeyne Pool gets an EarlyBirdCameo in Season 1 and is referenced a couple of times, but her eventual storyline was given to Sansa when Season 5 came along. Jeyne Westerling was meant to appear as well, but show runners decided to change her backstory to being an exiled noblewoman from Volantis - which required renaming her to Talisa Maegyr. Talisa's actress Oona Chaplin was slated to be playing 'Jeyne', but book fans had no idea which one at first.
** The Targaryens have about ten names that they keep using over and over, and many of those names look/sound alike. This makes it difficult to figure out which Aeron, Aemon, or Aegon is being discussed in a specific moment.
*** Rhaegar's second child and first son was also named Aegon. Aegon is the most popular Targaryen family name, but it's notable in that two brothers end up having the same name.

** Two main characters in the series are Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her first cousin once removed, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. Later, we're introduced to Princess Rhaena Targaryen, named after Rhaenys.
** In addition to Aegon Targaryen (the Conqueror of Westeros), Aegon Targaryen (brother of Maester Aemon, who was the Mad King Aerys' father and direct predecessor), Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar and Elia Martell) and Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark, better known as Jon Snow) in the main series, we now have Aegon Targaryen (son of Viserys I and Alicent Hightower) and Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaenyra and Daemon).
** There are characters named Daemon, Aemond, and Vaemond. And they have appeared in the same scene together.
** King Viserys I Targaryen and Prince Viserys Targaryen, Rhaenyra's son, who is named after the former. Not to be confused with Daenerys' brother from ''[=GoT=]'', who actually styles himself as "King Viserys, the Third of His Name" if you paid attention, implying that there have been two King Viseryses in history.[[labelnote:From the books]]Viserys, son of Rhaenyra, indeed became Viserys II years after the Dance of the Dragons.[[/labelnote]]
** There are Joffrey Lonmouth and Joffrey Velaryon. Fortunately, neither are despicable like Joffrey Baratheon.
** This is actually used as a [[SignificantNameOverlap major plot point]] towards the end of the first season: A [[KingOnHisDeathbed dying]] King Viserys (not to be confused with Daenerys' brother down the family line), in his last words before passing, talks about the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire to his wife Alicent Hightower believing her to he his daughter Rhaenyra, whom he told about the prophecy years prior. Alicent doesn't know about the prophecy, and when Viserys talks about "uniting the realm" and "Aegon" (without mentioning ''The Conqueror'') she thinks he means her son Aegon (who's [[InadequateInheritor notoriously]] [[TheWrongfulHeirToTheThrone unfit to rule]]) must be put on the throne. Though in the end that doesn't matter to Alicent's father Otto, who spent years planning a [[TheCoup coup]] to install his grandson on the throne as a PuppetKing with himself running the show; it just comes as another handy way of justifying the coup.

** The angels technically all have a unique name each, but there ''is'' three angels bearing a variation of the name "Anna": Anna Milton, Hannah, and Anael.

** This is actually used as a [[SignificantNameOverlap major plot point]] towards the end of the first season: A [[KingOnHisDeathbed dying]] King Viserys (not to be confused with Daenerys' brother down the family line), in his last words before passing, talks about the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire to his wife Alicent Hightower believing her to he his daughter Rhaenyra, whom he told about the prophecy years prior. Alicent doesn't know about the prophecy, and when Viserys talks about "uniting the realm" and "Aegon" (without mentioning ''The Conqueror'') she thinks he means her son Aegon (who's [[InadequateInheritor notoriously]] [[TheWrongfulHeirToTheThrone unfit to rule]]) must be put on the throne. Though in the end that doesn't matter to Alicent's father Otto, who's planned TheCoup to install Aegon on the throne for a long while, it just comes as another semy-handy way of justifying the coup.

* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'': Strictly speaking, there are three Lorelai Gilmores: Lorelai Gilmore the mother, Lorelai "Rory" Gilmore the daughter, and Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore, Rory's great-grandmother (and yes, [[KissingCousins her maiden name was Gilmore, too]]). Confusion is not really an issue despite the first two being the main characters, since Rory is almost exclusively [[KnownOnlyByTheNickname referred to by nickname]] and Trix only appears in a few episodes. Often used as an episode title, where both mother and daughter are collectively referred to as "The Lorelais."
** This is, however, lampshaded in season 5's "Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too," when it's revealed town selectman Taylor once rejected Lorelai (the mother) a parking space because she did not include her middle name on the form. Lorelai apparently forgets she isn't the only one, because she asks Taylor how many other Lorelai Gilmores he knows. He immediately points out that Rory is also technically Lorelai Gilmore, leading Lorelai to awkardly rebutt that she bet he can't name a third--because he doesn't know her grandmother. [[note]]Ironically, Taylor is supposed to be seen as petty here, but the only thing distinguishing the three Lorelais are their middle names, meaning it would be important to include that on official documents.[[/note]]

* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'': Strictly speaking, there were three Lorelai Gilmores - Lorelai Gilmore the mother, Lorelai "Rory" Gilmore the daughter, and Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore - Rory's great grandmother (and yes, her maiden name was Gilmore too). Confusion is not really an issue despite the first two being the main characters, since Rory is almost exclusively refered to by nickname and their Grandmother only appears in a few episodes.

** There were two different contestants who went by "Sonro" in different series: one in the spinoff ''Raven: The Secret Temple'' and one in the second regular series of the revival.

* ''Series/{{Raven}}'' averts this with two different contestants who went by "Sonro" in different series: one in the spinoff ''Raven: The Secret Temple'' and one in the second regular series of the revival.

** In "TOW the Birthing Video", Phoebe borrows the titular video from a friend whose husband and daughter are both named "Cookie". After explaining this to Chandler, Phoebe takes a second to wonder why she's friends with this couple.

* ''Series/{{Ballykissangel}}'': An unusual example occurs in the BBC series , where a shady politician previously named Sean Dooley returns in the fifth season as [[RetCon Paul Dooley]], presumably so the viewers won't confuse him with the then-leading-man Sean ''Dillon''.

* ''Series/TimeSlip'': In order to preserve the surprise, and also maintain the OneSteveLimit, Liz's counterpart in the various potential 1990 time zones has changed her name to Beth. Simon is less lucky, and is known in the future as [[YouAreNumberSix 2975]].

* ''Series/BabylonFive'': The eccentric Family Zathras that maintains the Great Machine on Epsilon III and helps the main cast in several episodes. After one character named Zathras goes back in time with Jeffrey Sinclair, Ivanova is baffled to meet another identical-looking Zathras (same actor, same makeup, same costume), who explains that each of their names is pronounced very slightly differently (so slightly, in fact, that the audience can't hear it).
** Averted with David Martell, the lead of the movie ''[[Film/BabylonFiveTheLegendOfTheRangersToLiveAndDieInStarlight The Legend of the Rangers]]'', who has the same first name as John Sheridan and Delenn's son. This confused some fans who thought he was meant to be the same character (especially since their son was previously established in the series finale to grow up to be a Ranger), but that would be impossible - in 2265, when the movie is set, David Sheridan is a toddler. There's also CIC tech David Corwin present throughout the series, but his first name isn't used onscreen.

** A slightly odd semi-aversion: Spike's original name was William, and Angel's original name was Liam (which is the Irish version of William). Plus, there's Willy, who runs the demon bar, and Willow, who is frequently called Will. The nickname for William, Billy, was used for at least three one-episode characters: Billy Palmer ("Nightmares") and Billy "Ford" Fordham ("Lie to Me") on ''Buffy'', and Billy Blim ("That Vision Thing" and "Billy") on ''Angel''.

** Averted - there are three characters named "Nancy" over the course of the series. In season 3, the bizzaro universe of "The Wish" has a White Hat called Nancy who fights vampires alongside Giles, Oz and Larry. Later in the same season, "Earshot" has a highly competitive student named Nancy who dislikes Buffy. In the season 7 episode "Beneath You", Anya grants a wish to another Nancy, turning her ex-boyfriend Ronnie into a giant carnivorous worm. (Ronnie could also be an example, as Faith mentions a pre-Sunnydale ex with this name, but ''technically'' it could be the same guy, wildly unlikely though that is).

