History ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames / MarvelCinematicUniverse

* ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'': Going with the show's more tongue-in-cheek tone, codenames are frequently used.

** The Wrecking Crew openly call each other "Wrecker", "Thunderball", "Bulldozer", and "Piledriver".

** Titania is called by her codename on a news report, which fits with her being reimagined as a superpowered social media influencer.

* The ''ComicBook/{{Thor}}'' films:

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

** [[spoiler:Professor Hulk]] is not referred to as such in ''Film/AvengersEndgame''.

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

** Kamala isn't known as "Ms. Marvel", at least at first. 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'.
** Some of the major villains explain that they've been called "clandestines" (among other things), indicating that they're adapted from the comic book ''ComicBook/ClanDestine''. That said, "clandestine" isn't actually used in the book itself; the name is a PunBasedTitle about the Destine family (or ''clan'', as it were).

** Kamala isn't known as "Ms. Marvel", at least at first. 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.

In general, the MCU goes out of its way to subvert, lampshade, and defy the concept of a SecretIdentity. None of the Avengers have one -- not even Iron Man, who had one for decades in the comics. Tony himself mocks how pointless it is and defies the trope by outing himself in the last scene of [[Film/IronMan1 his first film]] before the end credits. That isn't to say that the heroes don't have their comic codenames, though they are usually given to the characters by another source, either as propaganda, used as a military call sign, or are dubbed as such by the media. Generally, heroes and villains will usually refer to each other by their real names while members of the general public are more likely to make use of the Codenames:

** Carol is never called "Captain Marvel" in her debut movie. Fury does mispronounce Mar-Vell's name as "Marvel", though, and says that it sounds better.[[labelnote:Fun fact]][[ComicBook/CaptainMarvelMarvelComics The comics version of Mar-Vell]] was the first Captain Marvel, and [[StevenUlyssesPerhero got his superhero name from that same mispronunciation]].[[/labelnote]] But it is shown to become widely known after ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', being used in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Series/WandaVision''. ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' had an alternate universe version (where it's Carol's squad mate Maria Rambeau) downright introduced as Captain Marvel, and Carol's biggest fan, Kamala Khan, always uses the codename in ''Series/MsMarvel2022''.

** Abdallah El-Faouly and his daughter Layla are given a few visual nods to the comic book character the Scarlet Scarab, but the codename is never used. [[spoiler:Even when Layla gains powers and officially becomes the MCU version of the character.]]

** Carol is never called "Captain Marvel" in her debut movie. Fury does mispronounce Mar-Vell's name as "Marvel", though, and says that it sounds better.[[labelnote:Fun fact]][[ComicBook/CaptainMarvelMarvelComics The comics version of Mar-Vell]] was the first Captain Marvel, and [[StevenUlyssesPerhero got his superhero name from that same mispronunciation]].[[/labelnote]] But it is shown to become widely known after ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', being used in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Series/WandaVision''.

** As with Zemo in ''Civil War'', Baron Mordo is not actually a Baron here and is just called Karl Mordo. Merchandise for ''Multiverse of Madness'' does give him a title, but now it's "''Master'' Mordo".

** ''No Way Home'' also has a joke similar to the previously-mentioned one in ''Infinity War'', where Peter again mistakes someone's StevenUlyssesPerhero real name (in this case, "Otto Octavius") for a codename.

** ''Multiverse of Madness'' introduces America Chavez. "America" sounds like a codename, given that she dresses in stars-and-stripes (and especially since this is a franchise where Captain America exists), but no, "America" [[StevenUlyssesPerhero is her real name]].

** 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 [[spoiler: until the climax]]). 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.

** Neither Moon Knight nor Mr. Knight are called by those names, instead being referred to as either Marc or Steven (depending on which one's fronting and[=/=]or which one the person speaking to them is more familiar with). However, a flashback in "Asylum" shows Khonshu referring to Marc as "[his] moon knight" after the latter agrees to act in his service.

** Anton Mogart does not use his comic alias of "Midnight Man".

** Neither Moon Knight nor Mr. Knight have been called by those names, instead being referred to as either Marc or Steven (depending on which one's fronting and[=/=]or which one the person speaking to them is more familiar with).

