History ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames / MarvelCinematicUniverse

** The eponymous hero plays with the trope constantly. He only takes the name "ComicBook/CaptainAmerica" as a propaganda mascot in [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger his first film]], not as a superhero. Once he makes the transition to war hero, all of the characters call him Steve or "Captain Rogers" with a few exceptions (once by Bucky, once by Cap himself, and the other time by the Red Skull), and most of those examples are used as humor, irony, or mockery. Further, unlike in the original [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] comics, Cap does officially have the rank of "Captain", and since we've got various characters referring to him by "Captain", it's hard to know if they're using his stage name or military rank. However, by the time of ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Captain America has become legendary and the name is in widespread use; but after ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' he seems to be more commonly referred to as "Captain Rogers" likely due to the title having been passed on.[[note]]As seen during a discussion in ''Eternals'', and with ''Rogers! The Musical'' in ''Hawkeye''.[[/note]]

*** Technically, this trope is true of Montgomery Falsworth, known in the comics as "Union Jack". However, Falsworth is not a costumed hero in this movie so there would be no reason to say the name at all.

*** The "Winter Soldier" codename is invoked frequently as an urban legend in black-ops circles, but the heroes stop calling him this once they find out that he is [[spoiler:Bucky Barnes]], and in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' it's established that [[spoiler:there are more HYDRA super-assassins, and Bucky refers to them as "Winter Soldiers" as well]]. The Winter Soldier does have a proper codename as "The Asset" which is significant as it shows [[spoiler:how HYDRA views him as only a tool]]. As of ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'', he's actively distancing himself from the identity and the codename.

*** As in the comics, John Walker inherits the title of "Captain America" for propaganda reasons. He's better known as U.S.Agent but the show is about his journey to that identity; and it's given to him in the final episode. His sidekick, Lemar Hoskins, was originally given Barnes' nickname of "Bucky" in the comics before being changed to "Battlestar" due to the (acknowledged in-universe) UnfortunateImplications of calling a black man a "buck"; the show skips to the "Battlestar" codename right off the bat. Ironically, when Barnes hears the name "Battlestar", he [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere storms off]] in [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe sheer disbelief]].

* This trope can be applied to the MacGuffin of ''Captain America: The First Avenger'' and ''The Avengers''. In the movies, it's called the Tesseract, or "the cube". They never use its comic book name, the "Cosmic Cube". However, it and other related {{MacGuffin}}s are collectively known as [[ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet Infinity Stones]], a name that ''is'' taken from the comics.

** Like the Cosmic Cube example from ''Captain America'' and ''The Avengers'', nobody refers to Ronan's war hammer as the Universal Weapon (partly because it never comes up; the bigger threat is Ronan himself). However, Carol does call Dar-Benn's hammer that in ''Film/TheMarvels2023''.

* ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'': Wanda and Pietro Maximoff are never referred to as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, the closest is when Tony refers to Wanda as "that little witch". This gets {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Series/WandaVision'', when S.W.O.R.D director Tyler Hayward asks about Wanda's alias and is surprised when Jimmy Woo says she doesn't have one. [[spoiler:She finally takes on the codename at the end of the show, as Agatha Harkness identifies her as a mythical witch capable of using Chaos Magic to cataclysmic extents.]]

** Played with when it comes to Carol's Air Force callsign. In the comics, she was nicknamed "Cheeseburger" after she threw up on a training simulator, and she lampshades how pilots don't actually get the cool codenames you see in media. The movie goes ahead and gives her one of those cool codenames: it's [[spoiler:"Avenger", and Fury names the Avenger Initiative after her]].

** Played with by the organized crime gang that the heroes go up against, who Clint openly refers to as the Tracksuit Mafia (after their dress code). It's not clear if they call themselves that, or if Clint's just mocking them. Yes, the name is ridiculous -- [[LaughablyEvil it's supposed to be]], [[VerbalTic bro]].

