Ever walked out of Vault 111, feeling like the literal last person on Earth, only to have a hovering, circular robot butler greet you by your actual name? It’s a trip. When Fallout 4 first dropped, the big marketing hook wasn’t just the base building or the "it just works" promise—it was the fact that Codsworth, voiced by the legendary Stephen Russell, had a massive internal dictionary.
He doesn't just call you "Sir" or "Ma'am" if you play your cards right. He can actually say every name Codsworth can say from a list of nearly 1,000 recorded entries.
Honestly, it’s one of those tiny details that makes the Commonwealth feel less like a set of polygons and more like a home. But here’s the thing: people still get frustrated because they name their character something like "Bartholomew" and Codsworth stays silent. Or they try "Reece" and get nothing because the game only recognizes the "Reese" spelling. It’s finicky.
Let's break down how this system actually functions and what's on that massive list.
The Secret Sauce: How It Actually Works
Bethesda didn't use some fancy AI voice synthesizer for this back in 2015. They did it the old-fashioned way. Stephen Russell sat in a recording booth and rattled off names for hours.
The game uses a "lookup" system. When you type your name into that Vault-Tec clipboard at the start of the game, the engine checks your string against a specific list of IDs. If it finds a match, it toggles the voiced lines. If you're off by even one letter—like adding an extra 'n' to "Bryan"—the system fails.
You’ll just be "Sir" or "Mum" for the rest of the apocalypse.
It's also worth noting that Codsworth is the only character who does this. Don't expect Piper or Nick Valentine to start whispering your name in the middle of a firefight. This was a specific labor of love for the robot butler.
The Categories of Names Codsworth Can Say
The list is a weird mix of the most common names in the Western world and some truly bizarre internal jokes from the Bethesda dev team.
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Classic and Common Names
Most players will find their names here. We're talking about the heavy hitters:
- A through E: Adam, Alex, Alice, Ben, Bill, Catherine, Chris, Dan, David, Elizabeth.
- F through L: Frank, Gary, George, James, Jennifer, John, Kevin, Laura, Luke.
- M through Z: Mary, Matthew, Nicole, Patrick, Robert, Sarah, Thomas, William.
If you have a name that was in the top 100 baby names between 1970 and 2010, you’re probably safe. But there are some surprising omissions. "Brandon" was famously missing at launch, which led to a lot of confused players named Brandon staring at their screens in silence.
Pop Culture and Sci-Fi Easter Eggs
This is where the devs clearly had some fun. You can play as a variety of iconic characters and Codsworth will play along.
- Mad Max: You can name yourself "Furiosa," "Toecutter," or "Rockatansky."
- Sci-Fi Giants: "Deckard" (Blade Runner), "Ripley" (Alien), "Neo" (The Matrix), and "Katniss" (Hunger Games) are all voiced.
- Breaking Bad: Yes, you can be "Heisenberg" or "Walter."
- The Simpsons: The infamous "Bort" license plate joke made it in.
The "Immature" List
Bethesda knew exactly who their audience was. They recorded a significant amount of profanity and anatomy-related names. If you want a robot with a British accent to call you "Assface," "Bastard," "Boobies," or "Fuckface," you absolutely can.
Hearing a polite butler say "Mr. Fuckface" with total sincerity is a rite of passage for any Fallout 4 player.
Why Isn't He Saying My Name?
If you picked a name on the list and he’s still being formal, there are a few reasons why.
First, spelling is everything. The game is looking for an exact match. If you named yourself "Jon" but the list only has "John," you're out of luck.
Second, the "Name Change" glitch. If you changed your name at the end of the Vault 111 sequence, sometimes the script doesn't update Codsworth's dialogue triggers correctly. It's usually best to pick your "forever name" at the very beginning when the Vault-Tec rep visits your house.
Third, names with spaces. Codsworth can handle some two-word names, but he usually prioritizes the first or last name if they are on the list individually. If you go by "Sarah Connor," he’ll likely just call you "Miss Sarah" or "Miss Connor."
How to Check the List Without Guessing
Don't just guess and hope for the best. There are huge repositories online, specifically on the Fallout Wiki and various fan sites, that list every single one of the 900+ names.
Back in 2016, the 1.6 patch actually added 300 new names to the original list. This included more diverse names and modern favorites that were missed the first time around. If you haven't played since the very early days, your name might actually be supported now.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
Ready to finally hear your name in the wasteland? Follow these steps to ensure it works.
- Check the Master List: Before you even hit "New Game," look up the verified list of names Codsworth can say. Search for the "Fallout 4 recognized names" spreadsheet.
- Match the Spelling Exactly: If the list says "Jonathon" and you usually spell it "Johnathan," use the version the game recognizes.
- The Pre-War Test: You'll know if it worked almost immediately. In the pre-war sequence, Codsworth will address you as you walk through the kitchen. If he says "Mr. [Name]" or "Mrs. [Name]," you’re golden.
- Fixing it with Mods: If your name is truly unique and you’re on PC, you aren't stuck. There are mods that allow you to "alias" your name, effectively telling the game to play the audio for "John" even if your character's name is "Jebadiah."
It’s a small thing, but in a game where you spend dozens of hours building a life in a graveyard, having someone remember who you are makes all the difference.