Aliases of the Doctor

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File:Drcallingcard.jpg
The Seventh Doctor's calling card. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks)

Throughout his travels in time and space, the Doctor employed many different aliases, titles and epiphets. Some of these were fleeting. Others, for example John Smith, were used by almost all of his incarnations. The Doctor told few individuals his real name, causing others to give him names such as The Doctor.

The Doctor's real name

Ubiquity of the title

"The Doctor" was not a name, but was, in fact, a title. His true name was not generally known, and as such the very title "the Doctor" was an alias. It has been implied his given name was ceremoniously withdrawn and stricken by his Cousins, as punishment for a disgrace he visited upon his House. (NA: Lungbarrow)

The Doctor's real name has been implied to be difficult to pronounce, for humans at least. He once told an interrogator (when being asked his name): "you wouldn't be able to pronounce the first syllable of it." (PDA: Salvation)

Even when he was twice put on trial by his own people, the Time Lords, he was only referred to as "the Doctor" (DW: The War Games), even although The Valeyard, who prosecuted the second trial (and who, himself, was a future manifestation of the Doctor) acknowledged that it was an alias. (DW: Trial of a Time Lord) However, as the Doctor chose that "name" as part of Gallifreyan custom (DW: The Sound of Drums), its use in an official capacity is not unexpected. The Doctor was able to keep his true name hidden despite numerous "mind-probe" attempts, both voluntary (DW: The Girl in the Fireplace) and involuntary. (DW: The Shakespeare Code)

Individuals with knowledge of his name

The Master knew the Doctor since their Prydon Academy days, and by one account even earlier (BFA: Master), but it is not known for certain whether he ever knew the Doctor's true name, although he was well aware that "the Doctor" was an alias. (DW: The Sound of Drums)

Madame de Pompadour recognized it as an alias when she was briefly connected to the Doctor's mind, saying "Doctor...Doctor who? It's more than just a secret, isn't it?". (DW: The Girl in the Fireplace)

Whether or not Madame de Pompadour actually learned his name this way remains undisclosed. She was able to see into his mind and into his past, although it was established that if mind-reading was done in this way, memories could be closed off at will. That said, the Doctor was not aware that she was reading his mind at the time.

River Song, who when the Tenth Doctor first encountered her, claimed to have known him at some point in his future, is one of the few individuals confirmed to know his true name. In order to win the Doctor's trust, and prove her "credentials", she was seen to whisper the name into his ear. The Doctor 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." (DW: Forest of the Dead)

She whispered the Doctor's name for a duration of roughly two seconds, suggesting the name may only be a few syllables long (assuming she uttered a complete name). Steven Moffat made a point of mentioning that he always felt the Doctor's name was never revealed only because it must have been some "terrible secret".

When asked about the Sixth Doctor's name, his companion Peri Brown once said that she had been told it, but she couldn't pronounce it. (BBCR: Slipback)

At least one other person, the Eighth Doctor's companion Samantha Jones, was also told his real name. She found it quite alien and virtually unpronounceable. (EDA: Unnatural History, Vanderdeken's Children)

When the Doctor spoke his real name aloud in the novel Vanderdeken's Children it was not written in the prose, but represented by "—" instead.

Near the end of his tenth incarnation, members of an unidentified pan-dimensional race came to know the Doctor's real name. At this point he was of the opinion there was no one left in the universe who knew it. (BBCR: The Last Voyage)

True name

The Carrionite Lilith, unable to discover the Tenth Doctor's true name even with the "witchcraft" used by her kind, remarked, "There is no name. Why would a man hide his title in such despair?" (DW: The Shakespeare Code) The psychically-gifted Evelina, who attempted to foretell the Doctor's future, remarked that his "true name" was in fact "hidden". (DW: The Fires of Pompeii)

Significance

It was revealed by River Song that the Doctor was the first to have this title, which later the rest of the universe adopted, mostly to mean 'healer' or 'wise man'. In some parts of the universe (eg. the Gamma Forest), people gave it the meaning of mighty warrior. (DW: A Good Man Goes to War)

Though far from being a random chosen title, or one intended to inflate his credentials, the Doctor did, indeed, possess at least one doctorate. (DW: The Moonbase, The Armageddon Factor, The Mysterious Planet) On other occasions he described himself as a "Doctor of many things" (DW: Four to Doomsday), or, indeed, "everything". (DW: Utopia) Exactly what his doctorate(s) were for remain a mystery, but on several occasions the Doctor stated he was not a medical doctor, though that didn't stop his second, third, tenth and eleventh incarnations from sporting a stethoscope on occasion. However the Doctor noted that he had studied medicine in the 19th century. (DW: The Moonbase)

List of aliases

During his life, numerous names, titles and epiphets were either used by, or bestowed upon the Time Lord most widely known as the Doctor.

