History Main / HelloInsertNameHere

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} "This]] is my grandson. [[AbsentMindedProfessor ...Erm, what is his name again?"]]]]

* The protagonist of ''VideoGame/GrowingUp'' can be named anything, [[GenderBlenderName even a name that's traditionally expected for the opposite gender]].

* Some of the ''{{Anime/Hamtaro}}'' video games allow you to select a name for Hamtaro at the start of the game if you want. In the case of the GBA title, ''VideoGame/HamtaroHamHamHeartbreak'', not only are you allowed to pick a name for Hamtaro, but you are also allowed to select a name for Bijou at the start of the game if you so wish.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', you can name Tidus whatever you want, and as a result he is referred to by the standard multiple variants of ''you''. In fact, the other characters seem to (quite conspicuously) go out of their way not to address him by name in the third-person. Oddly, this still occurs in ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 Final Fantasy X-2]]'' when the player has ''no'' chance of renaming him, although Yuna is the only one who really talks about him directly. Subsequent games would simply ditch the feature so as to avoid that voice acting problem again.

* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' allows players to rename creatures of all kinds by either renaming their spawn eggs via the anvil (only in creative mode unless an adventure map allows players to get them) or by using a name tag. Whether it is the docile pig or the aggressive Creeper, you can use any name. Certain names result in special effects: for example, naming a mob Dinnerbone or Grimm will flip the mob's model upside down as an easter egg since those names are based on the developers of the game. Mobs that are give a custom name will also never vanish from the game unless killed, making it handy to keep your pet wolf or horse at your side.

* ''Film/Transformers2007'': In the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS games based on the movie, you are able to make your own name up. Due to the voice-acting in all of the {{cutscene}}s, though, you are not directly referred to by name. Whoever happens to be your mentor, though, calls you 'rookie'.

* The UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame ''Hyper VideoGame/BishiBashi Champ'' allows you to choose from a list of prerecorded "wacky" nicknames, although this feature is removed from its UsefulNotes/PlayStation port on the compilation ''Bishi Bashi Special'' (where you're always "PRAYAAAAH WAN")

** The UsefulNotes/PlayStation version of ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' didn't use any different typeface for character names, but in all the voice-acted lines, there was a pause right about where names would have gone, or the voiced line was the written line minus the name. There was exactly one exception, though -- Chester's name near the beginning, ''immediately before'' you get to enter his name.

** Modern football/soccer games work like this too, when you create a player. You may name him "Joe" and have the announcer refer to him as, say, "Ronaldinho" (or not refer to him at all), if "Joe" isn't available in the callname list. ''VideoGame/ProEvolutionSoccer'' is particularly bad with this, since it also allows you to change the callnames for already-existing players since the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation PS1]] versions.

* The ''VisualNovel/FamicomDetectiveClub'' series has you enter the first and last name of the main character. Later promotional material for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch remakes offer "Taro Ninten" as a possible CanonName, but otherwise no default option is given.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': While Link is the main protagonist's CanonName, ever since the first game, most games allow the player to name him as they see fit.

* Played with in the PC versions of ''VideoGame/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'', where you can name yourself for the game's high score list, but any attempt to name yourself "Regis" or "Millionaire" would result in your name being changed to "Faker," "Wannabe," or something similar.
* ''VideoGame/YouDontKnowJack'' was a series of PC trivia games that used the variant of this trope in which the host simply referred to the players as "player one, player two", etc. In the first three, that's about as far as the trope went. In the fourth game, the game would sometimes take it upon itself to change your name to something more demeaning, and would actually scold you and exit the program if you tried to name yourself "fuck you".
** The [[UpdatedRerelease 2011 version]] will supply a name for everyone that did not enter one. It is not above using the names "Duck", "Duck", and "Goose" for 3 players that don't enter any names.

* In ''VideoGame/PotionPermit'', not only can you name the chemist, you can pick a name for your dog too.

