Off My Mind: Should Heroes Be Allowed To Change Names?

actually dick grayson changed his name because he wanted to be his own man and while he is robin he can't be his own man people will think of him as batman side kick thats why he became nightwing. he became batman because tim didn't want to do it and bruce was lost in time and the world need a batman.

Honestly, I think "Ant-Man" would had still worked when he started to become a giant. I am reminded of the 1950's movie "Them!" where a giant mutated ants attacks humanity.

I like changes, and evolutions in my characters^^
 
But I gotta admit...
Doctor Pym...
ROCKED! XD

Bart should still be name Impulse, there was no reason to turn him into Kid Flash.

Unless it's like a transition from Robin to Nightwing (What Dick Grayson did) I think it's OK.

I'm not happy with Siryn changing her name too Banshee  !!!!!!!!
 and Jean Grey should have a codename, Marvel Girl was OK, but I didn't like it too much. Phoenix is just a references to how over-powered and terrible she was.

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I changed my name in real life... It's just hard to make friends when your name is Evil von Hitler....

"

I don't have a problem with heroes changing names.  When Vance Astrovic ditched Marvel Boy in favour of Justice, it made sense... and had a better ring to it. 
 
However, I hate it when they pick one that's already been used.   I understand that Gotham needs a Batman, but what's Dick going to go by when Bruce inevtiably returns?  It's unlikely he'll take the step back into Nightwing.  Bart Allen was GREAT as the Impulse.  I hate the fact that some editorial decision was made to turn him into Kid Flash... the Impulse identity was his & his alone & avoided any pointless confusion.  Although I do like how Theresa Cassidy is now going by Banshee in honour of her father, it can still be confusing & sure does seem to be the topic of debate.
 
On the other hand, at least they do pick a name.  Unlike Jean Grey in the 1990's.  The post X-Factor era where she ditched Marvel Girl (again) but didn't want to be identified with the Phoenix.  Was it SO hard to think up a new name for her?! 
 
But I think we have something similar here.  Members can ditch accounts & create new identities for themselves.  We have these internet identities with which we can either hide our true selves, or condense & concentrate our personalities.  But these names & avatars are how people identify us...    

Nahh

Changing names is cool but some cats go a lil’ crazy with the name changes. Once you get on original name 3 or 4, then you need to stop… 

Having Jay, Barry, and Wally all as the Flash at the same time needs to be fixed. Some people like Stephanie Brown or Dick Grayson should have changed their names since they decided to fill a preestablished role like Batman and Batgirl. Tim Drake had to become Red Robin because Damian Wayne already was Robin.

Superheroes are all about shifting names and identities.  Your question G-Man is really "Should superheroes change identities?"  The answer is yes because that is precisely what they do best.  Bruce Wayne is Batman but he's also Matches Malone, or the Bat, or the caped crusader.  Clark Kent Err..Superman changes identities from cover to cover or if there's some off-color kryptonite nearby.  Moon Knight has three separate alter egos!!!  Matt Murdock is Daredevil, well unless Bullseye is or Iron Fist.  Thor was Donald Blake, and Eric Masterson, and Jake Olson I could go on and on but you get the point.  Superheroes must have many names and identities to aid the storytelling.

You know, in general, I agree with G-man, but there are some obvious exceptions to take into account too. Changing the identities of his Super-Villain hit-squad, was instrumental in cementing Norman Osborn's Dark Reign. Would the public really have been okay knowing that Bullseye, Venom, and Moonstone were part of the Avengers? This also gave Daken the freedom to pursue his own interests, and any negative actions would be blamed on his father. Speedball's transformation into Penance is one of my favorite story-arcs of the past few years, and a huge change of character. After coming to terms with his role in the Stamford explosion he devoted himself to atonement, and revenge. The change from happy-go-lucky super-ball into the masochistic electro-kinetic powerhouse definitely merited a name change. Lastly, the fact that of the 3  people that have been "The Whizzer" not one of them has thought that their alter-ego warrented a name change just doesn't compute. The fact that there still exists a hero named "The Whizzer" just, no....

Characters should only change their names (and costumes for that matter) if they get new powers, or if their old name sounds horrible (anyone remember Paste-Pot Pete?)

Whats funny is that it didn't work with Pym, and it seemed like after a certain number of time it, Marvel decided that was his thing and had to do with his mental instability.  So it made sense with his character.

