IMO it's a nameslap if the name doesn't make sense for the character. If the name works, either because the character is meant to be an update of an old character, or because the name would fit well regardless of whether there's an older version, it isn't a nameslap.

Armada Megatron is the tyrannical leader of the Decepticons in Armada, therefore not a nameslap.

BW Ironhide is an elephant, an animal with a tough skin, so the name fits. (That he was retconned into being G1 Ironhide in some media is beside the point.)

Energon Ironhide is an annoying Hot Shot fanboy, with no claim to durability or tenacity. Therefore a nameslap.

BW Inferno, definitely NOT a nameslap. The name is perfect.

RiD Scourge - scourge is defined a "a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering.". Sounds like a perfect description of the character. So not a nameslap.

 

I don't know, he was in Transformers Energon and didn't off himself, that has to mean something.

Also considering they're all made of metal, Ironhide could fit well as the John Doe type name for autobots.

 

Which proves Chad RID scourge > Bitch made Boat scourge

 

But he can be a car.

unironically want a triple changing giger car/tiny jet Starscream.

 

And this aint a nameslap neither.

 

I know, he is an alternate G1 Starscream after all, I just wanted to make a joke since he had a land vehicle mode.

 

Bringing some of this over from another thread:

On drastic character reinventions/nameslaps/whatever we call them, I think fans need to keep certain categories in mind to understand why they exist and judge from there. So there's (with examples):

1. Preserving a trademark to prevent loss, hence "nameslap" (a lot of the 90's and 2000s stuff was this).
2. Convenience when intended name can't be used or they just need a name for toy (related to 1 sometimes as a bonus.). (Cyberverse Strika being changed to Alphastrike last minute).
3. Name just fits, works well, designers like it (related to the above two a lot, but some cases where they purely just like the name) (a lot of movie characters are often this?)
4. Intended to be very different from the start, a very serious character reinvention (related to 3 occasionally) (Prime Smokescreen I think was this).
5. Brand value, despite not being for the older audience? (related to 1 and 3 occasionally) (lots of Robots in Disguise 2015 characters seem to be this, like Sideswipe)

So there's a lot of crossover, I'm either overcomplicating and/or forgetting something, but these seem to be the motivations for why this happens in the first place. My unpopular opinion is that I am absolutely for Name Just Fits. Like, if the name works for the design, personality, then why not? It even serves as a buffer period, like they could always return to the original after preserving the trademark and experimenting with it. I guess the worst that happens is an interpretation grows popular and replaces the original (original Hot Shot RIP).


Besides, a name like Bulkhead was literally decided as a thing, during a plane ride, I think there can be leeway in how it's used.

We're at a point now where 1. should/is less common than it was in the glorious Armada days now that Hasbro has gotten a better stronghold on things. 2. is the most unfortunate since Hasbro may never try using the old name again, 3. I think is the most common one but valid, 4. is excessive legacy but I respect that idea, and 5. I don't like much since that's Hasbro being unconfident.

 

Cybertron has thousands if not millions of bots. Just like us theres bound to be bots with the same name. At least thats how i always seen it. It never bothered me if armada blurr wasn't like g1 blurr. Its just two different bots with the same name. Like how i CONSTANTLY run into other Johns.
Damn those nameslaps I am the og g1 they are not allowed to use my name!

 

his name is obviously Munka Spanka

 

I guess certain characters should remain unique, while others can have namesakes. Optimus Prime kind of always should be Optimus Prime. There are many Flash but only only one I truly consider Superman, that is Clark Kent.

 

I mean, A nameslap is sometimes a complicated subject to begin with anyways.

Like, an iconic protagonist need to keep their look no matter what, or at least have their base traits. Megaman for example, he always gets different appearances in decades. But they have the base colors, abilities along with design bits & quirks that make that go "Oh, hey. It's that guy!"

But in some cases some characters are simply based after their power, ability, talent, etc.

So for example, you have G1 Mirage, who has the ability to turn invisible, but then you get a Mirage who has a different design, but has the ability/attack/weapon that causes something like... i don't know... Optical Illusions? Would that be considered a overall nameslap? I don't think it would. Because that sorta power would be fitting for the name.

 

Hot Rod from TLK I would consider something of a nameslap because he just doesn’t really have anything to do with the established Hot Rod/Rodimus character as we know him, not just in terms of visuals. He was a likable character, but since he didn’t really get to do much he didn’t really come off as someone who acts like Hot Rod/Rodimus.

Well.. That is of course subjective because from what I’ve seen, Cyberverse Hot Rod wasn’t the same as G1 Hot Rod, or IDW Hot Rod. So I mean, TLK Hot Rod was a pretty decent dude, kinda flashy, so I guess that’s not that outside the realm of possibility for a Hot Rod. The visuals, yeah just nothing like what Hot Rod usually looks like. It doesn’t bother me, but I dunno. At least sorta feels like a nameslap.

I think if you had a character who looked and acted like say, Animated Bulkhead, but you called him Devastator, then that would be a nameslap. But I can’t really think of any characters who are that much of a nameslap, and that’s just an extreme for an example. I guess that does go to show that nameslap is an extreme word that isn’t being used right.

 

Hmmm, that might be something that's already end up leading to debate at the end of the day.

Also that Devastator idea would sound interesting if you add one little thing... what if that take on Devastator somehow is trying to suppress something rather... Devastating in some way? Like some sort of destructive force that could be a analogue of some deadly weapon that could destroy cities, straight up destructive to anything in its range. Something like the P.O.K.E. but it's uncontrollable and a bit more... you can say... Devastating?

Which sorta leads the guy to be straight up emotionally devastated. He didn't want to be used like this, he didn't want to be this Devastator, he wanted to be free from this horrid fate that he was forced upon... and no longer become a weapon.

 

If you can't immediately recognize the character based on just a picture having only seen the G1 cartoon.

Bumblebee movie Soundwave is not one. 2007 Transformers movie Starscream is one.

 

A nameslap is when the name of a previous character is assigned to one who is not meant to be an updated version of that character. Note that it can be incredibly difficult to judge which characters do and do not fall under that category without clear "word of god" especially given that nameslaps do tend to be given to characters who are fairly similar on the surface, (the name Jetfire only works for a jet, after all) which is a bit frustrating. Sometimes the character who receives the nameslap will greatly outshine the original in popularity, but it's still a nameslap, even if at that point I usually wouldn't care as much personally in those fairly rare cases. Generally, nameslaps are annoying because they make it harder to have characters interact. It is a true and valid point that names would be repeated in universe, just like humans do in the real world. However, the One Steve Limit is a trope for a reason, and more importantly the fact that names repeat was not an explicitly established fact in most continuities until recently. Also, I largely view Beast Era characters as exempt, due to the fact that Maximals and Predacons being named in homage to G1 characters is something which actually was established in-universe.

 

Movie Blitzwing is a definite name slap.

 

The UT was the epitome of ‘nameslap’ and nowhere isn’t that more apparent than having a character who is clearly based on Sideswipe being named Wheeljack, and a character clearly based on Wheeljack being named Downshift.