-->-- ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''

** ComicBook/IronMan himself doesn't get called that name until the end of his [[Film/IronMan1 first film]] and it's only used once or twice in the following films where he appears ("I am Iron Man" gets echos in ''Film/IronMan3'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', and ComicBook/NickFury refers to him as Iron Man once), but the name is also used in specific reference to the suit (i.e. "the Iron Man weapon" or "Tony Stark's Iron Man armor"). It does get namedropped in ''Series/LukeCage2016'' in a rap by [[Music/WuTangClan Method Man]] ("And there ain't no Iron Man that can come and save us all?").
** The words "ComicBook/WarMachine" originate in ''Film/IronMan2'' as an offhanded insult from Tony to James Rhodes. Averted 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.

* ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'':
** Averted 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/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', 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]].
** 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".
** [[spoiler: Professor Hulk]] is not referred to as such in ''Film/AvengersEndgame''.

** Inverted 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 Comicbook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}} 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.

** 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. By the time of ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' though, 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]]

*** Johann Schmidt gets called "The ComicBook/RedSkull" (by ''Hitler'', no less) one time as an insult, much to his annoyance. For the rest of the movie, only his real name is used. However, when he's mentioned in future movies and shows, it's only done by his codename.

*** 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:ComicBook/BuckyBarnes]], 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.
*** The film also introduces ComicBook/TheFalcon, whose name is taken from the code name of the [[MilitarySuperhero elite military program]] where he gained his wings; despite or because of this, Maria Hill actually ''does'' address him as "Falcon" while acting as MissionControl. By ''Ant-Man'', the name is publicly known and Scott addresses him as such. Though ''The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'' has some gags about how some people think he's "[[CaptainEthnic Black Falcon]]" instead. When he officially takes up the mantle of Captain America, he openly uses the name, though primarily to make a point after the disaster that was John Walker.

*** Sharon Carter is referred to as "ComicBook/{{Agent 13}}" throughout most of the movie, with Natasha only revealing her first name during the movie's last scene; in ''Civil War'' she only goes by her given name (and may in fact have lost her "Agent" designation after [[spoiler:S.H.I.E.L.D. fell; as a CIA operative, she'd be ''Officer'' Carter]]). By ''The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'', she's definitively lost any titles she once had, until being restored as "Agent Carter" at the very end. But it also reveals to the audience that she's gained another title: [[spoiler:the Power Broker]].

*** [[Comicbook/BaronZemo Zemo]] never had a codename to begin with, but nonetheless loses his title of ''Baron'' Zemo in ''Civil War'' since he's presented as a Sokovian soldier rather than a NaziNobleman as he is in the comics. ''The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'' reverses this and reveals that he actually ''had'' been a Baron the whole time.

*** As in the comics, John Walker inherits the title of "Captain America" for propaganda reasons. He's better known as ComicBook/USAgent 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]].

*** Isaiah Bradley is a super-soldier test subject and formally acknowledged in the comics as a Captain America, even though he stole the costume for a single illegitimate mission that was covered up afterwards. The show largely keeps his backstory but eliminates Bradley's use of the name and equipment; and in the present day he considers "Captain America" a white man's title that "no self-respecting black man would want to be."

* From multiple movies, Natasha Romanoff's handle of "Comicbook/BlackWidow" never comes up in ''Film/IronMan2'', but later movies use it infrequently. The name is known by the populace, but she's generally better known by her real name (at least among people who know her).
* In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', Clint Barton is called "{{ComicBook/Hawkeye}}" all of once by the Black Widow during the Battle of New York. It appears to be his radio callsign, with the name appearing briefly when Coulson is viewing his dossier in the film's beginning. The closest anyone comes otherwise is Dr. Erik Selvig semi-dismissively calling him "the Hawk". During his prior cameo in ''Thor'' it wasn't even alluded to, and in ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'' it's used once in an affectionately mocking way by [[spoiler:his wife]]. It's absent again in ''Civil War'', and when meeting Black Panther he explicitly introduces himself as "Clint", not "Hawkeye". By the time of [[Series/Hawkeye2021 his solo series]], he is regularly recognized on the street, and addressed by the codename.
** 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/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'', his actions have been associated with the Ronin name, but almost no one is aware that Clint ''has'' been Ronin.

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' 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:
** 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.]]
** Parodied with "Comicbook/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]]
--->'''Korath:''' ''Star-Lord''.
--->'''Peter Quill:''' Finally!