** Anton Mogart does not use his comic alias of "Midnight Man", though as a nod to the name he is struck down at the stroke of midnight.

** Kamala isn't known as "Ms. Marvel", at least at first. When pressed to give a name for the new superhuman that appeared, Zoe comes up with the name "Night Light", and as she's a social media influencer it catches on. Kamala and her friends think the name is lame. Her actual name is dropped in the final episode; when Kamala can't think of a superhero name, her father tells her that "kamal" means something close to "marvel" in Urdu, and that she'll always be their Ms. Marvel. Being a Captain Marvel fangirl, Kamala {{Squee}}s at the idea that her name is like Carol Danvers'. By the time of ''The Marvels'', she's taken Ms. Marvel as her official moniker.

** The real names of Skye and her father (originally credited as "the Doctor") were deliberately withheld from the audience in order to hide their identities and the fact that they are even ''from'' the comics in the first place. Eventually their names were revealed to be Daisy and Cal Johnson respectively, known in the comics as "Quake" and "Mister Hyde" (real name Calvin ''Zabo''). Cal's codename wound up never being used during his time on the show, but he implied that it existed (he mentioned that he changed his surname, though he didn't specify whether it was to "Zabo" or "Hyde"). Skye eventually switched to using "Daisy Johnson" full-time, while the name "Quake" didn't appear until another season and a half after the reveal, when [[spoiler:Daisy became a vigilante and the media caught wind of her]].

** {{Averted|Trope}} in season 3 with Lash for similar reasons as the Clairvoyant; to preserve the mystery of his real name. After TheReveal, it's still used [[spoiler:to differentiate his human identity from his SuperpoweredEvilSide]].

** {{Inverted|Trope}} with Flint during season 5 -- in the comics, his birth name is Jaycen, and he eventually takes the codename Flint. In the show, on the other hand, Flint seems to be his real name. Which turns it into a case of StevenUlyssesPerhero, as both comic and show versions of the character have DishingOutDirt powers.

** Neither of season 1's main villains are called by their codename. [[spoiler:A Black Widow agent]] has no direct reference made to her codename (or any real name for that matter; her given name is explicitly an alias) and is only identifiable by sharing a backstory with [[spoiler:Natasha Romanoff]]. The codename of [[spoiler:Doctor Faustus]] gets a nod when he's shown reading [[Theatre/DoctorFaustus his namesake play]]. Codenames are also referenced when Peggy teams up with her war buddies in the Howling Commandos and "Dum Dum" Dugan realizes she never had a nickname like the rest of the squad. He suggests "Miss Union Jack" (see in the Captain America section above), which she declines.

** Played with for Kilgrave. In the comics he's "The Purple Man", real name Zebediah Killgrave. In the show, he's simply "Kilgrave", and characters ''still'' [[RunningGag mock it as sounding like a blatant]] [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast scary name]], the kind of name a kid would come up with to sound threatening but is actually ridiculous. [[spoiler:It turns out that "Kilgrave" is an alias. [[TomTheDarkLord His real name is Kevin Thompson]], and he really ''is'' [[PsychopathicManchild that childish]].]] While he's never referred to as the "Purple Man" on screen, the name is still alluded to, as most of his wardrobe and related visual effects are purple. The soundtrack to the show, however, does reference the name in the track title "Final Justice for the Purple Man."
** Gregory P. Salinger never goes by his comic book alter-ego, ComicBook/{{Foolkiller}}. He also doesn't go after fools, per se, but those whom he deems frauds and cheaters. He also hates super-powered individuals.

--->'''Foggy Nelson:''' Mr. Lucas? Or Mr. Cage? Which do you prefer, I forget?\\

** Played with for Colleen Wing: she didn't have her own codename in the comics, she does make a reference by calling herself "Daughter of the Dragon" when participating in underground cage matches; which is the team name for [[ComicBook/DaughtersOfTheDragon her and Misty Knight as a duo]].