Common aliases

The Doctor

As noted above, The Doctor itself was an alias, despite it being the name by which the Time Lord was most widely known. It has been claimed that, as per Gallifreyan custom, he chose this alias himself (DW: The Sound of Drums), though it may have just been a misunderstanding caused by an earlier alias. (see Names given by others.) 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 often included the title "Doctor". He implied to Peri that his given name also began with such a title. (DW: The Mysterious Planet) Drax, a fellow Time Lord, indicated that the Doctor did indeed possess a doctorate (although in what is not indicated). (DW: The Armageddon Factor) According to one account, during his first incarnation, the Doctor adopted this name for the benefit of Human colonists on the planet Iwa at the same time that his grand-daughter adopted the name "Susan". (TN: Frayed)

During his eleventh incarnation, the Doctor claimed that he didn't actually know why he and other people called him 'The Doctor'. (DW: The Lodger) This may have been in an attempt to prevent Craig from asking why they call him the Doctor. This would have been hard to explain to him.

John Smith

John Smith was the alias the Doctor often used on Earth and around Humans when a "standard" name was often required or demanded. It was usually preceded by the title "Doctor", though not always - for example, when he worked undercover as a teacher at a school and as a patient in a hospital. (DW: School Reunion, Smith and Jones) The earliest known use of the name occurred during his first incarnation, when he used a library card with the name Dr. J. Smith while still living at 76 Totter's Lane (DW: The Vampires of Venice), as well as for identification when renting the junkyard (ST: The Rag and Bone Man's Story) In his second incarnation, the name was independently used by his companion Jamie McCrimmon (who would not have known of the Doctor's earlier use of the name). (DW: The Wheel in Space) Later, he adopted it on a semi-regular basis during his third incarnation while exiled on Earth when he served as unpaid scientific advisor to UNIT. (DW: Spearhead from Space, et al)

As "John Smith" is considered a very generic name in some Earth cultures, the Doctor's use of the alias was occasionally treated with skepticism by others. (DW: Midnight)

The Doctor has twice temporarily changed himself into a human who used the name John Smith. This occurred in his seventh incarnation (NA: Human Nature) and in his tenth (DW: Human Nature/The Family of Blood).

Known uses of John Smith
File:DocLibraryID.png
The Doctor's library card, issued to "Dr. J. Smith." (DW: The Vampires of Venice)

Theta Sigma

Theta Sigma (ΘΣ), informally 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 K9 series)

River Song used the written form "ΘΣ" on a message to the eleventh Doctor on Planet One, though the Doctor specifically called these and other apparently Greek numbers on the cliff face "co-ordinates". (DW: The Pandorica Opens)

"ΘΣ" was also a commonly-used abbreviation for "God" in Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. The capital letters Theta and Sigma together resemble the word "ΟΣ", (who), and some scribal variations in New Testament texts will have "ΟΣ" in a few passages while others have "ΘΣ" in the same passages.[1]

Minor aliases

A list of aliases the Doctor has given himself throughout his travels.

First Doctor

Second Doctor

Third Doctor

to be added

Fourth Doctor

Fifth Doctor

  • The Supremo: For a year, the Doctor used the alias of "the Supremo" as leader of the alliance against the army of the renegade Time Lord, Morbius. Originally, his title was that of "Supreme Controller", but the Ogrons, which he chose as his personal praetorian guard, were unable to correctly pronounce it as such and shortened it to the simpler "Supremo". (PDA: Warmonger)

Sixth Doctor

  • Doktor of TARDIS: Pseudonym used by the Sixth Doctor to move discreetly around an alternate version of the city of Rome. (MA: State of Change)
  • Lord President of Gallifery: Used when attempting to stop his second trial by the Time Lords. However, as his previous incarnation fled Gallifrey after being appointed, he was thrown out of office and replaced. (DW: The Mysterious Planet)
  • The Sandman: (BFA: The Sandman)

