History Main / EmbarrassingFirstName

-->'''Kita:''' (''laying down on the floor in woe'') My full name is "Kita Kita".

* Mr. Krupp, aka ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'', is named Benny. When forced to reveal this, he is met with giggles from all the students. It gets even worse when Professor Poopypants forces him to change his name into the even more ridiculous "Lumpy Pottybiscuits".

* On ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', Snot's real name is Schmueli. Not that Snot is such a good name, either.

** In the continuity reboot of ''ComicBook/TheWildStorm'', the not-yet-appeared Grunge's name comes from the fact his mother was a big fan of King Arthur, and wanted to name all her kids after the Knights of the Round Table. Fortunately, she only had two. Her husband's killer regards the fact that Grunge's dad named him Percival a greater horror than the man trying to squish his brain.

** James Mackintosh Qwilleran had his name legally changed, as revealed in book #16 (''The Cat Who Came to Breakfast''), when he admits the truth to Liz Hart when she's doing a numerological reading of his name. Few other characters -- possibly none other than Arch Riker -- know that his birth name was ''Merlin'' James Qwilleran. Book 22 reveals that it came from his mother being a fan of the King Arthur stories.

* The ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvaniaTheSeries'' episode "The Naming of the Shrew" that Mavis' Aunt Lydia's real given name is actually Poopsie and she assumed the name Lydia so people would take her seriously. Unsurprisingly, her fearsome reputation takes a nosedive when this secret of hers slips out.

* Leonard Hofstadter from ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' once revealed he hates his first name, because the last syllable sounds like [[{{Nerd}} "nerd"]]. To make things worse, his [[EmbarrassingMiddleName middle name is Leakey]] (after Louis Leakey, the famous anthropologist his father used to work with - nothing to do with his history of bed-wetting).

* In ''ComicBook/LeScorpion'', Hussar's first name is Aristotle. His father thought it would help him become a great philosopher.

*** Later they ended up naming their daughter Mabel, which could be argued was a lateral move at best.

* ''Machinima/ChronicleOfTheAnnoyingQuest'' has Voliostromort Guy. He ''hates'' his first name, so only goes by his surname. [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Voliostromort sounds like a great name for a warlock.]]

** The first name of school bully Jimbo Jones is revealed to be "Corky" in one episode. Another episode has Nelson calling him by the far less embarrassing and more justifiable "James." Wiki/ThatOtherWiki and a few other resources, however, show Jimbo's full name as "Conrad James Jones."

* ''Literature/BruceCovillesBookOfMagic'': Phoebe Byrd in ''Byrd Song'' hates that she was named after her father's favorite bird, since it makes her a prime target for mocking.

-->You call him by his given name, knowing full well it’ll tick him off. Hakuna hate's his name because it sounds stupid as fuck, and he’s right.
* A ''Literature/HarryPotter'' round-robin story, ''The Most Private Journal of Auror Captain Harry James Potter'', features a character with the name "Liar Whore Who Sucks Men’s Screaming Souls Out Through Their Penises" -- known as Lia for short. Of course, since she's a succubus, her name is more like a job description... at least until she's accidentally bound to Harry.
* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/236735/chapters/362797 Muggle Fairy Tales are Mad!]]'', as Hermione is telling the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, Ron Weasley mentions that he has an uncle named Jklngszkrtpbt whose twin sister is named Gordon (which is embarrassing because 'Gordon' is a girl).

* This is a staple of Creator/PGWodehouse's Literature/JeevesAndWooster books. This is likely due to Pelham Grenville Wodehouse disliking his first two names intensely, hence his use of initials.

* ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' has a male lead named Kamille, who naturally hates his feminine-sounding name. He eventually falls in love with a girl named Four, who has similar issues with her name (in her case, because it signifies that [[YouAreNumberSix she is a number rather than an individual]]). In fact, the entire reason Kamille got involved in the war between the [[LaResistance AEUG]] and [[SecretPolice Titans]] is because he assaulted a Titans soldier (his future {{Rival}} Jerid Mesa) who remarked on his name and got arrested for it.
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' actually uses this as a plot point for one character: one Chinese village has a tradition that the person who gives a newborn baby its first bath must be the one to name it. Unfortunately, this gave [[PantyThief panty stealing]] pervert Happosai the chance to name a baby, and since he loves women's garments so much he thought that the ''perfect'' name for a little boy would be Pantyhose Taro. Pantyhose Taro '''hates''' his name, and is on a constant quest to force Happosai to give him a new one, since Happosai is the only one who can change it. Unfortunately, his own choice of replacement first names aren't much better.
** For the curious, the other names Pantyhose Taro could have ended up with (Happosai begins trying to list some alternatives in Pantyhose Taro's first story before he finally decides that he just can't think of a better name than "Pantyhose Taro"), include, between the anime and the manga, "Loincloth Shiro", "Underwear Saburo", "Cockroach Goro", "Bellywrap Shishiro", and "Heartburn Rokuro".
*** All of those were shot down, of course, much to Happosai's chagrin, because he spent a lot of time to come up with [[SmugSnake specifically ridiculous names]] for Taro.
** Bear in mind that the two things Happosai did was bathe him in the Jusenkyo Springs and name him, and he finds the ''name'' more offensive than the InvoluntaryTransformation bit (then again, he's well aware it's a CursedWithAwesome situation -- he turns into a ''[[OurMinotaursAreDifferent winged minotaur]]'', which he later gives ''CombatTentacles'').
** For those who wonder why he just doesn't use his first name if it's so awful, that's a case of DubInducedPlotHole. "Taro" isn't his surname, but a common suffix for Japanese boys' names (like Kintaro, Kotaro, etc); his full name is "Pantyhosetaro". So, in Japanese, it'd be sort of like "my name's Bob, but call me Ob". Unfortunately, it doesn't translate well into English.
* The TokenMiniMoe of ''Manga/FlameOfRecca'' was very reluctant in giving her name to the heroes. The reason? Her name is Ganko (Stubborn). Cue much taunting and laughing from TheHero and TheBigGuy.
* In ''Manga/ShadowStar'', Shiina Tamai writes her first name in katakana (phonetic characters) because she hates the kanji used for it, which is read as "empty husk" or "a seed that shall never sprout". It actually becomes a critical plot point near the end of the manga.

* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', the leader of a group of powerful, dangerous, though [[PunchClockVillain punch-clocky]] bounty hunters calls himself Alexander Zaytsev, also known as the "[[RedBaron Twilight Zaytsev]]". His real name? [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics Chiko-tan]].
** Fate Averruncus, ArchEnemy of the lead character, leader of a group of [[ThePsychoRangers Psycho Ranger]] rogues and BigBad of the current arc.[[spoiler:His real name is ''[[YouAreNumberSix Tertium]]'' and he hates being called by it]].
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Ichigo. Sure, the kanji reading amounts to "protects one thing" but the name is also homonymous with "strawberry" (and his hair is orange). Even worse, it's also a girl's name. It doesn't help him maintain a badass image. Characters and even the manga-ka in chapter titles are not above exploiting this. He's even called "Berry-tan" to his face by [[GenkiGirl Mashiro]]. Lampshaded when he first meets Ikkaku who takes note of his name because they share "Ichi-" as part of the name, concluding it's an awesome, lucky omen for both of them. Ichigo observes that he's not used to that kind of reaction when admitting what his name is.
* Run-Run in ''Manga/MagicalCircleGuruGuru'' is utterly embarrassed by her name, which is the Japanese equivalent to "La-La". She can get violently angry if people constantly repeat it or, worse, ''sing'' it. She will also do all in her power to prevent people who don't know her name from ever learning it and is annoyed by Nike's persistence in the matter.
* The main character of the manga ''Okama Report'' is named, well, Okama, which more or less means "gay guy."
* In the ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' [=OVAs=], Nancy "Miss Deep" Makuhari is embarrassed by her Western first name and prefers to go by her code name. Though she also finds her code name a bit embarrassing as well, as she muses that [[{{Woolseyism}} it sounds like a porn star's name]] (in the original Japanese, she just complains that it isn't "cute").