** The teens also don't have a group name in either version; they're usually referred to as "runaways" since, well, [[TheRunaway that's what they are]]. Oddly, the show has Alex suggest that they officially name themselves "the Runaways" late in the first season; not because they've run away from home (because they haven't), but in memory of all the actual runaways their parents have sacrificed. It gets a mixed reception from the others. ([[spoiler:And then they ''do'' run away from home.]])

** In ''Film/ThorLoveAndThunder'', promotional material and merchandising designates Jane as "Mighty Thor"; while in the movie itself she is acknowledged as ''a'' Thor a few times but is generally only called by her real name. However, after Gorr addresses her as "Lady Thor", she corrects him, telling him to call her either Mighty Thor or Doctor Jane Foster. ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'' also has some misogynist jerks dismissively referring to her as "Lady Thor".

'''Rhomann:''' Relax, pal, it's cool to have a code name. It's not that weird.

** Emil Blonsky, the Abomination, goes by his given name. His codename is alluded to once by Dr. Sterns, who warns him combining the Super-Soldier Serum with the Hulk's blood might turn him into "an abomination". In ''[[Film/MarvelOneShots The Consultant]]'', the name Abomination is brought up but Agent Coulson says "[The World Security Council] ''really'' don't like when you call him that." In his cameo appearance in ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'', Wong simply just calls him "Emil". However, ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'' openly refers to him the Abomination with prison guards and the news exclusively calling him that. Emil himself uses the name, although only in reference to his transformed state.

* ''Film/IronMan'':

** Maya Lopez has not been called Echo onscreen, but the third episode, which opens with a {{flashback}} to Maya's childhood, is titled "Echoes". The name is heavily eluded to in her [[Series/Echo2024 spinoff series]] when a vision of her mother signs the word Echo to her, although she never outright takes it as a moniker.

** Maya Lopez has not been called Echo onscreen, but the third episode, which opens with a {{flashback}} to Maya's childhood, is titled "Echoes".

** {{Inverted|Trope}} for the most part, since everyone's "superhero" identities are in fact their real names. Thor himself inverts it in his [[Film/{{Thor}} first movie]], as the character once had a civilian identity in the comics, but the movies don't bother. So "Thor" is used all throughout the movie, while the name "Dr. Donald Blake" is the one that only gets [[MythologyGag a few token mentions]].
** A very notable aversion is Valkyrie in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', who is only referred to as ''a'' valkyrie or as "Scrapper 142", her designation on Sakaar. Brunnhilde, her real name, only appears on some merchandise and [[AllThereInTheManual in other ancillary material]]. The same goes for the Grandmaster, who is known only by that title, while his real name ("En Dwi Gast") is never mentioned.
** In ''Film/ThorLoveAndThunder'', Jane gains Thor's powers. Promotional material and merchandising designates her as "Mighty Thor"; while in the movie itself she is acknowledged as ''a'' Thor a few times but is generally only called by her real name -- with one big exception, coming after Gorr addresses her as "Lady Thor":
--->'''Jane:''' First off, the name is "''Mighty'' Thor". And secondly, If you can't say "Mighty Thor", I'll accept [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Doctor! Jane! FOSTER!]]
*** ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'' also has some mysogynist jerks dismissively referring to her as "Lady Thor".

*** The Power Broker is only known by their alias, in order to hide their real identity of [[spoiler:Sharon Carter]].

** In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', he is never called "Ronin" at any point in the movie, in spite of having adopted the Ronin costume and weapons from the comics following his family's death. It's possible that this is also an example of sticking to the OneSteveLimit, as ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' and ''Captain Marvel'' already had Ron'''a'''n the Accuser. The Ronin name was used for merchandise (such as the Marvel Legends action figure of the character) and some promotional material, however. By the start of ''Series/Hawkeye2021'', his actions have been associated with the Ronin name, but almost no one is aware that Clint ''has'' been Ronin.

** The team's name "the guardians of the galaxy" is a mocking nickname given to the group by Ronan the Accuser. Peter [[IronicEcho throws it back in his face]] when they defeat him, and by ''Vol. 2'' [[AppropriatedAppellation they've officially adopted it as their team name]].

