Neo

The hero of the film is Thomas A. Anderson, also known as Neo. Before Neo frees his mind from the matrix he’s constantly referred to as Mr. Anderson. Once be becomes enlightened, freed from the matrix, he loses that name and is, from then on, referred to as Neo (with the exception of Agent Smith). The changing of his name has a significant meaning; the name Neo, in the Greek language, means ‘new’. Thomas A. Anderson is reborn as Neo, this rebirth shown through the mirror scene. Neo is reborn once he “polishes the mirror of his mind.”

His original name Thomas has a biblical connotation, for the “Doubting Thomas” and Neo constantly doubts that he’s truly “The One.” Neo is also a Christ-like hero, as he dies and is then resurrected by Trinity’s kiss. And Cypher is equivalent to being Neo’s Judas.

There are also references to him being equivalent to Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, and Dorothy, from Wizard of Oz.