# Same name, different person. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773 "2005-12-02T18:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/1 "2005-12-02T18:08:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Three months later, the Hulk was able to use telekinesis to divert an asteroid into his spaceship, knocking the ship back on course to Earth. When the ship landed, the electric charge ended, allowing the Hulk to move again. The weakend Hulk used his powers to take over the town of Pineville. Joe Harper returned to combat the Hulk. As the Hulk attempted to use his hypnotic energy on Harper to make Harper’s atoms fly apart, Harper used a mirror to reflect the energy back, causing the Hulk to dissolve. That doesn’t sound like the Hulk I know! Weird. Oh, wait, it’s a tale of [another Monster named the Hulk](http://monsterblog.oneroom.org/meet_the_monsters/the_hulk.html). Freaky. Also, I seem to remeber a Superman villian named Dr. Doom. No relation (Any screen shots avalible?) Anyone have any other examples? Oh, and [Doctor Droom](http://monsterblog.oneroom.org/meet_the_monsters/doctor_droom.html) doesn’t count, smartass. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/2 "2005-12-02T18:10:04Z")
Heck, I can top that. There’s a guy out in Colorado who’s becoming semi-famous as a musician who’s got my exact name. He’s even got it registered as a domain. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/3 "2005-12-02T18:12:15Z")
Holy Hell, that was fast! ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/4 "2005-12-02T19:08:30Z")
[Dennis the Menace](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace_(UK)) and [Dennis the Menace](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/dennis.asp) . ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/5 "2005-12-02T19:18:49Z")
[Winston Churchill](http://tinyurl.com/cp97w) and [Winston Churchill](http://tinyurl.com/73bq6). The latter had to use his middle initial in his writing so he wouldn’t be confused with the former. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/6 "2005-12-03T01:00:19Z")
At one point **Santana** included two different guys named Chester Thompson, one on drums and the other on keyboards. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/7 "2005-12-03T02:40:58Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Heck, I can top that. > > There’s a guy out in Colorado who’s becoming semi-famous as a musician who’s got my exact name. He’s even got it registered as a domain. There is, apparently, a former footballer, now a manager with my name. Though I don’t follow sport and can’t tell you anything about him. Actually, there’s a lot of Peter Morrises out there. [http://www.googlism.com/index.htm?ism=peter+morris&type=1](http://www.googlism.com/index.htm?ism=peter+morris&type=1) variously, we are : executive director of indeco limited, a recognised leader in the construction industry, nuffield professor of surgery emeritus, director of policy and research at the british trade union, former federal transport minister, studying at hyles, a certified practising accountant, communication officer for ice camp sirius, assistant professor of internal medicine, acknowledged as one of the finest, correct, hoping to change all that, #804, a weak little man, head of construction and engineering and such a hot guy. ?Then there’s Gary Graham the actor and Gary Graham the criminal executed on _very_ flimsy evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/8 "2005-12-03T02:51:00Z")
There’s a model/actress who used to go by my name. She’s gone back to her real name of late. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/9 "2005-12-03T03:11:57Z")
When I was in Great Lakes NTC, the Recruit Chief Petty Officer of Company 007 was named James Bond. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/10 "2005-12-03T03:20:21Z")
[Engelbert Humperdink](http://www.dvd4music.com/prodimages/eredv306l.jpg) and [Engelbert Humperdink](http://www.naxos.com/composer/humperdi.htm). [Patricia Neal](http://www.born-today.com/Today/pix/neal_patricia.jpg) and another [Patricia Neal](http://www.speakingofstories.org/Performer%20bios/fannie_flagg.htm) (who now goes by a different name). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/11 "2005-12-03T03:27:13Z")
Several years ago two Amish boys were arrested for possession of crack. Both were named [Abner Stoltzfus](http://www.clge.com/guinness/06.23.98.html) even though they were no relation. If different spellings count, there’s also Charles Dickens the writer of _Oliver Twist_ and Charles Dikkens with 2 k’s, the well known Dutch author (who wrote _Rarnably Budge_). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/12 "2005-12-03T03:38:42Z")
