Line #63 Main/ThemedAliases


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13	->'''Mr. Pink:''' Why do I have to be Mr. Pink? That's sounds a bit too much like Mr. Pussy, can't I just be something like Mr. Purple?\
14	'''Joe:''' Mr. Purple is at another job, just be glad you didn't get Mr. Yellow.
15	-->-- ''Film/ReservoirDogs''
16
17	A character uses a series of aliases to avoid detection. However, when the heroes put the aliases together, one them notices something odd about the list. These are not a random set of names, but rather a group of names that have something in common. Usually this makes easier to track down the target, as they now know the next alias will fit the pattern.
18
19	It is not absolutely necessary for the pattern to be picked, but it is usually pointed out for the benefit of viewers who might otherwise miss it.
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21	Can overlap with ThisIsMyNameOnForeign if the character makes a habit of using foreign language versions of the same name. Or SignificantAnagram is they use different anagrams of their actual name. Or CharacterNameAlias if they use the names of real or fictional characters that fit a theme. At its simplest, it might just be always using the same initials. Those seeking to avert this trope may prefer the name MrSmith.
22	----
23	!!Examples:
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25	[[foldercontrol]]
26
27	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
28	* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' features this both with the Syndicates {{Colourful Theme Naming}}, and [=MI6=]'s date theme naming.
29	* The super spy known only as <Twilight> from ''Manga/SpyXFamily'' frequently uses aliases [[MeaningfulName based on deception]]. His cover identity during the events of the series is Loid ''Forger'', and his previous names include Twain ''Foney'' and Roland ''Spoof''y.
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Comic Books]]
33	* [[Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI Arcade]] will often go by variations on his name, such as Edward Arca (Arca, Ed), A.R. Cadensky, Mr. A, and R. Cade.
34	* ComicBook/TheJoker generally uses either re-arrangements of his name, such as Rekoj, J. Reko, Joe Kerr, or famous clowns like Bozo, Krusty, or Pagliacci.
35	* ComicBook/ThePunisher often uses aliases that are linked to Castle, his real last name: Charles Fort, [=McRook=], Frank Rook, Francis Stronghold, Johnny Tower, Frankie Villa, etc.
36	* In the ''ComicBook/UncleScrooge'' story "The Money Champ" by Creator/CarlBarks, Flintheart Glomgold stages a series of acts of sabotage against Scrooge, damaging his oil wells, gold mines and diamond mines and reducing their value right at the point Scrooge needs to sell them. Flintheart uses a series of aliases that are just rearrangements of the components of his name (Goldflint Heartglom, Flintgold Glomheart and Heartflint Goldglom). Not terribly subtle, but he was deliberately taunting Scrooge.
37	* In ''Comicbook/WestCoastAvengers'', John Walker, the [=USAgent=], who ''already'' shared a name with a brand of whisky, went by the name "Jack Daniels".
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Fan Works]]
41	* In the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' DarkFic ''FanFic/TheDarknessSeries'' Harry Potter uses the alias "Notechis Noir", "Notechis" is Latin for "Tiger Snake" and [[spoiler: [[PropheticName Harry eventually gains the ability to turn into a striped snake]]]] and Noir is French for "Black" which he named for his Godfather, Sirius Black. Sirius later nicknames him "Stripe" [[spoiler: for his snake form.]] And later Harry takes on the identity of "Evan Harris." "Evan" comes from his mother's maiden name Evans and "Harris" for [[LastSecondWordSwap in case someone slips up and almost calls him "Harry"]]. Also Voldemort has "Nichodemas Tomaras". Nichodemas means "the people's conqueror" and Tomaras sounds like his real name--Tom.
42	* In the Jethro & Monty Manga/GunslingerGirl fanfics, handler Jethro and his cyborg Monty use fictional spy shout-outs like [[Series/TheAvengers Patrick Steed and Emily Peel]]. Jethro's former colleagues in British Intelligence find Monty using the alias [[Literature/CasinoRoyale Vesper during a casino job]] ActuallyPrettyFunny and keep referring to her by that name.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Film]]
46	* ''Film/TheAccountant2016''. The protagonist uses the names of famous mathematicians as aliases, enabling [=FinCEN=] data analyst Marybeth Medina to track down his current alias of Christian Wolff (but not, it turns out, his [[UnPerson true identity]]).
