Only Known by Initials: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:hobbit-cover_2_712.jpg|link=J. R. R. Tolkien|right]]
[[File:hobbit-cover 2 712.jpg|link=J. R. R. Tolkien|right]]


Some people are [[Only Known by Their Nickname]], others are on [[Last-Name Basis]], while some people are primarly known to the public by their initials or their initials plus their last name. The reasons may vary. Perhaps they have an [[Embarrassing First Name]] they'd rather not use, and maybe they have an [[Overly Long Name]] that needs to be abbreviated. Others may think it sounds classier, and some may prefer the fact that it is more gender neutral.
Some people are [[Only Known by Their Nickname]], others are on [[Last-Name Basis]], while some people are primarly known to the public by their initials or their initials plus their last name. The reasons may vary. Perhaps they have an [[Embarrassing First Name]] they'd rather not use, and maybe they have an [[Overly Long Name]] that needs to be abbreviated. Others may think it sounds classier, and some may prefer the fact that it is more gender neutral.
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* [[Robert Heinlein]]'s ''The Number of the Beast''. One of the characters is named D.T. ("Deety") Burroughs. She goes by her initials because she's embarrassed by her real first and middle names: Dejah Thoris (her father Jacob was a fan of the [[John Carter of Mars]] books).
* [[Robert Heinlein]]'s ''The Number of the Beast''. One of the characters is named D.T. ("Deety") Burroughs. She goes by her initials because she's embarrassed by her real first and middle names: Dejah Thoris (her father Jacob was a fan of the [[John Carter of Mars]] books).
* Y.T. in ''[[Snow Crash]]'', though she does explain what it stands for once, to an incidental character who heard it as "Whitey" and is considering taking offense.
* Y.T. in ''[[Snow Crash]]'', though she does explain what it stands for once, to an incidental character who heard it as "Whitey" and is considering taking offense.
* TS Garp in ''The World According to Garp.'' He's officially [[Dead Guy, Junior|named for his father]]--except his mother [[We Hardly Knew Ye|never knew his father's first name]], only his army rank. "TS" stands for "Technical Sergeant." Everyone just calls him Garp.
* TS Garp in ''The World According to Garp.'' He's officially [[Dead Guy, Junior|named for his father]]—except his mother [[We Hardly Knew Ye|never knew his father's first name]], only his army rank. "TS" stands for "Technical Sergeant." Everyone just calls him Garp.
** In [[The Film of the Book]], teen Garp tries to convince his girlfriend that it stands for "Terribly Sexy."
** In [[The Film of the Book]], teen Garp tries to convince his girlfriend that it stands for "Terribly Sexy."
* Members of the V.F.D. in ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' are referred to only by their initials to preserve anonymity. This results in complications, as ''[[Lemony Snicket the Unauthorized Autobiography|The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'' demonstrates during a transcript of a meeting, and in ''The Penultimate Peril'' when a total of three characters have the legitimate and undisguised initials {{spoiler|J.S.}}.
* Members of the V.F.D. in ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' are referred to only by their initials to preserve anonymity. This results in complications, as ''[[Lemony Snicket the Unauthorized Autobiography|The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'' demonstrates during a transcript of a meeting, and in ''The Penultimate Peril'' when a total of three characters have the legitimate and undisguised initials {{spoiler|J.S.}}.
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== [[Music]] ==
== [[Music]] ==
* ZP Theart, former lead singer of [[Dragon Force (video game)]]. Rumour has it that "ZP" is legally his first name, though.
* ZP Theart, former lead singer of [[Dragon Force (video game)]]. Rumour has it that "ZP" is legally his first name, though.
* [[Starflyer 59]]. On ''The Fashion Focus'', ''Leave Here a Stranger''<ref>''Everybody Makes Mistakes'' was released between these two albums, and it didn't follow this pattern</ref>, and every album since then, the various band members have just been credited by their first initial and last name.
* [[Starflyer 59]]. On ''The Fashion Focus'', ''Leave Here a Stranger'',<ref>''Everybody Makes Mistakes'' was released between these two albums, and it didn't follow this pattern</ref> and every album since then, the various band members have just been credited by their first initial and last name.
* KD Lang. Although in some lyrics to her songs she refers to her actual first name (ex. "The Mind of Love": ''"Where is your head, Kathryn?"'')
* KD Lang. Although in some lyrics to her songs she refers to her actual first name (ex. "The Mind of Love": ''"Where is your head, Kathryn?"'')
* Soul Coughing's M. Doughty, although once the band broke up, he started releasing solo albums as Mike Doughty.
* Soul Coughing's M. Doughty, although once the band broke up, he started releasing solo albums as Mike Doughty.