People with notable names- how do you approach them?

[dwc1970]

A few days ago I had a client whose real name was William Shakespeare. In the interest of professionalism, and because I know I would not be the first person to say something like, "Have you written any good plays lately?" and that these guys must be tired of such lame jokes, I respectfully treated him just like I'd treat anybody else and didn't call any attention to the fact that, "Hey, you're named after that famous playwright!"

Even if the person was not someone I spoke to in a work-related or other professional environment I'd be reluctant to make any references to their celebrity counterpart because if I had such a name myself I'd be sick to death of people making lame jokes all the time.

So my question is, how do you approach such people, whether it's in a professional or casual environment? Likewise, if your own name is the same as that of a famous person (and you don't have to indicate what that name is), how do you feel when people make jokes and references to the celebrity name?

[Icarus]

I think it would be appropriate to say something like, "Interesting name, easy to remember." - and leave it at that. That way they have an opening to comment if they feel like it.

My name is the same as a well known character in fiction and I suffered through getting the same lame jokes over and over and over. Often when someone meets me and repeats the lame joke, they follow with, "Bet you hear that all the time." It takes a lot of self control to keep from replying, "No, actually I haven't heard that since third grade."

[kopek]

We have had clients with famous names who turned out to be THE famous one so unless it is a long dead name we tend to basically ignore it. Like you say, they probably have heard it all their lives and its probably old. One time I did make it partly a joke but that was in person and face to face. Someone came in wanting to sell some things and introduced himself as Jack London so as I shook his hand I said "Hello - I'm Walt Whitman. Naaah - not really. But I just had to say that." In this case the humor worked and he's been a great client ever since.

[Freddy the Pig]

Never make jokes or dumb remarks about a person's name, ever. It's easy to give offense (you don't know their family history or what the name might mean to them), and in any case they've been hearing the same jokes since nursery school.

[Duke]

"Please....call me Mike."

[Really Not All That Bright]

Why should I change? He's the one who sucks!

[alice_in_wonderland]

I have a famous name (although it's becoming less so with the passage of time. I hope).

Frankly, the name jokes are super lame and honestly people, there are none that I haven't heard. None. At all. I'm 37 years old. Every joke you make has been made by someone else 50 times.

In social settings I give it a pass (assuming the person's not being a jerk about it) because I know that it is a talking point and sometimes people are nervous when meeting new people and there's no need for me to be a bag about it.

However, I have no time for it in a professional setting. Typically if someone points it out in such a setting I'll just say 'It's a family name.' (which it is). If they persist I put on my best dead-pan and say something like 'Wow. No, no one has EVER made a comment about my name - you're the first!' When they reply 'Really.' I say 'No, not really.'

[Really Not All That Bright]

I bet you're a heck of a dancer though.

[alice_in_wonderland]

I bet you're a heck of a dancer though.

Wow. I've never heard that before. That's a good one.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Really?

[alice_in_wonderland]

Really?

No. Not really.


:p

[GESancMan]

As a former pizza delivery driver, I fully understand how it feels to be approached with lame "jokes" fifty times a day. So when someone has a notable name, I simply say nothing about it.

As for my name - I have the same last name as a character on South Park, and I think it's cool when people make the connection. That could be because it doesn't happen often, though, so I haven't become sick of it.

[Really Not All That Bright]

I respect your authoritah.

[MeanOldLady]

Typically if someone points it out in such a setting I'll just say 'It's a family name.' (which it is). If they persist I put on my best dead-pan and say something like 'Wow. No, no one has EVER made a comment about my name - you're the first!' When they reply 'Really.' I say 'No, not really.'I do this quite a bit. Sometimes, when I really want to lay it on thick, I say I've never heard that joke before in a complete deadpan, and when they respond with surprise, say, "No, I'm kidding. I've heard that at least [insert actual, non-exaggerated estimate how many times I've heard it in my life]." It's so great to watch that little spark in their eyes wither away when you tell them their original number has been played to be at least 100 times.

[Colibri]

Never make jokes or dumb remarks about a person's name, ever. It's easy to give offense (you don't know their family history or what the name might mean to them), and in any case they've been hearing the same jokes since nursery school.

Hear, hear. My last name means something, and I've been hearing the obvious joke about it for more than 50 years. I usually just smile wanly and ignore it.

[Mosier]

Samir Naga.... Naga.... Nagonna work here anymore!

[Leaffan]

Bounder: Ah good morning. I'm Bounder of Adventure.
Tourist: My name is Smoke-Too-Much.
Bounder: What?
Tourist: My name is Smoke-Too-Much. Mr Smoke-Too-Much.
Bounder: Well you'd better cut down a little then.
Tourist: What?
Bounder: You'd better cut down a little then.
Tourist: Oh I see! Cut down a bit, for Smoke-Too-Much.
Bounder: Yes, he he...I expect you get people making jokes about your name all the time, eh?
Tourist: No, no actually. Actually, it never struck me before. Smoke...too...much!