47	* In ''Film/TheCableGuy'', Creator/JimCarrey uses the names of television characters.
48	* In ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio's character uses the names of comic book characters as aliases. This ends up working against him since it gives the FBI agent following him something to go on (specifically that the suspect must be young).
49	* In ''Film/{{Copycat}}'', Peter Foley uses the names of serial killers as his aliases.
50	* In ''Film/DickTracysDilemma'', the fake names the Claw and his crew use to disguise their truck all flower-based, such as 'Daisy Storage' and 'Rosebud General Delivery': possibly because their hideout is on Primrose Street.
51	* In ''Film/HouseOf1000Corpses'' and its sequel ''Film/TheDevilsRejects'', the Firefly Family all use names of characters from Marx Brothers films. It gets them caught in the latter film.
52	* In ''Film/HowToRobABank'', criminals Simon and Nick took their aliases from Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes from Music/DuranDuran (the gang uses a Duran Duran fan site as an online meetup). Although it is never explicitly stated, it seems a safe assumption that third member of the gang Roger's name is also an alias (Roger Taylor).
53	* The bank robbers in ''Film/InsideMan'' all use aliases that are variations on "Steve" as a strategy to confuse people with an IdenticallyNamedGroup.
54	* ''Film/TheOddAngryShot'': During the scene on the range, the range corporal asks the four protagonists for their names as he is reprimanding them. On the spur of the moment, he is given four false names; Grey, Green, Brown & [[CharacterNameAlias Oakover]].
55	* In ''Film/ReservoirDogs'', the crooks on the team for the heist are all given color-based aliases: Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blue, and [[OddNameOut Mr. Blond]]. This is so they don't know each other's real identities. Mr. Blond's atypical "color" is significant.
56	* In ''Film/TheSaint1997'', all of Simon Templar's aliases are the names of Catholic saints.
57	* ''Film/TheWitchFiles'': When Claire learns from Detective Strauss that the pattern has been repeating every 17 years, she looks at the school records and realizes that [[spoiler:Jules]] is responsible and has been using the names of the women who died in the original Brunswick witchcraft incident as aliases.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Literature]]
61	* In the ''Literature/EightySeventhPrecinct'' novels, the Deaf Man always uses aliases that are some sort of play on words on 'deaf' in a variety of languages.
62	* In ''Literature/TheAliceNetwork'', the spies often have flower code names: Lili, Violette, and Marguerite. [[note]] [[HistoricalDomainCharacter In real life]], their code names were different: Violette was really [[OneSteveLimit Charlotte]] Lameron, Lili [[IHaveManyNames had many names]] but was never nicknamed Lili, and Marguerite, though based on a French girl Lili was captured with who had that name, was almost certainly not a real spy.[[/note]] This is used to tie into the "fleurs du mal" metaphor.
63	* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' our heroes are caught sneaking around a government base, taken inside and asked their names. [[TheSmartGuy Marco]] and [[ActionGirl Rachel]] claim to be [[Series/TheXFiles Fox Mulder and Dana Scully]]. Cassie doesn't watch that show and [[BadLiar winds up claiming]] her name is Creator/CindyCrawford.
64	* ''Literature/TheDestroyer'' always uses his real first name, "Remo", as part of his aliases.
65	* In the ''Literature/{{Dragonback}}'' books, Jack Morgan always uses aliases beginning with the letter M, such as Jack Montana, to make it easier to remember.
66	* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'': The Potterwatch radio crew refer to themselves by ridiculously transparent pseudonyms based on their actual names: Lee [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River Jordan]] is ''River'', '''King'''sley Shacklebolt is ''Royal'', Fred Weasley (weasel) starts as ''Rodent''[[note]]Though weasels aren't rodents[[/note]] (quickly changed to ''Rapier'', presumably for "rapier wit"), and Remus Lupin exhausts the last untapped blatant reference in his name by going as ''[[UsefulNotes/TheRomanRepublic Romulus]]''.
