Line #64 Main/AnAlienNamedBob


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/AmericanDad https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2021_10_05_64739_pm.png]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:Even ''he'' thinks it's a funny name for an alien.]]
7
8	->'''Robin''': My whole life, I've been dying to meet a sapient, spacefaring alien up close, and you're telling me your name is ALAN?
9	->'''Al-An''': Is it not sufficient?
10	-->--''[[VideoGame/{{Subnautica}} Subnautica: Below Zero]]''
11
12	Aliens usually have names like [[WesternAnimation/SpaceChimps Zartog]] or [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Zod]]. This is when aliens have names like Bob or Alice.
13
14	May overlap with TranslationConvention if the audience hears the alien saying an earthly name, but the human characters don't. This is a subtrope of SpecialPersonNormalName. Will sometimes cross over with SomeCallMeTim or MyNaymeIs. Can cross over with AerithAndBob if most of the other aliens have strange names and just a few have normal names.
15
16	This is common in characters who were RaisedByHumans. See also CallASmeerpARabbit.
17
18	----
19
20	!!Examples:
21
22	[[foldercontrol]]
23
24	[[folder:Advertising]]
25	* One of the ''Advertising/DairyQueenLips'' ads features an alien named Phil trying one of Dairy Queen's milkshakes. The lips have them testing the drink to prove it's the "galaxy's greatest".
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
29	* ''Anime/{{Albegas}}'': The Dellinger Empire is led by President Azos, with General Duston, Commander Katastra, Commander Dime, Mirror Zero and General Dally being his subordinates. However, Dally has a daughter named Julia. Unlike her father, she looks forward to befriending humans.
30	* ''{{Anime/Bakugan}}'': The vestals from ''New Vestroia'' are a race of human-like aliens. Some of them have normal names, like Mira and Gus.
31	* ''Anime/{{Daimos}}'' has the Baam, a race of {{Winged Humanoid}}s. Though their culture has parallels to Greece, Rome, Egypt and Hinduism, the Baam themselves have Western-style names like Erika, Richter, Leon, Raiza, Kaya, Cindy and Margarete. Absurdly, one of them is called Gurney Halleck, after the ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' character, making it a rare instance of a Baam having a surname.
32	* Subverted in ''Anime/FutureRobotDaltanious''. The King of Helios is Emperor Palmillion and his son is Prince Harlin. "Harlin" and "Palmillion" are actual human names, but even in 1995 (when the anime is set) they've fallen out of place and are considered old-fashioned. Same with other Heliosian names like "Gascon" and "Ramos" - they certainly sound odd, but they were common human names centuries ago. This is likely due to the fact that they're a FantasyCounterpartCulture of old European empires (though a common fan interpretation is that they're one of pre-revolutionary America).
33	* ''Anime/SpaceFamilyCarlvinson'' is set in the year 4001 on a distant planet, but it is a SliceOfLife work with no space battles or epic moments, so it makes sense that several aliens and robots have mundane names like Andy, Ken and John.
34	* ''Anime/VoltesV'': The aliens of the Boazanian Empire are Heinel, Jangal, Zuhl, Zambajil, Gurul, Belgan, Oral and...''Katherine''. Incidentally she's also the OnlySaneWoman. Then again, some minor Boazanians are called Nina and Bernard, so human names aren't that uncommon.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
38	* ''Animation/NanaMoon'' has the {{lunarian\|s}} princess of Moon Haven on the moon, Princess Amy.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Comic Books]]
42	* A Norse god-powered alien cyborg named "[[ComicBook/BetaRayBill Beta Ray]]" ''Bill.'' Just Bill, for short.
43	* The alien ComicBook/MartianManhunter's name is J'onn J'onzz, which just happens to be pronounced like "John Jones". Likewise, his {{Distaff\|Counterpart}} JuniorCounterpart, Miss Martian, is named M'gann M'orzz, which is pronounced "Megan Morse".
44	* As a RunningGag, at least half the aliens in the SpaceOpera comic ''ComicBook/{{Nexus}}'' have perfectly normal-sounding human names like Tyrone, Sinclaire, Jil, etc. Dave of Thune's son Fred changed his name to Judah after converting to Judaism.
45	* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
46	** Justified for Superman himself. He's an alien, and while his original name was Kal-El, he got renamed Clark by his [[InterspeciesAdoption adoptive parents]]. He's also sometimes called "Kal" by close friends, which can at least pass for a fairly normal human nickname.