--->'''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"?!'''''
** Inverted with Comicbook/DraxTheDestroyer. In the comics, he's a transformed human named Arthur Douglas. In the movie, he's an alien and Drax is his real name (with the "Destroyer" nickname earned for his RoaringRampageOfRevenge).
** Rocket's full name in the comics is "Comicbook/RocketRaccoon," but everyone calls him Rocket. It's justified 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''.

** Averted with ComicBook/{{Ultron}} and ComicBook/TheVision, 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.
** Wanda and Pietro Maximoff are never referred to as ComicBook/ScarletWitch and ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}, the closest is when Tony refers to Wanda as "that little witch". This gets lampshaded 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.]]

** The trailers for the first movie had characters similarly riffing on how "Ant-Man" [[AtrociousAlias is hard to take seriously]], but [[NeverTrustATrailer these bits don't appear in the movie]].
--->'''Hank:''' Scott, I've been watching you for a while now. You're different. Now don't let anyone tell you that you have nothing to offer. Second chances don't come around all that often. I suggest you take a really close look at it. This is your chance to earn that look in daughter's eyes. To become the hero that she already thinks you are. It's not about saving our world; it's about saving theirs. Scott, I need you... To be the Ant-Man.\\
'''Scott Lang:''' Huh. One question... Is it too late to change the name?\\
\\

'''Scott Lang:''' No... I'm Ant-Man. ''[[[{{Beat}} awkward silence]]]'' I know. Wasn't my idea.
** The "ComicBook/AntMan" moniker is used by S.H.I.E.L.D. in its anti-Soviet propaganda films to refer to Hank Pym. The latter then passes the title (along with the corresponding powered suit) to Scott Lang. Hank also explicitly refers to his wife Janet van Dyne as "ComicBook/TheWasp", and Hope inherits the identity in the sequel, but in dialogue, she's only ever called by her name.

'''Peter:''' Oh, we're using our made-up names? I'm ''Spider-Man'' then.

* ''Spider-Man'':
** Taking a similar approach to that of ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', the film shows that the news and general public actually refer to ComicBook/SpiderMan as "''the'' spider-man", which fits into the idea that he's a new, mysterious hero who works on the streets rather than a well-known figure tackling world scale threats like the Avengers. In fact, in Spidey/Peter's debut appearance in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', he and Tony openly discuss his codename:

** While Aaron Davis is only referred to by his real name, Karen’s profile of him does mention "The Prowler" as a street alias.

** Averted 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.

** [[Comicbook/{{Killmonger}} 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, as the heroes freely call him "Killmonger" after learning of the name.

* Apart from Comicbook/{{Thanos}} briefly referring to Ebony Maw posthumously as "the Maw", none of the Black Order's extravagant titles are given in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' or ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. While most of the names (Ebony Maw, Corvus Glaive, and Proxima Midnight) do appear in merchandising and supplemental material, two of the sillier ones are avoided entirely: Black Dwarf is renamed Cull Obsidian (which in the comics was an alternate name for the entire group) and Supergiant is just plain AdaptedOut. Thanos is also never referred to as "The Mad Titan" (which was used in ''Guardians of the Galaxy''), though he briefly references that [[TheyCalledMeMad his people called him mad]] for his plan for the universe.

** ComicBook/CarolDanvers is never called "Captain Marvel" in her debut movie. Fury does mispronounce Mar-Vell's name as "Marvel", though, and says that it sounds better.[[labelnote:Fun fact]][[ComicBook/CaptainMarvelMarvelComics The comics version of Mar-Vell]] was the first Captain Marvel, and [[StevenUlyssesPerhero got his superhero name from that same mispronunciation]].[[/labelnote]] But it is shown to become widely known after ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', being used in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Series/WandaVision''.
** While ComicBook/MonicaRambeau 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.

* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': ComicBook/PepperPotts is never called "Rescue," though the reasoning for that specific codename doesn't exist in the MCU (the comics version is explicitly a pacifist who does actual rescue work and avoids combat when possible, while her MCU gear is fully weaponized); and she appears in a BigBadassBattleSequence where there's not a lot of dialogue to spare to make the reference anyways. However, merchandise based on the character does use the name Rescue.

