Transformers has Dub Name Changes in spades, especially between both English and Japanese translations.
English to Japanese
- General Examples:
- Autobots and Maximals to Cybertron(s)
- Decepticons and Predacons to Destron(s)
- Cybertron (the planet) was still spelled the same, but its pronunciation was altered to "Seibertron."
- Optimus Prime to Convoy although arguably, Convoy could be argued to be Prime's original name (as the Diaclone "Battle Convoy" figure that was adapted into "Optimus Prime" for the Transformers series, then re-adapted back as "Convoy" when said series was taken back to Japan. This would begin a tradition in Japan of naming the Autobot Leader some variation of "Convoy" such as "Fire Convoy" or "Galaxy Convoy", (in part due to a belief that Japanese children would find "Optimus Prime" too difficult to pronounce) which was ended by the live-action film series, ever since, Optimus has kept his western name in Japan, except in cases of specific figures marketed to older fans, such as the Masterpiece line.
- The Transformers:
- Jazz to Meister
- Mirage to Ligier
- Sideswipe to Lambor
- Bluestreak to Streak
- Cliffjumper to Cliff
- Brawn to Gong
- Huffer to Drag
- Windcharger to Charger
- Cosmos to Adams
- Blaster to Broadcast
- Dinobots remained unchanged
- Swoop to Swarp
- Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime to Hot Rodimus/Rodimus Convoy
- Kup to Char
- Springer to Sprung
- Swerve to Werve
- Ramhorn to Amhorn
- Aerialbots to Airbots
- Slingshot to Sling
- Air Raid to Air Raider
- Fireflight to Firebolt
- Protectobots remained unchanged
- Blades to Graze
- Defensor to Guardian
- Metroplex to Metroflex
- Pointblank to Blanker
- Goldbug to Goldback
- Freeway to Runaway
- Searchlight to Looklight
- Punch to Spacepunch
- Technobots to Techbots
- Computron to Computicon
- Grotusque to Grotus
- Repugnus to Repug
- Shockwave to Laserwave
- Rumble to Frenzy, and vice versa. The two names were switched in order to correct an animation error that reversed the characters' colors (the two were identical aside from color schemes).
- Laserbeak to Condor
- Ravage to Jaguar
- Constructicons to Buildrons
- Hook to Gren
- Stunticons to Stuntrons
- Drag Strip to Drag Stripe
- Combaticons to Combatrons
- Vortex to Bolter
- Octane to Octone
- Predacons to Animatrons
- Divebomb to Dimebomb
- Trypticon to Dinosaurer
- Scorponok to MegaZarak
- Mindwipe to Wipe
- Skullcruncher to Skull
- Terrorcons to Terrortrons
- Blot to Boot
- Beast Wars:
- Optimus Primal to Convoy
- Cheetor to Cheetus
- Rattrap to Rattle
- Rare Japanese to English example: Lio Convoy to Leo Prime
- Terrorsaur to Terrorsaurer
- Waspinator to Waspeeter
- Tarantulas to Tarans
- Scorponok to Scorpos
- Blackarachnia to Blackwidow
- Transformers: Car Robots was originally about a group of new Transformers. However, the English version, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, changed the names of pretty much everyone. Some got names derived from the original series, while others received new ones entirely.
- (Super) Fire Convoy to Optimus Prime
- God Magnus to Ultra Magnus
- God Fire Convoy to Omega Prime
- Mach Alert to Prowl
- Speedbreaker to Side Burn
- Wild Ride to X-Brawn
- Team Shinkansen to Team Bullet Train
- J-Five to Railspike
- J-Seven to Rapid Run
- J-Four to Midnight Express
- JRX to Rail Racer
- Artfire to Hot Shot
- X-Car to Crosswise
- Ox to Ironhide
- Counter Arrow to Mirage
- Eagle Killer to R.E.V.
- Wars to W.A.R.S.