47	** Justified with ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. She is an alien female named Kara Zor-El, but after being adopted she is renamed ''[[ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl Linda Lee Danvers]]'', ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Linda Lang]]'', ''[[ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade Linda Lee]]'' or ''[[ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth Kara]]'' ''[[ComicBook/SupergirlBeingSuper Danvers]]'' (depending on the continuity) by her adoptive family. Also, her original first name is not exotic sounding anymore.
48	** Superman's clone, [[Characters/SupermanConnerKent Superboy]], originally had no name. However, Superman himself later gave him the name "Kon-El" in honor of a famous clone from Kryptonian legend. Superboy's friends in ComicBook/YoungJustice began calling him "Kon", lampshading that it was "kind of a name" before he was adopted by Superman's foster parents and officially became "Conner Kent".
49	* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Gladiator, a member of the Strontian race serving the Shi'ar Empire, is actually named "Kallark". This is because he is [[SupermanSubstitute an expy of Superman]], aka "Clark".
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Fan Works]]
53	* ''Fanfic/{{Daemorphing}}'':
54	** One of the Peace Yeerks is known only as Helen.
55	** [[spoiler:Toby Hamee changes her name to Kalij because she wants to make her Hork-Bajir identity clear, and didn't like having a human name.]]
56	* Discussed in ''Fanfic/WhatTomorrowBrings''. [[HalfHumanHybrid Tobias]] introduces himself as Elfangor's son, and Tom thinks that "Tobias" is [[EntertaininglyWrong an oddly human name for an alien Andalite.]]
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
60	* ''WesternAnimation/Home2015'':
61	** Kyle has a rather normal name, [[AerithAndBob unlike most of the other Boov]].
62	** A few other Boov have normal names such as Tony.
63	* In ''WesternAnimation/TitanAE'', [[BigBad the Drej Queen]]'s name is ([[AllThereInTheScript according to the supplemental materials]]) "Susquehana", a slightly altered spelling of the name of a river in the Eastern United States.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]
67	* ''Film/MenInBlack'': Many of the aliens the agents encounter in the field have plain-sounding names like Frank or Bob. This even includes a gigantic, subway-dwelling, omnivorous worm called Jeff. Presumably these are all assumed names, and they would make sense for those aliens living as humans. No explanation for the giant worm, though.
68	* The titular character of ''Film/{{Paul}}'' is an alien. Justified because Tara named him after her dog after he accidentally killed him.
69
70	* ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'': Frank is an alien, though his full name being Frank N. Furter is rather more unusual and the other Transylvanians have quite strange names.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Literature]]
74	* One of the two main characters of ''Literature/AlienInASmallTown'' is a [[StarfishAliens Starfish Alien]] with an unpronounceable name, who goes by "Paul Dwightson" on Earth. The name isn't arbitrary. He's the son of Ambassador Dwight (one of the first members of Paul's race to contact Earth people. Ironically, Dwight is ''female,'' but by the time the humans realized this, the name had stuck.). He took his first name from the [[Literature/TheBible Apostle Paul]], for [[MeaningfulName reasons that don't become apparent]] till halfway through the book.
75	* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'':
76	** Comes up when the cast rescue an escaped alien Hork-Bajir, who tells them his name is Jara Hamee.
77	--->'''Jake:''' He's kidding, right? He said his name is Jeremy?
78	** While on Earth, Elfangor goes by Alan Fangor (shortened to Al) in his human morph.
79	** Jara Hamee later names his daughter [[GenderBlenderName Toby]]. Justified because she's named after Tobias.
80	* ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'': In the third book, the three aliens that come to Earth and disguise as cafeteria ladies are named Zorx, Klax, and [[OddNameOut Jennifer]].
81	* ''Literature/CarnivalInAFix'': TheProtagonist of the book is a little tailed humanoid alien girl who lives at Funfair Moon. Her name's Emily.
82	* ''Literature/GalaxyZack'': Nebulites, the locals of Planet Nebulon, have very human names. From the first book alone there's Fred Stevens and Drake Taylor.
83	* Parodied in every version of ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''. One of the alien characters takes what he thinks is a perfectly normal Earth name, to better blend in on the planet. His problem is that he thinks ''cars'' are the dominant lifeform, not humans, so he winds up with the name Ford Prefect.
84	* ''Literature/RodAllbrightAlienAdventures'': Phil the sunflower-looking {{Plant Alien\|s}} has the only human-sounding name among the alien crew of the ''Ferkel''. That said, it's short for Philogenus esk Piemondum.
85	[[/folder]]
86
87	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
88	* The series ''Series/{{ALF}}'' has Gordon Shumway, who is the titular alien of the series. He actually prefers it if people call him ALF though.
89	* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': While most alien [[HumanAliens Orkans]] have unusual names, one of them is named Orson.