** 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")

** General Dreykov references the Taskmaster protocol early in the film, but aside from that, [[TheDragon his mysterious enforcer]] is not called by any name until late in the movie. Justified, as Taskmaster [[SilentAntagonist isn't giving anyone much to go on in that regard]]. [[spoiler:Near the end, Natasha calls Taskmaster by her real name, Antonia.]]
* ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}'': Played with by the first-season BigBad, "[[spoiler:He Who Remains]]", who avoids the trope in some ways and plays it straight in others. He's a CompositeCharacter of the comics character with that title and [[spoiler:Immortus]], but none of the [[IHaveManyNames many]] names associated with the latter are used. He doesn't even give his birth name, while still lampshading the weirdness of the title he does have ("Creepy, right? But... I like it."). The most famous of the latter's aliases, "[[spoiler:ComicBook/KangTheConqueror]]", is alluded to when he refers to an AlternateSelf as "a conqueror".

** 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 US 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 aversions, 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).
** Dane Whitman is never called the Black Knight, but this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as he spends the entire film as a civilian, and stays in London after Sersi, Sprite, and Ikaris leave. [[spoiler:[[TheStinger The post-credits scene]] has Dane psyching himself up to take up the Ebony Blade, but he is interrupted by (ironically) ComicBook/{{Blade}}.]]

* ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'':

** 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.
** Averted 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]].

** Kazi is a member of the Tracksuit Mafia, but lacks any supervillain gimmicks and is never called "The Clown".

** Averted with the BigBad, whom Clint immediately identifies as [[spoiler:ComicBook/TheKingpin]].
* ''Series/{{Moon Knight|2022}}'':

** The villain, Arthur Harrow, is a CompositeCharacter of comic!Harrow and the Sun King, but has not used the latter alias. Justified, as he is connected to Ammit instead of Ra, so the moniker would make no sense.

[[AC:TV - S.H.I.E.L.D. and Inhumans Shows (ABC)]]

** Lampshaded aversion: In Season One, Raina manipulates a pyrokinetic's ego by suggesting he adopt the name "Scorch," commenting on how nobody knows "Steve Rogers" but "Captain America" is a household name. Everyone who hears it is incredulous at the idea, including the pyro at first, but he warms up to it (pun not intended) and by the time S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up he's embraced it; which is then taken as a sign he's getting out of control.
--->'''Coulson:''' [[OhCrap Ah, crap,]] they gave him a ''name''.

** Averted again with the first season 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.]])
** Coulson's team discovers a super-soldier project codenamed "Deathlok", and they soon start referring to the project's subject himself as Deathlok completely unironically. Later in the first season, [[spoiler:it's discovered that there is more than one subject, at which point Deathlok becomes somewhat of a generic label.]]
** Season One [[MonsterOfTheWeek Villain Of The Week]] Marcus Daniels is never called "Blackout" in dialogue, though eagle-eyed viewers can make out the name on his profile. The source of his powers ''is'' called the Darkforce, however, with requisite lampshading:
--->'''Coulson:''' Because [[SarcasmMode nothing bad ever happens]] when you're working with [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast something called "Darkforce."]]

** Other villains that don't have their codenames used include Carl Creel (the Absorbing Man, though it is referenced in dialogue), Daniel Whitehall (Kraken), Marcus Scarlotti (Whiplash, likely because it was already taken by Vanko in ''Iron Man 2''), and David Angar (Angar the Screamer). The same goes for one of the heroes, Bobbi Morse (ComicBook/{{Mockingbird}}).
** Inverted in Season Two with one of Whitehall's [[TheDragon Dragons]], Agent 33, who had suffered a LossOfIdentity thanks to {{Brainwashing}} and whose name ([[spoiler:Kara Palamas]]) was not known, even to her, until she started getting it back.
** 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 ComicBook/{{Daisy|Johnson}} 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]].
*** The silliness of codenames is lampshaded much later, as in one of the final episodes a newcomer hears the "Quake" name for the first time and points out that it's really pretty ridiculous; Mack ends up agreeing with him and both break into an extended fit of giggles.

