"Did you grow up in the woods? Are you Nell, from the movie Nell?"
— Donna Meagle, Parks and Recreation
The Character Title is one of the easiest ways to name a work of fiction. Just take the name of a character and use it for the name of the series. The eponymous character is usually, but not always, the protagonist. A possible downfall of this trope is that if the show is a live-action, should the actor playing the title character decide to quit, it could spell the end of the show.
Compare Job Title, which is where the work is named after a character's occupation; and The Place, in which it is named after a location. It may change over time due to Spotlight-Stealing Title. The trope overlaps with Exactly What It Says on the Tin when a work accurately describes its premise or characters. Contrast I Am Not Shazam, where people assume the series' name is the character's name. See the Protagonist Title Fallacy for the false assumption that only protagonists' names are used in Character Titles. In literary circles, this is called an eponym, a term also used to refer to The Namesake. Also note that you won't see Cowboy BeBop at His Computer.
Occasionally overlaps with Biopic, The Namesake, One-Word Title, and Versus Title. In cartoons and children's books featuring characters with Rhyming Names, this would also inevitably overlap with Rhyming Title.
Super-Trope to:
- Adjective Noun Fred
- Antagonist Title
- Character Action Title
- Character Name and the Noun Phrase
- Epunymous Title
- Family Title
- The Full Name Adventures
- I, Noun
- Mononymous Biopic Title
- Multi-Character Title
- Name and Name
- Protagonist and Friends
- Protagonist Title
- Role Called
- Secondary Character Title
- Self-Titled Album
- Spotlight-Stealing Title
- The Talk Show with Host Name
- Team Title
Examples (by original medium):
open/close all folders
Anime & Manga
- Adolf: An interesting example, in that it has three title characters. Including that one.
- Assassination Classroom: The students and teachers of Class-3-E.
- Attack on Titan: Not the case with the English title, but with the Japanese title Shingeki no Kyojin, which is the name of the Rogue Titan.
- Barrage: What the name refers to is a major plot twist. It's the protagonist.
- Butt Detective
- Combattler V
- Daimos
- Devilman
- Doraemon
- Fire Girl: The main character as the titular Fire Girl.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: "Fullmetal Alchemist" is the formal title of the main character, and he is called that by several characters in the course of the story.
- Fuuka: Another interesting example, as the title refers to both of them.
- Getter Robo
- Gigantor
- Great Mazinger
- Hetalia: Axis Powers: "Hetalia" is a portmanteau of "Italia" (Italy) and "hetare", which means something like "useless". Hence, Useless Italy.
- Isaku
- Komi Can't Communicate
- Kotetsu Jeeg
- Mazinger Z
- Naruto
- Niea_7
- Ninja Hattori
- Papuwa
- Patalliro!
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Samurai Deeper Kyo
- Stitch!: Yes, that Stitch, but this series removes his first friend.
- Toriko
- UFO Robo Grendizer
- Unico
- Voltes V
- Zambot 3
Ballads
Comic Books
99% of all comic book superheroes fall into this trope. Notable exception, however, is Shazam!,note which of course leads to a different trope...
Nonetheless, Gotta Catch 'Em All, so...
- Aquaman
- The Awesome Slapstick
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Blue Devil
- Booster Gold
- Constantine
- Daredevil
- Darkhawk
- Empowered
- The Flash
- Flash Gordon
- Goldie Vance
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Impulse
- Invincible
- Lobo
- Madman
- The Man
- Nightwing
- Nikolai Dante
- Red Robin
- Robin
- The Savage Dragon
- Speedball The Masked Marvel
- Spider-Man
- Starfire
- Starman
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Terra
- Wonder Woman
- Wonder Girl
Supervillains:
- Harley Quinn (Not many issues of this series.)
- Joker (Not a comic series so much as a Graphic Novel; not to be confused with The Joker, which was a short-lived series from the 70s. Three guesses who it features...)
- Venom (Although his miniseries titles often had sub-titles such as "Lethal Protector" or "The Hunger".)
Non-superhero characters:
- Bamse
- Beetlejuice
- Cerebus the Aardvark
- Fritz the Cat
- Gaston Lagaffe
- Herman Hedning (A Swedish comic)
- Hälge (Another Swedish comic)
- Hilda
- Jet Dream
- Okko
- Omaha the Cat Dancer
- Owly
- PangPond, a Thai comic book series.
