In “The Handmaid’s Tale,” what name is the protagonist given? She is called Offred.
Offred is the name assigned to the protagonist when she becomes a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, Margaret Atwood’s patriarchal theocracy. The name follows Gilead’s possessive naming system: “Of” plus the first name of the male Commander who controls the household. She is initially assigned to Commander Fred, producing the name “Offred.”
The name is more than an identifying label. It reduces a woman’s identity to her reproductive role and her connection to a powerful man. The protagonist’s original name is not explicitly revealed in Atwood’s 1985 novel, which reinforces the regime’s attempt to erase her individual history. “Offred” also echoes “offered,” suggesting sacrifice, and can evoke the red clothing imposed on Handmaids.
Readers sometimes answer “June,” because the television adaptation identifies her as June Osborne and the novel contains clues that invite that interpretation. However, for the question asking what name Gilead gives her, “Offred” is the canonical answer. Other names such as Ofglen and Ofwarren belong to different Handmaids or later assignments.