Should Spike have changed his name after regaining his soul?

[Aloverssoulz]

Spike got his nickname for his awful poems and later his way of murdering people. After Spike won his soul in season 6 should he have started going by William again?

He wasn't going by Spike because it was cool (though i'm sure it was part of the reason 😛) but because it suited his reputation as an evil vampire. Once he got his soul and became good his name had no meaning.

Angelus started going by Angel once he was giving back his soul. Why not Spike?

I think Buffy might have enjoyed him dropping the nickname. She did call him William a few times when it came to the more personal talks.

 

[zobothehobo]

I don't think Spike wanted to model himself and his life after getting his soul back after Angel. I don't think he wanted the distinction between is soulled self and unsoulled self. Sure, it'd be easier for the fandom and probably for Buffy, but I think it would have been OOC.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Buffy called Spike William at times when she wanted to say something by it. Usually when she calls him that she speaks to his human self. Other times she wants to hurt him. But she does not just say William because she likes it or anything, she has intentions behind it.

I don't think Spike should ever change his name unless he becomes human, and he would have trouble finding a job with a name like Spike 😀

 

[BuffyElevated]

It would have been weird for Spike to all of a sudden start calling himself William or something... I think he maybe kept it as a way of reminding himself where he came from, so to speak.

 

[SlayerFest]

I would have gagged...if he went back to William haha. I don't think Buffy would have liked that. They were all so used to Spike. Also, Angel shortened his name. Why go through the trouble of another syllable to your name if you don't have to?

 

[white avenger]

I always saw Spike as the type who would have said something like, "This is me, mate. Same Spike today as I was yesterday, and same as I'll be tomorrow. Getting a bloody conscience from a green eyed creepy in a hole in the ground in Africa didn't change me. Not really. My soul? Yeah, my soul made me a better man. At least my soul made me want to BE a better man. I'm kinda what you'd call a work in progress. But, see, I didn't find my soul in Africa. I found my soul right here on the hellmouth. A little blond haired Slayer. She's my soul. And I intend to spend the rest of my unlife trying to be a man worthy of her. Changin' my name don't matter a bit."

 

[WWGD]

Since he was "the new Spike", he should have shortened it to Ike LOL!

 

[Leeson]

Since he was "the new Spike", he should have shortened it to Ike LOL!

Or 'Spy'. Either way, ridic.

I think that Angel and Angelus were very different people, in a way, whereas Spike is just Spike. He's nothing like he was as a human, so why use William? I can only see him using that 'officially', for paperwork and such, if he became human or whatnot.

 

[Ripper666]

Haha what kind of new name should he give himself. Ok Angelous.That sounds old fashion and Angel is much cooler. But what about Spike? May "Blunt" or something? Or Spike with soul? Spike 1.1? No, all that sounds ridiculous!

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Haha what kind of new name should he give himself. Ok Angelous.That sounds old fashion and Angel is much cooler. But what about Spike? May "Blunt" or something? Or Spike with soul? Spike 1.1? No, all that sounds ridiculous!

"Angel" sounds cool? It's a girl's name! 😀

 

[white avenger]

"Angel" sounds cool? It's a girl's name! 😀

You know, I've wondered more than once why it was that they never used that fact, especially on his own show, to get a little light hearted laugh out of it. Like, maybe, some woman with a demon stalker hires Angel, without ever seeing him, to serve as her bodyguard at some kind of all female conference or something. By the time the mistake is discovered, it's too late to send for Cordy or Fred, so... Has anyone here ever seen "Some Like It Hot"? It would have made "Smile Time" seem positively dreary by comparison.

Sorry, back on subject.

He could call himself something that reminds everyone of who he once was, but with a friendly twist, something that tells the whole world that what was old is new again, something with flair. Something that just reaches out and grabs you. Something that he always has been, but seen in a new light. How about...

William The Buddy, the Big Good.

Lorne would have absolutely loved it.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

This question reminds of of the fans who think that Spike should have discarded his coat after gaining a soul; the answer is not. Spike's name is a part of who he is, by changing it he'd be denying his past, which Spike would never do. He owns up to his past and mistakes. He pays for them and moves on. That's like saying that Angel should have changed his name after he got a soul. Angel was named under similar horrific nature as Spike was; Angel was named that because after he was turned he went to kill his family and his sister thought he was an Angel. Angel liked the nickname so much he re-named himself that. Angel didn't change it, it's simply a more modern version of Angelus.

 

[LoveLoveLovix]

Sure, it'd be easier for the fandom and probably for Buffy...

I disagree. I know he is William, William is he, etc... but it takes me a minute to remember. I think that if he changed his name back, it wouldn't do much good. People would still call him Spike.

Also, that name fits. Seriously. He really is the same person, just souled up a bit. And if I saw a guy like him in his jacket with that hair and body, I'd be more likely to believe he was "Spike" than "William." So it's good he didn't change his name.

 

[zobothehobo]

I disagree. I know he is William, William is he, etc... but it takes me a minute to remember. I think that if he changed his name back, it wouldn't do much good. People would still call him Spike.

I meant for fandom discussions and to help distance soulled Spike from the soulless Spike that Buffy's friends thought they knew. Like it would be easier for the fandom in discussion settings and Buffy because the scoobies would have a new identity for Spike: soulled Spike.