* Hanai from ''Manga/BigWindup'' has "Azusa", which is commonly given to girls, for his first name. He hates it so much that he makes ''his own mother'' call him by their family name instead.
* In ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'' Dan's last name is "Kuso". "Kuso" essentially means "shit". It's odd since the series is Japanese so it's not a CriticalResearchFailure, and it's [[{{Shonen}} a kid show]] at that. [[note]]Although Japan is very lax with strong interjections and seems to have little if any concept of "cuss words". You can find various words that translate to "damn" and "shit" used in children's anime quite often.[[/note]]

* Gou Matsuoka from ''Anime/{{Free}}'' is considered to be referred to by her first name due to having a [[GenderBlenderName boy's name]]. She wants to be called Kou, as it sounds more feminine, but no one else calls her by that name.
* Strangely enough, [[spoiler:both of the main characters]] in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun'': [[spoiler:Jonathan Joestar (who changed into Johnny ''specifically'' because of the nickname [=JoJo=]) and Iulius Caesar Zeppeli (yes, ''that'' Julius Caesar)]].
* ''Literature/SoundEuphonium'' has a character named Sapphire who's embarrassed by it, but the reason isn't due to the name itself. Her name is a cutesy "kira-kira name", which means the pronunciation is different than the kanji would imply. It's ''written'' 緑輝 — the kanji for "green" and "shining", which can be [[AlternateCharacterReading read in multiple ways]][[note]]the ''on'' reading is "Ryokuki", which her teacher initially goes with, while the ''kun'' reading could be taken as "Midoriteru"[[/note]] — but it's ''pronounced'' "Safaia", like the English word. Because of the confusion this causes, she prefers to just be called "Midori", the first kanji.
* In ''Manga/{{Aruosumente}}'', Jasmin Fiorella ''really'' hates ''his'' name, especially his first name, blowing up on Lante every time the latter calls him that -- naturally, Lante is not fazed.

* Umibozu from ''Manga/CityHunter'' prefers to go by that nickname (meaning ''sea monster'') or his old codename Falcon (mostly used by people connected to his time in the US, including ''his wife'') rather than his real name Hayato Ijuin. That's not because Hayato is a strange name, but because it's utterly normal-and so completely embarrassing for a ''gigantic'' ProfessionalKiller whose strong points are demolitions and enough strength to do GunsAkimbo with a machine gun and a bazooka.
* In ''LightNovel/KonoSuba'', Darkness absolutely hates her real first name [[spoiler:Lalatina]]. At one point Kazuma threatens to do something so horrible and embarrassing to her that it'll make her want to die of shame -- a real feat considering she's a hardcore masochist who literally gets off on being insulted and humiliated. Naturally, what he meant was revealing her real name to all their friends, and when they praise her heroism ("Three cheers for [[spoiler:Lalatina]]!") she actually curls up and wishes herself dead.
* Kotetsu in ''Manga/AnimaYell'' finds her name interesting because her name isn't girly at all -- it refers to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasone_Kotetsu a famous blacksmith]] and, by extension, a sword made by him.
* An episode of ''Anime/MushiShi'' features this. During it, Ginko meets a man who is determined to capture a rainbow. He tells Ginko that his father was actually able to touch a rainbow once and even took it home, where it remained until it disappeared. As a result, he became obsessed with finding it again and became extremely excited whenever it was going to rain. He even named his son after the Rainbow. His name became the source of ridicule for him growing up. His father apologized on his deathbed and wrote down a new name for his son to use before explaining that he was only trying to name him after something precious to him. His son refuses the new name and ultimately finds the Mushi.
* Moe Suzuya in ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'' doesn't like her first name, and ''particularly'' dislikes how customers of her family bakery calls her "MoeMoe". This is why she insists her schoolmates calling her "Suzu".
* Nasa Yuzaki of ''Manga/FlyMeToTheMoon'' dislikes how his name is the same as the acronym for the [[https://www.nasa.gov/ National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]. Because of that, he obsessively studies in order to become a great man, hoping that once he does, people will no longer make fun of his name.
* ''Manga/StoryOfADumbPrefectAndHighSchoolGirlWithInappropriateSkirtLength'' has Poemu Kohinata, who hates her first name and prefers to go by her surname, though she eventually lets Sakuradaimon call her by it. Her friends call her "Po-chan".
* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', it turns out that "Porco" is not an AffectionateNickname for Galliard, but his first name. He understandably dislikes it and prefers being addressed to as "Galliard". Pieck is the only one who [[FirstNameBasis continues to address him as "Porco"]] despite [[DoNotCallMePaul him telling her to stop calling him that many times]].

* One of the students in the titular ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'' is named Justice Kimura, a name given by his police officer parents that he's embarrassed by. He instead tells everyone to use the AlternateCharacterReading for his first name, "Masayoshi".

* In ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', badass Irish vampire Cassidy goes by his last name. His first name: ''Proinsias'' (the Irish form of "Francis", but that wouldn't help his image any). "It's... a perfectly respectable Gaelic name... ''Oh Jaysis, Jesse, don't '''tell''' anyone!''"

* In the ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' comics, the first name of Captain Haddock is only mentioned once (in the last finished album, no less). The Captain gets momentary amnesia after getting hit on the head, and when told by Tintin that his first name is Archibald, he snarks and says that the name is ridiculous. This might explain why nobody ever calls him by his first name otherwise. (Then again, few people get called by their first name in the series, except Tintin, who doesn't seem to have any other name, and minor characters like Igor, Irma, and Allan.)

* In ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'', Crutch is a tough as nails biker and ex-con. It turns out his given name is Leslie.
* When ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' foe the Penguin first revealed his full name, he said, "Yes, my name is Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot. And, please, no jokes." Although many would consider his middle name and surname more embarrassing than the first one...
* Jubilation Lee in ''ComicBook/XMen''. Her friends call her ComicBook/{{Jubilee|MarvelComics}}.

* In ''ComicBook/LeScorpion'', Hussar's first name is Aristotle. His father thought it would help him become a great philosopher.
* In ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' spinoff mini-series ''Death: The Time of Your Life'', Foxglove's "minder" is Boris, who partly fits the trope of a ScaryBlackMan. Unfortunately, there are some things you can't hide from Death, so when in the course of a conversation she addresses him by his real name, Endymion, he hastens to point out to everyone present that he really prefers to be called Boris.
* ComicBook/{{Quasar}}'s first name is Wendell, and whilst he doesn't exactly hate it, he was apparently called [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] (his middle name) in college.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' supporting character Flash Thompson, who has been a big part of the feature from the very first story. Roger Stern eventually revealed that his real first name is Eugene.
* Sonic's name is a nickname in the ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics''. Sonic is embarrassingly referred to by his father as "Maurice". It is quickly revealed to be merely his middle name, and Sonic interrupts his father before he can give his son's birth name, implying that it's unspeakably worse. Creator/KenPenders has revealed that he planned on it being [[spoiler:Ogilvie]].
* In the ''ComicBook/XForce'' sequel mini-series ''Dead Girl'', Dead Girl finally admits to Dr. Strange that she can remember that her first name is "Moonbeam". Apparently, her parents must have been hippies.

* In [[http://www.mspaforums.com/showthread.php?34086-MSPA-Fanfiction-IV&p=4485031#post4485031 this]] (pre-Alpha) ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' fanfic, Bro's first name turns out to be Calvin, with "Charles" (the name he used in the author's previous Bro fics) being only his middle name.

* In ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' canon, Sasaki's given name is unknown, so when Fujiwara asked her what it was in ''Fanfic/YouGotHaruhiRolled'', the writer decided to give her the name of... [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]. She's so embarrassed about this that even her ''mother'' is on a LastNameBasis with her.

