User:SOTO/Forum Archive/The Panopticon/@comment-7302713-20130510215247/@comment-7302713-20130512191038

There is a difference between real-world articles about characters and in-universe articles about characters. (ex. The Family of Blood (TV story) and Joan Redfern (TV character).)

And I think we need to have a clear preference. If we go purely by what's most used in the source, then Joan Redfern is called Matron most, followed by Nurse Redfern, Nurse, Joan, and one instance of Redfern. If we don't have a stated preference, then we just end up referring to her as Matron. John Smith is called "John Smith" as much as he's called "Mister Smith". He's called John a handful of times and never called Smith. If we just go by what he's most often called then we end up referring to him as John Smith or Mister Smith, and both are a little ridiculous.

We should have a stated preference. Going purely with the most commonly used name is a problem.