What is the real name of the character 'Soap' MacTavish?

The real name of the character “Soap” MacTavish is John MacTavish.

John “Soap” MacTavish is a Scottish soldier and a central character in Call of Duty’s original Modern Warfare trilogy. He first appears in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) as a newly recruited member of the British Special Air Service’s 22nd Regiment. The nickname “Soap” is his callsign, not his surname or real identity.

Soap begins as the player character in Call of Duty 4, where he serves under Captain John Price. In Modern Warfare 2, he becomes an experienced Task Force 141 commander and is playable during several late missions. Modern Warfare 3 continues his story and depicts his death during the hunt for Vladimir Makarov.

A common mix-up comes from the other members of Task Force 141: Kyle Garrick is “Gaz,” Simon Riley is “Ghost,” and John Price is the captain who commands Soap in the original timeline. The later rebooted continuity also uses the name John MacTavish, although the character’s history and portrayal differ.