* In ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/569742/chapters/1020213 Nine Lives One Love]]'', the Grand Highblood's real name is '''Hakuna''' Makara. This is even lampshaded at one point.
-->You call him by his given name, knowing full well it’ll tick him off. Hakuna hate's his name because it sounds stupid as fuck, and he’s right.
* The Lightning Man in ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' is eventually revealed to have the first name [[spoiler:"Percy"]]. The heroes struggle not to laugh when they find out.
* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/236735/chapters/362797 Muggle Fairy Tales are Mad!]]'', as Hermione is telling the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, Ron Weasley mentions that he has an uncle named Jklngszkrtpbt whose twin sister is named Gordon (which is embarrassing because 'Gordon' is a girl).
* In the ''Manga/ShamanKing'' fic ''Fanfic/{{Oversoul}}'', Kali's spirit guardian's name is Chikushou. It sounds and is even spelled like a Japanese swear word. As a result, she usually just goes by Chi.

* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': Even in a world with rather ridiculous names, "Applesnack" stands out. Rainbow Dash burst out laughing when she heard it. It's no wonder he goes by his nickname, Steelhooves.

* In "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13858618/1/ Attack on Titan A New Path]]'', several people joke that Eren's name sounds like a girl's, to his irritation.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', [[spoiler:the thief Flynn Rider]]'s true name is Eugene. He changed his name because he thought it wasn't cool enough [[spoiler:and it's implied so people wouldn't realize that he is a [[HeroicBastard bastard.]]]]

* Mervyn, the Sheriff of Rottingham from ''Film/RobinHoodMenInTights''. It's revealed during his wedding, and the officiant is the first to giggle at the nerdy name.
** Another character's family had their last name changed ''to'' Latrine before the movie took place. It used to be Shithouse.
--->"It's a good change."
*** Funny enough, this was asked by Prince John; due to his actions, the King has declared that all the toilets in the kingdom are to be renamed "Johns".
* In ''Film/MeetTheParents'', Greg's real first name is Gaylord. His parents also call him "Gay".
* The dominatrix from ''Film/{{Shortbus}}'' is named Creator/JenniferAniston.
* Ash from the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' movies. His real first name is actually Ashley... which is probably why he goes by Ash even as the clueless yuppie from the [[Film/TheEvilDead1981 first movie]].
* In ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'', the agent sent to pick up Film/JamesBond in Bolivia only gives her name as "Fields," and deflects further questions about it. Given that the credits give her first name as [[Music/TheBeatles Strawberry]], it's hard to blame her.
** Especially given Bond's love of [[BondOneLiner bad quips]].

* ''Film/{{Cobra}}'''s title character is actually named Marion Cobretti. He lampshades it at one point when he explains, "I'd prefer something a little tougher... like Alice."

* And then, of course, there's Michael Bolton, poor put-upon office worker (and not the "no-talent ass clown") from ''Film/OfficeSpace''. "Why should I change my name? ''He's'' the one who sucks."
* In ''Film/TheWrestler'', Randy "The Ram" Robinson hates being called by his real name, Robin Raminski, partly because it's an embarrassing name and partly because he can't give up his wrestling alter-ego.
* In ''Film/TheWholeTownsTalking'', ''Wilhelmina'' Clark prefers going by Clark.
* ''Film/{{Stripes}}'': "The name's Francis Soyer, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Francis, and I'll kill you."
-->Lighten up, Francis.

* In ''Film/TenInchHero'', Priestly's first name is [[spoiler:Boaz]] and Tish is short for [[spoiler:Platisha]]. None of their friends know this about them because they hate their given names so much. Priestly's boss doesn't even know his first name.
* Rubber Duck from ''Film/{{Convoy}}'' reacts with embarrassment when he is addressed to by his ''whole'' real name which is [[spoiler:Martin Penwald]].

* Dusty from ''Film/TheAppleDumplingGang'' is actually named Magnolia. Dusty is her real middle name, though.
* ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' series:
** ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' reveals that Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones Jr. was named after his father, but apparently resentful enough of it to go under his ''[[WeNamedTheMonkeyJack dog]]'''s name instead.
** Mutt Williams from ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' isn't fond of his own name, either - Henry Williams, although originally [[spoiler:Henry Walton Jones III]].
* In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', John Blake goes by his middle name. His real first name is [[spoiler:'''Robin.''']]
* In ''{{Film/Lockout}}'', Snow never uses his first name. His old man was a big John Wayne fan, so he named him Marion.
* "My name is [[Film/{{Fletch}} Irwin M. Fletcher]]. I write a newspaper column under the name of 'Jane Doe.' What the heck, it's better than Irwin."
* In ''Film/BeyondTheLights'', Kaz's first name is actually Kazaam. His parents thought it "sounded African".
* In ''Film/LifeOfPi'' the main character is named 'Piscine' after a French swimming pool. Unfortunately this is pronounced very similarly to the English word 'pissing', as his classmates are quick to point out. He shortens his name to 'Pi' as a result.
* ''Film/RaisingArizona'': The main character H.I. [=McDunnough=] is always referred to by his first two initials, usually pronounced as "High." When writing a Dear Jane letter saying goodbye to his wife, he signs it, after a moment of hesitation, "Herbert."
* The reason why TheDragon in ''Film/BonCopBadCop'' 2 hates being called Michel, going by his nickname Mike instead. David, however, keeps calling him that just to piss him off.
* In ''Film/LoveAtTheChristmasTable'', Sam tries to downplay that his full name is [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Samwise]].
* ''Film/AgainstAllFlags'': When Hawke asks PirateGirl 'Spitfire' Stephens her actual name, she makes him promise not to laugh before admitting that is Prudence.
* In ''Film/DownAndDerby'', the main characters break into antagonist Ace Montana's house, and learn from a trophy plaque that Ace is short for Stacey.
* ''Film/LadyInCement'': When Tony Rome asks hulking bruiser Gronski (played by the 280 lb. Dan Blocker) his full name, Gronski replies "Waldo Gronski". When a disbelieving Rome questions "Waldo?", Gronski defensively replies "Waldo!" as if daring him to make something of it.

* This is a staple of Creator/PGWodehouse's Literature/JeevesAndWooster books. This is likely due to Pelham Grenville Wodehouse disliking his first two names intensely, hence his use of initials.
** Jeeves' first name was eventually revealed to be Reginald. This is shocking not because the name doesn't suit him, but because we always assumed Jeeves didn't have a first name. Brinkley/Bingley's tendency to call him "Reggie" made matters even more embarrassing for all concerned.
** In "Big Money", the rich man's name is T Patterson Frisby. What does the "T" stand for? Torquil. Naturally, he doesn't use it, after all the bullying he got at school.
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drones_Club#Members Nearly]] ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drones_Club#Members everyone]]'' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drones_Club#Members in the Drones Club]] has a nickname, which makes the most sense for characters like "Tuppy" (Hildebrand) Glossop.
** In ''Literature/ThankYouJeeves'', "Chuffy" Chuffnell has gone his whole life concealing that his first name is Marmaduke.
** In one book, Lemuel Gingulphus Trotter goes by his initials, and has refused a knighthood because he could not stand the thought of being "Sir Lemuel". At one point, Bertie and Jeeves unsuccessfully try to blackmail him over this.
** In his EstablishingCharacterMoment, Literature/{{Psmith}} tells Mike, "In conversation you may address me as Rupert (though I hope you won't)". This becomes HilariousInHindsight when he gets a SuddenNameChange three books later ("Ronald", since ''Leave it to Psmith'' [[{{Crossover}} was set at]] Literature/BlandingsCastle and [[OneSteveLimit there was already a character there named Rupert]].)
* The protagonist of ''Literature/DaddyLongLegs'' was named Jerusha Abbott by the superintendent of the orphanage where she grew up; she doesn't like the name, which the superintendent got from a ''tombstone'', and after she leaves the orphanage she starts going by "Judy".
* In ''White Plume Mountain'' by Paul Kidd, the tough-as-nails ranger known only as The Justicar is eventually revealed to have been named Evelyn by his birth parents.
* Mr. Krupp, aka ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'', is named Benny. When forced to reveal this, he is met with giggles from all the students. It gets even worse when Professor Poopypants forces him to change his name into the even more ridiculous "Lumpy Pottybiscuits".
* In ''Literature/LittleWomen'', Laurie's actual first name is Theodore. That's not bad in itself, but considering that his friends used to call him "Dora", it's not surprising that he went with a variation of his last name, Laurence.
* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' Bella is ''constantly'' correcting people if and when they call her Isabella. Her Rule63 SpearCounterpart Beau also corrects people if they call him Beaufort.
* ''Literature/GoodOmens'': Pepper's ''full'' name is [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Pippin Galadriel]] [[Literature/TheNeverEndingStory Moonchild]], a relic from her mother's hippie phase. [[BerserkButton Don't call her that, though]].
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Nymphadora Tonks, "who prefers to be known by her surname only" ("So would you if your fool of a mother had called you 'Nymphadora'"). While her mother Andromeda presumably uses this first name, and her father and husband call her "Dora," everyone else uses Tonks.
** Voldemort's actual name, [[spoiler:Tom Marvolo Riddle]], also counts as he has a very common first name and dislikes anything that makes him common. His real name is also a constant reminder of his [[spoiler:Muggle]] heritage, something he really wants to distance himself from.
** Harry's grandfather was named Fleamont, which was his great-grandmother's maiden name. She didn't want the name to die out. According to supplemental material, people made fun of his name so much that he became an extremely accomplished dueler by the time he left Hogwarts.
* Robinette Broadhead is the male protagonist of Frederik Pohl's ''Literature/HeecheeSaga''.

