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
Anne Hathaway
Tom Hardy
Jane Seymour
It seems that’s her original name.
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.
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…)
Elvis HItler failed on both names.
mmm
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.
Even though Hammer is arguably most known for being the most Has Been anyone has ever been.
Did the boxer ever say why he chose the name Muhammad Ali?
There have been a number of famous Muhammad Alis and Mehmet Alis in Islamic history.
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.
Nonetheless, it played better than Huldrych Zwingli, Jr.
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).
Englebert Humperdink , the British pop singer, became famous after he stole his stage name from the lesser-known German composer.
It seems to be a remarkably popular name among Pakistani cricketers.
Whether Nas is more famous than Lil Nas X probably depends on how old you are.
As mentioned in the first reply.
Ringo Starr might be a tad better known than the outlaw Johnny Ringo.
Buffalo Springfield named the band after the Buffalo-Springfield Roller Company, who manufactured road equipment.
Likewise Gilbert O’Sullivan vs. Gilbert and Sullivan.
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.