** Averted in Season Three 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 [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity less rational superpowered side]].]]
** The Season Three BigBad is known in the comics as Hive (as in MindHive). In the show, it took most of the season to reveal that in ancient times it was known as "Alveus" (Latin for "Hive"), but once that's known the English translation caught on quickly. Up until then, the closest thing it had to a name was [[NothingIsScarier "It"]].
** Defied with James in Season Three. As soon as he gets [[PlayingWithFire heat and explosion]] powers, he starts brainstorming fire-related codenames to use before he settles on his comics name of "Hellfire".

** The results of an imperfect attempt to create Inhumans in Season Three are dubbed "Primitives". In the comics, these are the ''Alpha'' Primitives, the Inhumans' slave race. The "alpha" part gets a nod when their creator says they're just an alpha version and begs his boss to let him make improvements for a beta test.
** Averted in Season Four 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.
** Jeffrey Mace (Season Four) doesn't use the codename "Patriot", but is referred to as a patriot a few times in dialogue. [[spoiler:And the serum that gives him his powers is also called "Project Patriot".]] He's also compared to Captain America in-universe, referencing how he held that title in the comics for a while as Rogers' successor. Averted in the Framework simulation, where he is referred to as the Patriot pretty regularly, even by his enemies who hate the name.
** Averted 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.
** Inverted 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 One'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.
** In Season Two, Whitney Frost doesn't go by her codename Madame Masque; there are some visual references made to it but as Whitney never actually wears a mask, the name wouldn't make sense if it were used. Joseph Manfredi also doesn't go by "Blackwing", though it's another case where this version isn't a supervillain and so has no need for a codename. The conspiracy of powerbrokers has been renamed from the Secret Empire to the Council of Nine or just "the Council". Finally, the season's {{Phlebotinum}} is called Zero Matter instead of Darkforce, though Wilkes calls it ''a'' "dark force" (and ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' had already established that it will be called Darkforce by modern times).
* ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'' is yet another aversion where everyone lacks codenames to begin with and only use their real ones; or at least nicknames derived from the real ones. For instance, "ComicBook/BlackBolt" sounds like a codename but in the comics is short for [[StevenUlyssesPerhero "Blackagar Boltagon"]].

[[AC:TV - ''The Defenders'' Shows (Netflix)]]

** Another cross-show example is Claire Temple, a CompositeCharacter with the comics character codenamed "Night Nurse". Across all the shows so far, the codename has only been mentioned once, by one of Diamondback's henchmen in ''Luke Cage''. (Though the song "Night Nurse" plays during one of her "[[UnusualEuphemism coffee]]" scenes with Luke).

'''Matt Murdock:''' ({{Beat}}) I didn't ask for that name.\\
'''Frank Castle:''' I'm sorry. I don't see you running from it.\\
'''Matt Murdock:''' I don't do this to hurt people.\\
'''Frank Castle:''' Yeah, so what is that, [[ActionHero just a job perk?]]
** Eventually averted for Wilson Fisk, as it takes him several seasons for him to grow into the role and title of ComicBook/TheKingpin. In the first season, there were simply some {{Mythology Gag}}s made. In the second season, a fellow prisoner [[BullyingADragon tries to intimidate Fisk by claiming he's the kingpin of the joint]]. [[TheDogBitesBack Fisk, of course, arranges his death]] and claims the name for himself. It's only in the third season that he truly becomes the Kingpin of the comics, and he has the FBI agents under his control strictly use his codename.

'''Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter:''' Kingpin.

** Season 2 has a rare inversion, assigning a codename to someone that didn't have it before. A mysterious drug lord called "the Blacksmith" was responsible for orchestrating the shootout that led to the death of Frank Castle's family, but he's hard to track down when no one knows his real identity. The character existed in the ''Punisher'' comics, and like the show was a drug dealer and [[spoiler:Frank's former commanding officer Ray Schoonover]], but didn't have a codename.
** Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter is never once called Comicbook/{{Bullseye|Marvel Comics}} in Season 3, with the closest they come to it being a couple of nods to the bullseye pattern--for example, the season ends with a closeup of his iris, which shows a bullseye pattern. For most of the season he doesn't have a supervillain identity yet, so he doesn't need a name--he poses as Daredevil when committing crimes for Fisk.

