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In Shrek when Donkey asks Shrek his name, Shrek pauses before giving it: "Eh ... Shrek".

He does this again when Princess Fiona asks his name.

Anyone know why?

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The film's draft screenplay offers an answer to both instances. I've copied directly from the script itself with the original stage direction placed in [square brackets].

Donkey

Shrek is taken aback that Donkey isn't scared of him. This seems to be the first time this has happened for some considerable time and the script describes him as "disarmed" and "surprised" by Donkey's exuberantly friendly attitude. His hesitation seems to simply be an extension of this bafflement and mild surprise at the (non sequitur) question.

SHREK: NO! I'm an ogre! You know - 'grab your torch and pitch forks'! Doesn't that bother you?

DONKEY: Nope.

SHREK: [a little surprised] Really?

DONKEY: Really, really.

[Shrek is suddenly disarmed.]

SHREK: Oh...?

DONKEY: Man — I like you, what's your name?

SHREK: [hesitant] Ahh ...Shrek.

[Shrek turns and continues on his way]

Princess Fiona

When Fiona asks the question, Shrek is described in the script as being "preoccupied". He's clearly trying to decide which way is best to go to avoid the man-(and ogre-)eating dragon he just evaded and is no mood for an extended chat. Again, the question seems to catch him slightly off guard.

FIONA: [fed up] Well, can I at least know the name of my champion?

[Shrek is preoccupied trying to figure which way to go.]

SHREK: Umm...Shrek.

This ties in nicely with the description in the film's official novelisation

"Well, can I at least know the name of my champion?" asked Fiona, thoroughly fed up. "Umm . . . Shrek," said the ogre, who was preoccupied with trying to figure which way was out.

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25

I believe it is because since he is an ogre, he is not used to conversation.

People usually grab their torches and pitchforks when they first see him, he's never heard someone try to talk to him and ask him his name.

Therefore he is momentarily confused when someone asks his name, because he is not used to people approaching him like that, and also as dmckee added below, "he's not used to needing to remember a label for himself"

From this site: (bolding mine)

Shrek: Listen, little donkey. Take a look at me, what am I?

Donkey: Uh... [looks Shrek up and down] really tall?

Shrek: No, I'm an ogre! You know, "Grab your torch and pitchforks!" Doesn't that bother you?

Donkey: [shakes his head happily] Nope.

Shrek: [surprised] Really?

Donkey: Really really.

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    I thought of this myself. Another possible explanation is that he has no name and had to make one up on the spot. Do you mind if I ask is this your personal opinion or have you a reference that backs this up?
    – Binary Worrier
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:11
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    I don't believe he made it up on the spot, because then he would not have hesitated when saying it to Fiona as well. At the moment I do not have any links or backup, it is simply personal opinion (you could call it a conclusion) based on what we know of shrek's life.
    – hammythepig
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:14
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    @MarkLysaght added a little bit to back me up :)
    – hammythepig
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:17
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    I also thought it was because he was not used to people who did not want to lynch him. But I really like the idea he made his name up on the spot :)
    – silvith
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:22
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    Shreik realizes that his name is an Ogre's name, and as such is far less elegant than the non-Ogres he introduces himself to. As if to draw attention to his un-glamorous self. If you were greeted by nobility with names like "Lord Cuthbernadette" and you introduced yourself as "Snork" or "Toad" you'd feel similar embarrassment.
    – Gorchestopher H
    Commented Jun 23, 2012 at 3:25
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The most likely reason would be because he thinks it is strange that someone would ask him that. As hammythepig said, people usually grab their torches - meaning that Shrek is a very lonely person who has no one to talk to because everyone feared him.

Since Donkey was the only one who wasn't afraid of Shrek, Donkey was the only one to ask him the question (since everyone was afraid of Shrek). Since Shrek never had anyone to talk to before (he wasn't social), he probably was deciding if he should answer, resulting in the pause before answering.

As you see in Shrek, he has no friends or any social encounters with anybody. Then in the last movie, you see that Shrek thought he was the only ogre left. That would mean that he was all alone for quite some time.

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    "As nammythepig said" xD you cut off my 'h' haha. maybe ill change my name to that, it might be more catchy :)
    – hammythepig
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:26
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    nammythepig does sound pretty catchy, almost like a directive.
    – NominSim
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:32
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    @hammythepig lol, I thought was was nammythepig.
    – Blue
    Commented Jun 22, 2012 at 14:43
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I think it's because he feels hesitation when getting close to people. You have to learn someone's name to get closer and so he pauses because he isn't comfortable with close relationships.

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    Welcome to the site. That's an interesting idea there! Stick around and answer some more questions if you're interested in any or ask your own!
    – Edlothiad
    Commented Aug 28, 2017 at 17:33
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He has no name, and has to make up one when he is asked by Donkey. At the beginning of the movie, he is reading a book, which at the end of the movie is revealed to have 'Shrek' on the cover. He used the name of the book for his own name, because he has no name.

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    Although this is a fun theory, the book shown at the end was clearly not the same book as at the start of the film. The book at the start has no name on the front cover. The book at the end contains pictures of Shrek, Fiona, Dragon and Farquad, suggesting that it was written after the events of the film took place.
    – Valorum
    Commented Jun 22, 2016 at 17:40

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