67	* ''Literature/TheMadScientistsClub'': The bad guys in the ‘’The Big Chunk of Ice’’ introduce themselves with the aliases Smellow, Stunkard, Rank and Pugh (all of which reference body odor). Their jointly referred to as “Those Smellow fellows” by the Mad Scientists Club.
68	* In ''Literature/Rule34'' by Creator/CharlesStross, an assassin's aliases are all serial killers. They're assigned to him by the Organisation, and he's not amused when he notices the theme. [[spoiler: They're generated by an algorithm which has been hacked by the omniscient AI controlling everything so the police will pick up on him.]]
69	* ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'':
70	** The majority of aliases adopted by Merlin Athrawes' and Nimue Chwaeriau's ''seijin'' spy network make heavy use of Welsh. For starters, Athrawes and Chwaeriau mean "teacher" and "little sister" respectively. Other names used include Dialydd Mab ("avenging son"), Ganieda Cysgodol ("Cysgodol" meaning "shadow witch" or "shadow sister"), Dagyr Cudd ("hidden dagger"), Cennady Frenhines ("Cennad y Frenhines" means "queen's messenger"), and Merch O Obaith ("Daughter of Hope"). The exceptions have standard Safeholdian names, like Ahbraim Zhevons and Zhapeth Slaytyr, as they are used to blend in with average Safeholdians rather than be deliberately mysterious and exotic. The reason the Welsh names aren't any kind of tip off is because Safehold's native and only language is a version of English.
71	** Events and objects used by the [[GodGuise "Archangels"]] bear Japanese names, such as the BoltOfDivineRetribution, the ''Rakurai'', or the ships they used to travel in, called ''kyousei hi''. Wise men and warriors of legend bore the title of ''seijin''.
72	* ''Literature/TheSaint'', in the original stories, often used his own initials; "Sebastian Toombs" was a frequent alias (at least two science fiction writers have included a ShoutOut to this particular name).
73	* In ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', Count Olaf and his henchman often use aliases that are anagrams of Count Olaf, such as Al Funcoot or O. Lucafont. The Baudelaires finally pick up on this in the eighth book.
74	* "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones" is a science fiction short story by Creator/SamuelRDelany. The protagonist was an orphan, saddled with the name Harold Clancy Everet. Turning to a life of crime, he never used that name again. His aliases, however all have the initials HCE. Indeed, he is identified by that to the reader, i.e. we are introduced to each alias and know it is him by those initials. All the aliases used by the narrator have the initials H.C.E., a reference to ''Literature/FinnegansWake'' by Creator/JamesJoyce.
75	* In ''Literature/TheWestingGame'', the big reveal surrounds someone's aliases selected by this trope: [[spoiler: the eponymous Mr. Westing was one of four aliases all with names containing a cardinal direction.]]
76	* In the ''Literature/WildCards'' novel ''Fort Freak'', CorruptCop Lu Long's aliases all include [[SueDonym his real name]] "Long" and imply that he is the proud owner of a GagPenis. It's relatively simple for the protagonists to connect him to the fictional Peter Long who accepted the payment for a murder for hire.
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
80	* In the ''Series/{{CSI}}'' episode "Living Legend", the killer uses aliases that the names of movie serial killers: Michael Myers, Pamela Voorhess and F. Krueger.
81	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Master tends to use aliases which are anagrams of "master" or mean master in another language. From Nu Who, Mister Saxon is an anagram of "Master No. Six" (this ''possibly'' being the sixth incarnation of the Master that we've seen, depending on how you count). WordOfGod is that it was a coincidence.
82	* ''Series/{{Elementary}}'': In "Dead Man's Switch", Stuart Bloom uses a series of aliases when pursuing his nuisance law suits. The first one is Abraham Zelner. Holmes realises that there is a pattern in the initials of the aliases: A.Z., B.Y., C.X., etc. When he discovers the one name that does not fit that pattern, he deduces it must be Bloom's real name.