** Trish Walker ([[ComicBook/PatsyWalker Hellcat]]) and Will Simpson (Nuke) don't get their codenames referenced either - at most, a season 3 episode focused on Trish is named "Hellcat". Given Simpson's first name was changed for the series,[[note]]He's ''Frank'' Simpson in the comics. His first name was likely changed so as [[OneSteveLimit to avoid confusion with Frank Castle]], who was being introduced in season 2 of ''Series/Daredevil2015''[[/note]] it isn't immediately apparent that he's Nuke, right down to the pills that give him super powers, until he utters his (in)famous catchphrase, "Give me a Red" while Dr. Kozlov is tending to him.

** Played with for Kilgrave. In the comics he's "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Man 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. 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, Foolkiller. He also doesn't go after fools, per se, but those whom he deems frauds and cheaters. He also hates super-powered individuals.

** ComicBook/{{Luke|CageHeroForHire}} himself and [[ComicBook/DaughtersOfTheDragon Misty Knight]] barely have codenames in the first place. Luke does have an infrequently-used name of "Power Man" in the comics, which is shown here as one of Pop's {{Affectionate Nickname}}s for him. Of course, as in the comics, Luke Cage isn't his birth name either; he was born as Carl Lucas but had to go by an alias when a fugitive from the law. He's since adopted Luke Cage as his actual name even after being caught and serving his sentence. Lampshaded in ''Series/TheDefenders2017'' when Foggy is greeting Luke as he's being released from prison:

** In a clever aversion, the codenames used by criminals, such as Shades (real name Hernan Alvarez), Comanche (real name Darius Jones), Diamondback (real name Willis Stryker), etc. are repurposed as street gang nicknames.

** Mariah Dillard is almost never called "Black Mariah", as the name acts as a BerserkButton. She explains in Season 2 that it was a racist childhood nickname that other kids gave her because of her dark skin color.
** In the comics, John [=McIver=] had his name legally changed to John Bushmaster. When he appears in Season 2, he stays a [=McIver=] and "Bushmaster" is now his gang nickname taken from his family's brand of rum.

** Big Ben Donovan finally gets his nickname dropped here in season 2, with Mariah insinuating [[TeenyWeenie that he's]] {{compensating for something}}.

** Averted 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).]]

** Inverted with William Rawlins. He goes by the codename "Agent Orange" in Afghanistan, which he never used in the comics. "Agent Orange" in fact belonged to an entirely different character.

* ''Series/{{Runaways 2017}}'':

** 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.

->'''Nick Fury''': We have a job to do, and you're coming with us.\\
'''Peter Parker''': There's gotta be someone else you can use. What about Thor?\\
'''Nick Fury''': Off-world.\\
'''Peter Parker''': Doctor Strange?\\
'''Maria Hill''': Unavailable.\\
'''Peter Parker''': Captain Marvel.\\
'''Nick Fury''': Don't you invoke her name!

** The words "ComicBook/WarMachine" originate in ''Film/IronMan2'' as an offhanded insult from Tony to James Rhodes. Averted 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"). By ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', he's just "War Machine" again and uses the name in a BadassBoast.

** 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. By the time of ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' though, Captain America has become legendary and the name is in widespread use.

*** [[Comicbook/BaronZemo Zemo]] never had a codename to begin with, but is nonetheless changed from ''Baron'' Zemo to ''Helmut'' Zemo in ''Civil War'' since he's presented as a Sokovian soldier rather than a NaziNobleman as he is in the comics. ''The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'' reverses this and reveals that he actually ''had'' been a Baron the whole time.

-->'''Peter:''' I’m Peter, by the way.\\

'''Peter:''' Oh, we’re using our made-up names? I'm ''Spider-Man'' then.
** Baron Mordo is not actually a Baron here and is just called Karl Mordo.

** The closest we get to Adrian Toomes being called "The Vulture" in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' is Peter and Tony calling him "flying vulture guy".
*** Later averted in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' when Ned refers to Toomes as "the Vulture" while being interrogated by Damage Control.

** ComicBook/CarolDanvers is never called "Captain Marvel". Fury does mispronounce Mar-Vell's name as "Marvel", though, and says that it sounds better.[[labelnote:Fun fact]][[ComicBook/CaptainMarvelMarvelComics The comics version of Mar-Vell]] was the first Captain Marvel, and [[StevenUlyssesPerhero got his superhero name from that same mispronunciation]].[[/labelnote]] "Captain Marvel" does come up in conversation in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and even then Fury [[spoiler:(actually a disguised Talos)]] doesn't want anyone to invoke the name of someone he respects so much. In ''Series/WandaVision'', Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis call her Captain Marvel while debating whether she or Wanda came closest to defeating Thanos singlehandedly, although actual S.W.O.R.D. agents still call her Carol.