- Reyn
- Scott Pilgrim
- Star Wars Expanded Universe: (Arranged roughly in In-Universe chronological order.)
- Super Duck
- Witchblade: The title refers to the Empathic Weapon wielded by the heroine.
Comic Strips
- Andy Capp
- Axa
- Blondie
- Brenda Starr
- Broom Hilda
- Dick Tracy
- Dilbert
- Ernie at first. Then it was renamed to Piranha Club.
- Frazz
- Funky Winkerbean
- Garfield
- Garth
- Hägar the Horrible
- Heathcliff
- Krazy Kat
- Li'l Abner
- Little Lulu
- Little Orphan Annie
- Mark Trail
- Marmaduke
- Marvin
- Mary Worth
- Modesty Blaise
- Nancy (and THAT wasn’t the original name, Fritzi Ritz was the original name, also a character title.)
- Pogo
- Sally Forth (Howard)
- Sally Forth (Wood)
- Slylock Fox
- Winnie Winkle
- Zippy the Pinhead
Fairy Tales
Fan Works
- Sister Floriana.
- Children of Time. Plus episodes "Smith and Holmes", "Men of England", "Child of Time", "Watson and Sparrow", and "The Dying Detective".
- The Bug Princess
- Kara of Rokyn
- Kira Is Justice. Justice is the protagonist's real name and he is Kira.
- Mr and Mrs Gold, Mr and Mrs Gold, Season 2 and The Golds
- Njal Gets Burned
- Rick and Morty New Drama Adventures (Rick and Morty, Total Drama)
- Spidey vs. the Forces of Evil (Spider-Man, Star vs. the Forces of Evil)
- Total Drama: Cody's Redemption (Total Drama)
- Oh Rhonda! (Hey Arnold!)
- Danny Phantom: Lost Episodes Series (Danny Phantom)
- The Flash Sentry Chronicles (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)
- Infinity Train: Knight of the Orange Lily. This is the Red Baron of Gladion.
Films — Animation
Films — Live-Action
- Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
- Adam
- Æon Flux
- Alfie
- Ali
- Amelia
- Ana
- The Angel Levine
- Angie
- Annie Hall
- Antwone Fisher
- Arthur (1981)
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
- Barton Fink
- Batman (1989)
- Beethoven
- Beetlejuice (although the character's name is technically Betelgeuse)
- Belle
- Ben (1972)
- Big Jake
- Billy Madison
- Bobby
- Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
- A Boy Called Po
- Brannigan
- The Brittany Murphy Story
- Bronco Billy
- Bullitt
- Cactus Jack
- Caligula
- Captain Blood
- Carmen Y Lola
- Carol
- César
- Chanthaly
- Chaplin
- Charley Varrick
- Clara: The film is named for the deuteragonist.
- Cobra
- Coffy
- Conan the Barbarian (1982) (as well as the sequel and the reboot)
- Cool Hand Luke
- Countess Dracula
- Darkman
- Daredevil (2003)
- Dillinger (1973)
- Dirty Harry
- Django
- Django Unchained
- Donnie Brasco
- Donnie Darko
- Dracula: Prince of Darkness
- Drowning Mona
- Edward Scissorhands
- Ed Wood
- Elizabeth
- Erin Brokovich
- Fanny (Several movies based on the 1932 play below.)
- Finch
- Fixing Pete
- Fletch
- Forrest Gump
- Foxy Brown
- Frank
- Gabriel
- Galaxina
- Gandhi
- Gerry
- Gigi
- A Gnome Named Gnorm
- Good Will Hunting
- The Great Waldo Pepper
- Hancock
- Happy Gilmore
- Harper
- Harry Brown
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- Heathers
- Hud
- Hudson Hawk
- Ink
- The Innocent (1994)
- Izo
- Jack & Diane
- Jackie Brown
- Jakob the Liar
- James Bond:
- Jenifer
- Jeremiah Johnson
- Jerry Maguire
- Jimmie (2008)
- Kalashnikov: Russian title, namesake and creator of the infamous AK-47 assault rifle.
