In Ursula K. Le Guin’s fantasy novel A Wizard of Earthsea, Ged’s true name is Duny. He is given the public-use name Sparrowhawk during childhood, while Ogion the Silent gives him the secret name Ged when he comes of age.
True names are a fundamental part of Earthsea’s magic. Knowing the true name of a person or thing gives a magician power over it, so such names are normally protected. The distinction between public names and true names shapes Ged’s education and his growing understanding of responsibility.
Ged begins as a gifted but proud village boy. After provoking a dangerous shadow during a magical contest, he must confront the consequence of his ambition. The novel treats that struggle as a journey toward balance and self-knowledge rather than simply a battle against an external villain.
A Wizard of Earthsea was published in 1968 and begins the Earthsea series. Its sequels include The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore. Sparrowhawk is the character’s commonly used nickname, not his true name.