** 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.]]
** Gilgamesh plays with this trope - in the comics, the name is one of the many aliases used by the Forgotten One over the millennia. Here, Gilgamesh is his real name, and the "Forgotten One" epithet is omitted.

** "The Abomination" a.k.a. Emil Blonsky goes by his given name and there is only an offhand reference to that title once, when Dr. Sterns tells Blonksky that augmenting him 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."

* ''Series/{{Loki}}'': Played with by the first-season BigBad, "[[spoiler:He Who Remains]]", who avoids the trope in some ways and plays it straight in others. He's a CompositeCharacter of the comics character with that title and [[spoiler:Immortus]], but none of the [[IHaveManyNames many]] names associated with the latter are used. He doesn't even give his birth name, while still lampshading the weirdness of the title he does have ("Creepy, right? But... I like it."). The most famous of the latter's aliases, "[[spoiler:ComicBook/KangTheConqueror]]", is alluded to when he refers to an AlternateSelf as "a conqueror".

** ComicBook/CarolDanvers is never called "Captain Marvel". Fury does mispronounce Mar-Vell's name as "Marvel", though, and says that it sounds better.[[labelnote:Fun fact]][[ComicBook/CaptainMarVell The comics version of Mar-Vell]] was the first Captain Marvel, and [[StevenUlyssesPerhero got his superhero name from that same mispronunciation]].[[/labelnote]] "Captain Marvel" does come up in conversation in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and even then Fury [[spoiler:(actually a disguised Talos)]] doesn't want anyone to invoke the name of someone he respects so much. In ''Series/WandaVision'', Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis call her Captain Marvel while debating whether she or Wanda came closest to defeating Thanos singlehandedly, although actual S.W.O.R.D. agents still call her Carol.

** 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.

** Gilgamesh plays with this trope - in the comics, the name is one of the many aliases used by the Forgotten One over the milennia. Here, Gilgamesh is his real name, and the "Forgotten One" epithet is omitted.

** 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".

** Averted with the BigBad, who Clint immediately identifies as [[spoiler:ComicBook/TheKingpin]].

** While Aaron Davis is only referred to by his real name, KAREN's profile of him does mention "The Prowler" as a street alias.

** In contrast, Razor Fist and Death Dealer are aversions, 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.

** Averted early on with Kate, who is mistaken for the Ronin after stealing Clint's old costume from a black-market auction.
** Kazi is a member of the Tracksuit Mafia, but his earliest appearances never called him "The Clown".

** Maya Lopez has not been called Echo onscreen, but the third episode, which opens with a {{flashback}} to Maya's childhood, is titled "Echoes".
** Wendy Conrad does have "Bombshell" on her bag, but it's treated as more of a nickname than a codename - which this version of the character, not being a costumed supervillain, would not need.

** Eventually averted for Wilson Fisk, as it takes him several seasons for him to grow into the role and title of Comicbook/TheKingpin. In the first season, there were simply some {{Mythology Gag}}s made. In the second season, a fellow prisoner [[BullyingADragon tries to intimidate Fisk by claiming he's the kingpin of the joint]]. [[TheDogBitesBack Fisk, of course, arranges his death]] and claims the name for himself. It's only in the third season that he truly becomes the Kingpin of the comics, and he has the FBI agents under his control strictly use his codename.

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

** Averted during the "Agents of HYDRA" arc, as AIDA freely adopts the title of "ComicBook/MadameHydra" while acting as the head of that organization in the Framework.

** ComicBook/{{Luke|CageHeroForHire}} himself and ComicBook/MistyKnight barely have codenames in the first place. Luke does have an infrequently-used name of "Power Man" in the comics, which is shown here as one of Pop's {{Affectionate Nickname}}s for him. Of course, as in the comics, Luke Cage isn't his birth name either; he was born as Carl Lucas but had to go by an alias when a fugitive from the law. He's since adopted Luke Cage as his actual name even after being caught and serving his sentence. Lampshaded in ''Series/TheDefenders2017'' when Foggy is greeting Luke as he's being released from prison: