History Main / RobotNames

* The eponymous robot in the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers Transformers]]'' episode "B.O.T." is a "Biotronic Operational Telecommunicator."

** Additionally, up until [[Film/{{Transformers}} 2007]], the Japanese names for Autobots and Decepticons were 'Cybertrons' and 'Destrons' respectively.[[note]]For those wondering about Planet Cybertron, it was renamed 'Seibertron'[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone}}'': V-07-TR-0N's name may at first glance appear to be a collection of random letters of numbers, but it's actually a reference to Franchise/{{Voltron}}.

* The titular robot from ''VideoGame/{{BOB}}'', whose name doesn't appear to stand for anything.

* Eradikator 6, the Exterminators and the Protectors from the MarvelUniverse.

* B.E.N., short for "Bio-Electronic Navigator", from ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet''.

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/ShaunTheSheep: Farmageddon'', the robot working for TheMenInBlack is called MUGG-1N5, referring to the British slang word "muggins" meaning "person who's stupid enough to be left with the rotten jobs" (usually used to refer to oneself, and thereby combining SelfDeprecation with complaining).
* B-4 from ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' (giving hell of a work for translators...)

[[folder:Film]]
* David from ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence''.
* All of the replicants in ''Film/BladeRunner'' have human-sounding names, although some are unusual (e.g., [[AerithAndBob Roy, Leon, Pris, Zhora]].
* Robbie the Robot from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet''.

[[folder:Film]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': AUTO is short for Autopilot.

* All of the robot characters in ''WesternAnimation/WallE'', including the main character ("Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-class"), EVE ("Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator"), but

--->'''Zim:''' "GIR"? What does the "G" stand for?
--->'''GIR:''' I ''don't'' know...

* B.E.N., short for "Bio-Electronic Navigator", from ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet''.

* Beta of ''Film/TheLastStarfighter''

* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': AUTO is short for Autopilot.
* The robots in ''Film/ShortCircuit'' belong to the SAINT (Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport) line, but each one is simply known by its model number. The main character is Number Five, who [[LightningCanDoAnything gains sentience from being struck by lightning]]. At the end of the movie, he decides to give himself a human name, choosing "Johnny" from the pop song "Who's Johnny". But he thinks it sounds cool to keep his number too, so he settles on "Johnny Five".

* Navi from ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger''

* [=GLaDOS=], the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System from ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''. Her name might also be a variant of "Gladys", as in the naming scheme below.

* All Terrain Armored Combatants or [=ATACs=], from the [=PS1=] game ''VideoGame/VanguardBandits''.
* In ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh'', a particularly knowledgeable Tower Guardian program is called I-No.
* ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has Aigis, whose name reflects that she is both an Artificial Intellgience and an aegis (Ancient Greek for a protective garment or a protector). [[spoiler:And in the extra chapter you meet Metis, whose name is Greek for wise or skilled.]]

* EDI, short for Enhanced Defense Intelligence and pronounced "ee-dee," in the two later ''Franchise/MassEffect'' games is a [[RestrainingBolt shackled]] AI with a female personality, hardwired into the ''Normandy'' SR-2. Her primary purpose is running the ship's cyberwarfare suite. [[spoiler:Joker is forced to remove the shackles late in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' to save the ship, and she remains loyal.]]
* Robo, the, um robot party member from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''.
* ''[[VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyI Etrian Odyssey Untold]]'': M.I.K.E., the AI who watches over Gladsheim and [[spoiler:becomes the last boss found there]], stands for Memetic Installation Keeper Engine.
* As a Magnus originally designed to be a toy robot, the superhero-like name of Kid Ultra from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' is derived from his marketing tagline: "Kid-friendly, Ultra-dependable".

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'''s Bender (whose full name is Bender Bending Rodriguez, since he was built in Mexico, and [[MetaphorIsMyMiddleName "bending" is his middle name]]).
** Quite a few fit: Flexo, Angleyne, Roberto (the robber), Clamps...
* Uniblab of ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'', given that his purpose was to blab on the employees to Mr. Spacely.