If it's a natural progression, then Yes

" I don't have a problem with a character changing their names, as long as there is a reason behind the change. Someone like Pym it seems he changes his name when he wants to try and forget a moment in his life, and someone like Barton I thought he called himself Ronin because Cap was gone, he had lost his leader. Which by the way is what a Ronin is, they were masterless samurai.  Another issue to go with this, different people calling themselves the same name. Just an example how many Batgirls are there? "

Very good article. With some like Grayson or West, it does make sense that they outgrow their original personas. With others though like Pym, it does seem strange on that he's gone through so many different aliases. Maybe it is a sign of failure. He has made some serious mistakes. Food for thought, I guess. 

If there is a good reason behind the name change,  like change in powers(pym) or addition of powers I guess it is the right thing to do.   I think some times characters get an overhaul to get with the times.  Some of the older characters are just silly and need to be up graded with times we live in. 

Times change and the  character has to change with it, even if it means taking new names.

In at least two of the cases you mention above, the name changes were as a result of the individual character's growth as a superhero. 

If two different characters have the same name then one of them needs to change theirs. Other than that they need to pick a name and stick with it.

" no "

With Hank Pym, him constantly changing his name and identity and powers went along with his unstable mental situation.  One issue Iron Man even said that Hank changing his costume and identity isn't a good sign.  So for him it makes sense.  He never feels good enough so he is constantly changing his identity hoping it will be good enough this time.
So His identity is much less important to his character in the comics than he is, its more like he is Hank Pym and he changes his identity occasionally.  Its sort of become his hero identity.
But I did wonder in the past about that.
So when Hank Pym changes from Ant Man to Giant Man, or to Yellow Jacket, or to the new Wasp,
Does the public know its Hank Pym?  Or do they assume that the Avengers got a new member?  Someone knew and unheard of and someone who has to earn the public's trust?  Because the Avengers know who he is, but what about the public?  Was this addressed in the past, before they knew who Ant Man/Giant Man was?
 
I liked the idea of the Spider-Man Identity Crisis thing, where he couldn't be Spider-man so he made up 4 new personas and pretended to be a different hero each time.
When Iron Man was War Machine, did everyone think he was someone new?  If he had been really popular in that suit would he had stayed War machine?

No need to change names willy-nilly but nothing wrong with some name changes. Grayson to batman has reason and purpose. Roy had purpose for going from one name to the next. I see no problem with it so long as there is a reason. Roy going back to Arsenal now he can't use a bow for example. Dick Grayson as Batman makes sense because from an outside point of view (the civilians in comics) there hasn't been a change. As far as they are concerned. so yeah its fine 

I changed my name in real life... It's just hard to make friends when your name is Evil von Hitler....

" It's funny you mention Wally, after Barry came back I was hoping Wally would change his name again. I mean really, how many Flash's can you have at one time? "

Change in powers requires  name change, Hawkeye became Goliath for  a while
Hank Pym change his name to honor his dead wife
 
but their should not be 3 flash runnnig arround

I don't have a problem with a character changing their names, as long as there is a reason behind the change. Someone like Pym it seems he changes his name when he wants to try and forget a moment in his life, and someone like Barton I thought he called himself Ronin because Cap was gone, he had lost his leader. Which by the way is what a Ronin is, they were masterless samurai.
 
Another issue to go with this, different people calling themselves the same name. Just an example how many Batgirls are there?

Cleverest?
 
Anyway.....yeah there should be exceptions and whatnot and sometimes the original name isn't all that great to begin with. Take "Power Man" and "Rescue".......yeah Pepper needs a new super-hero name

It's funny you mention Wally, after Barry came back I was hoping Wally would change his name again. I mean really, how many Flash's can you have at one time?

i think for some guys it makes sense but for most NO they should stick to the same name changing names means you dont know who you are. 
 
the idea of the mantle is a cool idea because it becomes greater than one man and become elemental in some ways.  Grayson is the main guy that comes to mind he kinda had to become nightwing. I mean the whole point of robin is hes a kid as he grows he kinda cant stay robin. Now i had no problem with him becoming batman but really nightwing is just as good a identity. really he built himself up sooo much as nightwing there was really no need to leave that persona. I could see tim drake being batman and needing the mantle of batman because he never really had his own persona to start with he is the type to carry a torch for robin or batman. Grayson made his OWN torch to pass.

Also, Clint Barton took on the name of Ronin because he felt he wasn't ready to take on his original mantle...
I think they should be able to change their name super hero but there should be a good reason behind it.

Changing names could also mean a sign of respecting mentors and past partners. Like Dick Grayson, he took up the mantle of Batman because he is respecting Bruce Wayne. So sometimes it is good to change names and other times it isn't

I think that the changing of names occurs so little that it's unnoticeable and doesn't really create problems, for me at least.  Now, of course, if an established character along the lines of Batman or Wolverine should try that, it wouldn't work out well at all