History Main / CanonName

** ''VideoGame/GodEater1'': Yuu Kannagi. Unless the players are able to import a ''God Eater Burst'' [[OldSaveBonus save into]] ''God Eater 2'', the game automatically uses the former as the original protagonist for [=GE1=]. This also carries over into the English version of ''Rage Burst'' where, due to players being unable to transfer save files due to [=GE2=] [[NoExportForYou having never been localized]], the game automatically goes with Yuu Kannagi as well.
*** Aki Tamashiro for female protagonist.

** ''God Eater: Resonant Ops'': Leo Kamiki
*** Rio Kamiki for female protagonist.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' gave us the hero Gold and the rival Silver, though this was less canon and more so player assumption based on the naming conventions of the previous games. The remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', ''[=HeartGold and SoulSilver=]'', would later establish Gold's real name as Ethan. Silver didn't receive a new name ''per se'', but his default name was changed from "Silver" to "Soul," while his data is still stored under the name "Silver." ''Pokemon Masters'' cemented this as his canon name. The manga uses Gold for the male protagonist and Silver for the rival, whilst the anime names the male protagonist as "[[Anime/TheLegendOfThunder Jimmy]]".
** The heroine from ''[[UpdatedRerelease Crystal]]'' is Kris, as noted in the game description on the back of the box, who was replaced in the aforementioned ''HGSS'' by a new character named Lyra. Kris's counterpart in the [[Anime/TheLegendOfThunder anime]] is named "Marina" whilst Lyra uses the same name. The manga [[TakeAThirdOption forgoes this]] by naming her "Crystal" as well as being both Kris and Lyra's counterparts.

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', the protagonists are again named by the Battle Subway: Rosa (Mei in Japanese) and Nate (Kyouhei in Japanese), a pun on "Resonate" ("Kyoumei" in Japanese) when said together, one of the game's themes. Though this is usually missed because people tend to list the male name first. Pre-release media uses the names Black2 and White2 for the male and female protagonists respectively. The manga uses different names in different languages, with the original Japanese release naming the male protagonist as "Lacktsu" and the female protagonist as "Whitsu" as corruptions of the pronounciations of the games they're from (Burakku-Tsu and )

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' the official names are Calem and Serena, with the non-chosen character as a rival yet again, but their pre-release names were Xavier and Yvonne, once again reflect the game titles (funnily enough, the Viz Media translation of the XY chapter of ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' has the female character's full name as Yvonne "Y" Gābena
** The names of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'''s protagonists were notably never officially revealed, and many went by their pre-release names of "Elio" and "Selene," or reverted to the convention of naming them after the game titles. Merchandise would later reveal that they retained their pre-release names.
** The canon names of the protagonists of ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' are Victor and Gloria. Pre-release material also gave their names as Sword and Shield.

** It is worth noting that the most popular manga adaptation, ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', retains the pattern of naming the protagonists after the game versions, even after the games abandoned this. For example, the manga counterparts of the aforementioned Brendan and May are Ruby and Sapphire; Lucas, Barry, and Dawn are Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum; Hilbert and Hilda are Black and White; Nate and Rosa are Lack-Two and Whi-Two [[note]]although in the former's case "Black 2" is a codename due to being an international police officer like Looker within the continuity of the manga[[/note]]; and Calem and Serena are X and Y [[note]]even though that clashes with the names of Trevor, Tierno and Shauna due to the AerithAndBob trope[[/note]]. A few translations, such as the English one, take minor liberties in order to make the names plausible while still referencing the game titles; with X and Y becoming Xavier and Yvonne (though still carrying the ''nick''names X and Y) and Lack-Two and Whi-Two becoming Blake and Whitley. [[note]]Though, again, Blake retains "Black no. 2" as a police codename.[[/note]]

