During his travels in time and space, the Doctor has employed many different aliases; sometimes only briefly and sometimes on an ongoing basis. Due to his refusal to tell all but a few people his real name, he has often had aliases assigned to him by others.
The Doctor's true name
The Doctor has only ever used aliases publicly — his given name has never been revealed, and as such the very name "The Doctor" is an alias. It was implied that his given name was ceremoniously withdrawn and stricken by his cousins, as punishment for a disgrace he visited upon his House. (NA: Lungbarrow) When asked about the Doctor's name, companion Perpugilliam Brown once said she'd been told she couldn't pronounce it (BBCR: Slipback). Even when he was twice put on trial by his own people, the Time Lords, he was only ever referred to during these events as the Doctor, although The Valeyard acknowledged that it was an alias. (DW: The War Games, Trial of a Time Lord)
River Song revealed to the Doctor that she knows his real name by whispering it into his ear. He seemed particularly shocked at this, later saying to her "there is only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name, only one time I could." It can be seen that River Song whispers the Doctor's name for a duration of roughly two seconds. One could interpret this to mean that the Doctor has a short name, consisting of only several syllables (DW:Forest of the Dead). At least one other individual, Samantha Jones, was also told his real name (EDA: Unnatural History, EDA: Vanderdeken's Children).
The Doctor was not his real name, as, for example, Carrionite "witchcraft", using true names, did not work on him. (DW: The Shakespeare Code) Other confirmation comes from Madame de Pompadour, who recognized it as an alias when she was briefly connected to the Doctor's mind (DW: The Girl in the Fireplace); by Evelina as she attempted to foretell the Doctor's future (DW: The Fires of Pompeii), and by River Song when she revealed to the Doctor that she knew his real name (DW: Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead). The Master has apparently known the Doctor since his Academy days (DW: Terror of the Autons, The Five Doctors) but there is no indication he knows the Doctor's true name, either, although he's well aware that it's false (DW: The Sound of Drums).
He has, however, implied that he does actually have a doctorate (DW: The Mysterious Planet) On other occasions he has described himself as a "Doctor of many things".
List of aliases
Major names and aliases
Theta Sigma
Theta Sigma (informally or "Thete") was a nickname used by the Doctor during his years at the Time Lord Academy on the planet Gallifrey. (DW: The Armageddon Factor, The Happiness Patrol, DWM: Flashback) The name might also have been a codename used by some aspects of Time Lord government to refer to the Doctor. (The Adventures of K-9 series) Note - the Greek letter Sigma slightly resembles the letter W turned on its side, and the Greek letter Theta slightly resembles the letter H inside the letter O. This might imply that his name really is WHO.
The Doctor
The Doctor chose his name himself, one also used by other Time Lords. (DW:The Sound of Drums) On at least one occasion, a Human knew this name without the Doctor even saying it out loud. (NA: Cat's Cradle: Warhead) His other aliases have usually had the alias "Doctor". He implied to Peri that his given name also began with such a title (DW: The Trial of a Time Lord: The Mysterious Planet). During his first incarnation, he adopted this incarnation for the benefit of Human colonists on the planet Iwa at the same that his grand-daughter Susan adopted the name "Susan". (TN: Frayed)
John Smith
John Smith was the alias the Doctor generally uses on Earth, when a name is often required. It is usually preceded by the title "Doctor", but not always - for example, when working undercover as a teacher at a school and as a patient in a hospital. (DW: School Reunion, Smith and Jones) It was originally given to him by Jamie during his second incarnation. (DW: The Wheel in Space) He adopted it on a semi-regular basis during his third incarnation while exiled on Earth when he served as scientific advisor to UNIT. (DW: Spearhead from Space) As "John Smith" is considered a very generic name in some Earth cultures, the Doctor's use of the alias is occasionally treated with skepticism by others (DW: Midnight).
Uses of this alias
- During his exile on Earth with UNIT. (DW: Spearhead from Space, The Time Warrior)
- A modification of this name, Johann Schmidt, was used by the Doctor while impersonating a Nazi Reichsinspektor. (NA: Timewyrm: Exodus)
- Given to him serendipitously by Chang Lee on his hospital admittance forms. (DW: Doctor Who: The TV Movie)
- Undercover as a science teacher at Deffry Vale High School. (DW: School Reunion)
- Undercover as a patient at Royal Hope Hospital. (DW: Smith and Jones)
- When the Doctor uses the Chameleon Arch to change into a human, he uses this name for his new personality (DW: Human Nature and The Family of Blood)
- Impersonating a health and safety officer while investigating Adipose Industries (DW:Partners in Crime)
- Aboard the Crusader 50 bus on the planet Midnight, the Doctor eventually offers this as his name when the humans trapped aboard the bus with him demand he give it. Unlike other occurances where the name was accepted, this time the humans recognized it as false and rejected it. (DW:Midnight)
- When "reintroducing" himself to Donna Noble. (DW: Journey's End)
- Encountering Jackson Lake, a mentally unwell man believing himself to be the Doctor. Once Lake's true identity had been established, the Doctor dropped the alias. (DW: The Next Doctor)
The Supremo
For a year, the Doctor used this alias as leader of the Alliance against the army of the evil renegade Time Lord Morbius. (PDA: Warmonger)
- For an unrelated use of the term, see the Supremo.
Merlin
Mystery surrounds this incarnation of the Doctor. The Doctor's seventh incarnation did not encounter him, but only people, such as Ancelyn, who knew this version of him. He speculated that they had met a future or alternative regeneration of him, or both. Merlin lived in the universe of the sorceress Morgaine. (DW: Battlefield)
Muldwych
A name adopted by a future incarnation of the Doctor. (NA: Birthright, Happy Endings) The latter makes it clear that the Muldwych incarnation is also the Merlin one.
