History Main / OnlyKnownByTheirNickname

* Tails in ''SonicTheHedgehog''. His real name, Miles Prower, usually [[All ThereInTheManual isn't mentioned in the games at all]].

** And then there's [[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys The Librarian]], who went so far as to erase his real name from the Unseen University's records so they couldn't use it to change him back.

*** So, in other words, we will never know his real first name. This troper doubts L is his real name.

** Several characters in the XWingSeries. Rogue Squadron has Hobbie Klivian, whose real name is Derek, but no one ever uses it. Wraith Squadron, however, has the most examples. Their full names are in the Dramatis Personae and usually get mentioned the first time they're introduced, but you wouldn't know that Face, Grinder, Piggy, and Runt had any other names, otherwise.
** As in the page quote, Mitth'raw'nuruodo, aka Thrawn. He went with the short version to make it [[SomeCallMeTim easier]], and it stuck. In his culture, core names are only suposed to be used by friends and family, but he doesn't seem to mind.

[[SisterTrope Related to]] EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep, but that is about people being referred to exclusively by their jobs or what they're best known for doing. Does not include {{Fan Nickname}}s, [[SecretIdentity secret identities]], or explicit pseudonyms. Also doesn't include people who [[MeaningfulRename give themselves new names following an act of self-reinvention]], and [[ThatManIsDead stop responding to their old name]] (eg. [[HarryPotter Voldemort]]). Exceptionally badass examples of this trope fall into the RedBaron.

* Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

* Ron "Pigpen" [=McKernan=] of the Grateful Dead.

* German football player (soccer that is) and contestant for "most gruesome foul of all time" Harald "Toni" Schuhmacher.

* Paul "Bono" Hewson and Dave "The Edge" Evans of U2.

* Gordon "Sting" Sumner.

* Too many Brazilian football players to list are known only by their ''noms-de-foot'', to name just three: Pelé (Edson Arantes des Nascimento), Tostao (Eduardo Gonzalves de Andrade), and Ronaldo (Luiz Nazário de Lima). Many may be self-chosen, though.

* Tails in ''SonicTheHedgehog''. His real name, Miles Prower, usually [[{{All There in the Manual}} isn't mentioned in the games at all]].

* In a couple of Disney examples, there are many characters who are never given real names, even in their originaly fairy tale format. Snow White, was she given that name at birth or was it given to her because of her beauty as she aged? Cinderella's name was given to her by her step-sisters (she was the cinder girl). On the surface, Scar appears to be named after his scar, but [[AllThereInTheManual in the novel series, it shows his given name was Taka]], though that isn't much better, as it's Swahili for dirt/trash. His parents obviously loved him. Not!

** Tramp's name seems rather strange. [[JustifiedTrope He is a homeless stray though, so he probably named himself, since no human named him.]]
** Some authors attribute Cinderella the name "Ella", but most usually continue to call her Cinderella regardless.

* In {{Arthur}}, everyone refers to the epynomous character's sister as D.W. Her real name is Dora Winifred, this is lampshaded in a later episode when she goes missing in the White House
*** Dad: I'm looking for our daughter her name is D.W.
*** White House Guard: What, initials? you didn't give the kid a full name?

* Pig-Pen and from ''{{Peanuts}}''. Nobody knows his real name; at his first appearence, he actually says: "I haven't got a name... People just call me things... Real insulting things."

----
<<|NamingConventions|>>

** Also Eddy's brother is only referred to as such. Despite rumors, the creators didn't really gave him a name as of now.

* ''TheShawshankRedemption'' has Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding, who is never referred to by full name in the movie. The character himself notes his full name ''once'' in the novella.

* I am so well known by my nickname that people I've been friends with for years will ask what my real name is. The most humorous example was when a woman asked me for my real name during our third date.

** Similarly Voldemort is almost always called "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" by those who fear him, or "The Dark Lord" by those who follow him. Those who neither fear him or follow him actually call him Voldemort...which isn't his real name anyway. Dumbledore is pretty much the only person to actually call him Tom. Harry calls him Riddle during their final showdown.

-> '''[[TheBigLebowski The Dude:]]''' Let me explain something to you. Um, I am not "Mr. Lebowski". ''You're'' Mr. Lebowski. I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

* Scar from {{Fullmetal Alchemist}} gets known as... well... "Scar" due the one he has on the face. He said he abandonned his name, which is never revealed.
**May change soon, since the author has stated that she did come up with a real name for him and it will eventually be revealed.
*** Unfortunaley Scar's name is not revealed in Chapter 108 the last chapter of Fullmetal Alchemist the only thing that remains to be seen is if they reveal in the anime which will end soon also.

* Most popes on taking office took a new name different from the one they were born with. You could even say the tradition began with the first one, Simon called Peter ("the Rock").
* Quite a few Christian saints are known by their "nicknames", for instance the apostles Andrew and Thomas (Greek words meaning "the manly" and "the twin"), Boniface (real name: Winfrid), and St. Francis of Asisi (real name: Giovanni Battista Bernardone, his nickname Francesco means "Frenchy").

* Too many Brazilian football players to list are known only by their ''noms-de-foot'', to name just three: Pelé (Edson Arantes des Nascimento), Tostao (Eduardo Gonzalves de Andrade), and Ronaldo (Luiz Nazário de Lima).

* There are also several german politicians which are regularily referred to by their nickname instead of their first name, like the governor of Hamburg ''"Ole" von Beust'' and former Minister of Foreign Afairs ''"Joschka" Fischer''. Former german chancelor ''Willy Brand'' was born ''Herbert Frahm'', but exclusively used the name of his undercover identity as a resistance fighter when he returned to germany after WW2.