Tiffany Problem
An anachronism of perception where historically accurate facts, names, or details are rejected by modern audiences as unrealistic because they clash with contemporary associations.
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Origin
Science fiction author Jo Walton coined the term, naming it after the medieval name Tiffany — an anglicization of Theophania ("appearance of God"), attested since the 12th century and often given to girls born on Epiphany. Despite its genuine antiquity, no historical fiction writer could name a character Tiffany without readers assuming it was an anachronism.
Updated February 22, 2026