[GESancMan]

I respect your authoritah.

That's not it, mmkay?

[WOOKINPANUB]

Not exactly the same thing but my name is the title of a fairly famous song that, not only is it old , but frankly, a grown man should feel a bit ridiculous singing. Yet it happens all the time and it never ceases to amuse me.

As to how I approach people with notable names - luckily I have learned from this board that people are very sensitive about these things and so I keep my unoriginal, unappreciated humor to myself :)

[garygnu]

I've asked them if they get comments, but I leave it at that unless the person engages.

[Rafe Hollister]

Whenever I happen to meet someone with a famous name I just look at it as an easy way to remember that person. In my line of work I am introduced to at least one or two new people almost every day so it is easy to forget names. In once case, I met a woman in the course of my job who has the name of a character in a Shel Silverstein poem. I knew it would be easy to recognize her the next time I see her. Then two weeks ago her name came up in the local news for being drunk and trying to steal liquor from a grocery store at 5 AM and pulling a knife on the store employees. So in that case, it kinda backfired against her.

[Leaffan]

Not exactly the same thing but my name is the title of a fairly famous song that, not only is it old , but frankly, a grown man should feel a bit ridiculous singing. Yet it happens all the time and it never ceases to amuse me.

As to how I approach people with notable names - luckily I have learned from this board that people are very sensitive about these things and so I keep my unoriginal, unappreciated humor to myself :)

Mandy?
Delilah?

[Really Not All That Bright]

Lucy?
Layla?
Charlotte [the Harlot]?

[Bob Ducca]

Mandy?
Delilah?

I'll play too...

Matilda?

[Annie-Xmas]

My standard line is "Boy. You must have heard all the jokes."

It makes them laugh.

[alice_in_wonderland]

I've asked them if they get comments, but I leave it at that unless the person engages.

And have any of them ever answered, in ernest, "No, I never get comments."?

'Cus really, this isn't much better than cracking a joke.

[WOOKINPANUB]

Mandy?
Delilah?

Well, a grown man ought to feel foolish singing these, but no.

Lucy?
Layla?
Charlotte [the Harlot]?

Oh, har de har har (lot)

No, I regularly get lame (but fun) attempts at "Sherry" complete with falsetto.

[Sigmagirl]

Lucy?
Layla?
Charlotte [the Harlot]?

I'll play too...

Matilda?

You're all wrong. His name is "I Am the Walrus."

[Wheelz]

I have the same last name as a famous singer/songwriter. I had an uncle (now deceased) who shared his first name as well.
So whenever somebody says "any relation to so-and-so?" I can truthfully proclaim, "Yeah, he's my uncle!"
And if they don't press for details there's no reason to clarify whether or not my uncle is the famous one. ;)

[shiftless]

My name is the same as a famous person who even has a few songs about him. I have heard all of those songs before, more than once, even the off color variations. Whatever joke, quip, diddy or reference you are compelled to make I've heard so many times I can't even get interested anymore. These days my response is to ignore any comment about my name. So, if you really want to make a bad first impression and you want a dead stare as your reward, then go ahead and tell me all about how my name is famous.

[WOOKINPANUB]

My name is the same as a famous person who even has a few songs about him. I have heard all of those songs before, more than once, even the off color variations. Whatever joke, quip, diddy or reference you are compelled to make I've heard so many times I can't even get interested anymore. These days my response is to ignore any comment about my name. So, if you really want to make a bad first impression and you want a dead stare as your reward, then go ahead and tell me all about how my name is famous.


Is that you, LeRoy Brown?

<shivers under weight of dead stare>

[Drain Bead]

I have a co-worker named Jeannie who gives the shiftless treatment to anyone who makes a joke about whether or not she grants wishes.

[shiftless]

Is that you, LeRoy Brown?

<shivers under weight of dead stare>

If only my name was LeRoy Brown (badest man in the whole damned town.) Who would make a lame joke to LeRoy's face?

[Katriona]

I have a famous name (although it's becoming less so with the passage of time. I hope).

Frankly, the name jokes are super lame and honestly people, there are none that I haven't heard. None. At all. I'm 37 years old. Every joke you make has been made by someone else 50 times.



Same here. My name's the same as a prominent political dynasty, and yes, I'm pretty sure I've heard them all. Multiple times.

"Oh, wow, that's even funnier than the first million times I heard it!" NOT.

[Tastes of Chocolate]

In college, I had a roommate who's father was Donald Duck. Yep, Donald Duck.
It was really obvious that the whole family had heard jokes over and over. So we pretty much ignored it.

Except for when my roommate applied for a summer intern ship, hotel/restaurant management, with Disney. The interviewer came right out and said "How do we not hire the daughter of Donald Duck".