* The player characters in the ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' series all seem to have default names, but for some cases like Pete their fanon names are more widely known (for him it's Jack). You don't have to use the default names (that's assuming you knew them), which is where this trope comes into play. Interestingly, ''[[VideoGame/HarvestMoonIslandOfHappiness Island of Happiness]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/HarvestMoonSunshineIslands Sunshine Islands]]'' only allow 6-character names for their farmers, Mark and Chelsea. Chelsea is one letter too long to fit.

* This [=GabaLeth=] [[https://www.deviantart.com/gabasonian/art/The-Name-Game-453422500 comic]] has [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Red]] name himself God and Blue [[UnfortunateName Dumbass]]. Professor Oak forces Blue to accept his name despite's Blue insistence that Red changes it.

* This [=GabaLeth=] [[https://www.deviantart.com/gabasonian/art/The-Name-Game-453422500 comic]] has [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Red]] name himself God and Blue [[UnfortunateName Dumbass]]. Professor Oak forces Blue to accept his name despite's Blue insistence that Red changes it.

* Creator/ProZD: One of his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP-EXVj1Zzk&ab_channel=ProZD skits]] has the player character name his rival Dildoface much to Gary's chargin. The professor accepts it as his grandson' name.

* All ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games in the main series allow you to name yourself (or, if you don't feel like coming up with your own, choose from a list of default choices) and nickname your catches. (Trades can't be renamed.) Usually, you can only name Pokémon either immediately after catching them or by visiting a "name rater" NPC (or at least until ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee''). Your inability to rename party members on your own doesn't make much sense in and of itself, but provides an excuse for why you can't rename a traded mon -- the "rater" will insist that its name is perfect and refuse to help you change it.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', and ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' let you name TheRival as well. ''Red and Blue'' has the most ridiculous of all: Not only does the AbsentMindedProfessor forget the name of his own grandson, he will also "remember" (and delightfully shout out) whichever name you choose, as seen in [[Webcomic/SuperEffective this page's image]].

* Anytime Creator/JimSterling is faced with this choice, expect them to pick "Chungus" or a variation on it.

A common feature is to allow players the option to name their PlayerCharacter, or even other characters. It allows for a certain level of customization. Most games that do this feature a [[ProtagonistWithoutAPast hero without a past]], but many even present this option for characters that actually have "[[CanonName real]]" names. Often, the player's name will appear in a slightly different [[UsefulNotes/{{Fonts}} typeface]], which may have been intended to remind the player that he's the one being addressed, but also reminds him that the dialogue is being generated [[MadLibsDialogue Mad Libs style]]. Endless amusement can be derived from entering entirely inappropriate words instead of names. Occasionally, a game will acknowledge an unusual name choice (often for a cheat code or EasterEgg), or even not allow you to use specific names, such as the names of non-player characters (failure to do the latter can lead to major plot confusion if the player accidentally gives a character the name of a subsequently-introduced character).

* In ''[[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Earthbound Beginnings/Mother]]'', the character name screen would prevent you from giving characters the names used by locations, important [=NPCs=], or enemies, such as "Duncan", "Mary", "Wally", or the name of the last boss, although this could be bypassed by entering the name with a different capitalization.
** In ''VideoGame/Earthbound1994''[=/=]''Mother 2'', you are allowed to name the characters; however there is a default option button which gives the party their canon names. Pressing it multiple times even provides additional options.

** In one episode, Lisa gets a VoiceoverLetter from her overseas penpal, Anya.

** In one episode, Lisa gets a VoiceoverLetter from her overseas penpal.

'''Male Voice:''' ...replaced, by the benevolent General Krull. All hail Krull, and his glorious regime! Sincerely, little girl.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is the second game in the series that doesn't allow the player to rename all party members; only the male and female leads, the female lead's dog, and the [[SummonMagic Guardian Forces]] can be renamed. Starting with ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', it's no longer possible to rename anyone.

** In addition to their general [=CDs=], they have produced personalized [=CDs=] featuring characters such as [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney]], Franchise/CareBears, and Franchise/SpiderMan.