History AdaptationNameChange / LiveActionTV

* ''AdaptationNameChange/{{Arrowverse}}''

* ''Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}'':
** ''{{Series/Arrow}}'', based on ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'' and ''ComicBook/BlackCanary'':
*** Oliver Queen isn't actually called Green Arrow until Season 4. At first he's just "the vigilante" or sometimes "the hood", then "The Arrow" starting in Season 2.
*** The island on which Oliver is marooned, typically called Starfish Island in the comics, is renamed Lian Yu (meaning purgatory).
*** Dinah Laurel Lance goes by [[MiddleNameBasis Laurel]] Lance, to differentiate herself from her mother.
*** Laurel's father, Larry Lance in the comics, is Quentin Larry Lance.
*** Mia Dearden is re-imagined as Thea Dearden [[RelatedInTheAdaptation Queen]].
*** Star City itself is Starling City, until it's renamed Star City in Season 4.
*** Arthur King/Merlyn the Archer is [[spoiler: Malcolm Merlyn/the Dark Archer]].
*** In Season 2, Nyssa Raatko is introduced as Nyssa Al-Ghul (taking [[ComicBook/RasAlGhul her father]]'s last name), although her legal last name is still Raatko.
*** Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific is Curtis Holt.
*** Wild Dog's identity in the comics is Jack Wheller. In the series, he's renamed as [[AlliterativeName Rene Ramirez]], to accommodate his RaceLift from Caucasian to Hispanic.
*** In the New 52 comics, Ricardo Diaz Jr. used the name "ComicBook/RichardDragon" as an alias. In ''Arrow'', he is simply known as Ricardo Diaz and his codename is "Dragon."
*** The last two seasons of the show revealed that John Diggle is [[CanonCharacterAllAlong actually]] the ''Arrowverse'' counterpart of [[Franchise/GreenLantern John Stewart]].
** ''Series/TheFlash2014'':
*** Iris West's father's first name changed from Ira (New Earth) or William (''ComicBook/New52'') to Joe.
*** Roy G. Bivolo goes by Prism rather than "Rainbow Raider" or his ''ComicBook/New52'' codename of "Chroma".
*** Peek-a-Boo has her name changed from Lashawn Baez to Shawna Baez.
*** The S.T.A.R. Labs founder's name is changed from Robert Meersman (Silver Age) or Garrison Slate (New Earth) to Harrison Wells.
*** The Reverse Flash's real name remains Eobard Thawne, but he spends most of the first season going by the alias [[spoiler:"Harrison Wells"]].
*** Jesse Quick's real name is changed from Jesse Chambers to Jesse Chambers Wells, as she's [[RelatedInTheAdaptation the daughter of]] Earth-2 Harrison Wells.
*** Several examples stemming from the {{Gender Flip}} trope:
*** The Bug-Eyed Bandit is named Brie Larvan rather than Bertram Larvan.
*** The Top's real name is Rosalind "Rosa" Dillion instead of Roscoe Dillon.
*** Black Bison's real name is Mina Chayton rather than John Ravenhair.
*** The Fiddler's name is changed from Isaac Bowen to Izzy Bowen.
*** Spin was only known as "Mr. Auerbach" in the comics (his first name was never given), while in the show, her real name is Spencer Young.
*** Although the Earth-2 Mirror Master remains Evan [=McCulloch=], his Earth-Prime counterpart is a woman named Eva.
*** [[spoiler: Barry and Iris' daughter is named [[DeadGuyJunior Nora]] instead of Dawn. She's also a CompositeCharacter of Jenni Ognats, as she uses XS as her superhero identity.]] In the 100th episode, [[spoiler: the Reverse Flash calls her Dawn, implying that was her name in the original timeline that he came from, making it an InUniverse example]].
** ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'':
*** Connor Hawke's birth name is revealed to be [[spoiler: John Diggle, Jr., as his father is John Diggle in this continuity]].
*** In ''Series/TheSecretsOfIsis'', the title character's real name was Andrea Thomas. The comics had previously {{Race Lift}}ed her as a [[{{Qurac}} Khandaqi]] named Adrianna Tomaz. Here, she's an Arab-American called Zari Adrianna Tomaz.
** ''Series/Supergirl2015'':
*** On Earth, Kara Zor-El goes by Kara Danvers instead of either Linda Lee or Linda Lee Danvers, names she used in the comics.
*** In the comics, the Daxamite Lar Gand is better known by his honorary Kryptonian name of [[Comicbook/{{Valor}} Mon-El]]. In the series, Mon-El is his real name. His father, Kel Gand in the comics, is Lar Gand.
*** J'onn's brother's name is slightly altered from Ma'alefa'ak to Malefic. Although that was his "villain name" in the comics.
*** Fifth-dimensional imp Miss Gsptlsnz has her name changed to Nyxlygsptlnz, or "Nyxly" for short. (This comes from ''Comicbook/ActionComicsNew52'' run, which introduced her as an apparent human named Mrs Nyxly.)
** ''Series/SupermanAndLois'':
*** [[spoiler:Morgan Edge turns out to be an alias used by a Kryptonian named Tal-Rho.]]
*** Natasha Irons has her name changed to Natalie in this continuity.
** The BigBad of the ''Elseworlds'' {{Crossover}} is called Dr John Deegan, but seems to be the Arrowverse counterpart of Dr. Destiny, whose real name in the comics is John Dee.
* ''Series/Batman1966'': Mr Zero's name is changed to Mr Freeze, and the new name was so popular, it [[RetCanon was brought over into the comics as well]].
* ''Series/BirdsOfPrey2002'':
** Helena Wayne (from ''{{Comicbook/Huntress}}'') goes by "Helena Kyle" because she's pissed off at [[Franchise/{{Batman}} her father]] for leaving.
** Dinah Drake Lance (from ''ComicBook/BlackCanary'') is renamed "Carolyn". Likewise, Dinah Laurel Lance (from same) goes by her adopted last name and is "Dinah Redmond" (no middle name given).