- King Arthur
- Lad A Dog
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
- Larry Crowne
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Lincoln
- Little Nicky
- Locke: Toward the end of the film, the title character states that he's cleansed the family name, Locke, by making a difficult but principled decision that his own father failed to make.
- Logan
- Lolita
- Lorenzo's Oil
- Lucas
- MacGruber
- Mad Max
- Malcolm
- Malcolm X
- A Man Called Nereus
- Mandy (1952)
- Man in the Wilderness
- Margarita
- Marius
- Marnie
- Martha Marcy May Marlene (All four are different names used during the film by the protagonist.)
- Marty
- Mary Reilly
- Maze
- Mikey
- Miss Meadows
- Molly (1983)
- Molly (1999)
- Monsieur Verdoux
- Mr. Majestyk
- Music (2021)
- Nadine
- The Neanderthal Man
- Nell
- Norma Rae
- The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Patch Adams
- Papillion
- Peter Pan (1924)
- Poor Pretty Eddie
- Pootie Tang
- Rasputin the Mad Monk
- Ray
- Red Dog
- Regarding Henry
- Richard Jewell
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- Rocky
- Rosita
- Sam
- Sanjuro
- Sapphire
- Sappho
- Seabiscuit
- Shane
- Sherlock, Jr.
- Solo
- Spartacus
- Steamboat Bill, Jr.
- The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Ted
- Thelma
- Trumbo
- Wanda Nevada
- White Dog
- Wild Thing
- Willard
- Willow
- Wyatt Earp
- Young Frankenstein
- Young Mr. Lincoln
Literature
- Agnes Grey
- Aimee: A Secondary Character Title, the main character isn't named until the last chapter.
- Allan Quatermain
- Alyzon Whitestarr
- Several V. C. Andrews titles, including Heaven and Ruby.
- Anna Karenina
- Artemis Fowl
- Arthur
- Babar
- Barnaby Rudge
- Baudolino
- Bazil Broketail
- Billy Bathgate
- Boris Godunov
- A Boy Made of Blocks
- The Boy Who Drew Monsters
- Bruce by Albert Payson Terhune.
- Carrie
- Cerberon
- A Certain Magical Index: Also a Secondary Character Title because she was Demoted to Extra.
- The Chronicles of Prydain includes the novels Taran Wanderer and The High King.
- Clarissa
- Colas Breugnon
- Coraline
- The Crocodile God: Haik is the titular god of the ancient Tagalog tribe in the Philippines. While he has a string of other epithets, "the crocodile-god" is his main title.
- The Custard Protocol's first book is Prudence, after the main character.
- Daisy Miller
- David Copperfield
- From The Demonata, we have Lord Loss and Bec. Demon Thief also counts.
- Deptford Mice: Thomas
- Doctor Rat by William Kotzwinkle.
- Doctor Zhivago
- Dolores Claiborne
- Domitor Leo, which is the main character's nickname and title. It's a light novel series.
- Don Quixote
- Dracula
- Dragaera: Taltos
- Earthsea:
- Emma
- The Empirium Trilogy: Each of the three main books share the nicknames of the main characters and one secondary character: Eliana the Furyborn Child, Rielle the Kingsbane, and Audric the Lightbringer.
- Erast Fandorin
- Ethan Frome
- Eugene Onegin
- "Ezekiel", the 2011 short story by Desmond Warzel.
- "Feminine Intuition": The 1970 German translation calls this "Jane 5", promoting the robot to titular importance.
- Firebird (Tyers)
- Frankenstein
- Franklin
- Gadsby
- Geronimo Stilton
- The Giver, although his real title is Receiver.
- Grandpa Gray
- Halvgudene: is a weird example as it's named after the main characters' race (demigods) rather than their name.
- The Hardy Boys
- Haruhi Suzumiya
- Heidi
- The Hereward Trilogy
- Honor Harrington
- I, Claudius (which has been much-parodied)
- Jade Green
- Jennifer Government
- King of the Water Roads - Though the character is never seen and the general populace usually only knows him by that name.
- Lad A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune.
- Little Critter
- Lolita
- Lucy Peale by Colby Rodowski.
- The Lunar Chronicles:
- Cinder
- Scarlet
- Cress
- Winter
- Madame Bovary
- Mary Poppins
- Maisy, also known more formally as Maisy Mouse.