Seventh Doctor

Eighth Doctor

Ninth Doctor

  • The Oncoming Storm: A title the Doctor says that the "legends of Skaro" calls him whilst taunting the Daleks. (DW: The Parting of the Ways)
  • The Last of the Time Lords: Now the last survivor of his race, the Doctor adopted this title for himself because of the guilt he felt for surviving.
  • Mister Spock: Used by Rose as an alias to introduce the Doctor to Captain Jack Harkness (DW: The Empty Child)

Tenth Doctor

  • Doctor James McCrimmon: The Tenth Doctor briefly took the name Dr. James McCrimmon while visiting Scotland in 1879; this was the name of one of his old companions. Later, however, he dropped the alias and was knighted by Queen Victoria as "Sir Doctor of TARDIS". (DW: Tooth and Claw)
  • Sir Doctor of TARDIS: Aside from being knighted under this name, the Doctor also attempted to use the title when he encountered William Shakespeare, via the psychic paper, but Shakespeare's mind could not be swayed by the paper.(DW: The Shakespeare Code)
  • Doctor Vile: The Doctor briefly masqueraded as the space pirate Doctor Vile in order to stop a war. (DW: The Infinite Quest)
  • The Last of the Time Lords: An epiphet he gave himself ever since the events of the Last Great Time War which wiped out all of the other Time Lords excluding The Master. The Dream Lord also referred to the Eleventh Doctor as such. (DW: Amy's Choice)
  • 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 (after Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy) when dealing with a group of soldiers (Donna called herself Captain Kirk, after James T. Kirk). The ruse fell apart when Donna was unable to maintain the pretense of being a captain. (NSA: Pest Control)
  • Spartacus: When visiting Pompeii in 79 A.D, the Doctor and Donna both used the alias 'Spartacus' (they had both said "I am Spartacus" in the manner of the 1960's Kirk Douglas epic Spartacus). (DW: The Fires of Pompeii)
  • Cheif Inspector Smith from Scotland Yard: Used to keep Lady Eddison from calling the actual police after becoming fasinated with the death of Professot Peach. (DW: The Unicorn and the Wasp)
  • Maintenance Man of the Universe: A title the Doctor gave himself after fixing the lighting in Bowie Base 1 and Captain Adelaide Brook comparing him to a janitor. (DW: The Waters of Mars)
  • The Time Lord Victorious: Deciding to alter history by rescuing Adelaide Brooke and two of her comrades from Bowie Base One on Mars in 2059, the Doctor became arrogant and egocentrical, declaring that the laws of the Time Lords to prevent altering history no longer applied because he was the last, so he had total authority over time itself. (DW: The Waters of Mars)
  • Actors: When visiting Hollywood in the early 20th century, the Doctor adopted a number of Hollywood-related names whilst attending a party. Within the space of a few minutes, he called himself "Tom Cruise," "Michael Caine," "Pee-Wee Herman," and "Tom Hanks." (IDW: Silver Scream)

Eleventh Doctor

  • The Oncoming Storm: The Doctor refers to himself as such when he misinterperts one of Craig's football mates asking for help in annihalating another team. However, he quickly caught his misunderstanding and corrected himself. (DW: The Lodger)
  • Captain Troy Handsome of International Rescue: An alias the Doctor used when confronting one of the avatars of 79B Aickman Road to avoid a confrontation and to get more information from the ship. (DW: The Lodger)
  • Commander Bond of Naval Intelligence: An alias used by the Doctor when he encountered Gein. (DWA: Sub-species)

Names given by others

This section's awfully stubby.

Please help by adding some more information.


A list of name other individuals have called the Doctor throughout his travels.

The name was often unintentionally invoked when characters wished to learn who the Doctor was and what his name was: "Doctor? Doctor who?"