** Like the Cosmic Cube example from ''Captain America'' and ''The Avengers'', nobody refers to Ronan's war hammer as the Universal Weapon (partly because it never comes up; the bigger threat is Ronan himself).

* ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'':
** Wanda and Pietro Maximoff are never referred to as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, the closest is when Tony refers to Wanda as "that little witch". This gets {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Series/WandaVision'', when S.W.O.R.D director Tyler Hayward asks about Wanda's alias and is surprised when Jimmy Woo says she doesn't have one. [[spoiler:She finally takes on the codename at the end of the show, as Agatha Harkness identifies her as a mythical witch capable of using Chaos Magic to cataclysmic extents.]]
** {{Averted|Trope}} with Ultron and the Vision, who have no other names. Vision was originally referred to as a metaphorical vision of various characters', but later Tony, and eventually Steve and Thor, use it by the end of the movie, with subsequent media confirming that it's been adopted as his official name.

** In ''Ant-Man and the Wasp'', Luis refers to Ava Starr, the woman with {{Intangibility}}, as "this crazy, creepy ghost", and the "Ghost" nickname sticks.

** {{Averted|Trope}} for laughs when Peter has to fight in Europe, but doesn't want to be identified there because it could give away his SecretIdentity. Ned tries to cover for him by claiming he's a European knockoff hero, and when pressed for his codename he can only come up with "Night Monkey". And unfortunately for Peter, the media catches wind of it and the name sticks.

** Inverted in a sense by Namor in ''Wakanda Forever'', which is his birth name in the comics but turns out to be a codename he adopted in the movie (he's named K'uk'ulkan, after a Mayan deity). Played straight with his comic codename ComicBook/SubMariner, which is never mentioned. This is actually a DownplayedTrope in regards to him, however, as the comics themselves more often than not tend to ''just'' call him Namor, so there isn't as much of a difference here as there is with other characters.

** While Monica Rambeau is just a kid in the film, her mother Maria has "Photon", one of Monica's comic codenames, as her Air Force callsign. Monica also has the AffectionateNickname "Lieutenant Trouble", which is used in the comics the same way for another young fan of Carol's.

** Averted for Red Guardian. He was a propaganda hero just like Captain America, so his codename is also freely known and used.

* ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'': As with some prior series like ''Thor'', ''Guardians'', and ''Doctor Strange''; the ''Shang-Chi'' characters generally don't have codenames and just use real ones.
** Although the codename had already been established in the MCU, "the Mandarin" is avoided and the character [[NamedByTheAdaptation is given a new proper name of "Wenwu"]] in order to get away from the YellowPeril stereotype. A scene has Wenwu explain that he had never been called "the Mandarin" personally, and he mocks the moniker that was [[spoiler:chosen by the ''Iron Man 3'' villains saying "The U.S. government was almost toppled by a pretender named after a chicken dish... America was afraid of an orange."]]
** In contrast, Razor Fist and Death Dealer are {{aver|tedTrope}}sions, known only by their codenames in promo materials and their real names are unrevealed. In the film itself, neither one is directly addressed by any name at all, but Razor Fist has a custom car with his codename emblazoned on the side and sporting custom license plates. Though there is a deleted scene that reveals Razor Fist's real name is Mattias, as the protagonists poke fun at his alias and the oxymoron of pairing sharp and blunt weapons.
* ''Film/{{Eternals}}'' is another case where the characters don't use superhero code names, and go either by their real names or more conventional aliases (e.g., Phastos uses the name Phil while hiding out in Chicago).

** When Phastos comes up with a way for the Eternals to share energy, he calls it "the Uni-Mind" (a name drawn from the comics). The rest of the Eternals consider the name ridiculous, but don't offer anything better and go along with calling it that.