* ''Series/DoomPatrol2019'':
** Elasti-Girl is renamed "Elasti-Woman" to avoid confusion with ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' character, Elastigirl. Also, flashbacks later reveal that [[spoiler: "Rita Farr" is just a StageName, with her real name being Gertrude Cramp]].
** Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man's real name is changed from Sven Larsen to Steven Larson.
** The Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E are renamed the Bureau of Normalcy.
** The Nazi scientist who turned Morden into Mr. Nobody is named Heinrich Von Fuchs instead of Dr. Bruckner.
** Morris Wilson/Maura Lee Karupt is loosely based on Sergeant Washington, a minor character in Grant Morrison's run who appears in the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. arc as a government agent before embracing a new life as a drag performer at Danny the Street's cabaret club Peeping Tom's under the name Lovely Louisa Washington at the arc's conclusion.
** Casey Brinke's father Richard Brinke has his surname changed to Frank.
** This continuity's version of Mr. 104 has Rama as his real name instead of John Dubrovny.

* ''Series/TheFlash1990'': The TV show gave Captain Cold's real name as Leonard Wynters, a MeaningfulName. [[ComicBook/TheFlash The comics]] use Leonard Snart, instead.

* ''Series/TheGifted2017'':
** Blink's real name is changed from Clarice Ferguson to Clarice Fong, due to her being {{Race Lift}}ed into an Asian-American.
** In the comics, the Stepford Cuckoos all have the surname "Cuckoo." Here, they all have the last name "Frost," as Comicbook/EmmaFrost is known to be their mother from the beginning, unlike in the comics, where their true parentage wasn't revealed until quite a while after they were introduced.
* While the [[ForeignRemake Korean adaptation]] of ''Series/TheGoodWife'' gives its cast new names to match their new nationalities, white family attorney David Lee appears in this remake as... Korean divorce attorney David Lee.
* ''{{Series/Gotham}}'':
** Poison Ivy's real name is changed from "Pamela Isley" to "Ivy Pepper."
** The Dollmaker's real name is now Francis Dulmacher, rather than Anton Schott or Barton Mathis.
** It was initally thought that Amygdala underwent this as a character in Season 1 with a similar background named "Aaron Danzing" appeared. Ultimately however, this was subverted as Season 2 saw the actual Aaron Helzinger appear.
** Tigress goes from "Paula Brooks" (or "[[LegacyCharacter Artemis Crock]]") to "Tabitha Galavan."
** Firefly is given a RaceLift and GenderFlip, and as such, goes from being a white guy named Garfield Lynns to a Latina woman named Bridget Pike.
** The Ogre is named "Jason Lennon" (born "Jason Skolimski") instead of "Michael Adams"
** Of course, in the cases of the Dollmaker, Tabitha, Firefly and the Ogre they are more or less different characters than the ones from the comics. In the Dollmaker's and the Tigress's case there were even a few different people in the comics under this mantle.
* ''Series/{{Helstrom}}'':
** The surname of the Helstrom family has been slightly modified to seem less sinister (in this case, removing one "l", turning "Hellstrom" to "Helstrom").
** Daimon's sister is known as "Ana Helstrom" rather than Satana or her human alias of Judith Chambers.
* ''Series/HighFidelity'': Rob's last name once again is changed, this time from Fleming to Brooks.
* ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'': This TV adaptation of [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk the comic]] changed Robert Bruce Banner to David Bruce Banner, and the character would call himself by his first name, instead of his middle name. This was due to the [[ExecutiveMeddling network thinking]] Bruce sounded "too gay", as well as the head writer wanting to ditch the "comic booky" AlliterativeName trope.