[Jethro Tull](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_Tull_%28agriculturist%29) & [Jethro Tull](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_Tull_%28band%29) Harry Corbett, the pupeteer, creator of **sooty** & Harry Corbett the actor, star of Steptoe & son. The actor adopted an “H” as his middle name, which stands for “Henything you want.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/13 "2005-12-03T03:54:05Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [Patricia Neal](http://www.born-today.com/Today/pix/neal_patricia.jpg) and another [Patricia Neal](http://www.speakingofstories.org/Performer%20bios/fannie_flagg.htm) (who now goes by a different name). Well, if that counts, so does [James Stewart](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/) and [James Stewart](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001289/). There’s also currently an aspiring SF writer who has the same name as a well-established Hugo-winning SF artist. The former has been spamming other SF writers to try to get them to buy his ebook, and hasn’t caught on to the fact that doing that is bad form. The name gets him noticed until they realize there are two of them. George Scithers also told the tale of a writer who kept submitting to him while he was editor of Asimov’s whose name was Robert Heinlein, and didn’t take kindly to suggestions that it might be a good idea for him to use a pen name. AFAIK, he was never published. Lawrence Evans and Lawrence Evans – both authors, the latter hyphenating his middle name and writing as Lawrence Watt-Evans to avoid confusion. The first Lawrence Evans disappeared from the writing scene. [Michael McDowell](http://tinyurl.com/cs5ua) and Michael McDowell – two authors. The latter started writing as Michael Kube-McDowell. In the world of athletics, there was [Chris Evert](http://tinyurl.com/9c9j4) and [Chris Evert](http://tinyurl.com/bqhgf). Both are in the Hall of Fame for their respective sports and that latter had some successful offspring by Secretariat. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/14 "2005-12-03T03:57:42Z")
– Homer Simpson – Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson – I worked with a Paul Neumann – Two Book of Love members with surname Ottaviano, but are of no relation ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/15 "2005-12-03T04:28:31Z")
Well, there’s Graham Greene the British novelist, and Graham Greene the actor (in _Dances With Wolves_ among others). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/16 "2005-12-03T11:01:10Z")
I was just thinking of doing this topic! Keith Lockhart the conductor of the Boston Pops and Keith Lockhart, former mediocre second baseman for the Atlanta Braves It always confused me when one of those holiday concert/fireworks shows would come on and the announcer would say “Apperance by Keith Lockhart”. And I would think, self, why is the mediocre second baseman for the Atlanta Braves appearing on New Year’s At the Capital? ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/17 "2005-12-03T17:27:21Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Winston Churchill](http://tinyurl.com/cp97w) and [Winston Churchill](http://tinyurl.com/73bq6). The latter had to use his middle initial in his writing so he wouldn’t be confused with the former. Ha! Funny you mention this. In my 6th grade History class, we had to write a three-page biography on a famous historical figure, but we were assigned names. I was given Churchill. So I flipped open the encyclopedia to [Winston Churchill](http://www.bartleby.com/65/ch/ChurchlWUS.html). There was only about half a column of material on him, so I made up a bunch of stuff. I got an F on that paper. If I had only turned the page in that encyclopedia… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/18 "2005-12-03T18:17:15Z")
Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame, and Michael McDonald from MadTV. I just Googled the name and IMDB lists nine Michael McDonalds. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/19 "2005-12-03T18:45:38Z")
Odd coincidence. Just last night I happened to be looking up Canadian literature in the Britannica for quite a different reason, and found this: > [@](#): > > In _The Rising Village_ (1825), native-born Oliver Goldsmith used heroic couplets to celebrate pioneer life and the growth of Nova Scotia. His optimistic tones are a direct response to the melancholy poem by his Anglo-Irish greatuncle, Oliver Goldsmith, whose _Deserted Village_ (1770)… And, of course, Supreme Court justices Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Marshall Harlan had famous relatives of the same name. Clement Moore who wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas” was the son of the Episcopal Bishop of New York of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773/20 "2005-12-03T19:59:52Z")
When I was in high school, television was full of Wendy’s commercials starring their founder Dave Thomas. I also had a friend in school named Dave Thomas, and our neighbor across the street was Dave Thomas. But, I would imagine that is quite a common name anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-name-different-person/333773.md?page=2)