[Anaamika]

Oh, please, don't make any jokes. i don't have a famous name (in this country) but my nick was so bad when I was growing up that to this day I won't go by that name anymore. I hate those fucking jokes and I hated that fucking name.

Now I am less hateful of it but still never tell anyone. My current name gets only a few jokes but much worse is the "That's a strange/weird name". Thanks, fucker.

[Not a Platypus]

I have a reasonably uncommon name (for a person. Very common with food, pets and perhaps strippers) and have heard all of the jokes. I wish people would stop, so I feel I should at least grant that courtesy to people I meet with notable names. I know how it feels, so why would I contribute to the BS?

[alice_in_wonderland]

I have a reasonably uncommon name (for a person. Very common with food, pets and perhaps strippers) and have heard all of the jokes. I wish people would stop, so I feel I should at least grant that courtesy to people I meet with notable names. I know how it feels, so why would I contribute to the BS?

I suspect that your first name and my first name may be the same. Sadly, I also have the famous matching last name.

<sob>

[Not a Platypus]

I suspect that your first name and my first name may be the same. Sadly, I also have the famous matching last name.

<sob>


I'm sorry. I guess I'm lucky that my last name isn't terribly notable, but it isn't common in this country, so it's mispronounced/misspelled frequently.

[Nametag]

Oh, God. Please say nothing. It's just a name. My name gets over 19,000,000 Google hits, and I'm quite certain none of them relate to me. I hate the jokes, the "clever" remarks, and even the "I guess you get a lot of..." comments. Just don't go there.

[Waffle Decider]

My name sounds very similar to the (unusual) name of the protagonist of a well known movie of the 80s. Yeah, I've heard all the jokes before. Let's just say that anyone who brings this up has made a very poor first impression.

[Ephemera]

I go by my middle name, but my first name and last name, when read distractedly, looks like a famous singer's. I've gotten a few comments, and it's obnoxious.

I'm more annoyed by the people that insist on calling me by a diminutive when I introduce myself with my full name. Is two syllables instead of one really that much of a hassle?

[MoodIndigo1]

I have the same name as an erstwhite famous person, but only one person has ever noticed the fact: an aging Irish Jesuit.

Jim Jones, the name of a man a knew socially some time ago, it must be a hard name to carry.

[Wheelz]

Who would make a lame joke to LeRoy's face?
Big Jim Walker?

[GuanoLad]

As for my name - I have the same last name as a character on South Park, and I think it's cool when people make the connection.If my name was Choksondik, I'd change it by deed poll. You might want to think about that.

[don't ask]

Well I wouldn't be able to help myself. If you introduced me to William Shakespeare I would have to say, "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy."

[Sailboat]

When I was young, I once worked for an American branch of an international company headquartered in the UK. Many of our senior executives were British, and they were all very pleasant and socially correct.

Also, one of them was a tall man with a high hairline and ears that stuck out slightly. He didn't look a lot like Sean Connery, but if someone said, "Hey, he looks a little like Sean Connery," it would have been understandable.

Also, he was named Bond.

James Bond.

For real.

There's just no way, professionally speaking, that one can mention the obvious to someone who looks vaguely Connery-esque, has an English accent, (not Scottish, at least) and is named James Bond, without looking like some dimwitted American yokel.

So we didn't. He introduced himself as Jim, and that's what we called him.

But sometimes, after he'd taken the elevator back upstairs, I'd look at my office-mate and we'd both begin quietly humming the James Bond theme.

[Anaamika]

I'm more annoyed by the people that insist on calling me by a diminutive when I introduce myself with my full name. Is two syllables instead of one really that much of a hassle?

You know how I feel about this, but unasked for dimunitives offend me. If someone says their name is X, that's their name! Not what you make up to be their name.

[cochrane]

I used to work with a guy named Bart. His last name wasn't Simpson, but he got all the inevitable joking about it. ("Bart! Why you little...," etc.) Fortunately he was very easygoing and had a good sense of humor. It also helped that he was a Simpsons fan.

[KennerTheGreat]

Same here. My name's the same as a prominent political dynasty, and yes, I'm pretty sure I've heard them all. Multiple times.

"Oh, wow, that's even funnier than the first million times I heard it!" NOT.

Are you a Kennedy too? My last name is Kennedy, my first initial is J. People seem oddly disappointed when they find out my middle name is Alan.

[joebuck20]

I used to work with a guy named Bart. His last name wasn't Simpson, but he got all the inevitable joking about it. ("Bart! Why you little...," etc.) Fortunately he was very easygoing and had a good sense of humor. It also helped that he was a Simpsons fan.

I seem to recall there was a guy in the Indianapolis phone book years ago named Bartholomew Simpson. I always wondered how he dealt with the jokes.