** {{Averted|Trope}} with the BigBad, whom Clint immediately identifies by his alias of [[spoiler:the Kingpin]] (following the previously-established pattern foir him in [[spoiler:''Daredevil'']], though it's not clear if that's in continuity any more).

** Kamala isn't known as "Ms. Marvel", at least at first. When pressed to give a name for the new superhuman that appeared, Zoe comes up with the name "Night Light", and as she's a social media influencer it catches on. Kamala and her friends think the name is lame. Her actual name is dropped in the final episode; when Kamala can't think of a superhero name, her father tells her that "kamal" means something close to "marvel" in Urdu, and that she'll always be their Ms. Marvel. Being a Captain Marvel fangirl, Kamala {{Squee}}s at the idea that her name is like Carol Danvers'.

* ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'': Universally averted, and sometimes inverted. Going with the show's more tongue-in-cheek tone, codenames are frequently used.
** After Jen's first public transformation, a newscaster dubs her "She-Hulk" and the name immediately sticks. Formally, she's called She-Hulk at her new office since she was hired specifically to be a superhuman lawyer at a new superhuman law division. Jen herself hates the name though, since she doesn't want to just be seen as a DistaffCounterpart to her cousin.
** Inverted with Titania; she is called by her codename exclusively and "Mary [=MacPherran=]" is the name that's never dropped (outside of a FreezeFrameBonus). It fits with her being reimagined as a superpowered social media influencer, with Titania being both a persona and a personal brand.
** The Wrecking Crew openly call each other "Wrecker", "Thunderball", "Bulldozer", and "Piledriver". Likewise, the members of Emil Blonsky's therapy group Abomaste all call themselves and each other by their codenames exclusively.
** Craig Hollis refuses to be called by his name, instead only going by Mr. Immortal. Even the ConsummateProfessional lawyer Mallory Book calls him that. Although given that he gives himself a new alias every time he "dies", Craig Hollis may not even be his real name.
** Eugene Patilio goes by Leap-Frog as part of his SmallNameBigEgo thing. But he's not above waving his real name around to get clout as a rich SpoiledBrat. [[note]]It should be noted that he went as Frog-Man in the comics, where Leap-Frog is used by his supervillain father.[[/note]]
* ''Film/WerewolfByNight2022'':
** The title character only goes by Jack (and tellingly not [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Jack Russell]], which might have been a bit {{Narm}}y). Man-Thing is also never called such, only responding to Ted to match his AdaptationalIntelligence.
** Elsa Bloodstone is yet another case of a character that doesn't have a codename to begin with.

** {{Parodied|Trope}} with "Characters/StarLord"; Peter Quill introduces himself as that, but people just respond with confusion. When the Nova Corps later look at his rap sheet, they comment that apparently [[SmallNameBigEgo the only person who calls Quill "Star-Lord" is himself]] (and his booking sheet when he's arrested calls him ''Space''-Lord). Comically, he is ecstatic when, in the last act of the film, Korath the Pursuer actually ''does'' call him Star-Lord without a trace of irony.[[note]]While Korath pretty much snarls the name at him due to how pissed-off he is to see him, he's not mocking it and actually seems to only know him by this name.[[/note]]

** Rocket's full name in the comics is "ComicBook/RocketRaccoon", but everyone calls him Rocket. It's {{justified|Trope}} by two reasons: 1) Rocket hates being called an animal, which the name clearly insinuates; and 2) he doesn't even know what a raccoon ''is''. He does call himself Rocket Raccoon at the end of ''Vol. 3'' once he finds out what a raccoon is and comes to accept who he is.

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' and ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'': In general, the ''Guardians'' movies have the same aversion as the ''Thor'' movies in that everyone's names are their real ones, but there are a few examples:

** Red Guardian was a propaganda hero just like Captain America, so his codename is also freely known and used.

* ''Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever'':
** Riri Williams never coins the codename Ironheart, however it's alluded to when she cuts a heart-shaped piece of metal out while building her suit.
** Inverted in a sense by Namor, which is his birth name in the comics but turns out to be a codename he adopted in the movie (he's named K'uk'ulkan, after a Mayan deity). Played straight with his comic codename ComicBook/SubMariner, which is never mentioned. This is actually a DownplayedTrope in regards to him, however, as the comics themselves more often than not tend to ''just'' call him Namor, so there isn't as much of a difference here as there is with other characters.