First Doctor

Second Doctor

Third Doctor

Fourth Doctor

Fifth Doctor

to be added

Sixth Doctor

Seventh Doctor

  • The Oncoming Storm: Was also the name given to him by the Draconians, ("Karshtakavaar" in Draconian) who were generally the Doctor's allies, to indicate the traumatic events which so often accompanied his arrival. (NA: Love and War)
  • Time's Champion: A title given to the Doctor to symbolise his service to Time during his seventh incarnation. (NA: Love and War)
  • Professor: Ace usually called the Seventh Doctor Professor as a term of endearment. She continued to use the term, even after he asked her not to use it anymore. (DW: Dragonfire)
  • Ka Faraq Gatri (other Dalek names): 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 referred 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)
  • Snail or Wormhole: Given to him by his cousins of the House of Lungbarrow, because, unlike Loomed Gallifreyans, he had a bellybutton. (NA: Lungbarrow)
  • Merlin: The Doctor was mistakened by the people from an Arthurian legend to be Merlin. (DW: Battlefield)

Eighth Doctor

  • John Doe: The customary name in America for an unidentified human male was applied to the apparently dead Doctor by the staff of Walker General Hospital, and he was given a "John Doe" toe tag before being wheeled into the morgue's freezer. After regenerating and breaking out of the freezer, the Eighth Doctor was recognised as somehow being the same individual by frightened morgue attendant Pete thanks to the "John Doe" tag, still on his toe. (DW: Doctor Who)
  • Doctor Bowman/James Alistair Bowman: Dr. Grace Holloway invented this name for the Eighth Doctor whilst introducing him to others. (DW: Doctor Who) The Doctor subsequently used this alias on occasion, filling it out to James Alistair Bowman. (EDA: Seeing I)

Ninth Doctor

Tenth Doctor

  • Traveller Without a Home: A title the Doctor fit when Novice Hame mentioned who the Face of Boe would tell his final secret to.
  • The Lonely God: Another title the Doctor recieved it the legend of who The Face of Boe would give his final secret to.
  • Boss: A nickname given by Mickey Smith as a sign of respect.
  • Fireplace-man: Given by Madame De Pomadour until she reached adulthood. (DW: The Girl in the Fireplace)
  • Lonely Angel: Given by Madame De Pomadour when she saw into his lonely childhood.
  • Martian: (Also Martian Boy) Given by Donna Noble during their first encounter after learning he was an alien. She later stopped calling him such after learning his real species name.
  • Doctor-man: (Also Little Doctor man) Given by the Empress of the Rachnoss when she misinterpurted the Doctor's name as a title.
  • Little Physcition: Also given by the Empress of the Rachnoss when she asked Lance who the Doctor was. (DW: The Runaway Bride)
  • Skinny Idiot: Given by his Fifth incarnation after they crashed their respective TARDISes into each other. (DW: Time Crash)
  • Dumbo: Given by Donna during their travels together, usually when the Doctor is oblivious to something or something they have to do. (DW: The Runaway Bride, The Fires of Pompeii, The Sontaran Stratagem)
  • Spaceman: Also given by Donna when the Doctor did something strange that she was not familiar with, such as getting overexcited about alein technology and bizzare creatures.
  • Great, Big Outer Space Dunce: Also given by Donna when the Doctor mistakenly believed her to be leaving his company earlier than most of his companions. (DW: The Sontaran Stratagem)
  • Mr. Conditional Clause: Given to him by Luke Rattigan when he was angered by the Tenth Doctor's tautology of the Atmospheric Omission System's name as he called it ATMOS System, The Doctor replied harshly to this, saying "No one's said no to you in a long time, have they?" (DW: The Sontaran Stratagem)
  • Father: Given by Jenny after accepting the Doctor as her parent and renouncing the soilder tactics of General Cobb. (DW: The Doctor's Daughter)
  • Sweetie: Nickname given to him by River Song. (DW: Silence in the Library)
  • Pretty Boy: Another nickname given to him by River Song. (DW: Silence in the Library)
  • The Dark Lord/The Threefold Man: Dalek Caan referred to the Tenth Doctor as "the Dark Lord" or "the Threefold Man" during the Medusa Cascade incident. (DW: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End)
  • He Who Dances in Lonely Places Name given by Dalek Caan during his ramblings. (DW: Journey's End).
  • The Destroyer of Worlds: Name given by Davros on board the Crucible after the Meta-crisis clone began the self-destruction of the vessel. (DW: Journey's End)
  • Merlin: The Tenth Doctor would later claim that he was named Merlin by King Arthur. (IDW: Fugitive)
  • Ka Faraq Gatri (other Dalek names): The name was again used by Davros following his defeat during the Medusa Cascade incident. (DW: Journey's End)
  • The Sainted Physcition: Given by a primative group of humans when he saved them from a "demon" (possibly the Red Carnevorous Maw).
  • Lord Doctor: Given by Rassilon as a greeting after the Time Lords broke the Time Lock.

Eleventh Doctor

See also

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