If Fry was called by his first name...

[on:]

Could you imagine? Leela, Bender and Philip... O_O

Even worse, Turanga, Bender and Philip. :C

[Reply #1 on:]

For some reason, I used to be under the impression people referred to Fry by his surname due to the fact that he is by far their senior. Now, I still think that is interesting, but also think it's more likely that "Fry" is simply what they've always known him as.

[Reply #2 on:]

It is very strange that both Leela and Fry go by their surname.  Both names could conceivably be first names... but they're not.

[Reply #3 on:]

Don't forget Zoidberg. You all still have ZOIDBERG!

[Reply #4 on:]

His name is officially on Dr. Zoidberg.  This has some sense attached to it.... and I think the Professor may have referred to him by his first name on at least one occasion, but I'm wrong.

[Reply #5 on:]

His name is officially on Dr. Zoidberg.  This has some sense attached to it.... and I think the Professor may have referred to him by his first name on at least one occasion, but I'm wrong.

You mean Dr. John Zoidberg? Nixon called him that in "A Taste of Freedom," and there's stationary from the desk of John Zoidberg in "The 30% Iron Chef."

But "With my last breath I curse...John!" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Reply #6 on:]

It is very strange that both Leela and Fry go by their surname.  Both names could conceivably be first names... but they're not.

Leela's surname is Turanga. Some families place their given names last.

[Reply #7 on:]

It also credits "Dr. John Zoidberg" during the opening credits of Bender's Big Score.

[Reply #8 on:]

All the official sources say that his full name is "John A. Zoidberg", but for the life of me I can't remember ever seeing or hearing his middle initial anywhere in the show.

On that note, am I alone in wondering what the J. stands for in "Philip J. Fry"?

[Reply #9 on:]

All the official sources say that his full name is "John A. Zoidberg", but for the life of me I can't remember ever seeing or hearing his middle initial anywhere in the show.

At the start of Bender's Big Score.

Hermes: [Voice over] Company physician, Dr. John A. Zoidberg.

[Reply #10 on:]

All the official sources say that his full name is "John A. Zoidberg", but for the life of me I can't remember ever seeing or hearing his middle initial anywhere in the show.

On that note, am I alone in wondering what the J. stands for in "Philip J. Fry"?

It probably stands for Jay.  This is a long-time traditional cartoon philosophy that Groening works with.  The main character needs a middle initial that is J.  In the Simpsons, Homer is Homer J. Simpson.... after at least a decade of pondering by the audience about what the J. stood for, it was finally revealed to be Jay... which is a self-contained joke.

It is very strange that both Leela and Fry go by their surname.  Both names could conceivably be first names... but they're not.

Leela's surname is Turanga. Some families place their given names last.

Is this not more of a cultural thing?  I don't see anything in the show that suggests that Leela's culture is based on that idea.... Her parents even seem to refer to her as Leela......  not something like Leela Turanga....

[Reply #11 on:]

Her full name is Turanga Leela, and the full names of her parents are Turanga Munda and Turanga Morris. I do think it is perhaps a mutant cultural attribute, their surname being placed first and their given names last.

[Reply #12 on:]

Fair enough... I was being double dyslexic... and have been doing it for years despite knowing the full names of the Turanga family.

[Reply #13 on:]

Oh I forgot about Dr. John A. Zoidberg. XD And Hubert.  

Can you imagine Hermes and Amy being called by their last names?

CONRAD! WONG! GET IN HERE!

[Reply #14 on:]

I just attributed Fry being referred to as his last name as a dude thing. Same with Zoidberg. You know how there are some guys at work that somehow you can't call them by their first name, because the last name suits them better? Yeah. I don't really know what I'm talking about here because I work with a bunch of chicks, but one of my exes was referred to by everyone by his last name only. It kinda seems like a put down even. I don't know if they do that with Fry because he's so clueless sometimes, but Fry is a way cooler name than Philip anyway.

