Sudden Name Change: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

{{quote|''Bloopers love laughing at other Bloopers' bloopers. No one wants to end up on the Blooper reel.''|Description of the exact same enemy, ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''}}

It may be [[Inconsistent Dub|a translator's mistake]], a [[Manual Misprint|typo]], or the author [[Flip-Flop of God|might have had a better idea]], but sometimes, a specifically named character or concept introduced in a work of fiction can come to be called by a totally different name later on, often with no explanation at all, or even an implication that [[Retcon|their name had]] ''[[Retcon|always]]'' [[Retcon|been that]]. Needless to say, this tends to confuse the audience (sometimes making them think the two names refer to two different things), and authors should try to avoid it.

 

 

{{examples}}

** Done again when the translator changed, with the Mystic Realm/Makai World and Star/Stellar Memory.

* In the anime ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]'', the main character's last name was incorrectly pronounced "Tenjuu" in the first few episodes, and later corrected to "Tenjou."

 

 

 

== Film ==

 

 

** Elwe's example makes sense, because while he was left behind building a kindgdom in Doriath the Elvish language mutated. The Elves in Valinor preserved Quenya, but the new language used by Elwe's subjects was Sindarin, and Thingol is the Sindarin rendering of Singollo.

* In ''Dragonflight'', the first ''[[Dragonriders of Pern]]'' novel, the leader of the "old-timers" is T'ton, and Weyrwoman Kylora is Pridith's rider. In subsequent books, the names are T'ron, Kylara and Prideth.

* In ''[[Swallows and Amazons]]'', the little sister of the Walkers is known as "Vicky" the entire first book. The sequels promptly change her name to "Bridget". The explanation given in-story is that baby Bridget looked like "Queen Victoria in old age" and was jokingly nicknamed "Vicky", but the resemblance and the nickname ceased when she grew older. (In real life, author Arthur Ransome was basing several of the characters on real children, and Bridget was the name of their younger sister--when she got old enough to comment on the first book, she disliked the fact that her name had been changed, and Ransome fixed things up for her.)

* In the Project Gutenberg text of ''The Haunted Hotel'' by [[Wilkie Collins]], Lord Montbarry's eldest daughter's name changes from Lucy to Marian between chapters. The same slip is present in the French edition.

* [[The Greatest American Hero]]'s secret identity was initially "Ralph Hinkley," but then after a guy named Hinkley tried to shoot the president in real life, he was referred to as either "Ralph" or "Mr. H" and the nameplate on his office was shown as "Ralph Hanley."

* On ''[[Boy Meets World]]'', Topanga states that her mother's name is Chloe in season one but in a later season her mother's name is Rhiannon.

* Two female monsters from ''[[Sesame Street]]'' actually suffered from this. A female pink monster who was originally named Mooba was inexplicably renamed Google, and a female green monster who was originally named Google was inexplicably renamed Phoebe.

* Happened on ''[[CSI: NY]]'', one of the recurring detectives was Jessica Angell at one point and Jennifer Angell at another.

 

== Radio ==

 

 

 

== Video Games ==

** Princess Peach had been called Princess Toadstool in America, until ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', wherein she was given her original Japanese name. The name "Princess Toadstool" still pops up now and then, though, so people [[Fanon|tend to assume]] that Peach is her ''first'' name, Toadstool her surname.

** A Nintendo How-to-Draw book had [[Big Bad|Bowser]] referred as "Kerog."

*** Doubly weird is the popular [[Fan Wank|fan theory]] that because of one of his sons' names, Bowser's ''actual'' name must be {{spoiler|Morton Koopa, Sr.}} No wonder he goes by "Bowser".

** In addition to the Furion / Malfurion example, Owlbears are renamed Wildkin, while Ballistae, Catapults, Steam Tanks and Gyrocopters become Glaive Throwers, Demolishers, Siege Engines and Flying Machines respectively, with completely new models and attacks. Why exactly is never mentioned.

* In the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, the change from Aeris to Aerith. Although, in this case, there had always been an [[Inconsistent Dub|inconsistency]]; starting in ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'', they finally settled on the latter.

* Doctor Eggman, the [[Big Bad]] of the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series games is always referred as "Doctor Robotnik" in the US version of earlier games. However, later games changed this so he is now always referred as "Eggman." But then this was changed again so that Eggman's real name is actually indeed Robotnik, but everyone still calls him Eggman anyway.

* A character in ''[[Jak and Daxter The Precursor Legacy]]'' is [[No Name Given|referred to]] as Jak's uncle, but in all later released material is instead known as the explorer.

 

 

** Considering they are also referred to as Wind Buffalo by a Fire Nation tourist, that seems likely.

* ''[[The New Adventures of Superman]]''. In several early episodes (e.g. "The Deadly Dish") Lex Luthor's henchman was named Blinky. In the first Season 3 episode "Luthor's Lethal Laser" the henchman's name was changed to Kinky, with no explanation.

* Shockwave from ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' was actually given the name "Chugway" in the subtitles for the episode "Autoboot Camp."

* A minor villain from [[Cars|''Cars 2'']] whose first name appears to be Fred actually alternates between the surnames "Fisbowski" and "Pacer."

** Similarly, Sal Machiani (a yellow three-wheeled truck seen in Italy) is actually referred as "Ape" in one of the film's promotional posters.