The Crying Child does not have a confirmed real name. The official Five Nights at Freddy’s Character Encyclopedia identifies him only as “The Crying Child,” and the personal names fans have proposed, including Evan and Dave, are theories rather than established canon.
What the official guide says
The Five Nights at Freddy’s Character Encyclopedia, published by Scholastic as an AFK Book, uses “The Crying Child” as its label for the character. Its entry, as reproduced on the community-edited Five Nights at Freddy’s Wiki on Fandom, reads: “The Crying Child is the main character of Five Nights at Freddy’s 4. He’s terrorized by the Nightmare Animatronics in his bedroom, but his real story is told in end-of-night minigames.”
That wording is the only attributable description of the character found in the official guide. Because the text is available here through a fan-maintained reproduction, readers who want to quote it should check the printed book directly before relying on the exact phrasing.
The book itself is a 224-page hardcover listed by Scholastic with ISBN 9781338804737 and a publication date of February 2, 2023. Scholastic’s listing identifies Scott Cawthon as the author. The listing describes the book, not the character, so it does not settle the name question on its own.
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Why the name remains unconfirmed
Several names circulate among fans, but they come from interpretation of the games and related material, not from a statement that names him. The fan reference page that reproduces the encyclopedia entry lists the candidates below and marks the character’s name as “Undiscovered.”
| Proposed name | Where it comes from | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The Crying Child | Official Character Encyclopedia label | Official descriptive label; not a personal name |
| Evan Afton | Fan theory | Unconfirmed theory |
| Evan McNally | Fan theory | Unconfirmed theory |
| David “Dave” Afton | Fan theory | Unconfirmed theory |
| Other proposed names | Fan theories listed on the fan reference page | Unconfirmed; the fan page does not treat them as canon |
The distinction matters. “The Crying Child” is the guide’s label for the figure. Evan and Dave are hypotheses, and the fan page itself separates proposed identities from confirmed information. An article or video stating “his real name is Evan” as fact goes beyond what the official material supports.
Rank #2
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What “not confirmed” does and does not mean
This conclusion covers the official guide and the material checked for this article. It does not claim that the character can never be named. Franchise lore has expanded over time, and a future official release could give him a personal name. As of October 2026, though, no official statement, creator interview, or canon source located gives him one. A search of creator interviews also turned up no quoted statement from Scott Cawthon or another named person about the character’s personal name.
Fan phrasing such as “What is the Crying Child’s real name?” reflects how players search for the answer. It is a question about the lore, not evidence that a name exists.
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Rank #3
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How to check for a confirmed name
- Start with the printed Five Nights at Freddy’s Character Encyclopedia from Scholastic, using the ISBN 9781338804737 to confirm the edition you have.
- Search the book’s index or character entries for “Crying Child” and compare the wording with the quote above.
- Check the official Five Nights at Freddy’s channels and in-game material for any new character information, noting the release date of each source.
- Treat community wikis as secondary. A fan page can usefully list theories, but it does not establish canon by listing them.
- If a source names him, confirm that it is an official release and not a theory post or a video that presents a theory as fact.
If you are recommending the book to readers, describe it as a franchise reference and further reading. It is useful for the official description of the character, but it does not provide a confirmed real name.
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Rank #4
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