* ''Film/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'': Ice's name is changed from Tora Olafsdotter in the comics to the more American-sounding Tori Olafsdotter for the PilotMovie.
* ''{{Series/Legion|2017}}'':
** Gabrielle's maiden name is never mentioned onscreen, but it's unlikely to be Haller because she's Romani in the show instead of Jewish like in the comics, and David's surname Haller has been changed to be from his adoptive family. After Gabrielle marries Charles Xavier, her name becomes Gabrielle Xavier (and Switch addresses her as such in the series finale).
** Because Charles and Gabrielle are married (which didn't happen in the source material), their son was born as David Xavier, although he's adopted by the Haller family when he's still a baby, so he's known as David Haller throughout the series. However, after the AlternateTimeline takes hold in the series finale, the infant that's shown in the last scene will be known as David Xavier permanently because his parents won't give him up this time.

* ''Series/LoisAndClark'':
** In the comics, Vinnie and Morgan Edge are a father-son duo and leaders of Intergang. In the television show, however, they become Bill Church Sr, introduced in "Church of Metropolis", and he was subsequently replaced by his son [[Creator/BruceCampbell Bill Church Jr]], whose front organisation was a media empire called Multiworld Communications, with Multiworld standing in for Galaxy Broadcasting.
** Doctor Light's real name is changed from Arthur Light to Harold Leit.
** In the "New Krypton" arc, Lord Nor is General Zod in all but name.

* ''Series/Peacemaker2022'' changes the name of the title character's father from Wolfgang Schmidt to August "Auggie" Smith.

* ''{{Series/Smallville}}'':
** Comicbook/LexLuthor's father, who had been named Jules Luthor in pre-Crisis continuity, became Lionel Luthor. Since Lex's father had not previously been given a name in post-Crisis continuity, this was quickly {{Ret Canon}}ed.
** Tess "Mercy" Mercer/[[spoiler:Lutessa Lena Luthor]] is a CompositeCharacter of three characters from other ''Superman'' media ([[Film/SupermanTheMovie Ms Tessmacher]], [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries Mercy Graves]] and [[spoiler: Lena Luthor]]) and doesn't quite share a name with any of them.
** In the episode "Vengeance", Andrea Rojas uses the vigilante identity Angel of Vengeance rather than Acrata.

* ''Series/{{Stargirl 2020}}'':
** Icicle's real name is changed from Joar Mahkent to Jordan Mahkent.
** The Wizard's real name is William Zarick rather than William Zard.
** Hourman II was adopted by his maternal uncle as a child, so his legal name is Rick Harris rather Rick Tyler, though Tyler was still his surname at birth.
* ''Series/SwampThing2019'':
** Avery Sunderland's wife is named Maria rather than Bubbles.
** Likewise, Sunderland's daughter is named Shawna instead of Constance.
* ''Series/Titans2018'':
** Raven's mother is named Angela Azarath instead of Angela Roth.
** Jericho's real name is Jericho Wilson rather than Joseph Wilson.
** Ravager's mother is named Mei instead of Lillian "Sweet Lili" Worth.
** Downplayed with Comicbook/{{Superboy}}. He's known as Conner Kent [[spoiler: and later, Conner Luthor]], but his Kryptonian name of Kon-El has yet to be established.
** Brother Blood's real name is Sebastian Sanger instead of Sebastian Blood.

* ''Series/WonderWoman1975'':
** In [[ComicBook/WonderWoman the comics]], ComicBook/SteveTrevor's superior officer is named Phillip Darnell, here he's named Philip Blankenship.
** Carolyn Hamilton turns out to be ComicBook/{{Nubia}}, whose name is simply Nubia in the [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 source material]] but who adopted that as her Amazon name in the series.

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': Due to GenderFlip, the name of ''Literature/TheVampireChronicles''' character Antoine was changed to Antoinette for the TV incarnation. The latter is also given the surname Brown, whereas the former [[NoFullNameGiven lacked a full name]].

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': Due to GenderFlip, the name of ''Literature/TheVampireChronicles''' character Antoine was changed to Antoinette for the TV incarnation.

* ''Series/Bodies2014'':

* ''Series/CasinoRoyale'': In this 1954 TV adaptation of ''Literature/CasinoRoyale'', Felix Leiter was called Clarence Leiter.

* ''{{Series/Cristal}}'': Went through a CulturalTranslation, as each had a different dialect compared to the original Venezuelan telenovela:

** In the adaptation of "Literature/TheColdEquations", Marilyn Lee Cross's name is shortened to simply Lee Cross.
** In the adaptation of "{{Literature/Impostor}}", Spence Olham's name is changed to Robert Carter.

** In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1985S1E1ShatterdayALittlePeaceAndQuiet Shatterday]]", Peter Jay Novins' alter ego does not have any other name to distinguish him from the original Novins. In the short story by Creator/HarlanEllison, the original Novins decides to call him "Jay."

*** The NS-2 series robots are never called by their model number, and their InSeriesNickname is spelled "Nester" instead of "[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Nestor]]".

* ''Franchise/Arrowverse}}'':