- Tow-Line to Wrecker Hook
- Indy Heat to Skid-Z
- Buildmasters to Build Team
- Build Boy to Wedge
- Build Typhoon to Heavy Load
- Build Hurricane to Grimlock
- Build Cyclone to Hightower
- Build King to Landfill
- Brave Maximus to Fortress Maximus
- Gigatron to Megatron
- Devil Gigatron to Galvatron
- Gelshark to Sky-Byte
- Goosher to Slapper
- Gaskunk to Gas Skunk
- Guildo to Dark Scream
- Black Convoy to Scourge
- Combatrons to Commandoes
- Dolrailer to Mega-Octane
- Hepter to Ro-Tor
- Dangar to Armorhide
- Greejeeber to Rollbar
- Shuttler to Movor
- Baldigus to Ruination
- Transformers: Armada:
- Hot Rod to Hot Shot
- Ratchet to Red Alert
- Grap to Smokescreen
- Devastator to Scavenger
- Silverbolt to Blurr
- Stepper to Sideswipe
- Cyberhawk to Laserbeak
- Sandstorm to Cyclonus
- Ironhide to Demolishor
- Shockwave to Tidal Wave
- Rampage to Wheeljack
- Double Face to Sideways
- Transformers: Superlink to Transformers: Energon:
- Grand Convoy to Optimus Prime
- Skyfire to Jetfire
- Roadbuster to Ironhide
- Wheeljack to Downshift
- Red Alert to Prowl
- Overdrive to Cliffjumper
- Rodimus Convoy to Rodimus
- Sprung to Bulkhead
- Ariel to Arcee
- Blastarm to Strongarm
- Airglide to Skyblast
- Air Team:
- Silverbolt to Storm Jet
- Sling to Sky Shadow
- Skydive to Terradive
- Air Rider to Treadshot
- Firebolt to Windrazor
- Superion to Superion Maximus
- Nightscream to Starscream
- Snowstorm to Snowcat
- Irontread to Demolishor
- Shockfleet to Mirage
- Construction Team:
- Scavenger to Steamhammer
- Bonecrusher remained unchanged
- Long Haul to Duststorm
- Scrapper to Sledge
- Gren to Wideload
- Buildron to Constructicon Maximus
- Destruction Team:
- Onslaught to Barricade
- Blast Off to Blackout
- Swindle to Blight
- Brawl to Kickback
- Vortex to Stormcloud
- Bruticus to Bruticus Maximus
- MegaZarak to Scorponok
- Command Jaguar to Battle Ravage
- Shadowhawk to Divebomb
- Dinobot to Cruellock
- Chromhorn to Insecticon
- Transformers: Galaxy Force to Transformers: Cybertron:
- Galaxy Convoy to Optimus Prime
- Excellion/Exigeyser to Hot Shot
- Dreadrock to Jetfire
- Guardshell to Landmine
- Backpack/Backgild to Scattorshot
- Jackshot/Ligerjack to Overhaul/Leobreaker
- First Aid/First Gunner to Red Alert
- Sonic Bomber to Wing Saber
- Nitro Convoy to Override
- Autolander to Brakedown
- Skids to Clocker
- Fangwolf to Snarl
- Saidos to Backstomp
- Live Convoy to Evac
- Autovolt to Crosswise
- Megalo Convoy to Metroplex
- Blendar to Quickmix
- Gasket to Ransack
- Landbullet to Crumplezone
- Inch Up to Dirt Boss
- Flame Convoy to Scourge
- Dinoshout to Undermine
- Terashaver to Brimstone
- Demolishor to Mudflap
- Chromia to Thunderblast
- Road Storm to Lugnutz
- Noisemaze to Sideways
- Moledive to Menasor
- Rumble to Scrapmetal
- Transformers: Animated:
- Bulkhead to Ironhide (because they wanted the connection to the Live Action movies to be stronger; this necessitated changing...)
- Ironhide to Armorhide
- Nanosec to Speed King
Italian translations
- General:
- Autobots to Autorobot (the "robot" part was pronounced with the French pronounce in Generation 1 media but later switched to the english pronounce. Ditched from the Transformers Film Series onwards)
- Decepticons to Distructor (dropped from Transformers: Robots in Disguise onwards)
- Quintessons to Quintessenziali (zigzagged back and forth between the dub name and the original one in later years)
- Transformers: Generation One: (characters who kept their original names are not listed)
- Optimus Prime to Commander
- Jazz to Tigre
- Ironhide to Falco
- Ratchet to Doc
- Prowl to Pantera
- Bluestreak to Ariete
- Sideswipe to Freccia
- Sunstreaker to Lince
- Trailbreaker to Tuono
- Hound to Canguro
- Mirage to Mistero
- Wheeljack to Saetta
- Bumblebee to Maggiolino
- Cliffjumper to Grillo
- Brawn to Cammello
- Huffer to Turbo ("Piedone" in a single cartoon appearance)
- Windcharger to Lampo
- Gears to Mulo
