[[quoteright:300:[[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/killingyouguy_9935.jpg]]]]

-> ''What, was "Hitler von Killington" too subtle? How about "Sergeant Satanstein"?''
-->-- '''''Magazine/{{MAD}}''''' on General Grievous from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' series.

People make a big deal out of names, and writers are no exception. Even if they eschew ThemeNaming and other NamingConventions they'll still use names they think are cool and dignified, powerful and appropriate, or sinister and fearsome. This is why there are inevitably certain Names To Run Away From Really Fast. For much the same reason it's unlikely [[AliceAndBob Bob]] will turn out to be the [[EvilMakeover outrageously stylish villain]] bent on absorbing the planet's [[TheLifestream life stream]] [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII t]][[VideoGame/LastScenario o]] [[AGodAmI ascend to godhood]] [[note]][[Webcomic/BobAndGeorge well...]][[/note]], and someone with a name like oh, say, Hannibal Murder von Uberbastard, probably won't be selling cookies for charity. If he does, [[TooDumbToLive don't eat the cookies]].

These come in various flavors (not the cookies, the names), some of them used by [[AntiHero Anti Heroes]] of the BadAss variety from the DarkAgeOfSupernames and villains of the fearsomely competent and world destroying kind, for whom the mere [[TheScottishTrope mention of their name]] can bring down DramaticThunder.

Note that this is different from all those characters who got their names ''[[RedBaron because]]'' [[RedBaron they are a badass.]] It's one thing to be called Blade because you use one on vampires; it's another when a deadly fighter has the birth name "Blade" for no in-story reason.

So basically, when the villain's name hints towards some sort of disaster in history, mythological monster, or just means something bad, this trope applies.

Note that a villain having a name like this isn't necessarily a bad idea. Some names like this are [[AwesomeMcCoolname downright cool.]]

See also RedBaron (also known as BadassNickname), HeWhoMustNotBeNamed, MeaningfulTitles, TheMaster, NameOfCain, MyHeroZero, AliceAllusion, TheMagnificent, OneBadMother, TheGroup, AwesomeMcCoolName, and WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt? Contrast NamesToTrustImmediately. Compare FluffyTheTerrible, TomTheDarkLord, and JustTheFirstCitizen, where the name fails to describe the nastiness, and DeathbringerTheAdorable, where the nastiness fails to live up to the name. For location names, see IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace.

'''When adding examples, keep in mind:''' It's not enough when a character just has a name of any of the following types. This trope applies only when the name is an indicator of the character's true nature, and if the character thus described is evil, deceptive, dangerous or (if not evil) in other ways commanding fear or respect. As always, [[AvertedTrope aversions]] are usually not worth listing. Total [[InvertedTrope inversions]] should go on FailOSuckyname instead.

!!Single Words:
[[index]]
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Adjectives}}
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/TheAdjectiveOne
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Nouns}}
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Animal}}
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/BodyPart
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Colors}}
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Weapons}}
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Verbs}}
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Titles}}
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/NounX
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/ThePerson
[[/index]]

!!Etymology:
[[index]]
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/AncientDeadLanguages
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/ForeignLanguageNames
[[/index]]

!!Named After:
[[index]]
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Conquerors}}
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/NotoriousKillers
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/RedneckNames
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/ReligiousNames
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/DemonsOrAngels
** NamesToRunAwayFrom/BiblicalNames
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/ShadyNames
[[/index]]

!!Sounds and Letters:
[[index]]
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/KNames
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Mor}}
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/NamesEndingInTh
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/RNames
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/XtremeKoolLetterz
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/UnpronouncableNames
[[/index]]

!!Various:
[[index]]
* NamesToRunAwayFrom/MixAndMatch
[[/index]]

!!The following types of Names To Run From have their own trope pages:
[[index]]
* {{Alucard}} (Dracula spelled backwards)
* AVillainNamedZrg
* TheButcher
* DoomyDoomsOfDoom
* GunmanWithThreeNames
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate
* MyHeroZero
* LouisCypher
* TheMaster
* NameOfCain
* XMakesAnythingCool
* XtremeKoolLetterz
[[/index]]
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