** The hero from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' is officially named Red, and his rival is Blue (Green in Japanese). Both names are revealed when you fight them in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver''. The female choice from ''[[VideoGameRemake FireRed and LeafGreen]]'' eventually had her name canonized as Leaf in ''VideoGame/PokemonMasters''.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' gave us the hero Gold and the rival Silver, though this was less canon and more so player assumption based on the naming conventions of the previous games. The remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', ''[=HeartGold and SoulSilver=]'', would later establish Gold's real name as Ethan. Silver didn't receive a new name ''per se'', but his default name was changed from "Silver" to "Soul," while his data is still stored under the name "Silver." ''Pokemon Masters'' cemented this as his canon name. The heroine from ''[[UpdatedRerelease Crystal]]'' is Kris, as noted in the game description on the back of the box, who was replaced in the aforementioned ''HGSS'' by a new character named Lyra.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' has the hero as Brendan and the heroine as May. TheRival is whichever gender option you didn't choose. Pre-release material for the ''[[VideoGameRemake Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]'' (including the demo) had them known as Orlando and Anna, however.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' has Lucas and Dawn as your playable choice (again with the non-chosen character appearing as an NPC), and a rival in the form of Barry, who can be freely named by the player in these games. Though Barry's name was de-facto canonized by the anime, it wouldn't appear in a games contest until ''Pokémon Masters'' over a decade later.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', the player characters are named Hilbert and Hilda on the Battle Subway. Their pre-release names were Blair and Whitlea, referencing the game titles.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', the protagonists are again named by the Battle Subway: Rosa and Nate, a pun on "Resonate" when said together, one of the game's themes. Though this is usually missed because people tend to list the male name first.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' the official names are Calem and Serena, with the non-chosen character as a rival yet again, but their pre-release names were Xavier and Yvonne, once again reflect the game titles.

*** The protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has no static name in the game; in the manga adaptation, he is named Minato Arisato. However, in ''Anime/Persona3TheMovie'', his name is Makoto Yuki, while [[Theatre/Persona3TheWeirdMasquerade the stage play adaptation]] gives him the name Sakuya Shiomi. The movie name is the most likely the "canon" one, given its use in ''VideoGame/Persona3DancingInMoonlight''. In the console and Steam release of ''Persona 3 Portable'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCJLyINn7-A if the player switches from Japanese to English, the protagonist's name will be set as Makoto Yuki]].

* Basically every hero from the ''VideoGame/ShiningSeries'' allows you to choose what to call your hero. Most allow you to choose the name of every major character thereafter too.

Game X gives you the option of [[HelloInsertNameHere naming your character]] at the start. [[NamedInTheSequel In the sequel]], that character appears as an OptionalBoss, SecretCharacter, PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo, etc., and as such the developers had to give them a name. Alternatively, Game X [[NamedByTheAdaptation gets a book or movie adaptation/spin-off/sequel]], and rather than [[TheAllConcealingI set it in first person]], or have [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep everyone call them barkeep,]] they just make up a name for the character.

* Originally suggested as a joke, the player in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' is named "Steve" or "Alex" depending on the default skin.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' allows you to choose a name all six of the party members but the default option is their canon names: [[PunnyName Crono]], [[GivenNameReveal Lucca Ashtear]], [[AffectionateNickname Marle]], [[ADogNamedDog Frog]], [[GiverOfLameNames Robo]] and [[MeaningfulName Ayla]]

*** ''VideoGame/Persona4'''s manga adaptation names the protagonist Souji Seta, while the [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation anime]] [[Anime/Persona4TheGoldenAnimation adaptation(s)]] names him Yu Narukami. The latter name was canonized in spin-off sequels ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'', ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''. In fact, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHvGEAQFv4 if you change the language from Japanese to English in ''Golden'', the main character's name will be set to Yu Narukami]].
*** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'', where the main character has [[HelloInsertNameHere no static given name]] in the game, but always has the official ''nom de guerre'' of "Joker," which is the name used for most crossovers, most notably his appearance in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. As with most Creator/{{Atlus}} games, in Japanese promotional material the creators enter the name "主人 公" ("Protagonist"). In English promotional material, Atlus reps also joked everyone should name the protagonist "Xander," after his English voice actor Creator/XanderMobus. While he is named Akira Kurusu in the manga, the anime opts for Ren Amamiya; the latter is likely the canon name, given that it's used in ''VideoGame/Persona5DancingInStarlight'' and ''Anime/Persona5TheAnimation''. Similar to ''Persona 4 Golden'', [[https://twitter.com/ScrambledFaz/status/1583310540868239360 changing the language from Japanese to English in ''Royal'' will cause the main character's name to be set to Ren Amamiya]].

** While the heroes in ''II'' remain unnamed so far, in ''III'', if using the Wizard, the Sorceress' name is revealed: Isendra. And later on, ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' gives one to the Necromancer, Xul, and then the Amazon, Cassia.