* The very end of ''Literature/TheSherwoodRing'' reveals that Pat Thorn's real first name is one of these -- [[spoiler:Peaceable, named after his ancestor]].
* The protagonist and titular characters of ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' attends by Percy, as his first name is Perseus, ironically, named after a demigod that is disliked by his father Poseidon.

* ''Literature/TheWarAgainstTheChtorr''. ColonelBadass Elizabeth Tirelli is always referred to by her nickname Lizard (a pun on 'Liz'), even by her boyfriend.
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'':
** {{Tomboy}} Min Farshaw hates her full name, Elmindreda, which is most notorious as a folklore character who is [[TheDitz shallow and flighty]] -- not to mention very, very girly.
** Another example is Zarine "Faile" Bashere, who hates her first name because to her it's a name for a woman who reclines on cushions while eating grapes. Her chosen name means Falcon.
* Ty Grady in the ''[[Literature/CutAndRun Cut & Run]]'' series goes by his middle name for the most part, his legal first name being "Beaumont." According to his mother, he developed a fondness for [[TheNicknamer nicknames]] when he was four because he disliked his own first name so much, even flat out refusing to tell his partner what it was.
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'', Lieutenant Koudelka ("Kou" to his friends) and Miss Droushnakovi ("Drou" to her friends) are embarrassed at their wedding when they have to publically admit to their first names, Clement and Ludmilla. (Drou continues to go by her nickname even though she chooses to take her husband's last name)
* The title character of Yann Martel's ''Literature/LifeOfPi'' is named Piscine Molitor Patel (after a swimming pool in France that his uncle greatly admires). He shortens this to Pi Patel to escape the inevitable schoolyard taunts about "Piscine" sounding like "pissing."
* Slartibartfast of ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''. It's not so much embarrassing as just "not important".
** As well as the disembodied spirit Pizpot Gargravarr from ''Literature/TheRestaurantAtTheEndOfTheUniverse''.
* ''Literature/WitchWeek'' takes place in a world where witchcraft is a serious crime. Dulcinea Pilgrim is a girl who is named after the most famous witch in history, so it's small wonder she goes by "Nan" and has asked the headmistress of her school to keep her real name a secret. Of course, the headmistress forgets...
* [[Literature/{{Outlander}} Diana Gabaldon]] has a few examples:
** As if "Percy" wasn't silly enough, Lord John's lover/stepbrother in ''Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade'' isn't actually named Percival, but ''Perseverance''.
** In ''An Echo In The Bone'', we meet brothers Herman and Vermin. This trope is speculated upon. [[spoiler:A little more excusable given that they are in actuality the ''sisters'' Hermione and Ermintrude.]] And in ''A Breath Of Snow And Ashes'', Roger christens a little girl, who the family names in his honor... Rogerina.

* Gratuity "Tip" Tucci in ''Literature/TheTrueMeaningOfSmekday''. Gratuity's mom [[BrainlessBeauty wasn't all that bright,]] and didn't know what the word Gratuity meant.

* In ''Literature/HopeWasHere'' by Joan Bauer, the title character changes her name to Hope at the age of 13. She absolutely hated her original name: Tulip.
* In ''Literature/TheTurbulentTermOfTykeTiler'' by Gene Kemp, Tyke often refers to one teacher using "my real name, the one I hated", without saying what it is. At the very end, we learn it's [[spoiler:[[SamusIsAGirl Theodora]]]].
* The first sentence in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' is "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." Though there's no indication that ''he'' objects; it's the only name he's ever addressed by.
** Written by Clive Staples Lewis, who got his friends to call him "Jack" and published as "C. S. Lewis".
* ''Literature/DoctrineOfLabyrinths'': ''Mild-may-your-suffering-be-at-the-hands-of-the-wicked''. (His mother got religion.) He goes by Mildmay.
** He also mentions knowing a prostitute originally named "Fly-from-fornication-and-blasphemy"; apparently, "Butterfly" went over better with her clients.
** Corbie apparently isn't too happy about having been named "Gartrett," either.
* One ''Literature/TheNo1LadiesDetectiveAgency'' novel mentions, in passing, a former classmate of Mma Makutsi's, whose parents saddled him with a name meaning "Look out, the police have arrived" in Setswana. Apparently, he tried very hard to get people to call him something else...
-->But names, like false allegations, stick, and he had gone through life with this unfortunate burden, reminded of it every time he had to fill out an official form; looking away so that the person examining the form could be given the opportunity to smile, which they all did.
* In the ''Literature/InspectorMorse'' detective novels by Colin Dexter, Morse refuses to tell anyone his first name: the closest he comes is when he jokes that it's ''Inspector''. Only in the penultimate book in the series is it revealed that his name is [[spoiler:Endeavour]].

* Lucifer C. Dye is the protagonist of ''The Fools in Town Are on Our Side'' by Ross Thomas. He would go by his middle name, but that's "Clarence."
* Nonopherian Fisk from the ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries'', who's so strictly on a last-name basis that his HeterosexualLifePartner has to learn his first name from his sister.
* Lupe dy Cazaril, the protagonist of ''Literature/TheCurseOfChalion''. The book has a fantasy setting where [[AerithAndBob naming conventions aren't quite as we know them]], but it's clear that "Lupe" is considered embarrassing InUniverse both because the protagonist doesn't use it unless he has to and because of the other characters' reactions when it does come out. It means "wolf" and people used to make fun of him by howling like wolves.
* In ''Literature/KeysToTheKingdom'', the main character's best friends in his new school are called 'Leaf' and 'Branch'. Branch goes by 'Ed' instead.
* In the YA vampire novel ''Literature/TeamHuman'', the protagonist, Mel, tells us fairly early that her name is not short for Melanie and she's not going to tell us what it is short for, except that it was arrived at in the same spirit of experimentation that saw her brother named "Lancelot". Eventually, her best friend gives her a FullNameUltimatum and reveals it to be [[spoiler:Mellifluous]].
* The protagonist from ''Literature/AnnaDressedInBlood'' is "Theseus Cassio Lowood" -- a name that came from his father's love of Greek Mythology and his mother's love of Shakespeare. He insists people call him "Cas".
* Theodor Fontane's ''Literature/DerStechlin'' has two examples.
** Dubslav von Stechlin, the main character, hates his first name because it is a name atypical of Brandenburg (the province of Prussia in which he lives) and typical of the neighbouring province of Pomerania.
** Czech supporting character Nils Wrschowitz dislikes his first name partly because it is Northern Germanic and does not fit with his Slavic surname, but more importantly because his father named him after the 19th-century Danish composer Nils Gade, whom he, as a very pronounced Wagnerian, has come to detest. Wrschowitz thus went to the effort of earning a doctorate in music so that he could print "Dr. Wrschowitz" on his calling-cards without the embarrassing first name. In the novel, he is shown so touchy about his first name that people are advised not to mention anything or anybody Scandinavian in his presence as he will suspect you of obliquely reminding him of his Danish first name!
* Melvin O'Neal, better known as Boots, from Gordon Korman's ''Literature/MacdonaldHall'' series.