** In season 2, "Mayhem" turns out to be [[spoiler:a LiteralSplitPersonality from Brigid O'Reilly, so the heroes sometimes use the name to tell them apart]]. Andre Deschaine never claims his [[spoiler:Loa title "D'Spayre"]], though the word comes up frequently in reference to his operation.

** Rocket's full name in the comics is "ComicBook/RocketRaccoon", but everyone calls him Rocket. It's {{justified|Trope}} by two reasons: 1) Rocket hates being called an animal, which the name clearly insinuates; and 2) he doesn't even know what a raccoon ''is''.

** The eponymous hero plays with the trope constantly. He only takes the name "ComicBook/CaptainAmerica" as a propaganda mascot in [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger his first film]], not as a superhero. Once he makes the transition to war hero, all of the characters call him Steve or "Captain Rogers" with a few exceptions (once by Bucky, once by Cap himself, and the other time by the Red Skull), and most of those examples are used as humor, irony, or mockery. Further, unlike in the original [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] comics, Cap does officially have the rank of "Captain", and since we've got various characters referring to him by "Captain", it's hard to know if they're using his stage name or military rank. However, by the time of ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Captain America has become legendary and the name is in widespread use; but after ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' he seems to be more commonly referred to as "Captain Rogers".[[note]]As seen during a discussion in ''Eternals'', and with ''Rogers! The Musical'' in ''Hawkeye''.[[/note]]

* ''Film/AntMan1'', ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'', and ''Film/AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania:

* ''Film/AntMan1'' and ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'':

** "Yellowjacket" is the name for the new powered suit Darren Cross develops rather than a specific person's nickname, although he is the only person to use this technology in the movie.

** The words "War Machine" originate in ''Film/IronMan2'' as an offhanded insult from Tony to James Rhodes. {{Averted|Trope}} in ''Film/IronMan3'', where "War Machine" is his official codename and Tony is incredulous that [[AppropriatedAppelation Rhodey actually adopted it just from that remark]]. Or rather, his government-sanctioned codename in ''3'' is the "Iron Patriot", which Rhodey claims "tested better with focus groups"; but it's pretty clear he preferred "War Machine" (since his password is still "WARMACHINEROX"). He's rarely referred to by codename again after this, but ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' establishes that it's returned to being "War Machine" when he uses the name in a BadassBoast.

** The Mandarin is an aversion, being referred to as such, [[spoiler:though the character Ben Kingsley played is ultimately revealed as a DecoyLeader. The real villain, Aldrich Killian, only refers to himself as the Mandarin once to proclaim his TheManBehindTheMan status.]] This gets even stranger in the short ''Film/AllHailTheKing'', where it's revealed that [[spoiler:Killian wasn't the actual Mandarin either, and had stolen the identity. The real one is naturally miffed at other people stealing his shtick. And according to said real one in ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'', the "Mandarin" name was an invention of Killian's and not something that he had ever been called himself.]]

** {{Averted|Trope}} by the Hulk, who is called "Hulk" four times in his debut film. The first time comes after the Culver University fight, where some college students refer to him as a "big hulk". Later, the military guys chasing the transformed Blonsky through New York mistakenly report that "the Hulk is in the street." Blonsky explicitly uses that name after the Hulk shows up for the final battle and the Hulk himself uses his [[CatchPhrase patented "HULK SMASH!"]] at the end of the fight. In ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Bruce Banner notably takes pains not to call his alter-ego "the Hulk", preferring to call him "the other guy" instead. The one time he ''does'' say Hulk, he immediately corrects himself. But no-one else has the same qualms. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', the Grandmaster and the citizens of Sakaar exclusively refer to the creature as the Hulk, as they are completely unaware of his Bruce Banner alter ego. Even the Hulk himself uses the name:
--->''"[[HulkSpeak Hulk always Hulk]]."''