Minor aliases
First Doctor
Doctor Caligari
Name used by the Doctor when he arrived in Tombstone, impersonating a magician. (DW: The Gunfighters)
Second Doctor
Doctor von Wer
Doctor von Wer was an alias briefly adopted by the Doctor during his visit to Scotland in 1745. It is simply Doctor Who translated into German. He also signed a note Doctor W around this time. (DW: The Highlanders)
Third Doctor
Quiquaequod
Miss Hawthorne referred to the Doctor as "the great wizard Quiquaequod" while attempting to bluff the villagers of Devil's End into releasing him. (DW: The Daemons)
:"Qui", "quae" and "quod" are the masculine, feminine and neuter forms of "who" in Latin.
Sixth Doctor
Doktor of Tardis
Pseudonym used by the Doctor to move discreetly around an alternate version of the city of Rome. (MA: State of Change)
Seventh Doctor
?
When the Doctor is asked to sign a document in during a visit to London in 1963, he does so by signing a question mark. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks) The Doctor also appears to sign a document in a similar fashion prior to the Sontaran invasion of Gallifrey. (DW: The Invasion of Time)
Tenth Doctor
Doctor James McCrimmon
The Doctor took the name James McCrimmon while visiting Scotland in 1879; this was the name of one of his old companions. (DW: Tooth and Claw)
Doctor Vile
The Doctor briefly masqueraded as the space pirate Doctor Vile in order to stop a war. (DW: The Infinite Quest)
Doctor McCoy
After a discussion with Donna Noble, in which she compared the sonic screwdriver with Star Trek's tricorder, the Doctor adopted the alias Dr. McCoy when dealing with a group of soldiers. (Donna called herself Captain Kirk.) The ruse fell apart when Donna was unable to maintain the pretence of being a captain. (TDA: Pest Control)
Names given to the Doctor by others
Major
The Evil One
The Sevateem tribe referred to the Doctor as The Evil One, due to the fact that the supercomputer they worshipped had a split personality, one of which being based on the Doctor (DW: The Face of Evil)
The Ka Faraq Gatri
The Daleks referred to the Doctor as the Ka Faraq Gatri, which may mean Bringer of Darkness and/or Destroyer of Worlds. By implication, the name Destroyer of Worlds refers to the Doctor's destruction of the Dalek home planet Skaro in his seventh incarnation, an act for which he would consequently feel some remorse. (DW:Remembrance of the Daleks, NA: Timewyrm: Revelation) However, as early as his second incarnation, the Doctor knew that the Daleks had given him this name, and the Daleks used it prior to the destruction of Skaro. (DWM: Bringer of Darkness, DWN: Remembrance of the Daleks (novelisation)). The name was again used by Davros upon his near destruction. (DW: Journey's End)
Time's Champion
Time's Champion was a title given to the Doctor to symbolise his service to Time during his seventh incarnation.
The Oncoming Storm
The Daleks also referred to the Doctor as the Oncoming Storm in the myths of their homeworld, as noted by his ninth incarnation, indicating that the Daleks feared him. (DW: The Parting of the Ways) This was also the name given to him by the Draconians, who were generally his allies, to indicate the traumatic events which so often accompanied his arrival. (NA: Love and War)
Rides In Night
The Doctor was known to the Pawnee Nation by the name Rides In Night. He was also known as The Brother to Coyote. (TDA: Peacemaker)
Minor
Doctor Who
The name "Doctor Who" has been applied to the Doctor, intentionally or unintentionally, on many occasions. The computer WOTAN referred to the Doctor as Doctor Who, for reasons which have never been explained. (DW: The War Machines) Clive Finch also used this name when referring to the Doctor on his website Who is Doctor Who? (DW: Rose).) K-9 was heard on occasion making playful remarks related to the Who name (K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend, SJA: Invasion of the Bane). It is unclear whether the Doctor himself ever actually used the name, although his third incarnation drove an automobile with the licence number "WHO 1" (DW: Doctor Who and the Silurians, et al) and not long before his regeneration was seen driving a futuristic vehicle that possibly apocryphal sources suggest may have been called the Whomobile (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs).
Doctor Galloway
Edward Waterfield made up this name for the Doctor when arranging to meet him (DW: The Evil of the Daleks).
Doctor Bowman
Dr. Grace Holloway invents this name for the Eighth Doctor whilst introducing him to others. (DW:Doctor Who: The TV Movie)
Sir Doctor of Tardis
Title bestowed upon the Doctor by Queen Victoria just before she banishes him. (DW: Tooth and Claw)
Joking aliases and nicknames
Snail or Wormhole
Given to him by his cousins of the House of Lungbarrow, because, unlike Loomed Gallifreyans, he had a bellybutton. (NA: Lungbarrow)
Professor
Ace often called the Doctor Professor. She continued to use the term, even after he'd asked her not to do it any more . (DW: Dragonfire)
Mr. Spock
Rose Tyler, annoyed with the Doctor not telling her his name, proceeds to introduce him to Captain Jack as Mr. Spock, after the character from Star Trek. Jack proceeds to address the Doctor as Mr. Spock until he is corrected. (DW: The Empty Child)
Spartacus
During a visit to Pompeii, the Doctor used this name, saying "I am... Spartacus." Donna followed him up by saying, in a parody to the 1960 film, "And so am I." (DW: The Fires of Pompeii)
Boss
Affectionate nickname given to him by Mickey Smith (DW: Journey's End).
Doc
The Doctor tended to bristle when his companions or others referred to him by this nickname. (DW: The Time Meddler, et al)