* Linguo, from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', whose function is to correct grammatical errors.
* NEPTR, the '''N'''ever-'''E'''nding '''P'''ie-'''T'''hrowing '''R'''obot from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Film/TheBlackHole'': V.I.N.CENT, short for "Vital Information Necessary, [=CENTralized=]".

* KOS-MOS, in ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}''. Her name is not only a backronym, it's also a recursive acronym. Kosmos Obey Strategical Multiple Operation Systems.
** In the same series, MOMO is an acronym for Multiple Observation Mimetic Organicus.

* The GDI tactical control AI throughout the ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberium'' series is the Electronic Virtual Assistant. Nod has the Computer-Assisted Biologically-Augmented Lifeform, as well as LEGION (known to be an acronym as well as another of Kane's self-indulgent Biblical references, but never expanded upon in the game).
* In ''VideoGame/InfiniteCrisis'' Mecha-Superman is a Kryptonian Artificial Lifeform, also known as K.A.L.
* The titular robot from ''[[VideoGame/{{BOB}} B.O.B.]]'', whose name doesn't appear to stand for anything.

* [[OneSceneWonder MAR-10]] from ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''.
* All of the robot characters in ''WesternAnimation/WallE'', including the main character ("Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-class"), EVE ("Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator"), but
* E.A.R.L., short for "Electronic Automatic Robotic Lighthouse", from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

* I.S.R.A.E.L., short for "Intelligent Smart Robot Animation Eraser Lady", from the ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'' movie.

* The B.A.T.s ("Battle Android Trooper") from ''WesternAnimation/GIJoe.''
* F.L.U.F.F.I. from ''WesternAnimation/BionicSix''.
* JANICE, from ''WesternAnimation/RobotechTheShadowChronicles'', stands for "'''J'''unctioned '''A'''rtificial '''N'''euro-'''I'''ntegrated '''C'''ybernetic '''E'''ntity".

* N.I.G.E.L. from ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries'' stands from '''N'''ext-millennium '''I'''ntelligence '''G'''athering '''E'''lectronic '''L'''iaison.
* The eponymous robot in the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers Transformers]]'' episode "B.O.T." is a "Biotronic Operational Telecommunicator."

* RRU-9-2 from Franchise/TheDCU.
* [=MX39147=] from ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight''.

* [[Film/StarTrekNemesis B-4]], Data's idiot older brother.
---> Picard: "Dr. Soong's penchant for whimsical names seems to have no end."

* ν-13, the {{Yandere}} RobotGirl SNKBoss of ''VideoGame/BlazBlue''.
** And that's not a V. That's the Greek letter "nu", which happens to be the 13th letter of that alphabet. (Looks identical in many fonts.)
* The E-Series robots from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' all have this style of name, with E followed by a number. E-102 Gamma, and E-123 Omega are the main examples.
* [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank Clank]] has at least three names; two of them are strings of numbers (one his serial number and the other his actual name, [=XJ0461=]) and the last-- well what do you ''think'' it is?
* The English localization of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'' [[DubNameChange renames]] the Ultimate Robot Kiibo (pronounced like ''kibou'', the Japanese word for hope) to K1-B0, though he's still nicknamed Keebo, pronounced like in Japanese.
* The playable robot character in ''VideoGame/DontStarve'' is named WX-78. In addition to fitting the ThemeNaming of all player characters starting with W, this also matches [[spoiler: the serial numbers for Robert Wagstaff's creations.]]
* [=CyberLife=]-manufactured androids in ''VideoGame/DetroitBecomeHuman'' are designated by model names consisting of two letters signifying their model line and a number in the hundreds signifying which series they are. Concerning the protagonists, Kara is an [=AX400=], Connor is a [=RK800=], and Markus, who is apparently an earlier revision of Connor's model, is a [=RK200=].

* XJ-9 in ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''. She doesn't like the name much and prefers to be called Jenny. Her 8 sisters also follow the convention with XJ-1, XJ-2, XJ-3, etc.
* Robot X-1 from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.

* ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'' has the Reego, who have taken names from their Roman Numeral designations -- Ⅰ is Una, Ⅱ is Due, Ⅲ is Tres, and Ⅳ is, well, Ivy. The Ree, though a clone/bioroid line instead of robots, probably also count, as they are also named after numbers (from Rei=0 on up), and three of the Evangelions (or their [=AIs=]) have nicknames based on their unit numbers: Ichi, Zwei, and Go-kun.
* The writers of a number of ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'' fanfics have decided to go with this theme when it comes to Mechas, for example Joe is usually given a serial number that starts with JO and the mass produced Davids and Darlenes are referred to as DA models. Mecha {{Original Character}}s include Danny (DY), Drew (DR), Ralphie (RP) and Kurt (KR).

* B-4 from ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' (giving hell of a work for translators...)

** "Literature/TheBicentennialMan": The robot in this story is part of the NDR series, although [[FogOfAges he cannot recall what those numbers are after all these years]].

* TAC from ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger''
* The android main character in ''Series/AlmostHuman'' is a DRN model known as Dorian.

* The [=CL4P-TP=] General Purpose Robots in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' are normally referred to as "Claptraps".
** Or "Intergalactic Ninja Assassin"
* O2-JOY, from ''VideoGame/NoituLove''.
* [=Ma3a=] (Mathreea) from ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh''.
* ''VideoGame/JakXCombatRacing'' has UR-86, a robot designed to takes out its opponents. UR is obviously "you are" and "to 86" means to get rid something. The death bots in ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'' are referred to as UB-86 (never stated in-game, but mentioned in the StrategyGuide).
* Mecha Wonder Woman in ''VideoGame/InfiniteCrisis'' has the designation [=D1A=]-NA.
* ''VideoGame/{{Inscryption}}'' has P03, the Scrybe of Technology and a TVHeadRobot. P03 is supposed to be read as Poe and a reference to PoesLaw.

* In ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'', the original robot characters named [=N4-T3 and C1-14D-L1N6=], which ''just happen'' to look like Nate and Chadling, respectively.

* SPRX-77 from ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'' is mostly pronounced as simply Sparx.
* C1-10P, aka "Chopper", from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels''.

* Mekano from ''Wonder Comics''.
** Similarly, there is a Mechano in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse.

* Electro and Elektro from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse.

* Data of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''.
** Androids made by Data's creator and his students tend to have names related to information processing and transmission. Data's EvilTwin is called Lore, while ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' introduces androids of the same type with names like Saga, Arcana, Sutra, Codex, and Rune.
* Tom Servo from ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''

* Clanky from ''VideoGame/BackyardSports''
* And, on that note, [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank Clank]].

* Mecha-Nicole from ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''

* Qwerty and Dvorak from ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', named after different keyboard setups.

* Cynthia, the synthoid from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.

** "Literature/MirrorImage": The tradition established in ''Literature/TheCavesOfSteel'' continues; the robotic personal assistants are named R. Preston and R. Idda, with the "R" standing for "Robot".

* Robot from ''Series/LostInSpace''

* Robo-Ky from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear XX'' is a robot designed to resemble Ky Kiske.

* When Annie builds a robot in ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'', she simply names it Robot, and he answers to this from then on. It's later revealed that his original name was S13.

* Robotella, the [[Fiction500 Biskit Family's]] spa robot in ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012''.

* Biotron and Microtron from ''ComicBook/MicronautsMarvelComics''.

* Victor von Doom, from ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'', has several Doombots.
** Doom also had an android called the Robotron at one point.

* The Orgasmatron in ''Barbarella'', invented by Duran Duran

* The Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}bot from...does it have to be said?

* [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Cambot]].
* The [[MonsterOfTheWeek Robotrons]] from ''Series/PowerRangerBeastMorphers''.

* Gofotron from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''
* Lie-Bot from ''Webcomic/{{Achewood}}''

* Subverted with WesternAnimation/TeamUmizoomi's Bot. His name is simply Robot for short.

* Zane Gort from ''The Silver Eggheads'' by Creator/FritzLeiber, a robot author (creator of the popular Dr. Tungsten series), whose name is an homage to ZaneGray and to Gort, the alien robot of ''Film/TheDayTheEarthStoodStill1951''. Also, his lady-love, the government-built censor-robix, Miss Phyllis Blushes. (She's plated in pink anodized aluminum. Zane, on the other hand, is blued steel.) (And "robix" is that setting's term for a female robot. Robot sexuality is one of the amusing features of the setting.)