* Security Officer V. Stelmach from ''Deathstalker''. Much speculation on behalf of Captain John Silence and Investigator Frost as to what the V Stands for. Turns out it stands for "Valiant," and he's somewhat ashamed that he hasn't lived up to his name, ending up only a Security Officer (rather like a political officer.) His similarly-named siblings have all made much greater strides towards living up to their names than he has.
* It's a mild example, but Mr. London from ''{{Literature/Dinoverse}}'' gets annoyed when his students call him Bob. One of his students, upon discovering this, introduces him to people by saying they should call him that.
* In ''Literature/TheYearOfTheRat'' two of the characters' faithful cows are named no less than Disease and Death because they took part in a half-ritual carnival involving the banishment of disease and death.
* {{Literature/Idlewild}}: Doom the vampire. Aloysius Doom.
* The Duchess of Abrantès devotes a long paragraph of her ''Mémoires'' to saying how she thinks her husband's first name (Andoche, a very rare Burgundian first name) was ridiculous and didn't even rhyme with anything besides ''brioche''. She makes a point of only calling him by his last name afterwards.
* Stacey of ''Literature/TheBabySittersClub'' doesn't reveal her real first name (Anastasia) to the rest of the club until Book 13. Whenever it's mentioned thereafter, it's either because [[FullNameUltimatum she's in trouble]] or [[HilarityEnsues as a source of hilarity.]]
* In ''Literature/DontCallMeIshmael'', Ishmael blames his social awkwardness and various misfortunes on his first name, diagnosing himself with ‘Ishmael Leseur’s Syndrome’. When he gains confidence later in the series his name becomes much less of a problem for him.
* Case from ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' series only goes by his last name, thanks to his mother's penchant for naming all her children after flowers - girls ''and'' boys.
-->My name is Case. Philodendron Case. Thanks to my Ma. [...] A girl named Iris or Rose, what the hell, hey? But I got a brother named Violet and another brother named Petunia. What kind of people do that do their kids?

* This is the plot of children's book ''Chrysanthemum''. The titular character loved her name until she began school. The other kids [[KidsAreCruel began teasing her]] for having a long name and being named after a flower. Eventually, Chrysanthemum learns to like her name again when her teacher reveals her name is "Delphinium" and she wants to name her child "Chrysanthemum" if they're a girl.

* ''Literature/BlackWidowers'': The solution to "The Fourth Homonym" hinges on the real name of the dying man's eldest son, Frank. His given names are B. Franklin. The Widowers assume that the B stands for Benjamin until Henry points out that he would no reason to be embarrassed by the name Benjamin or not to use Ben as a nickname. His father was fascinated by Roman history and his eldest son's first name as actually Brutus.
* Red, one of the titular protagonists of ''Literature/HopeAndRed'', was named Rixidenteron by his artistic mother. Years later, making his way as a thief in the slums of Paradise Circle, he sticks to "Red" to hide his privileged background.
* In ''Literature/VoidCity'', the vampire Veruca's name means "wart". Her nickname, "Froggy", is no better.
* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': "Arcie" comes from "R. C.", for Reinhart Corallis, much to Arcie's embarrassment when it's revealed near the end.
* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', Cam considers "Camilla" to be one. Merik initially assumes that's because she doesn't want anyone to know [[SweetPollyOliver she's a girl]], [[spoiler:but it turns out it's because Cam's transgender and doesn't want to be referred to by a very traditional female name.]]
* Nick of ''Literature/GoneGirl'''s full name is actually Lance Nicholas Dunne. He's gone by "Nick" ever since he was a kid since he thinks the name "Lance" makes him seem like even more of a punchable douchebag than his face already does.
* In ''Literature/TerraIgnota'',Mycroft comments early on that while his own first name used to be one of the most common (presumably due to Sherlock Holmes fans), his past conduct made it so that it lost popularity and people named Mycroft are inclined to go by other names in public, like Mycroft Guildbreaker going by Martin Guildbreaker instead. Once the reader learns that Mycroft's [[spoiler:a serial killer]], this makes a lot of sense.
* In ''[[Literature/MercyThompson Silence Fallen]]'', the leader of the goblins ([[InsistentTerminology he is]] ''[[InsistentTerminology not]]'' [[ShoutOut the]] [[Film/{{Labyrinth}} Goblin King]]) is not terribly happy that his parents named him Lawrence. He says it makes him sound like a wimp.
* ''Creator/DickFrancis'' recurring character Christmas "Kit" Fielding goes exclusively by his nickname. He and his twin sister Holly were born on December, 25th.
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "{{Literature/Profession}}": Tevelyn's first name is Armand, but he ''never'' uses it. When he was eight, he went by "Stubby", [[OutgrowingTheChildishName discarding that as he grew up]] and forcing his friends to be on a LastNameBasis with him.

* ''Literature/TheCatWhoSeries'':
** James Mackintosh Qwilleran had his name legally changed, as revealed in book #16 (''The Cat Who Came to Breakfast''), when he admits the truth to Liz Hart when she's doing a numerological reading of his name. Few other characters -- possibly none other than Arch Riker -- know that his birth name was ''Merlin'' James Qwilleran. Book 22 reveals that it came from his mother being a fan of the King Arthur stories.
** Polly's real name is [[Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream Hippolyta]], and she mentions that her "poor sister [[Theatre/{{Hamlet}} Ophelia]]" had a rough time of it in school. Her father was a Shakespearean devotee, and gave all of his children names from the plays.
** Invoked in book #17 (''The Cat Who Blew the Whistle'') by a character named Letitia, who hates her name, and who mentions that her best friend has it even worse, being named ''Lionella''.
* ''Literature/CallMeSunflower'': Sunny's real name is Sunflower. When she was in preschool, the other kids thought flower names were really cool, but by kindergarten they'd all outgrown them, including Sunny. Now she is OnlyKnownByHerNickname.

* The main character in ''Literature/TheOutsiders'' is named "Ponyboy" and his brother is "Sodapop".
* ''Literature/BruceCovillesBookOf Magic'': Phoebe Byrd in ''Byrd Song'' hates that she was named after her father's favorite bird, since it makes her a prime target for mocking.

* It's hard to tell if the real name of The Kid in the cowboy drama ''The Young Riders'' is embarrassing, but we can assume so, given the lengths to which he goes to conceal it. After he whispers it to his friend, Teaspoon, who's officiating at his wedding to another of the Riders, Lou (Louise), Teaspoon looks perplexed and aghast before deciding just to go with Kid instead. Must have been bad!

* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'':
** "Beat"'s true first name, "Daisukenojo", is so stupid, Neku wasn't even able to recognize it as a name when he first heard it (he thought 777 was cursing at Beat). What's especially painful for him is that it's just a more sucky version of the perfectly nice Japanese name "Daisuke". Had his parents just held back the last two kana, they would have saved him a lot of suffering.
** Resident ManipulativeBastard Mr. Kitaniji counts as well. His first name is Megumi, which is a unisex name, but it's more typically used as a girl's name than as a boy's. The manga based upon the game goes further, implying that the childhood trauma of being teased for having a girl's name was one of the driving reason behind Kitaniji's ultimate goal.
--->'''Konishi''': But I thought you hated your name due to getting picked on about it sounding feminine?
--->'''Kitaniji''': Konishi! Salt. Wounds. Stop.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'': [[spoiler:Balthier's]] true name is eventually revealed to be [[spoiler:Ffamran mied Bunansa]]. It's not clear whether [[spoiler:he]] considers it embarrassing because [[spoiler:he hates his father]] or because the name itself simply sounds stupid even in a fantasy world where the likes of Penelo and Vaan are real names.
** ''VideoGame/WorldOfFinalFantasy'' has espers' names parsed as "[Race Name] [Personal Name]". Consequently, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Bahamut]] [[spoiler:Tiababylo]] roaring at Hauyn for calling him by his personal name falls under this trope.
* In ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' there's an NPC soldier who uses the code name "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Captain Gallows]]". No one in the Brotherhood of Steel (not even in the [[TheSquad Lyon's Pride]] ) [[TheQuietOne knows his real name]], to the point where there's a [[Film/SavingPrivateRyan large betting pool for whoever finds the name]]. If the player has a high enough speech skill then they can convince him to reveal that his real name is [[spoiler:Irving]].
* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' DLC ''Honest Hearts'', if you ask Joshua Graham on the origins of Caesar's Legion he'll mention Caesar's real name: Edward Sallow.

* In ''VideoGame/PaperMario'', your final partner is a Lakitu who prefers to be called "Spike", but is really named Lakilester.
* In ''[[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam]]'', slow-witted skating burnout Crash's real name is Gaylord Ootbagh. Ouch.
* In ''VideoGame/SinAndPunishment'', the main male character is named Saki which is a feminine first name. It doesn't help that his styled hair makes him look like a [[ViewerGenderConfusion girl]].
* It's revealed in ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'' that [[RepetitiveName Bill Williamson's]] first name is actually Marion. His name is likely a nod to Creator/JohnWayne whose birth name was Marion.
* The FinalBoss of the Creator/{{SNK}} {{crossover}} fighting game ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' is named Goodman. Yes, Goodman. Doesn't that just strike fear into the hearts of men?
** The male lead is named Yuki, as well. For the record, that is pretty much exclusively feminine.
** This is coming from SNK, which named one of the most difficult bosses in video gaming... [[VideoGame/FatalFury Geese]]. After a while, you forget how weird it sounds.
* [[TheEmperor Emperor]] Tachyon, the BigBad from ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction''.
-->'''Ratchet''': Your name is ''Percival''?!
* While it's never really touched on in either the games or [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries the anime]] (probably because it wasn't an issue in the original Japanese), the male Magma Admin in ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire''[=/=]''Emerald'' has the decidedly feminine name "Tabitha". Similarly, the manga-only Aqua Admin (both Team Magma and Team Aqua have two male admins in the manga as opposed to the one in the games and anime) is named "Amber".
* Otacon from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' prefers to be addressed by his nickname, as he claims to dislike his actual name, "Hal". Somehow being named after the supercomputer from ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' is more embarrassing than choosing the abbreviation for "{{Otaku}} Convention" as your nickname. Go figure.
** Ironically, as soon as he becomes romantically attracted to Naomi Hunter in [=MGS4,=] he insists that she call him Hal. Which she does.
* Pecker the monkaw from ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter''. He blames it on the fact that his mother was "very vindictive." You gotta wonder what Pecker did as a baby to make his mother name him ''that''.
** He probably had a [[{{Pun}} dickish]] personality
* Samantha "Sam" Pearce of ''VideoGame/BackyardSports'' hates being called "Samantha."
* Hisui Hearts of ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'', whose name is a girl's in Japanese and translates to the equally feminine "Jade". For some reason, Hisui himself is only called out on this passingly (in a sidequest where the revelation of his name tears down a badass bruiser image he'd built), and his predecessor Jade Curtiss in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' not at all.

* In, ''VideoGame/LANoire'', your partner during the Homicide cases is Rusty Galloway and hates being called by his real first name, Finbarr.

* The PlayerCharacter in ''VideoGame/ShootManyRobots'' is named ''Pickles'' Walter Tugnutt, but he just goes by his middle name.

* The player character in ''VideoGame/{{Freelancer}}'' usually goes by his last name Trent, as opposed to Edison. When he's introduced by his full name, he's quick to assert "It's just Trent."
* In ''VideoGame/ArTonelicoMelodyOfElemia'', gunman Jack Hamilton decided to change his name after leaving the Teru Tribe. His real name? Harmonica.
* In ''VideoGame/JollyRover'' James' full name is Gaius James Rover.
* ''VideoGame/TheIdolMaster: Cinderella Girls'' has Arisu Tachibana, who despises her western-inspired name and insists people simply call her Tachibana. If the player gets her RelationshipValues high enough, she allows the Producer to drop the LastNameBasis.
* In ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'', TheGrimReaper's first name is...Gregg.
-->'''Gregg the Grim Reaper''': [[LampshadeHanging And don't laugh]]!
* ''VideoGame/BugFables'': General Ultimax's real name is revealed to be Fuff.
* In ''VideoGame/EpiphanyCity'', Superb Man's real name is Herbert, much to his chagrin.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Susan's full name is Tiffany Susan Pompoms, in contrast to her serious personality.
* In ''Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault'', Trudy Trueheart's original name (She had it legally changed) is Moonbeam Gertrude Glowerhausen. (Hippie parents, y'see.) Anyone who learned this information would not live long enough to share it.

* From ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'', [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=387 George Parley]]. It's embarrassing [[GenderBlenderName because she's a girl]]. Her father was a famous psychic who filled out the birth certificate before she was even born and got everything right except the gender, but they found the whole thing so funny that they didn't bother to change it.

* In a ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=376 strip]], it is revealed Raven's first name is Blodwyn (her parents are Welsh), prompting amused reactions.

* ''Webcomic/AnotherGamingComic'' brings us "Joe Chaos", whose actual name is Irving. Not so bad. Then we have Dang, whose name eventually turns out to be [[spoiler:Davros]].
* In ''Webcomic/{{Freakangels}}'', KK's real name is Kolfinnia Kokokoho. Considering that Kolfinnia means winter in some Norse language and Kokokoho means Night Owl in Japanese, it's actually a well-intended name. Of course, that doesn't stop KK from being extremely angry at anyone who calls her that.
* Darklight from ''Webcomic/TheHeroesOfMiddlecenter'' uses Darklight to cover up her real name, which is... Daffodil.
* Blossom from ''Webcomic/{{Rhapsodies}}'' has the first name of Petronilla. While she doesn't go out of her way to keep it a secret she prefers that it's only known as an initial. There is also [[spoiler:Clarence]] Gage.
* Marion Mighty from ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'' used to go by [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1991184/yes-youre-not/ "Marko"]]. These days, his wife just calls him [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1990787/hack-writing/ "Em"]].
* Although Kestrel from ''Webcomic/QueenOfWands'' isn't ashamed of her name, [[http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20060709.html twelve years of public school]] convince her not to let her friends name their daughter after her.
* Ash Upton of ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'' whose real first name was [[GenderBlenderName Ashley]] even before the titular Misfile turned him into a girl.
** Somewhat justified... "Ashley" used to be a masculine name before it was predominantly feminized late in the 20th century.
* The eponymous Hanna of ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'' [[AvertedTrope doesn't seem to be embarrassed at all]] by [[GenderBlenderName his name]], but the question of why he wouldn't go by his middle name to avoid confusion is answered when his full name is revealed to be Hanna ''[[EmbarrassingMiddleName Falk]]'' Cross.
* The protagonist of ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics'' simply goes by "Ruby". It's not until he receives a letter in the middle of the Pokémon White playthrough that you learn his first name is [[spoiler:''Ruberto'']].
* In ''Webcomic/WhatsShakin'', the evil fire god's name is Fred. This is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] with the heroes saying, "Wow, worst villain name ever!"

