What is the Doctor's Real Name?

[dragongild]

No, I'm pretty sure it is Theta Sigma he calls him, and Then "Thete", not "Pete" later on.

Part of the problem is that the actor playing Drax was doing that 'orrible accent, and not doing it very well. A couple of the references sound more like "Feet" than "Pete", but one of them very clearly sounds like "Pete", and in the very first one, when he opens the door in the wall and first sees the Doctor, he very clearly exclaims, "Peter Sigma!".

I have the "Armageddon Factor" episode on TiVo, as Maryland Public Television has been re-running the Tom Baker series lately. My two sons and I have been going over every scene with the Doctor and Drax very thoroughly, and we all have come to the same conclusion - that he is actually saying "Peter" and "Pete".

Coincidentally, I subsequently searched on "Peter Sigma" and immediately found it in the "Internet Movie Data Base", for whatever it's worth:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0562892/trivia

Although, truthfully, the IMDB could be wrong. I'd like for Tom Baker to weigh in on the issue.

[ecchi]

Coincidentally, I subsequently searched on "Peter Sigma"

Yes, but if you do a Google search for +"Theta Sigma" +"Dr Who" you get over a thousand entries, if you search for +"Peter sigma" +"Dr Who" you get only two results, one is on a message board where most posts say it is "Theta Sigma", and the other one is this thread!

[Madeleine]

Theta Sigma was what he was called, it probably wasn't his name though.

[orii7]

Theta Sigma was what he was called, it probably wasn't his name though.

Yep, its THETA SIGMA not PETER SIGMA or PETE. Although I have "The Key To Time" series on DVD, I still havent seen "The Armageddon Factor" yet

It was his Time Lord School nickname (I think it was Prydon Academy) and "Theta Sigma" are Greek Numerical Letters (or something. I might have gotten it wrong)

[IMForeman]

The University Nickname is definitely Theta Sigma. The Doctor confirms this in The Happiness Patrol.

[The Signal]

I still think they should stay clear of his name in the series. "Doctor" is all we need to know him as (though I'd quite like them to use, when dealing with The Master for instance, Theta Sigma, every so often). Revealing his real name would remove part of the enigma surrounding him, if you ask me.

[orii7]

I agree with you. Maybe they could end the Series with a movie where The Doctor dies (on his 13th incarnation) and he finally reveals his name?

It would be good. Maybe it will be a final confrontation between The Doctor, The Master, The Daleks and The "True, Silver, Mondas" not "False, Steel, Alternate Universe Earth" Cybermen?

Spoiler:

The Doctor's wife Patience will return and reveal his name?

Anyways I truely believe that the Past Doctor Adventures book called "The Infinity Doctors" is about The Doctor/The Other before he left Gallifrey.

[~Benjamin~]

His name is of course... John Smith

the Tardis always must have a Smith...

[~Benjamin~]

John Smith!

Thats his name!

[ecchi]

John Smith!

Thats his name!

That is an alias he uses, not his real name.

[RiderChronos]

Over on Outpost Gallifrey there was a theory going 'round that the Doctor's name had been removed as a punishment... sort of wiped from history forwards and backwards.

This would actually make sense because as it has been shown in the episode where the doctor and martha meet shakespeare, a name has power. So maybe the removal of The Doctor's true name the past, present and future is a greater punishment then we would think.

[RiderChronos]

The University Nickname is definitely Theta Sigma. The Doctor confirms this in The Happiness Patrol.

I do know that Sigma means "Wisdom" in Greek
and I believe Theta stands for like "Spirit" I'm not to sure.

So if I am right, the Doctor was called "Wise Spirit" in school.

Just a thought of course.

[Gate-builder]

I reckon he might have hidden it himself so it couldn't be used against him somehow. We know that his real name is hidden somewhere in the medusa cascade, and that there is a rift there which he sealed single handed. Maybe he sealed his name inside the rift or something.

[Guest]

Ancient Egyptians believed in the power of a name and there is a myth involving Ra and his secret name as the source of his power...

...Names in Ancient Egypt were very mystic and powerful. It was thought that if you inscribed your enemies' name on something, then broke it, that enemy would either be afflicted, or possibly die. If you knew a name you had power. In the same respect, using a name could be beneficial.


I believe the Doctor chose to hide his true name...

[RiderChronos]

I reckon he might have hidden it himself so it couldn't be used against him somehow. We know that his real name is hidden somewhere in the medusa cascade, and that there is a rift there which he sealed single handed. Maybe he sealed his name inside the rift or something.

Maybe, just maybe, bare with me now, maybe he sealed the rift by using the power of his name hence some how sealing it within the medusa cascade rift.