** In the first season of ''Buffy'', there's a vampire minion of the master named Colin (with one "l") who should not be confused with the Annointed One named Collin (with two "l"). They both appear in "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date".
** Eve is a potential slayer and a child of the Senior Partners.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Walter White and his son Walter White Jr.

* ''Radio/TheBurnsAndAllenShow'': Has both Harry Morton and Harry Von Zell, although Harry Von Zell is the actor/announcer's [[AsHimself real name]].

** Minor characters with the same names sometimes pop up, such as Erika, Joey's LoonyFan for his character on ''Series/DaysOfOurLives'', and Erica, [[spoiler:the birth mother of the twins Chandler and Monica adopt]].
** Ross dated two girls named Elizabeth, [[UnfortunateName Elizabeth Hornswaggle]] in "The One With All The Resolutions" and Elizabeth Stevens, his season 6 girlfriend and [[TeacherStudentRomance college student]] who is [[AgeGapRomance 10 years younger than him.]]

* ''Series/{{Glee}}'':
** There are two Davids, JerkJock[=/=]ArmouredClosetGay Dave Karofsky and Warbler David. As of mid-season 3, there are now a ''third'' David: David Martinez, the night school Spanish teacher.
** There are also two Andreas, Andrea Cohen from Vocal Adrenaline and Rod's co-anchor Andrea Carmichael.
** The season two episode "Britney/Brittany" gives us Music/BritneySpears and Brittany S. Pierce.
** Tina Cohen-Chang shares her last name with both her boyfriend, Mike Chang, and the aforementioned Andrea Cohen.
** Also, Kurt and his dad Burt.
** And Finn and Quinn, who were a couple in the beginning of season 1 and then again for a while in season 2.
* In ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', Rose's late husband is named Charlie and their granddaughter Charlotte is nicknamed "Charlie".
* In the first season of ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', it's revealed that Eleanor Shellstrop was sent to the Good Place by mistake because she got confused with ''another'' woman named Eleanor Shellstrop. [[spoiler:This gets subverted a few episodes later when it's revealed that the other Eleanor is actually a demon in disguise.]]

* ''Series/TheSopranos'':
** Sometimes there's a good (familiar) reason two characters would share a first name (like being cousins who were both named after the same older relative, or something like that). Often they would have nicknames, though there were two characters with the nickname "Pussy" (I think one was never actually seen though, or only in the first season or something, before he got whacked, but it's been a while). However, sharing first names and using odd nicknames, when it comes to TheMafia, is definitely TruthInTelevision.
** One was 'Big Pussy', the other was 'Little Pussy'.
** This was lampshaded in the first episode, when there was a discussion about killing "Little Pussy" and somebody thought they were talking about "Big Pussy".
** Well at the very least there was Anthony (Tony) and Anthony Junior (AJ), not to mention Jackie Aprile and Jackie Jr.
*** Mobsters love this convention. Within the same show we also have Bobby Junior, Vito Junior, Carmine Junior, Patrick Parisi Junior, 'Little Ricky' Aprile, and, of course, Corrado Soprano Junior. Paulie's protege "Little Paulie" also deserves mention.
** Not to forget Tony Soprano and Tony Blundetto, with one episode even being called 'The Two Tonys'.

** One episode had two Leroy Jethros in it, as Gibbs was named after a childhood friend of his father.

** Root's birth name is Samantha Groves, and she was known in her hometown as Sam. Shaw was originally identified in press releases as Samantha Shaw, and later Sam Shaw, but the name was never spoken on-screen and starting with "Razgovor" she was named Sameen. Neither is called by their first name much anyway.

* OneSteveLimit/MarvelCinematicUniverse

* ''Series/TheGifted'' averts the trope big-time: two of its ''lead'' characters are named Lorna (Dane) and Lauren. Not an exact match, but it's very rare to see this happen right at the center of a show.