90	* ''Series/StargateSG1'': {{Justified\|Trope}} when it happens because most of the "aliens" are actually TransplantedHumans, and two of the actual nonhuman species passed themselves off as ancient pagan gods (the Asgard as the Norse gods, the Goa'uld as mainly the Greco-Roman and Egyptian pantheons). Special mention to Jonas Quinn, a human from Langara who replaces Daniel Jackson on SG-1 for season 6: his name has been joked about for sounding less alien to American ears than that of his actor Creator/CorinNemec.
91	** Spinoff series ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' has Wraith (vampiric aliens from another galaxy who've never been anywhere near Earth [[ImAHumanitarian to their chagrin]]) with names such as Michael, Steve, and Todd. Naturally, these are more like nicknames applied by the human characters. However, a couple of the Wraith who've been given such names more or less adopt them, or at least respond to them in later encounters with the main characters.
92	* In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' universe, aliens frequently have names that aren't exactly "Bob" -- i.e. not standard Anglo-American names -- but are actually not very obscure human names. (And not just due to {{Defictionalization}} either.) One of the best-known examples is Spock, who shared his name with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock a famous pediatrician of the period]] (to the point that non-fans often mistakenly call the character "Dr. Spock"). Similarly, on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', the first and last names of alien characters [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kira Kira]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerys Nerys]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadwiga Jadzia]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dax Dax]] are all human names (Jadzia is a diminutive of the Polish name Jadwiga, for example, and Nerys is Welsh), as is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odo Odo]]. Other alien characters with human names are {{Justified\|Trope}} by being [[HalfHumanHybrid part-human]] (see below):
93	** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Downplayed for Deanna Troi, who is [[HalfHumanHybrid half-Betazoid]], and Alexander Rozhenko, who is three-quarters Klingon and was raised by his half-human, half-Klingon mother and human grandparents more than his fully-Klingon father.
94	** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Downplayed. The series features two alien hybrids, one of whom has the last name Torres (but the alien first name B'Elanna) and the second of whom has the completely human name Naomi Wildman. Late in the series, B'Elanna has a quarter-alien daughter, and while it's unknown what her first name will end up being[[note]]Though in the alternate future, it's Miral[[/note]], she has her father's surname, Paris.
95	* One recurring character on ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' is a Saurian named Linus. Since his language is unpronounceable for humans, this may be a human-bestowed nickname.
96	* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' has a sewer-dwelling alien with gigantic fangs that the team captured. Captain Jack named it Janet, because "Barbara just never seemed right."
97	* ''Series/TheTroop'': In "Eris Returns", the Eris Fairy Cecillia's [[PsychoExGirlfriend Psycho Ex-Boyfriend]] is a monstrous, multi-armed Vrog from AnotherDimension... named Todd. Cecillia herself has a human name, which is in stark contrast to her sister's [[TheUnpronounceable Unpronounceable]] name.
98	* The ''Franchise/UltraSeries'' does this with various of the Ultramen, where despite being set in the distant galaxy known as Nebula M-78, have several of their members having Earthling names. Such as [[Series/ReturnOfUltraman Jack]], [[Series/UltramanLeo Leo]], or [[Series/UltramanMax Max]]. Series/UltramanTaro and his son, Series/UltramanTaiga, both have common Japanese names, though their cases can be justified that they were both born ''after'' a handful of Ultras (in Taro's case) and later, dozens of them (in Taiga's case) had protected Earth and met people with those names.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Video Games]]
102	* ''VideoGame/{{Awesomenauts}}'' runs the gamut, with some aliens named things like Derpl Zork or Qi'Tara, but others named Penny, Rocco, Leon, Vinnie, etc.
103	* ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'' picks names for random crewmembers out of a pool shared between species, so you get aliens with human names and humans with alien names. Specific named characters usually have names specific to their species like the [[ProudWarriorRace Mantis thief]] Kazaaakplethkilik, with the notable exceptions of a [[TheBigGuy rockwoman]] named Ariadne and a Mantis named Robert Smith who was raised by humans.
104	* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': The leader of the Space Pirate is a draconian alien named "Ridley". While not exactly a common name, it's still a real name of English origin. Made all the more jarring considering that the protagonist of the same series is named "Samus" which sounds far more alien despite her being human.
105	* ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' has Protector 1, better known as "Elvis."
106	-->'''Joanna Dark''': I'm Agent Dark, or Joanna if you'd prefer.\
107	'''Elvis''': Well, Joanna, I'm Protector 1, but you can call me: Elvis!
108	* ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' is full of this. On backwater planets that have no connection to the rest of the galaxy you'll meet aliens with names like Clair, Roger, Sarah and Celine. The fifth game has Fiore, which is Italian for flower. The third game has Nel which is one one l short of the name Nell.
109	* ''[[VideoGame/{{Subnautica}} Subnautica: Below Zero]]'': Robin meets one of the ancient alien [[{{Precursors}} Precursor]] Architects. It gives itself a designation derived from Alterra's tentative name for his species and his "seed code", producing a surprisingly mundane name. She [[LampshadeHanging Lampshades]] it.
110	-->'''Robin''': My whole life, I've been dying to meet a sapient, spacefaring alien up close, and you're telling me your name is [[spoiler:ALAN]]? \
111	'''[[spoiler:Al-An]]''': Is it insufficient? \
112	'''Robin''': [[SarcasmMode No, it's fine. It's perfect]].
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Webcomics]]
116	* In ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'', Frix, a large alien anthropomorphic canine, belongs to a species called ''[[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-706-the-girl-who-cried-woof/ Woof]]''.
117	* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', William and Gillian are shapeshifters whose species is called Uryuom. Of course, those two Uryuoms were born and raised in America, so they would naturally have normal sounding names.
118	* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' has a hostile, [[{{Lilliputians}} action-figure sized]] alien warlord who identifies himself as "he who is known as Barry."
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Web Video]]
122	* ''WebVideo/{{Dad}}'' has a species of HumanAliens living on Kepler 22-B. The names we know from that planet include Andan, Emily, and Ella.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Western Animation]]
126	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Alphablocks}}'' features an alien named Fred.
127	* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': The alien living with the Smith family is named Roger. You might think that this is merely an easy way for Earthlings to reference him but several flashbacks to his time in space reveal that that is his actual name.
128	* ''WesternAnimation/CreativeGalaxy'': Several of the aliens have normal names, such as Arty, Georgia, Annie, and Jackson.
129	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' has an alien named Mark Chang.
130	* ''WesternAnimation/FourEyes'': The main protagonist of the series is an alien named Emma.
131	* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?", (John) Zoidberg's crush is a lobster-like alien like him, but her name is Edna. Also, a hermit crab-like alien named Vinny briefly features. Another episode has a Neptunian woman called Heather.
132	* One "U.S. Acres" segment of ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'', "The Well Dweller," features a tiny blue alien named...Al. It's promptly [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] when Orson captures him and remarks that most aliens have odd names, and the creature simply shrugs and says that ''his'' name is just plain Al.
133	** One "Garfield" segment features a sentient wishing well that has RealityWarper powers. It's revealed at the episode's end that it's actually a juvenile member of an alien race that happens to look like Earth wishing wells; this particular troublemaker is named Andrew.
134	* ''WesternAnimation/JellyJamm'': Mina and Rita are aliens from Jammbo. [[AerithAndBob They also have the only normal names in the series.]]
135	* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'':
136	** In "Fibber", it's [[GivenNameReveal revealed]] that Pleakley's [[GenderBlenderName first name is Wendy]]. Apparently, it means "brave warrior" back on his home planet.
137	** Dr. [[spoiler:Rupert]] Jacques von Hämsterviel is an alien (though he [[MixAndMatchCritters resembles a gerbil with rabbit ears]]).
138	* ''WesternAnimation/MartinMystery'' has an alien named Billy.
139	* ''WesternAnimation/PegPlusCat'' has an alien named Richard.
140	* The ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "The Chronicles of Meap" has an evil poacher alien named Mitch.
141	* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': Downplayed with Jet, as his name is pretty rare, but he gave himself an "Earthie" name after he and his family moved from Bortron 7 to Earth. His other family members named themselves after vegetables (Carrot, Celery, etc).
142	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]]; Many [[InsectoidAliens Gromflomites]] have alien-sounding ''first'' names, paired with ''last'' names that sound like mundane human ''first'' names. Examples include Krombopulos Michael the assassin, and Cornvelious Daniel the interrogation agent.
143	* ''WesternAnimation/RobTheRobot'': Downplayed with Ema the [[LittleGreenMen green alien]]. Her name is [[MyNaymeIs an unorthodox spelling of "Emma".]]
144	* ''WesternAnimation/SolarOpposites'': Two of the Shlorpians are named Terry and Jesse, whose names are in contrast to the other two named Korvo and Yumyulack so as to show that the former two like being on Earth while the latter two do not.
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Other]]
148	* ''Website/{{Snopes}}'': This [[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/glurgia-on-my-mind/ joke response to a claim]] features aliens named "Judy" and "Katherine".[[/folder]]

Context Main / AnAlienNamedBob