83	* ''{{Series/Fringe}}'': Though Peter hasn't used many aliases during the run of the show, he still knows enough to lampshade this trope.
84	-->'''Peter''': The best lie, the one that's easiest to remember with consistency, is the one that's based on the truth. Whenever I would do this, I would base it on my own last name: Bishop. [[ChessMotifs So Peter King. Peter Knight.]]
85	* ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'' had him always using "David" and a last name that started with a 'B': David Banner to David Bradley, etc. The only time he didn't use that was when he ran into his IdenticalStranger, a mobster named Mike Cassidy, and he tried to use that to get out of a scrape. Banner uses the Mike Cassidy alias when he comes face-to-face with his personal InspectorJavert, Jack [=McGee=], who up until the moment he sees him thinks Banner is dead. Banner uses one of his usual aliases when running into the mobsters looking for Cassidy, but they don't believe him.
86	** This naming scheme was parodied in an issue of [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the comicbook]] published when the TV series was current. Doctor Robert Bruce Banner went into a Swiss clinic and said "My name is David [[Creator/BillBixby Bixby]]. I'm looking for a cure".
87	* The ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' team tends to use ''Series/DoctorWho''-themed aliases (probably because they're all arranged by Hardison the uber-geek).
88	-->'''Hardison:''' What [=IDs=] have you got on you?\
89	'''Nate:''' Let's see... we've got Peter Davison, Sylvester [=McCoy=], and I have a Tom Baker.\
90	'''Sophie:''' Yeah, I have a Baker. Sarah Jane.
91	** {{Deconstructed}} in the ''Series/LeverageRedemption'' episode "The Belly of the Beast Job": The mark's new assistant is a ''Series/DoctorWho'' fan and immediately clocks Sophie's use of "Lethbridge-Stewart" as an alias. She warns her boss not to meet with a potential scammer, which derails the team's con. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome With a show that popular, something like this was bound to happen eventually.]]
92	* ''Series/TheLoneGunmen'' sometimes antagonist/sometimes ally Yves Adele Harlow's assumed name is an [[SignificantAnagram anagram]] of [[WhoShotJFK Lee Harvey Oswald]], as are most of her one time only aliases.
93	* In ''Series/{{Lost}}'', when Kate is on the run, all of the names she uses are saints' names. Pierre Chang uses candle-themed aliases (Mark Wickmund, Edgar Halliwax, and Marvin Candle) for his orientation videos.
94	* The crew in ''Series/MoneyHeist'' all have aliases based on cities, making them an archetype of LocationThemeNaming.
95	* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'':
96	** "Harold Finch" has adopted several other bird-themed aliases, including [[AnimalMotifs Harold Crane, Mr. Partridge, Harold Wren and Harold Crow]]. In Season 4 he spends most of his time as Professor [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistler_(bird) Whistler]].
97	** Root's aliases are often named after famous computer scientists.
98	** The privacy terrorist group Vigilance uses American Revolutionary War heroes.
99	* When Shawn from ''{{Series/Psych}}'' needs an alias for himself and Gus, he will often use some variant of White and Black with their last names (i.e. Shawn White and Gus Black or Shawn Black and Gus White).
100	* ''Series/RemingtonSteele'' was caught doing this by Laura in the pilot. All of his passports had the names of Creator/HumphreyBogart characters.
101	* In ''Series/ScarecrowAndMrsKing'', it is eventually revealed that Lee Stetson was once part of a team who got assigned ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''-themed codenames, hence "Scarecrow".
102	* ''Series/ShakespeareAndHathawayPrivateInvestigators'': In "Too Cold for Hell", Frank and Lou are hired to find a fraudulent removal man. His aliases are all anagrams: Foster, Forest, Froste, Softer, etc. They soon identify him as Florian Fortes.