- Starscream to Astrum
- Skywarp to Corvo
- Thundercracker to Vampiro
- Soundwave to Memor
- Laserbeak to Gufo
- Ravage to Iena
- Rumble to Tremor ("Tremot" in the Marvel comics)
- Frenzy to Tartar ("Scarlet" in early cartoon appearances)
- Buzzsaw to Micro
- Grimlock to Tiran
- Slag to Tricex
- Sludge to Bronto
- Snarl to Stego
- Swoop to Reptilo
- Jetfire/Skyfire to Aquila
- Smokescreen to Leo
- Tracks to Puma
- Hoist to Bufalo
- Red Alert to Giaguaro ("Allarme rosso" in a few cartoon episodes, "Alert" in later reprints of the toy)
- Grapple to Gancio
- Skids to Furetto
- Powerglide to Jumbo
- Warpath to Boom Boom
- Cosmos to Disco
- Beachcomber to Pulce
- Seaspray to Elica
- Blaster to Radiorobot ("Audiobot" in The Headmasters)
- Perceptor to Supervista
- Omega Supreme to Megarobot
- Scrapper to Ringhio
- Scavenger to Braccio
- Bonecrusher to Scudo
- Mixmaster to Rollo
- Long Haul to Macigno
- Hook to Rostro
- Bombshell to Prudox
- Kickback to Atrox
- Shrapnel to Rantrox
- Shockwave to Brutal
- Thrust to Rapax
- Dirge to Sparviero
- Ramjet to Nibbio
- Astrotrain to Triplex 1
- Blitzwing to Triplex 2
- Silverbolt to Radiant
- Fireflight to Optor
- Skydive to Log
- Air Raid to Tornado
- Slingshot to Vertic
- Superion to Pentajet
- Hot Spot to Drago
- Groove to Chips
- Streetwise to Phantom
- First Aid to Sirena
- Blades to Rasor
- Hot Rod to Folgore
- Kup to Blitz ("Char" in The Headmasters)
- Ultra Magnus to Convoy
- Arcee to Saturnia (only in The Headmasters)
- Springer to Bora
- Blurr to Flash
- Rodimus Prime to Guardian
- Wreck-Gar to Chopper
- Wheelie to Scooter
- Pipes to Roccia
- Sky-Lynx to Argo
- Eject to Catapulta
- Steeljaw to Fender
- Ramhorn to Cuneo ("Striker" in The Headmasters)
- Broadside to Mistral
- Sandstorm to Ghibli
- Metroplex to Guardian
- Motormaster to Barracuda
- Drag Strip to Iguana
- Breakdown to Caimano
- Dead End to Cobra
- Wildrider to Squalo
- Menasor to Pentacar ("Ultrax" in early cartoon appearances)
- Onslaught to Destroyer
- Swindle to Crasher
- Brawl to Bomber
- Blast Off to Exploder
- Bruticus to Multiforce
- Cyclonus to Ciclone
- Scourge to Sheriff
- Sweep to Incrociatore
- Octane to Triplex 3
- Razorclaw to Zannar
- Divebomb to Falcon
- Tantrum to Torox
- Headstrong to Rinox
- Rampage to Felin
- Runabout to Diablo
- Runamuck to Velenix
- Scattershot to Scatterbot
- Strafe to Rocketbot
- Afterburner to Radarbot
- Nosecone to Argobot
- Lightspeed to Starbot
- Goldbug to Wagenbot (Marvel comics only: kept the English name in the cartoon while the toy still called him "Maggiolino" like Bumblebee)
- Wideload to Rollerbot
- Freeway to Saterbot
- Chase to Scoutbot
- Searchlight to Strobobot
- Rollbar to Trollbot
- Chromedome to Duobot
- Brainstorm to Goblin
- Highbrow to Cruiserbot
- Hardhead to Blindobot
- Fastlane to Booster
- Cloudraker to Gemini
- Grotusque to Tigerbot
- Doublecross to Drekbot
- Hun-Gurrr to Grifobot
- Blot to Spectrobot
- Rippersnapper to Battlebot
- Cutthroat to Crudelbot
- Sinnertwin to Bifronbot
- Abominus to Tundertron
- Mindwipe to Pipistrello
- Skullcruncher to Spaccaossa
- Weirdwolf to Lupo
- Apeface to Tagor
- Snapdragon to Tifon
- Pounce to Roboclon
- Wingspan to Rapax
- Punch/Counterpunch to Spy/Ultraspy
- Sixshot to Iperbot
- Scorponok to Scorpion
- Beast Wars:
- Optimus Primal to Blackjack
- Cheetor to Ghepard
- Rattrap to Rattilus
- Waspinator to Punginator
- Scorponok to Scorpionok
- Blackarachnia to Arachnia
- Tigatron to Tigertron (pronounced as "Tee-jar-tron")
- Silverbolt to Grifo
- Quickstrike to Serpex
- Inferno to Formikon ("Formiculas" in the toyline)
- Depth Charge to Abysses ("Mantax" in the toyline)
- Rampage to Grankior
While Beast Wars was the last series where in the Italian dub the characters changed their names, a few stray cases still happened after that.
- Transformers: Robots in Disguise:
- Skid-Z to Skid
- Mega-Octane to Mega-Ottano
- Transformers: Animated:
- Wreck-Gar to Pattumiera
