Why are some characters referred to by their surname and others by their first name? Most of the time?

In many of the action books I read, for example, there might be a man and a woman. The man is almost always referred to by his last name, and the woman by her first name, most of the time.





Or sometimes they are all almost always referred to by their surname. Or by their first name. It's so confusing sometimes!!!





Any idea on name etiquette?

Why are some characters referred to by their surname and others by their first name? Most of the time?
I don't think it is anything meaningful, really. I, too, have read books where the character is either referred to by their first name on one page then surname on the next page. At the most it might establish a relationship between two characters (the one character might feel comfortable to just call them by their surname). And hammer in the name of the character in the reader's mind.
Reply:I don't think this has to do with etiquette. Among my friends and classmates some of them are called by their surnames by kids and teachers. Other students are called by their first name. I think in some books its somewhat the same. Some people you might want to respect more, thus you call them by their surname. Closer friends you might call by their first name. Hope this helps!
Reply:i think its mostly on how you want your character to come across, his or her personality and how the other characters interact with that person.


i would sooner have an older man, perhaps a military veteran or boss, be called by his surname than a younger or less respected character. usually if a woman is a called by her last name then it follows Mrs. or Ms.


hope this helps.

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