- Meno and many others Plato's dialogues.
- The Monk
- Mort in the Discworld series.
- Nancy Drew
- Nicholas Nickleby
- Old Kingdom:
- Sabriel
- Lirael
- Clariel
- Goldenhand (an epithet bestowed upon the above-mentioned Lirael after she lost her hand in Abhorsen and got it replaced with a magical, golden prosthetic)
- Oliver Twist
- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Pippi Longstocking
- Poison
- Rebecca
- Remember Dippy
- Robin Hood
- RoTeO - the spinoff Crimson is the one which fits the trope. The former of the two is an amalgamation of letters from the main trio's names.
- Septimus Heap
- Seraphina
- Silas Marner
- "Sixth of the Dusk": In the protagonist's culture, it's traditional for children to be named by their birth order and the time of day they were born.
- Skulduggery Pleasant
- Stargirl
- Star Wars Expanded Universe (Arranged roughly in In-Universe chronological order.):
- Star Wars Legends (Arranged roughly in In-Universe chronological order.):
- Most of the Tales from Dimwood Forest books: Poppy, Poppy And Rye, Ragweed.
- "Talma Gordon" is titled after one of its central characters.
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
- From J. R. R. Tolkien, we have:
- Roverandom
- Farmer Giles of Ham
- Smith of Wootton Major
- Mr. Bliss
- Tom Jones
- Tortall Universe:
- Beka Cooper
- Tortall and Other Lands has short stories "Nawat", "Lost" and "Mimic", the last of which is not set in the Tortall Universe.
- Trixie Belden
- From the Vampire Chronicles, there's The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned.
- Violet Evergarden
- Warbreaker: While not immediately obvious, it turns out that the title refers to a Returned. When he first returned, Vasher was named by the priests as Warbreaker the Peaceful.
- Xandri Corelel
Live-Action TV
- ALF
- Alice
- Ally McBeal
- Andi Mack
- Angel
- Baneck
- Barney Miller
- BIA
- Becker
- Benson
- Blake's 7: This series actually fits into both this trope and Artifact Title, as the titular character (Blake) disappears at the end of the second season, is absent for the third, and only reappears in the very last episode of the fourth (and final) season — thus only appearing in just over half of the series.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Bull
- Cake
- This trope also applies to Clarissa Explains It All combined with Market-Based Title, as some countries air the show as just Clarissa.
- Columbo
- Conan
- Daredevil (2015)
- Decoy
- Delvecchio
- Doctor Who (debatably):
- "An Unearthly Child"
- "Marco Polo"
- "The Tie Meddler"
- "The Celestial Toymaker"
- "The Enemy of the World"
- "The Mind Robber"
- "The Time Monster"
- "The Time Warrior"
- "The Monster of Peladon"
- "Robot"
- "The Deadly Assassin"
- "The Invisible Enemy"
- "The Creature from the Pit"
- "Meglos"
- "The Keeper of Traken"
- "The Ultimate Foe"
- "Ghost Light"
- "Rose"
- "Dalek"
- "The Girl in the Fireplace"
- "The Doctor's Daughter"
- "The Girl Who Waited"
- "The Girl Who Died"
- "The Woman Who Lived"
- "The Pilot"
- "The Woman Who Fell to Earth"
- "Rosa" (not to be confused with the above-mentioned "Rose")
- Dona Barbara
- Dong Yi
- Ed
- Eli Stone
- Ezel
- Felicity
- Fish
- Flipper
- Frasier
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Future Cop
- The George Lopez Show
- The Good Place:
- Hancock (no, not that one - last TV season of Hancock's Half Hour)
- Hannah Montana
- Hazel
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
- House
- iCarly
- Inspector Morse
- Isis (at least at first)
- The Jerry Springer Show
- Jessica Jones (2015)
- Jessie
- Joey
- John Adams
- John Doe
- Kenan
- Kings
- Kojak
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker
- Kyle XY
- Lassie
- Lizzie McGuire
- Lou Grant
- Louie
- Lovejoy
- Luke Cage (2016)
- Luther
- MacGyver
- Malcolm in the Middle
- Martin
- Matlock
- Matt Houston
- Maverick
- Maude
- Maury
- Moesha
- Mr. Bean
- Mr. Belvedere
- Mr. Ed
- Mrs. Columbo
- Mulaney
- Murphy Brown
- My Name Is Earl
- Nash Bridges
- Some episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles are named after a character who gets A Day in the Limelight, in the format of "Last Name, First Initial". "Callen, G.", "Blye, K.", "Granger, O.", etc.
- Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
- The New Adventures of Robin Hood
- New Amsterdam (2008)
- Newhart
- Nikita
- NUMB3RS
- "Sniper Zero"
- "Charlie Don't Surf"
- Nurse Jackie
- The Osbournes
- Our Miss Brooks
- The Parkers
- Phyllis
- Poirot
- Profit
- Quark: Adam Quark is the captain of an intergalactic garbage scow.
- Quincy, M.E.
- Punky Brewster
- Reba
- Played with in Remington Steele. There is no character named Remington Steele, who is an in-universe fictional male boss of private detective Laura Holt. But since she can't prove that Pierce Brosnan's character isn't the real Remington Steele without giving away the charade, she's forced to work with him anyway.
- Rhoda
- Near-miss: Rising Damp was originally going to be called Rigsby.
- Robin Hood
- Roseanne
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch
- Sharpe
- Sherlock
- Sherlock Holmes
- Shoestring
- Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
- Sledge Hammer!
- Some episode titles in Smallville: "Ryan", "Lucy", "Cyborg", "Zod", "Bizarro", "Kara", "Lara", "Plastique", "Doomsday", "Metallo", "Supergirl", "Isis", "Luthor", "Kent", and "Booster".
- Sykes
- Spartacus: Blood and Sand
- Stargate SG-1, where SG-1 refers to the team that's composed of the main characters.
- Star Trek: Picard
- Numerous episodes in the Star Trek franchise, but the only one whose title consists solely of the name of a series regular is the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Dax."
- Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye
- Taggart was named after its original main character, Jim Taggart, who was killed off due to the death of Mark McManus, who portrayed him. Rather surprisingly, the show carried on longer without him than it did when he was alive.
- Tattingers
- The Television Ghost
- The Chica Show
- Trapper John, M.D.
- Ugly Betty
- Ultraman and all follow-up series.
- Valerie is a strange case, as the eponymous character died early in the show's run. It was later retitled to Valerie's Family and then The Hogan Family.
- Veronica Mars: Also prominently features the Mars family as opposed to putting the father in the background.
- Violetta
- Wayne
- Webster
- Wishbone
- Wizbit
- Xena: Warrior Princess
- Zoey 101
- Zorro
Music
Songs titled after the person they are about:
- "Alex Chilton" (The Replacements)
- "Andy Warhol" (David Bowie)
- "Angie" (The Rolling Stones)
- "Antichrist Superstar" (Marilyn Manson)
- "Aqualung" (Jethro Tull)
- "Arnold Layne" (Pink Floyd)
- "Bessie Smith" (The Band)
- "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)
- "Brian Wilson" (Barenaked Ladies)
- "Charlie Brown" (one by The Coasters, one by Coldplay; the former is unrelated, the latter doesn't mention him)
- "Coma Black" (Marilyn Manson)
- "Coma White" (Marilyn Manson)
- "Daniel" (Elton John)
- "David Watts" (The Kinks)
- "Delilah" (many people made songs with this title, among them Queen and Tom Jones)
- "Della Brown" (Queensrÿche)
- "Dinah" (Bing Crosby and others)
- "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)
- "The Fall of Adam" (Marilyn Manson)
- "George Jackson" (Bob Dylan)
- "Jack and Diane" (John Cougar Mellencamp)
- "James Dean" (Eagles)
- "Janie Jones" (The Clash)
- "Jean" (Oliver!)
- "Jeremy" (Pearl Jam)
- "Jesus of Suburbia" (Green Day)
- "Jezebel" (Frankie Laine and others)
- "Jimmy" (again, same title by different artists, for example tool - who renders the title in lowercase letters - and M.I.A.)
- "Joan Crawford" (Blue Öyster Cult)
- "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)
- "Laura" (Same title, different songs.)