** {{Averted|Trope}} with Ultron and the Vision, who have no other names. Vision was originally referred to as a metaphorical vision of various characters', but later Tony, and eventually Steve and Thor, use it by the end of the movie, with subsequent media confirming that it's been adopted as his official name.

** {{Averted|Trope}} for laughs when Peter has to fight in Europe, but doesn't want to be identified there because it could give away his SecretIdentity. Ned tries to cover for him by claiming he's a European knockoff hero, and when pressed for his codename he can only come up with "Night Monkey". And unfortunately for Peter, the media catches wind of it and the name sticks.

** Erik Killmonger is renamed Erik Stevens, with "Killmonger" being a military nickname. In both cases, he was born N'Jadaka and legally adopted a Western name after being exiled from Wakanda, but the film is less blatant about making him ObviouslyEvil. Ultimately {{averted|Trope}}, as the heroes freely call him "Killmonger" after learning of the name.

** The already-established aversion for Natasha is extended to all the other women who were trained in the Red Room, including Natasha's surrogate sister Yelena Belova; with all being acknowledged as Black Widows. (Indeed, when Yelena returns in ''Series/Hawkeye2021'', Clint recognizes her as "a Black Widow assassin")

** Averted by [[spoiler:Eros, who has already adopted the nickname Starfox by the time he meets up with Druig, Thena, and Makkari]] in the mid-credits scene.

** {{Averted|Trope}} by the organized crime gang that the heroes go up against, who Clint openly refers to as the Tracksuit Mafia (after their dress code). Yes, the name is ridiculous -- [[LaughablyEvil it's supposed to be]], [[VerbalTic bro]].

** {{Averted|Trope}} with the BigBad, whom Clint immediately identifies by his alias of [[spoiler:the Kingpin]].

** After Jen's first public transformation, a newscaster dubs her "She-Hulk" and the name immediately sticks. Formally, she's called She-Hulk at her new office since she was hired specifically to be a superhuman lawyer at a new superhuman law division. Jen herself hates the name though, since she doesn't want to just be seen as a DistaffCounterpart to her cousin.

** {{Averted|Trope}} again with the first season's BigBad, who is known as "the Clairvoyant"; although almost every character rejects the possibility of actual psychic powers, they keep calling him that because they don't have another name for him. They eventually are able to communicate with him directly, where the Clairvoyant says his subordinates coined the name and he himself finds it a bit overdramatic. Once he drops his cover he encourages everyone to use his real name. (And for the record, [[spoiler:no, he does not have psychic powers; his "omniscience" is based on high-level S.H.I.E.L.D. security clearance]].)

** {{Averted|Trope}} in season 3 with Lash for similar reasons as the Clairvoyant; to preserve the mystery of his real name. After TheReveal, it's still used [[spoiler:to differentiate his human identity from his SuperpoweredEvilSide]].

** {{Averted|Trope}} in season 4 with [[ComicBook/AllNewGhostRider Ghost Rider]], who is introduced as having already started to become an urban legend under that name in LA. When S.H.I.E.L.D. learns his identity, "Ghost Rider" gets used to refer to the Spirit of Vengeance possessing Robbie Reyes.

** {{Averted|Trope}} during the "Agents of HYDRA" arc, as AIDA freely adopts the title of "[[ComicBook/{{Hydra}} Madame Hydra]]" while acting as the head of that organization in the Framework.

** {{Averted|Trope}} for Danny Rand. The "Immortal Iron Fist" is a proper title that was bestowed upon him by K'un-L'un, and [[RunningGag he'll boast about it every chance he gets (to the confusion of anyone who has never heard of it before)]].