* ''Series/GetSmart'' - Hymie. ("My ''father's'' name was Hymie!")
* ''Series/TheLateLateShow'' - Geoff Peterson

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''. In the ShowWithinAShow ''Film/TheAdventuresOfCaptainProton'', [[TinCanRobot Satan's Robot]] is a ShoutOut to the so-called Republic Robot, an [[PropRecycling overused prop]] in various [[FilmSerial Republic serials]] including [[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=kGmDbkndsIU ''Mysterious Doctor Satan'']].

* As a Magnus originally designed to serve the rich as a butler and reflect high society values, Marquis d'Caliber from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' has a noble sounding name.

* Lincoln from ''Webcomic/CogaSuro''. Later robot names follow a Greek mythology theme [Styx, Persephone, Hades].
** Speaking of Styx, there's also ''Mr. Roboto''.

* Creator/HannaBarbera's ''WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJr.''

* Tinny Tim and Malfunctioning Eddie from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', among others.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* In the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' fanfic, ''Fanfic/SomethingAlwaysRemains'', Puppet is derived from P.U.P.P.E.T., which stands for Protocol Unit for Personality Performance Engagement Test. It was the first animatronic with a programmed personality and function, and its ability to [[AIIsACrapshoot develop a personality and adapt to changes in its programming]] was the basis for the others after it.

* In Marvel Comics, Machine Man's official designation when he was built was X-51, but he much prefers the name his adoptive father gave him, Aaron. In fact, addressing him as "X-51" is probably the fastest way to make him angry at you.

* [=MX39147=] from ''Alpha Flight''.

* Biotron and Microtron from ''[[ComicBook/{{Micronauts|MarvelComics}} The Micronauts.]]''
* [[ComicBook/AgeOfUltron Ultron]].

[[folder: Film ]]

* David from Steven Spielberg's ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence''.
* All of the replicants in ''Film/BladeRunner'' have human-sounding names, although some are unusual (eg. [[AerithAndBob Roy, Leon, Pris, Zhora]].
* Robbie the Robot from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet''
* Carl from ''WesternAnimation/MeetTheRobinsons.''

** "Literature/VictoryUnintentional": One technician suggested the ZZ series be known by the {{Ironic}} "Sissy", but said technician was immediately shushed and the subject never mentioned again.

* Alternatively, a common word or name is made into a relevant [[FunWithAcronyms backronym]]. If the acronym describes the function of the robot, then it's an AICronym, and should go there.

When robots, computers, and other machines appear in fiction, there are a few common ways for them to be named. See also AMechByAnyOtherName, NamesGivenToComputers, NameTron and LawOfAlienNames. {{Sub Trope}}s include AICronym.

* Parodied on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' with C.H.E.E.S.E.:

* Mr. R.I.N.G. ("Robomatic Internalized Nerve Ganglia") from ''Series/KolchakTheNightStalker''.
* Parodied on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' when Joel reveals to Crow in a flashback that his name actually stands for "Cybernetic Remotely Operated Woman." [[spoiler: After Crow flips out that he's really a woman, Joel reveals it as the elaborate set-up for a joke.]]
-->'''Crow''': Boy, I feel like Morey Amsterdam.

* P-01s from ''LightNovel/HorizonInTheMiddleOfNowhere''.

* ''LightNovel/TrinityBlood'': HC-IIIX, usually known as Father ''Tres Iqus''

!!When done straight, a phrase describing the machine's function is shortened to an acronym, or made the name itself.

!!Alternately, a common word or name is made into a relevant [[FunWithAcronyms backronym]]. If the acronym describes the function of the robot, then it's an AICronym, and should go there.

* NEPTR, the '''N'''ever-'''E'''nding '''P'''ie-'''T'''hrowing '''R'''obot from AdventureTime.

* X-J9 in ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''. She doesn't like the name much and prefers to be called Jenny. Her 8 sisters also follow the convention with X-J1, X-J2, X-J3, etc.

* Jenny from ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'', though as mentioned above, she's also called X-J9.

* Project 2501, aka. the Puppet Master, from ''Anime/GhostInTheShell''.