The Party

Mike Wheeler

Nicknames: Mike

Personality:

Loyal

Protective

Emotional

Determined

Stubborn

Natural leader

Lore: Leader of the Party. Mike is usually the one who keeps everyone together. He immediately protects Eleven when he meets her and becomes one of the few people who never gives up on his friends.

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Eleven

Nicknames: Eleven, El, Jane

Who started "El"?

Mike

Personality:

Brave

Protective

Fiercely loyal

Curious

Socially awkward

Strong-willed

Can have a fiery temper

Lore: Raised in Hawkins Lab. Escapes and meets Mike's group. Possesses telekinetic and psychic powers. Defeats countless threats and becomes the main hero of the series.

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Will Byers

Nicknames: Will, Zombie Boy

Who started "Zombie Boy"?

Hawkins students

Personality:

Kind

Sensitive

Creative

Gentle

Emotional

Observant

Lore: The first victim of the Upside Down. Because of his connection to Vecna and the Mind Flayer, he can often sense danger before others.

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Dustin Henderson

Nicknames: Dusty, Dusty-Bun

Who started "Dusty-Bun"?

Suzie

Personality:

Funny

Intelligent

Curious

Friendly

Optimistic

Creative

Lore: The science expert of the Party. Often figures out mysteries before everyone else. Forms a famous friendship with Steve.

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Lucas Sinclair

Nicknames: Lucas

Personality:

Practical

Realistic

Brave

Honest

Competitive

Reliable

Lore: Often questions dangerous plans. Acts as the group's voice of reason and later develops a close relationship with Max.

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Max Mayfield

Nicknames: Max, Madmax

Who started "Madmax"?

It was her arcade username

Personality:

Independent

Sarcastic

Tough

Fearless

Loyal

Emotionally strong

Lore: Moves to Hawkins in Season 2. Becomes a key member of the Party and later faces Vecna directly.

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Teen Group

Nancy Wheeler

Nicknames: Nancy, Nance

Who started "Nance"?

Mostly Steve

Personality:

Intelligent

Determined

Brave

Ambitious

Resourceful

Competitive

Lore: One of Hawkins' best investigators. Constantly pursues the truth no matter how dangerous it becomes.

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Jonathan Byers

Nicknames: Jonathan

Personality:

Quiet

Protective

Thoughtful

Independent

Caring

Responsible

Lore: Will's older brother. Frequently sacrifices his own happiness for his family.

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Steve Harrington

Nicknames: Steve, The Babysitter, The Hair, Hair Harrington, King Steve

Who started them?

The Babysitter – became popular because Steve constantly protects the younger kids.

The Hair / Hair Harrington – comes from the running joke about his perfect hair.

King Steve – comes from his reputation as Hawkins High's most popular student.

Personality:

Charismatic

Protective

Courageous

Loyal

Selfless

Funny

Confident

Nurturing

Brave

Sometimes reckless

Soft-hearted beneath his confident exterior

Lore: Steve begins the series as Hawkins High's most popular student, earning the title King Steve. At first he appears arrogant and focused on popularity, but over time he becomes one of Hawkins' greatest heroes.

Despite having no powers, he repeatedly fights monsters and risks his life for others. He develops a close friendship with Dustin and becomes a trusted older-brother figure to many of the younger kids.

Because he is constantly protecting, rescuing, driving around, and looking after the younger group, he becomes known as The Babysitter.

His hair becomes a running joke throughout the series. Characters frequently comment on it, and Dustin even asks for his hair routine. This leads to the nicknames The Hair and Hair Harrington.

By Seasons 3 and 4, Steve is one of the most respected and beloved heroes in Hawkins, known for his loyalty, bravery, and willingness to protect others no matter the cost.

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Robin Buckley

Nicknames: Robin

Personality:

Intelligent

Sarcastic

Talkative

Awkward

Loyal

Quick-thinking

Lore: Steve's best friend. Helps uncover secret Russian operations and repeatedly saves the group.

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Eddie Munson

Nicknames: Eddie

Personality:

Charismatic

Rebellious

Funny

Protective

Dramatic

Courageous

Lore: Leader of Hellfire Club. Despite his intimidating appearance, he deeply cares about his friends.

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Argyle

Nicknames: Argyle

Personality:

Relaxed

Friendly

Funny

Loyal

Easygoing

Lore: Jonathan's best friend. Provides comic relief while helping save the world.

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Adults

Jim Hopper

Nicknames: Hop, Chief

Who started "Hop"?

Joyce and close friends

Personality:

Protective

Tough

Brave

Stubborn

Caring

Self-sacrificing

Lore: Police chief of Hawkins. Eventually adopts Eleven and becomes her father figure.

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Joyce Byers

Nicknames: Joyce

Personality:

Determined

Loving

Protective

Emotional

Persistent

Fearless

Lore: One of the few adults who immediately believes something supernatural is happening.

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Murray Bauman

Nicknames: Murray

Personality:

Eccentric

Intelligent

Paranoid

Blunt

Funny

Lore: A conspiracy theorist who often turns out to be right.

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Martin Brenner

Nicknames: Papa

Who started it?

Brenner forced the lab children to call him Papa

Personality:

Manipulative

Intelligent

Controlling

Calm

Obsessive

Lore: Runs Hawkins Lab and conducts experiments on psychic children.

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Supporting Characters

Erica Sinclair

Nicknames: Erica

Personality:

Confident

Sarcastic

Clever

Fearless

Sassy

Lore: Lucas's younger sister. Secretly loves adventure and eventually joins the supernatural chaos herself.

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Billy Hargrove

Nicknames: Billy

Personality:

Confident

Aggressive

Rebellious

Charismatic

Deeply troubled

Lore: Raised by an abusive father. Later becomes possessed by the Mind Flayer and ultimately sacrifices himself.

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Suzie Bingham

Nicknames: Suzie, Suzie-Poo

Who uses "Suzie-Poo"?

Dustin

Personality:

Intelligent

Sweet

Nerdy

Loyal

Confident

Lore: Dustin's girlfriend and one of the smartest recurring characters.

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Villains

Henry Creel / Vecna

Nicknames: Henry, One, 001, Vecna

Who named Vecna?

The Party, after the Dungeons & Dragons villain

Personality:

Manipulative

Calculating

Intelligent

Cruel

Patient

Arrogant

Lore: The first psychic child. Becomes Subject 001, is banished by Eleven, and eventually transforms into Vecna, the mastermind behind much of Hawkins' suffering.

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Mind Flayer

Nicknames: Shadow Monster, Mind Flayer

Who named it?

The Party

Traits:

Ruthless

Controlling

Relentless

Destructive

Lore: A hive-mind entity connected to the Upside Down that seeks to dominate and destroy.

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Demogorgon

Nicknames: Demogorgon

Who named it?

Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will after the D&D monster

Traits:

Predatory

Aggressive

Powerful

Lore: The first monster encountered from the Upside Down and the creature responsible for Will's disappearance in Season 1.