* Nathan from ''Webcomic/ElectricWonderland'' almost never goes by his real name for reasons the comic hasn't gone into much detail about. Most people call him, "NJ" (which he once said stood for "[[GratuitousNinja NinJa]]"). Aerynn calls him, "Nate," since she had discovered ''that'' to be his real name (his official bio also lists it as such), but he doesn't like being called that either.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Educomix}}'', Headmaster Poppington's first name is [[spoiler:Dooby]], and Spikeclops' first name is [[spoiler:Spikeclopstopher]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Dicebox}}'': Molly's first (and legal) name is Benecia. The cost of not responding to it is that she has to wait twice as long in the course of official things such as reregistering to be a citizen because she has to go back and put her name on the list again. For a routine interview consisting of ''five questions''.
* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': Devils are bound by giving them a mask and a name; the more names, the weaker the devil. After Allison wins a drinking game against an extremely powerful ebon devil, he breaks their deal and becomes an unbound devil. She grabs a nearby mask and starts to bind him. But since she's still very very drunk, she ends up naming him Princess Mamoru Moonshine Jagermeister Jack Jack Daniels Timothy Tim Bill Freddy Mercury Blueberry Luna, Esquire. [[GenderBender She also turns him female in the process]].
-->'''Princess:''' Wait... ''that's'' my name? Seriously? [-oh my goooooood-]
* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': Heartful Punch considers her real name, Kokoro, embarrassing because of how cute it sounds -- for all the pink and hearts that adorn her MagicalGirl outfit, she's a {{Tomboy}} brawler to the core. She prefers to go by her magical girl title Heartful Punch, or HP for short. The only person she's given explicit permission to use it is Undine. Not even the other members of the Magical Girl Power Training Club, who HP is otherwise closest to, ever use it, and react in shock when Undine calls her by "the Forbidden Name".
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': The titular doctor's first name is not known to anybody but himself. [[AWizardDidIt There's a wizard involved, it's a whole thing.]] The last arc of the series reveals that [[spoiler:his first name is Patrick. Not an exceptional case of this trope, but the first person he reveals this to has the given name ''Sparkledancer'', and finds it bland.]]

* ''TabletopGame/TechInfantry'' has Andrea Treschi. It's a guy, but he's not too concerned about the name. On the other hand, there's Corporal Tess. Corporal ''Reichenspurger'' Tess, whose parents moved from a planet that followed the Asian custom of "family name first" to one that followed the Western custom of "family name last". The bureaucrat processing their paperwork screwed hers up, so she just has everyone call her by her "last" name.
* The full name of Dr. Poque, the BigBad of ''WebVideo/{{Mega64}}'', is "Dr. [[spoiler:Diarrhea]] Poque", as revealed at the end of episode 4 of season 2. Derek and Rocko find out much earlier on in the first season's second episode, though the name wasn't actually revealed then. Rocko does comment that it sounds like "some kind of butt disease," however.
* In ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Yami Bakura's real name is Florence. He hates his name, and it's one reason why he's evil. In one of the Evil Council videos, he has a dream where some of his greatest wishes come true: among them, Florence being voted one of the manliest names ever. (This is the result of 'AscendedFanon', as Bakura only mentioned that his parents '''wanted''' to call him 'Florence,' but the fans just latched onto it.)
* Joe Hokage in ''WebVideo/NarutoTheAbridgedComedyFandubSpoofSeriesShow''. Ordinary compared to other examples on this page, but he still gets mocked for it ("Joekage").

* According to ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob's first name is Bradakin. This is a portmanteau of [[Creator/BradJones Snob's actor's]] first name, Brad, and [[Franchise/StarWars Anakin Skywalker]], to continue the spoof of the Star Wars movies his character centered on.
** On the other hand, while everyone else thinks [[Film/BattlefieldEarth Terl's]] first name is embarrassing (it's Ferdinand), Terl himself is quite proud of it.
** According to WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall TheMovie, 90's Kid's real name is [[GenderBlenderName Evelyn]].

* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': For Bill, it's an Embarrassing ''Beta'' Name [[DevelopmentGag from the]] [[AuthorAppeal actual DSBT.]] It's nearly said a couple of times by characters like Alex or Koden, but he always cuts them off.

* On ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' only the InUniverse press refers to Butters Stotch as "Leopold".
** A later episode establishes that {{Token|Minority}}'s name is actually "[[Creator/JRRTolkien Tolkien]]", which he's not proud of since doesn't even like ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.
* On ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', Plankton's first name was revealed to be Sheldon in the episode "Plankton's Army". Karen mocks him mercilessly once she learns this.
* On ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'', the episode "Operation: S.L.U.M.B.E.R." revealed that Numbuh 86's real name was Fanny. Cue butt jokes. The jokes would have been considerably worse if she'd lived in the UK... which, judging from her Scottish accent, she probably has.
** Numbuh 2's first name is Hogarth. He goes by Hoagie, which isn't much better.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', Muriel is kidnapped and forced to make kilts for a gnome-like man. Eventually, Courage discovers that the guy hates both his first ''and'' last names: Rumpled Kiltskin. When Muriel finds out about this, she suggests he legally change his name, suggesting "Rumplestiltskin". The guy actually thinks that's a good idea, and suggests the two become business partners. It MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext, as much as the show does in general.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'':
** Dr. Drakken was born Drew Theodore P. Lipsky, as if any one part of that wasn't bad enough on its own.
** In "[[Recap/KimPossibleS2E4TheRonFactor The Ron Factor]]", the villain Gemini's real name is revealed to be Sheldon and the twin sister of the Global Justice director, Dr. Director, real name: Betty.

* On ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', Captain Hero's first name is Leslie.
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': In the episode "A Boy Named Sue", Mandark revealed that his hippy-dippy parents had named him [[GenderBlenderName Susan]], much to his humiliation. The title of the episode is itself derived from the song written by Creator/ShelSilverstein and sung by Music/JohnnyCash, about a boy who wants to kill his father for naming him Sue. It doesn't help that when Dexter meets Mandark for the first time, he has long hair and wears a girly dress, and Dexter calls him a little girl, despite Mandark's insistence that he is a boy. And when Dexter asks him what his name is and Mandark gives an affirmative answer, Dexter starts laughing at him. This, apparently, is what sets their rivalry into motion. Though [[{{Retcon}} his introductory episode]] had him introduced as Ivan Astronomonov.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'': The episode "First Name Ashley" reveals Spinelli's first name is Ashley. While she ''does'' like it, as she was named after a beloved grandmother, she was hiding it to avoid being forced to join the school's snobby clique of preppy girly-girls called "The Ashleys".
** Other examples include ''Conrad'' "Connie" Mundy and ''Irwin'' Lawson. Like Spinelli, they also go by a LastNameBasis.

* While it may have been a reasonable first name when the comic books were first written, the AnimatedAdaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' pokes fun at the fact that [[{{Shapeshifting}} Beast Boy]] has the first name... ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}''.

* Cartoon or comic, Will Vandom of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' can ''never'' escape her real name. In [[ComicBook/{{WITCH}} the comics]], it's "Wilhelmina" and in the first episode of the cartoon, it's revealed to be "Wilma". The comics made an example when Will flipped out over her relatives calling her baby brother (named William) "Will"... and then, they all started calling her "Wilhelmina" once they found out her real name, much to her displeasure.
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' portrays Miles "Tails" Prower as "hating" his real name. In the episode in question, "Tails' New Home", not only does Sonic threaten to reveal that to everyone if he didn't bail, but it also caused Sonic to realize he had been duped by Robotnik. [[note]]Sonic had thought they found Tails' missing parents and returned Tails to them. As he's remininsing, he realizes they called him "Tails", not "Miles".[[/note]]