103	* A RunningGag on ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''. Sam & Dean's undercover aliases are almost always some sort of ShoutOut, mostly to rock stars (like Catholic priests [[Music/{{KISS}} Father Simmons and Father Frehley]]). Their names are almost always related to each other too, like [[Franchise/StarWars Agents Ford & Hamill]] from the US Fish & Wildlife Service. It's been [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] a few times, like when somebody pointed out that Agents Tyler and Perry remind him of [[Music/{{Aerosmith}} Aerosmith]], or fans of the InUniverse series of books that have been written about them parodying the gag (two guys role-playing as the Winchesters introduce themselves as FBI Agents [[Music/TheBeatles Lennon and McCartney]]) but sometimes the aliases are so obvious it makes you wonder how people can possibly not see through them (like [[Film/TheAvengers2012 Stark and Banner]] or [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Grohl and Cobain]].
104	** Once Castiel figures this out, he starts using celebrity names too, except his theme seems to be "extremely obvious super-famous female pop star" . One time he tells the local police to expect FBI Agents [[Music/BritneySpears Spears]] and [[Music/ChristinaAguilera Aguilera]]. In a later episode, he introduces himself as Agent [[Music/{{Beyonce}} Beyonce]] (Crowley, who is tagging along with Castiel on that job jokes that being with Agent Beyonce would make him [[Music/JayZ Jay-Z]]), and one time he and Jack go undercover as Agents [[Music/TaylorSwift Swift]] and [[Music/DemiLovato Lovato]].
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Podcasts]]
108	* ''Podcast/ThePenumbraPodcast'': Most of [[ConMan Peter Nureyev's]] many aliases include some sort of reference to royalty. ''Rex'' Glass, ''Duke'' Rose, Perseus ''Shah'', Leon ''Prince'', Monsieur ''Dauphin'', a representative from ''Tsar'' Shipping...
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Radio]]
112	* ''Radio/TheLivesOfHarryLime'' once featured a female con artist whose aliases [[ThisIsMyNameOnForeign all meant Brown in different languages]]: Brown, Braun, Brunelle, etc.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Webcomics]]
116	* Combined with LineOfSightName and SignificantAnagram in ''Webcomic/AccursedDragon'', in which Coven uses anagrams of the names of towns he's in as aliases. (For example, while in the town of Elgin, he goes by "Nigel", in Vamyr he was "Marvy", etc.)
117	* ''Webcomic/RiversideExtras'': The main character has so far used the aliases Ophelia Banksly, Oma Barker, and Opal Blanche, which all have the initials OB. Her real name remains unknown. Cynthia Brandt has the same initials as her real name, Cordelia Bellamy.
118	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': The Carapacians refer to themselves with various titles. These titles can change if the Carpacian goes through a major life change, but will always retain the same pair of initials: Warweary Villein became Wizardly Vassal became Wayward Vagabond became Wastelandic Vindicator, Parcel Mistress became Peregrine Mendicant [[RagsToRoyalty became Prospitian Monarch]], White Queen [[AbdicateTheThrone became Windswept Questant]], etc.
119	* Mr Green's aliases in ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'' all contain a colour ([[spoiler: Goldbug]], [[spoiler: Violet Bee]], [[spoiler: Dr Ao (Japanese for "blue")]] and [[spoiler: Ira ''Rose''nthal]]. [[spoiler: They are also the four colours of the different countries in the Literature/LandOfOz: yellow Winkies, purple Gillikins, blue Munchkins and red Quadlings, with the Emerald City in the centre.]]
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Web Video]]
123	* ''WebVideo/TheHumanPet'': The Codemaster's aliases - Sam Deercot and, briefly, Tom D. Caesar, were both anagrams of The Codemaster. Of course, "The Codemaster" is an alias in and of itself.
124	[[/folder]]
125
126	[[folder:Western Animation]]
127	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': In the episode "The Bus," Principal Brown and the parents decide to put on a ScareEmStraight lesson for the kids about skipping school, so they pretend to take the school bus hostage. In a parody of ''Film/ReservoirDogs'', their aliases are colors, but correspond to their actual colors: Principal Brown is [[LazyAlias Mr. Brown]], Richard is Mr. Pink, and Mr. Wilson is Mr. Rainbow. The only one whose name doesn't correspond with his color is Alan's father, who goes by Mr. White (and is disguised like Walter White from ''Series/BreakingBad'').
128	[[/folder]]

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