Titles are hard.
Right, you have a good concept for a show with interesting characters, cool powers, and a deep twisty plot. The only problem is that you can't think what to call it.
A subtrope of both Character Title and Job Title, for more uniqueness than if it were just one or the other.
How this is actually written varies depending on the language of the media; for example, English-language series usually write this as "Bob the Manual Laborer" or "Bob: Manual Laborer", while Japanese series prefer something like "Manual Laborer Bob".
If a title appears to be using this trope but the title is not the name of a character (e.g. Doctor Who), see I Am Not Shazam.
Titles that have a particular format are also listed under Adjective Noun Fred.
Examples:
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Anime & Manga
- In a slight variation, a good number of Humongous Mecha series take their name from the main character's personal machine; this stretches all the way back from Mazinger Z up to recent hits like Gundam 00.
- Aura Battler Dunbine
- Combattler V
- Daimos
- Daitarn 3
- Gaiking
- Galactic Cyclone Braiger
- Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger
- Panzer World Galient
- Gigantor
- Great Mazinger
- Kotetsu Jeeg
- Mazinger Z
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Raideen
- Space Runaway Ideon
- UFO Robo Grendizer
- Voltes V
- Zambot 3
- Xabungle
- Arguably, Gundam sometimes doubles up on this, with titles like Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Fighter G Gundam
- Another method is to name the series after the Cool Ship, like Space Battleship Yamato. Martian Successor Nadesico may be a subversion in that the English title is deliberately nonsensical... at least until The Movie.
- All Purpose Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku.
- The French title of Astro Boy is Astro, le Petit Robot ('Astro the little robot').
- Baki the Grappler
- Banana no Nana
- Battle Angel Alita in the English translation only. The Japanese title is GUNNM.
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, officially translated as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.
- Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan
- Captain Harlock
- Captain Tsubasa, zigzagged to an extend, but the titular protagonist is usually The Captain no matter which team he's playing for.
- Chargeman Ken!
- Corrector Yui
- Cardcaptor Sakura
- Devil Hunter Yohko
- Earth Maiden Arjuna
- Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M
- Flint the Time Detective
- Fullmetal Alchemist is technically this, though to an outside observer it isn't apparent. "Fullmetal" is the protagonist's code name in the state alchemist program, and he is an alchemist.
- Great Teacher Onizuka
- Hayate the Combat Butler
- Hell Teacher Nube
- Irresponsible Captain Tylor
- Kaiji's full title is "Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji", or "Ultimate Survivor Kaiji".
- Kaitou Saint Tail
- Kamichama Karin
- Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
- Keroro Gunsou, meaning "Sergeant Keroro". The English title, Sgt. Frog, obscures this, as Keroro's name is kept and not changed to "Frog".
- Key the Metal Idol
- Le Chevalier d'Eon
- Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
- Magical Girl Pretty Sammy
- Magical Princess Minky Momo
- Mahoutsukai Sally: Sally the Witch
- Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
- Moriarty the Patriot: Although Moriarty is still a math professor in this adaptation, the series is about his patriotism.
- My-HiME — but not My-Otome or Mai-HiME Destiny, for that matter.
- Although the play-on-words gets pretty amusing here: Mai = Mai Tokiha, the main character of Mai-HiME (but not Mai-Otome or Destiny), but it also means "dance" (in Mai-Otome, the battles are "butou" which can mean "dance", but is written with the kanji for "dance" and "battle", also pronounced "butou"). Hime = Princess, which Mai kinda acts like at first, but it's also Hi ME (Highly advanced Materializing Equipment). Otome = Maiden, which all of the girls in Mai-Otome are (otherwise they lose their abilities), but it is also "Otome", which are their titles. So, in a way Mai-Otome can also fit this, as the main characters really are "dancing" (as in dance-battles) "Otome" (their title). Of course, "mai" sounds a lot like the English possessive "my" as well, only adding to the carnival.
- Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok/Detective Loki.
- Mahou Sensei Negima or "Magical Teacher Negi". Where the "ma" comes from, who knows? note Alternate title: Negima! Magister Negi Magi, which tells the audience what he wants to be, a master mage. Magister, in Latin, can also mean teacher.
- Neohuman Casshern
- Nurse Witch Komugi
- Ojamajo Doremi
- Phantom Thief Jeanne
- Every installment of Pretty Cure
- Ramen Fighter Miki. Muteki Kanban Musume ("The Unbeatable Poster Girl") wasn't descriptive enough, it seems.
- Reborn! (2004)
- Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Rune Soldier Louie
- Rurouni Kenshin.
- Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
- Tekkaman
- Space Knight Tekkaman Blade
- UFO Princess Valkyrie (and the anime, UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie)
- Vampire Hunter D
- Vampire Princess Miyu
- Witch Hunter Robin
- Rakugo Tennyo Oyui
- Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl
- Floral Magician Mary Bell
Comic Books
- Albedo: Erma Felna EDF
- Buckskin: America's Defender of Liberty
- Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham
- Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith
- Dr. Blink: Superhero Shrink
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1977)
- Johnny the Homicidal Maniac
- Jon Sable, Freelance (freelance being an archaic term for a mercenary)
- Judge Dredd
- Kismet: Man of Fate
- Luke Cage: Hero for Hire
- Mark Hazzard: Merc, one of the titles in The New Universe line of comics.
- Mort the Dead Teenager
- Nemesis the Warlock
- Pat Patriot: America's Joan of Arc
- Requiem Vampire Knight
- Rulah, Jungle Goddess
- Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier
- Superman: Man of Steel
- Usagi Yojimbo
- Y: The Last Man
- Most superhero comics are simply named after the main character or team. Captain Marvel used to be an aversion until Freddy Freedman, the former Captain Marvel, Jr. became his replacement under the name Shazam!.