* Skunky Beaumont from ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' not only lost his [[TheGhost Ghost]] status after Disney took over, he also got a truly embarrassing first name, namely Walter.
** In fact, most characters in this show should feel more embarrassed about their names than about their [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation skin colors]], but probably the only other character to whom this applies would be Skeeter (a.k.a. Mosquito) Valentine.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'' uses this in a [[TheVillainSucksSong Villain Sucks Song]]:
-->"She steals and lies, and she's evil, bros, and her real name isn't Blaineley! It's ''Mildred!''"
* In ''WesternAnimation/TimeSquad'', we have Buck Tuddrussel, whose first name is Beauregard, as revealed in "Kubla Khan't".
* In ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures,'' one of the few sure ways to [[BerserkButton get a rise out of]] perpetually cool Babs Bunny is to refer to her as "''Barbara-Anne''".
* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'''s "Fractured Fairy Tales" has a segment about a young girl named Tussinelda Wolfenpinkle, "but she had such lovely gold curls that everybody called her Goldilocks, which was probably just as well."
** In "Son of Literature/{{Rumpelstiltskin}}", the titular character goes through the same motions as his father. The princess admits defeat, but demands to know what his name is before she hands her child over. He realizes he doesn't know and spends the rest of the short trying to find out. When he discovers his name is "Rumpelstiltskin", he's too embarrassed to go back and claim his prize.
* Twister from ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower'' hates it when people call him by his first name, Maurice.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Family Appreciation Day", we find that Diamond Tiara's dad is [[{{Pun}} saddled]] with the name ''Filthy'' Rich. He prefers to be called just "Rich", obviously. His grandfather is named Stinking Rich.
* Binky from ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' doesn't even remember his name as everyone calls him "Binky". When he learns it is [[spoiler:"Shelly"]], he hates it and spends the episode learning to appreciate it.
** D. W. doesn't like to be called by her real name, Dora Winifred.
* Curly from ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' is Thaddeus Gammelthorpe.

* On ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', Snot's real name is Schmueli. Not that Snot is such a good name, either.
* On ''WesternAnimation/MikeLuAndOg'', Mike Mazinsky doesn't like to be called "Michelanne".

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', Dr. Blowhole's first name is Francis.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SanjayAndCraig'' the boys' SitcomArchNemesis Mr. Noodman's first name is Leslie.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'', where the characters prepare for the impending [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Apocalypse]], a few of the Greasers take the opportunity to exchange emotional confessions. Cliff confesses that his name is short for "Clifford", and Lube follows suit by confessing that his real name is "Ignatius". After the latter confession, Cliff promptly [[MoodWhiplash kills the mood]] by laughing hysterically at Lube.
* On ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'', Francisco's real name is [[GenderBlenderName Francesca]] because [[WantedASonInstead his mother wanted a girl]].
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BikerMiceFromMars'' episode "Hard Rock", Hard Rock's girlfriend Darla reveals that her boyfriend's real name is Booboo. The Biker Mice waste no time in making fun of him for it.
* On ''WesternAnimation/GoldieAndBear'', the Big Bad Wolf's real name is "Aloysius," but he warns the title characters to never tell anyone when they find out. They promise him that to them, he'll always be "Big Bad."
* Philip Fry's brother in ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'' is named Yancy, after his father and great-grandfather. During one episode, Fry finds a statue dedicated to [[DeadGuyJunior "Philip J. Fry,"]] which Fry believes is due to Yancy taking his name after his disappearance, to replace his own embarrassing name. [[spoiler:The statue honors Yancy's son, named after his beloved uncle, who had gone missing when frozen.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'', Hubert, Dewford and Llewelyn Duck are the given names of Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck. Though only Louie seems to be incredibly embarrassed by his. Dewey is embarrassed by his middle name of Dingus though.
** Originally their names were going to be Jet, Turbo and Rebel before their mother Della disappeared before they hatched. One can argue whether the names Della had chosen, or the names Donald went for once he became their legal guardian, are more embarrassing.
* Cornfed of {{WesternAnimation/Duckman}} combines this with an EmbarrassingMiddleName--his full name is Willibald Fieval Cornfed.
** Duckman hates being called by his first name, Eric.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Downplayed. Dipper Pines only goes his nickname, rather than his real name of [[spoiler:Mason]], but this is mostly because everyone (including his parents) have called him Dipper for so long (after the [[DistinguishingMark Big Dipper-shaped birthmark on his forehead]]) that his birth name now feels unnatural. His real name isn't even mentioned in the series, only being revealed in [[Literature/GravityFallsJournal3 a book released months after the series ended]].
* Lars Barriga from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' doesn't like when his parents call him by his actual first name, Laramie.
* ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'': [[LastNameBasis Brutto]]'s first name is Francis. When an A.I. reveals this to the team, he threatens them if they make fun of it.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Mixels}}'', the Principal of Mixopolis Middle School has the first name of "Knave", as in the peasantry class. Mixadel was able to guess it purely out of ''insulting'' him with the term.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': In the supplementary book "Star and Marco's Guide to Mastering Every Dimension", it's revealed that Flying Princess Pony Head's first name is Lilacia.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': Nicole [[MiddleNameBasis goes by her middle name]] because her first name given to her by her overbearing parents is "Doctor".
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'':
** In "Fairly Odd Baby", Cosmo and Wanda throughout the episode give different possible names for their baby (not finding out the sex until the very end). Initially [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext pregnant Cosmo]] wants to name it "Barf-olemew" due to his constant morning sickness.
** One name quip after the baby is born:
--->'''Wanda:''' Cosmo! You're scaring little Tallulah.\\
'''Cosmo:''' Well, I'd cry too if my name was Tallulah.
** In "Polter-geeks", we learn that Mr. Turner's name was "Mom" when he was younger. Given that, the fact that his nickname was "Dad" as a kid makes perfect sense. Mrs. Turner's name, "Barnaby", is at least a little better, and Mr. Turner thought her name was beautiful.
* The titular character on ''WesternAnimation/BountyHamster'' is named Marion. When he admits it to Cassie, she's more surprised than anything.
* On ''[[WesternAnimation/HarveyStreetKids Harvey Girls Forever!]]'', Audrey lets it be known that her older sister Zoe's name is short for "Zoelisha". Her [[EmbarrassingMiddleName middle name]] being "Bertha" isn't much better.

* ''WesternAnimation/MollyOfDenali'': Mac [=McFadden=]'s real name is Aloysius, something only Andie points out (to tease him) in "Molly and the Great One".
* From the ''Westernanimation/{{Randy Cunningham Ninth Grade Ninja}}'' episode "Stank’d to the Future":
--> '''Howard''': His name is Dickie, and he hates his parents, [[LampshadeHanging I'm assuming cause they named him Dickie.]]

* In ''FanFic/TotalDramaLegacy'', when Brick reveals that his real name is [[NamedByTheAdaptation Gunther]], Drew remarks that he now understands why everyone calls him "Brick", because, in his words, "nobody would ever want to be named ''Gunther''."

* To quote ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', "There was once a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb. And he almost deserved it." (He's only ever called Eustace, though.)

* Jubilation Lee in ''ComicBook/XMen''. Her friends call her ComicBook/JubileeMarvelComics.

* Security Officer V. Stelmach from ''Deathstalker''. Much speculation on behalf of [[AwesomeMcCoolName Captain John Silence and Investigator Frost]] as to what the V Stands for. Turns out it stands for "Valiant," and he's somewhat ashamed that he hasn't lived up to his name, ending up only a Security Officer (rather like a political officer.) His similarly-named siblings have all made much greater strides towards living up to their names than he has.

* ''VideoGame/BugFables'': [[AwesomeMcCoolname General Ultimax]]'s real name is revealed to be Fuff.

** Speaking of Adora Belle Dearheart, she also counts, being a cynical, cranky chain-smoker stuck with a cutesy name. She basically has an embarrassing first name, an EmbarrasingMiddleName, and an EmbarrassingLastName all in one.

** [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Moist von Lipwig]]. He's learned to live with it, though, and Adora Belle comments that it must be his real name because nobody would ''choose'' it for their false name.
** And his other half, Adora Belle Dearheart.

*** Second, the tradition that your official name is whatever the priest doing the christening ceremony says after "I christen you...", which - in addition to the aforementioned Princess Esmerelda Margaret Note Spelling - has led to a farmer named James What the Hell's That Cow Doing in Here Poorchick, King My God He's Heavy The First, and presumably many more.