** PlayedWith in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. Flint Marko/the Sandman briefly refers to the ComicBook/GreenGoblin and ComicBook/DoctorOctopus by their supervillain names [[spoiler:when explaining their deaths in ''Film/SpiderMan1'' and ''Film/SpiderMan2'', respectively]], and Flint is called Sandman by both Max Dillon/Electro and the Spider-Men in the final battle. For the most part, all of the villains are called by their real names (even Curt Connors, who is stuck in Lizard form). Osborn is the exception -- [[JustifiedTrope given his status as a supervillain being dependent]] on his SuperpoweredEvilSide, he is called both Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin, but which name is used depends on which of those two personalities is in control.
** ''No Way Home'' also has a joke similar to the previously-mentioned one regarding Dr. Strange in ''Infinity War'', where Peter again mistakes someone's StevenUlyssesPerhero real name (in this case, "Otto Octavius") for a codename.

** Inverted in a sense by Namor, which is his birth name in the comics but turns out to be a codename he adopted in the movie (he's named K'uk'ulkan, after a Mayan deity). Played straight with his comic codename ComicBook/SubMariner, which is never mentioned.

** {{Inverted|Trope}} with Drax the Destroyer. In the comics, he's a transformed human named Arthur Douglas. In the movie, [[AdaptationalSpeciesChange he's an alien]] and Drax is his real name (with the "Destroyer" nickname earned for his RoaringRampageOfRevenge).

** Inverted with Titania; she is called by her codename exclusively and "Mary [=MacPherran=]" is the name that's never dropped. It fits with her being reimagined as a superpowered social media influencer, with Titania being both a persona and a personal brand.

** Eugene Patilio goes by Leap-Frog as part of his SmallNameBigEgo thing. But he's not above waving his real name around to get clout as a rich SpoiledBrat.

** Jack Duquesne is clearly ''a'' talented swordsman, but isn't known as ''the'' Swordsman -- he's ([[AmbiguouslyEvil possibly]]) a NotWearingTights VillainWithGoodPublicity who has no need for a flashy alias.

** Maya Lopez has not been called Echo onscreen, but the third episode, which opens with a {{flashback}} to Maya's childhood, is titled "Echoes". She's also slated to get her own series, also titled "Echo".

** The title character only goes by Jack (and tellingly not [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Jack Russell]], which might have been a bit {{Narm}}y). Man-Thing is also never called such, only going by and responding to Ted to match his AdaptationalIntelligence.

* ''Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever'': Riri Williams never coins the codename Ironheart (thought like with Echo, she's set to have a show with that name), but this is amusingly averted by Namor, which is his birth name in the comics, but turns out to be a codename he adopted in the movie (he's named K'uk'ulkan after a Mayan deity).

** [[spoiler:Professor Hulk]] is not referred to as such in ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. However, in ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'', he does reveal he's dubbed Smart Hulk instead.

--->'''Rocket:''' I'm sorry. I am so sorry! I just keep imagining you waking up in the morning, sir, looking in the mirror, and in all seriousness saying to yourself, ''[[[BriefAccentImitation super-gruff voice]]]'' "Y'know what would be a REALLY kickass name? '''''TASERFACE!'''''" ''[normal voice]'' That's how I hear you in my head! What was your second choice? '''''"SCROTUMHAT"?!'''''

** The already-established aversion for Natasha is extended to all the other women who were trained in the Red Room, including Natasha's surrogate sister Yelena Belova; with all being acknowledged as Black Widows. (indeed, when Yelena returns in ''Series/Hawkeye2021'', Clint recognizes her as "a Black Widow assassin")

** Jessica Jones never really had one in the comics to begin with. In a flashback, Trish encourages Jessica to take up superheroics, showing off a costume and suggesting she use the nickname "Jewel" (the codename in her comic backstory). Jessica shoots the idea down and says "Jewel is a stripper's name, a really ''slutty'' stripper. And if I wear that thing, you're gonna have to call me Cameltoe." Kilgrave is quite disappointed that she's "just Jessica Jones" when asking for her superhero name.