Comic Strips
Fan Works
- Between the Lines (MrQuestionMark): The chapter, "Phantom Thief Railgun"
, since "Railgun" is a name, and Phantom Thief is an occupation. Also Adjective Noun Fred.
- Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo
- Dungeon Keeper Ami
- Jaune Arc, Lord of Hunger
- Mastermind: Strategist for Hire
- Oversaturated World: Crossworlds Guardian, Sailor Orbital!, where "Sailor Orbital" is a codename.
Films — Animated
Films — Live-Action
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
- Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
- Alita: Battle Angel.
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
- Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy
- The proposed title to the sequel to Batman Begins was Batman: The Dark Knight. In the end the studio dropped Batman from the title, although Brazil and other South American countries still used Batman in their titles.
- Bubba the Redneck Werewolf
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
- Cahill US Marshal
- Ciaran the Demon Hunter
- Clegg Private Eye
- Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Barbarian (2011)
- Cornman: American Vegetable Hero
- Deuce Bigalow Male Gigolo and its sequel Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
- Dick Tracy, Detective
- Dracula: Prince of Darkness
- Dragonetti The Ruthless Contract Killer
- Elfie Hopkins: Cannibal Hunter
- Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
- Flavia the Heretic
- Forklift Driver Klaus
- Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters!
- Hansel & Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
- Hawk the Slayer
- Howard the Duck
- Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
- Jack the Giant Slayer
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter
- John Doe: Vigilante
- Johnny Mysto: Boy Wizard
- Kraa! The Sea Monster
- Lady Ninja Kaede: Her name is Kaede, and she is a female ninja.
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
- Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, which would have been less confusing if the lead actor's stage name didn't already have a profession in it.
- The Professional is also known by its full name Leon: The Professional.
- In Germany, the horror film Link was called Link the Butler.
- Mary, Queen of Scots (1971)
- Nitti: The Enforcer
- Ogroff the Mad Mutilator
- The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop
- Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil's Son-In-Law
- Q: The Winged Serpent
- Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- Yor: The Hunter from the Future
- Zarkorr! The Invader
- Zoltan: The Hound of Dracula
Literature
Live-Action TV
- Big Breadwinner Hog
- Billy the Exterminator
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon officially translated here as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon to differentiate it from the anime version.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- DCI Banks: DCI stands for Detective Chief Inspector.
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
- Dog the Bounty Hunter
- Doogie Howser, M.D.
- Magnum, P.I.
- Nick Freno Licensed Teacher
- The Outlaw Michael Howe
- Quincy, M.E.
- Red: Werewolf Hunter
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch
- Sexy Voice And Robo are nicknames, technically, but it still fits.
- Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
- Any and all Super Sentai series.
- Val Falvey TD.
- Walker, Texas Ranger
- Xena: Warrior Princess
Pinballs
Tabletop Games
- "Pithy fire-related quotation": Jaya Ballard, Task Mage.
Radio
- Richard Diamond Private Detective (later also a TV series)
Theater
- Dido, Queen of Carthage
- Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- King John
- King Lear
- Oedipus the King
- The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre
Video Games
- Blinx: The Time Sweeper
- Doshin the Giant
- Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist
- Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter
- Okiku, Star Apprentice
- Shiren the Wanderer
- Solatorobo: Red the Hunter is the American and European name of Solatorobo: Sore kara CODA e ("And Then to CODA").
- Strange Investigations is a mix of this and Title Drop. The series protagonist is Dana Strange, and she's a private investigator; by the end of the first game, her agency is named Strange Investigations.
- Wario: Master of Disguise, although in-game he's more of a "master of superpowered costumes" than a Master of Disguise.
Visual Novels
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, but only in English. The Japanese name for the series is Gyakuten Saiban, or "Turnabout Trials". This applies to the other main playable characters such as Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney and Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth.
- Tsukihime is named after Arcueid Brunestud, whose personal title among vampires is Tsukihime, the Princess of the Moon.
Webcomics
- Ark The Improbable
- Arthur, King of Time and Space
- Bob the Angry Flower
- Bruno the Bandit
- Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire
- The Adventures of Dr. McNinja
- Inappropriate Irving
- Maxwell The Demon
- Mechagical Girl Lisa ANT
- Pastel Defender Heliotrope
- Peb Casey, Private Eye Butterfly
- Schlock Mercenary
- Soul Chaser Betty
- Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki
- Sticky teh Stick Man!
- Tin The Incompetent Ninja
- Yuusha Hime Kalibourne
- Zeera The Space Pirate
Web Videos
Western Animation
- American Dragon: Jake Long. Originally called just American Dragon, Disney made the producers put Jake's name in the title, presumably to avoid being sued by professional wrestler Bryan "American Dragon" Danielson.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Black Zero: Mercenary Ant
- Bob the Builder
- Captain N: The Game Master
- Courage the Cowardly Dog
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
- Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future
- Dave the Barbarian
- Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist (Dex is an entomologist who studies aliens, not an alien who is an entomologist)
- Fireman Sam
- The Japanese localization of The Flintstones was titled Primitive Family Flintstone.
- Generator Rex
- Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.
- Invader Zim
- Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
- P.C. Pinkerton (P.C. stands for 'police constable')
- Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
- Popeye The Sailor
- Postman Pat
- Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
- Randy Cunningham: Ninth Grade Ninja
- She-Ra: Princess of Power
- Samurai Jack
- Shaun the Sheep
- Thomas & Friends
- Xavier: Renegade Angel