- "Layla" (Derek and the Dominos)
- "Levon" (Elton John)
- "Linda" (Frank Sinatra and others)
- "Lizzie Borden" (The Chad Mitchell Trio)
- "Lola" (The Kinks)
- "Lump" (The Presidents of the United States of America)
- "Mr. Crowley" (Ozzy Osbourne)
- "Marie Provost" (Nick Lowe)
- "Mary Long" (a No Celebrities Were Harmed Deep Purple stab at Mary Whitehouse)
- "Ruby Tuesday" (The Rolling Stones)
- "Sheila" (Tommy Roe)
- "Tom Dooley" (The Kingston Trio)
- "Tom Sawyer" (Rush)
- "Ziggy Stardust" (David Bowie)
Pinball
Pro Wrestling
- Ring of Homicide in 2006.
Puppet Shows
Theatre
- Alcestis
- Auntie Mame
- Barnum
- Beckett
- César
- Coriolanus
- Cymbeline
- Deirdre of the Sorrows
- Elisabeth
- Fanny (A 1932 play as well as a 1954 musical based on it.)
- Fiorello!
- Galileo
- Hamilton
- Hamlet
- Henry V
- Henry VI parts 1, 2, and 3
- Iolanthe
- King Lear
- Kordian
- Macbeth
- Major Barbara
- Mame
- Marius
- Medea
- Oliver!
- Othello
- Pal Joey
- Patience
- PrincessIda
- Richard II
- Richard III
- Romeo and Juliet
- Titus Andronicus
- ZED
Radio
Video Games
- Alan Wake
- Amea
- Astal
- Beetlejuice (one on NES based on the film, one on Game Boy based on the cartoon)
- Born Under the Rain: The title is the meaning of the name of a character. That character is Masika, which is revealed in The Namesake fashion.
- Bug! (both the name of the character, and the film he stars in)
- Catherine
- The Cave (who happens to be a Genius Loci and the game's Lemony Narrator)
- Ceville
- Chuchel
- The ninth game in the Dark Tales series is Metzengerstein, which is the surname of one of the major characters.
- Dragon Age does this with two of the DLC expansions, one in each of the first two games in the series. Both expansions add an extra companion to the player character's party.
- In Dragon Age: Origins, the Stone Prisoner DLC introduces Shale, a stone golem from Orzammar, who has been frozen as an immobile statue for several years.
- In Dragon Age II, the DLC The Exiled Prince introduces Sebastian Vael, who is the exiled youngest son of the ruling family of Starkhaven.
- Dropsy
- Enemy 585 by Nitrome
- Fran Bow
- Gish
- Gitaroo Man
- Gore Screaming Show (Yes, that's the name of a major character in it.)
- Giana Sisters
- Gubble
- Hollow Knight, although it's both a Protagonist Title and an Antagonist Title.
- Ib
- Isaku
- Jack Keane
- Jack Orlando
- Kamui
- Kao the Kangaroo
- Tomb Raider featuring Lara Croft
- Leisure Suit Larry series
- Lucius
- Max Payne
- The Mega Man series, with a few exceptions:
- Mega Man Legends
- Mega Man Battle Network, although said series was named Rockman.EXE in Japan.
- Mega Man Star Force, though in Japanese the main character is occasionally referred to as "Shooting Star Rockman", a Gratuitous English translation of the original title Ryusei no Rockman.
- The only true aversion was Mega Man Zero which was about Zero, who had no relation to Mega Man and it wasn't his name at all.
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Ironically, the game which truly explored Solid Snake's character was Metal Gear Solid, which perhaps also counts.
- Mister Mosquito
- Mr. Driller
- Mr. Nutz
- Nidhogg, the dragon that eats you at the end.
- NieR, although you are prompted to rename the main character.
- Pajama Sam
- Panzer Dragoon has the fourth game, Panzer Dragoon Orta. Meanwhile, in Japan, the third game is known as AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG.
- Pickory
- Scaler
- Serious Sam
- Shiren the Wanderer: The one spinoff in this series that's an exception is The Swordswoman Asuka!, which is named after Asuka, a fellow Wanderer and Shiren's childhood friend who's also a swordswoman.
- Simon the Sorcerer
- Sly Cooper
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Tak and the Power of Juju
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
- Victor Vran
- Woah Dave!
- Yoshi / Mario & Yoshi (US and European names, respectively; averted with the Japanese version which was called Yoshi no Tamago).
