# People who named themselves after a famous person - and then became more famous than the person they named themselves after **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 6, 2024, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207 "2024-05-06T22:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/21 "2024-05-07T01:29:39Z")
Well then, Machine Gun Kelly I remember in the 80s, some boxing fans thought the name “Sugar Ray” shouldn’t be used again, like Babe Ruth’s jersey number ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/22 "2024-05-07T01:55:36Z")
Anne Hathaway Tom Hardy Jane Seymour ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/23 "2024-05-07T02:20:07Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Anne Hathaway It seems that’s her original name. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/24 "2024-05-07T02:32:19Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Machine Gun Kelly Charlemagne tha God As with MGK I will never not think of the historical figure when the name comes up on my news feed. Why does a 9th Century Frankish king have an an opinion on DEI? Though I suspect the youth does not think that way. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/25 "2024-05-07T02:44:45Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Martin Luther King, Jr. is more famous than his father But you could make a case that he’s more famous (for some people) than Martin Luther. (I’m assuming that he and his dad are named after ML non-K…) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/26 "2024-05-07T12:57:38Z")
[Elvis HItler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Hitler) failed on both names. mmm ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/27 "2024-05-07T13:24:28Z")
Benito Mussolini was named after Benito Juarez, the “Lincoln” (more or less) of Mexico. They are of similar levels of fame today, but Mussolini is probably more famous overall, especially outside Latin America. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/28 "2024-05-07T13:39:02Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > I expect nowadays MC Hammer is better known than Hank Aaron. Even though Hammer is arguably most known for being the most Has Been anyone has ever been. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/29 "2024-05-07T13:55:11Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Cassius Clay Did the boxer ever say why he chose the name Muhammad Ali? There have been a number of famous [Muhammad Ali](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_(disambiguation))s and [Mehmet Ali](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmet_Ali)s in Islamic history. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/30 "2024-05-07T18:11:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > > [@Andy\_L](#): > > > > Martin Luther King, Jr. is more famous than his father > > But you could make a case that he’s more famous (for some people) than Martin Luther. > > (I’m assuming that he and his dad are named after ML non-K…) There are conflicting stories. Daddy King renamed himself and his five-year-old son after an international Baptist ministry tour that included a stop in Berlin. The popular story is that Sr. was inspired by the Reformation leader, but there’s little evidence the trip included sites related to Luther. Then there is also a story that Martin and Luther were names of the elder’s uncles. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/31 "2024-05-07T18:27:48Z")
Nonetheless, it played better than Huldrych Zwingli, Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/32 "2024-05-07T18:33:58Z")
I think I can say with some confidence that David Ben-Gurion (first Prime Minister of Israel) is more famous that Joseph Ben Gurion (one of the leaders of the Great Jewish Revolt of 66-74 CE). ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/33 "2024-05-07T18:50:16Z")
Englebert Humperdink , the British pop singer, became famous after he stole his stage name from the lesser-known German composer. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/34 "2024-05-07T19:06:47Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > There have been a number of famous [Muhammad Ali](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_(disambiguation))s and [Mehmet Ali](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmet_Ali)s in Islamic history. It seems to be a remarkably popular name among Pakistani cricketers. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/35 "2024-05-07T20:38:08Z")
Whether Nas is more famous than Lil Nas X probably depends on how old you are. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/36 "2024-05-07T21:13:01Z")
As mentioned in the first reply. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/37 "2024-05-07T23:47:58Z")
Ringo Starr might be a tad better known than the outlaw Johnny Ringo. [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNuFmqa9XNbLnN53MkmY9SGe7D4OcjI_3C_CoWZv1WP_Bc9FYP) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNuFmqa9XNbLnN53MkmY9SGe7D4OcjI_3C_CoWZv1WP_Bc9FYP) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/38 "2024-05-08T00:05:41Z")
Buffalo Springfield named the band after the Buffalo-Springfield Roller Company, who manufactured road equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/39 "2024-05-08T00:58:32Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Whether Nas is more famous than Lil Nas X probably depends on how old you are. Likewise Gilbert O’Sullivan vs. Gilbert and Sullivan. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207/40 "2024-05-08T01:00:08Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Englebert Humperdink , the British pop singer, became famous after he stole his stage name from the lesser-known German composer. Poem from Laugh-In (Henry Gibson): O, Engelbert Humperdink, When you drive, does your bumper klink? I assume that Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is more famous than Henry Gibson (born **James Bateman** ). But from 1968 to 1971, the young folks knew Henry better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-named-themselves-after-a-famous-person-and-then-became-more-famous-than-the-person-they-named-themselves-after/1001207.md?page=3)