[Reply #15 on:]

Yeah there is this kid at school called Adam Cavaner or something like that and EVERYONE except the teahcers call him Cav. =P

[Reply #16 on:]

I just attributed Fry being referred to as his last name as a dude thing. Same with Zoidberg. You know how there are some guys at work that somehow you can't call them by their first name, because the last name suits them better? Yeah. I don't really know what I'm talking about here because I work with a bunch of chicks, but one of my exes was referred to by everyone by his last name only. It kinda seems like a put down even. I don't know if they do that with Fry because he's so clueless sometimes, but Fry is a way cooler name than Philip anyway.

I worked with a guy who didn't care for his first name very much, so he substituted his last name for his first and used both, a la "Smith Smith".  No one at work who I spoke with knew his real first name.  I didn't learn it until years later, when I was reading about an asteroid that he discovered while doing volunteer work at an observatory out west.  I wonder whether soylentOrange knows him?

[Reply #17 on:]

I suppose that's better than "Robert Bobby."

[Reply #18 on:]

I don't think it would be any different if Fry went by Phillip on the show.  Or if Leela went by Turanga. 

[Reply #19 on:]

What happened to Question Machine?

[Reply #20 on:]

What happened to Question Machine?

And Bend-err... Haven't seen him post in a while.

[Reply #21 on:]

It's very common (at least in North America) to refer to friends by their last name. Sometimes it just rolls off the tongue better or it may better describe "them". Nobody wants to call a sandals-wearing space lobster "John", but rather something alien to them like "Zoidberg".

Technically, Leela's last name is indeed Leela, but her surname (family name) is definitely, without a doubt, Turanga. She has been referred to as "Miss Turanga" and her family's canmailbox in the sewers has "Turanga" written on the side.

[Reply #22 on:]

Fry:  "Turanga?"  (aka Toronga in some horrible fanfics)

Amy:  "That's her name, Phillip."

Bender:  "Phillip?"

[Reply #23 on:]

Hitler: Barrack?
Amy: That's his name, Adolf.
Palin: Adolf?

[Reply #24 on:]

@ Frida:

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

[Reply #25 on:]

Zoidberg's initials are J.A.Z.! 

[Reply #26 on:]

 Have we ever been told what the A stands for?

[Reply #27 on:]

Nope, but we might in the upcoming ep 'The Tip of the Zoidberg', that is if the plot of the ep on the Infosphere is correct.

[Reply #28 on:]

It'll be interesting to learn more about Zoidy-poo, that's for sure.

I don't think I know anyone that goes by their surname alone apart from my cousin. My old P.E. teacher used to call me Smith though, did from day one, and he still calls me that when he sees me randomly, even after years.

"Oh look who it is! It's Smith!"

[Reply #29 on:]

In personal circles, I go by my surname.

My first name is too common to use. I'd rather not have a crowd turn around with me when someone calls...

[Reply #30 on:]

Sometimes I get my name confused with the name of that guy in Futurama.

[Reply #31 on:]

P.E. teacher

Your teacher worked at Planet Express?!

[Reply #32 on:]

Haha, Danny's been on a roll lately

[Reply #33 on:]

   Sometimes I get my name confused with the name of that guy in Futurama.

Do you mean Sal?

[Reply #34 on:]

Richard, maybe?

[Reply #35 on:]

Xanthor.


Or Calculon.

[Reply #36 on:]

Thomas Jefferson?

[Reply #37 on:]

The Pickle Jar?

[Reply #38 on:]

I've known a few people that go by last name. Or other nicknames.
In high school I knew a guy named Kevin Gamboa.
We all called him Gamboa. It was just so much better than Kevin

[Reply #39 on:]

I guess this is becoming relevant again seeing as the Professor calls Zoidberg "John" in the flashback storyboard to Möbius Dick, and I would assume he's calling him John in the flashbacks in The Tip of the Zoidberg as well.

I for one think it's cute.