Web Animation
- Homestar Runner
- The LeBrons
- Lobo (Webseries)
- Most Ratboy Genius sub-series (Ratboy's Kingdom, Ratboy Genius Dreams... Minecraft, Happyman on the Red Planet and George).
Webcomics
- NSFW webcomic Alphie.
- Axe Cop
- Blonde Sunrise refers to the lycan name of deuteragonist Daine Lunas.
- Bruno the Bandit
- Bug Martini
- Captain Ufo
- Cucumber Quest
- Checkerboard Nightmare
- City Face
- Digger
- Dominic Deegan
- The Fourth takes its title from Lord Tiberius Skarva IV.
- Gunnerkrigg Court:
- "Reynardine"
- "Jeanne"
- Jack, named after the Anthropomorphic representation of the Sin of Wrath.
- Keiki (Same name as the smart girl among the main characters, who herself is named after the Hawaiian word for "child". Thus, the title could refer to any of the Hawaiian children among the main characters, which is convenient since Keiki's prominence has decreased over the years.)
- Lightbringer
- Maliki
- Matchu
- NIMONA
- Oglaf (although Oglaf is a very minor character)
- Poharex
- Problem Sleuth
- Pupster
- Rain
- Ratfist
- Redd
- Rice Boy
- Schlock Mercenary
- Snow By Night
- Spinnerette
- Tripp
- Wigu (although the character's name is derived from the acronym of a former strip, When I Grow Up)
- Zap!
Web Original
- Gary: Landlord of the Flies centers on Gary, a particularly nasty and insane landlord.
Web Videos
Western Animation
- Alfred J. Kwak
- ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks
- The Alvin Show
- The Amazing World of Gumball
- American Dad! refers to Stan Smith, the father.
- Angry Birds Stella
- Archer
- As Told by Ginger
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- "Jet"
- Bagpuss
- Beetlejuice
- Ben 10
- Blaze and the Monster Machines
- Blue's Clues
- Bobby's World
- Bod
- Bojack Horseman
- BraveStarr
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
- Caillou
- Camp Lazlo
- Chirp
- Chowder
- Clarence
- A Cat in Paris
- Count Duckula
- Courage the Cowardly Dog
- Dan Vs.
- Danny Phantom
- Dennis the Menace
- Dexter's Laboratory
- Doc Mcstuffins
- Dora the Explorer
- Doug
- Duckman
- Elena of Avalor
- Fillmore!
- Garfield and Friends
- The Garfield Show
- Generator Rex
- Gofrette
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
- Handy Manny
- Heathcliff
- Hey Arnold!
- Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
- Hilda
- Inspector Gadget
- Invader Zim
- It's Pony
- Jake And The Neverland Pirates
- Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
- Jimmy Two-Shoes
- Johnny Bravo
- Johnny Test
- JOT
- Julius Jr.
- Kaeloo
- Little Bill
- Llama Llama (the Animated Adaptation only, while the books often follow Character Name and the Noun Phrase)
- Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil
- Madeline
- Martin Morning
- Martin Mystery
- Milo Murphy's Law
- My Gym Partner's a Monkey refers to Jake, the monkey.
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes
- Oswald
- Pepper Ann
- Peter Rabbit
- Phineas and Ferb
- Pibby (both the trailer and the In-Universe children's show)
- The Powerpuff Girls
- Rocko's Modern Life
- Rolie Polie Olie
- Samurai Jack
- Santiago of the Seas
- Scooby-Doo
- Shimmer and Shine
- Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century
- Sofia the First
- Special Agent Oso
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Squirrel Boy
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars:
- "Star Wars: The Clone Wars S1E8 "Bombad Jedi" Bombad Jedi]]"
- "The Gungan General"
- "Senate Spy"
- "The Deserter"
- "Duchess of Mandalore"
- "The Zillo Beast"
- "Assassin"
- "Monster"
- "The General"
- "A Friend in Need"
- "Fugitive"
- "An Old Friend"
- "The Lost One"
- Star Wars Rebels: "DUME"
- Star Wars Resistance:
- "The Recruit"
- "GL-N"
- "Bibo"
- Steven Universe:
- Steven Universe: Future: "Volleyball"
- Uncle Grandpa
- Vampirina
- Wander over Yonder
- Yakkity Yak
