# (Semi) Well-known people who share unusual names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839 "2010-12-30T16:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/1 "2010-12-30T16:47:27Z")
Who are some people, at least semi-famous, who have the same, uncommon name as another famous person? Such as: [Brandon Flowers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Flowers), lead singer for The Killers and [Brandon Flowers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Flowers_%28American_football%29), Kansas City Chiefs cornerback ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/2 "2010-12-30T17:25:22Z")
And - it’s occurred to me this might belong in the Game Room. Mods, what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/3 "2010-12-30T17:26:00Z")
Sir [Francis Bacon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon) philosopher. [Francis Bacon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon_%28artist%29) artist (painter). ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/4 "2010-12-30T17:27:52Z")
Not quite what you’re looking for, but I was hella confused this last election season because I kept getting Rand Paul and Ron Paul mixed up in my head. I knew one was one’s son, but couldn’t keep track of who was who. ---
**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 30, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/5 "2010-12-30T17:39:59Z")
[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_Abdul-Jabbar) and [Karim Abdul-Jabbar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul-Karim_al-Jabbar) (until the better known Abdul-Jabbar forced the other own to use Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar instead. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/6 "2010-12-30T17:48:55Z")
Sir Richard Burton, actor Sir Richard Burton, explorer ---
**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:** [December 30, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/7 "2010-12-30T18:02:49Z")
Kenny Rogers the ex-major league pitcher. Kenny Rogers the gambler and coward of the county who left Lucille with four hungry children because Ruby took her love to town through the years. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liddle_Lamsy_Divey)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/8 "2010-12-30T18:04:05Z")
[Matthew Perry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_C._Perry), commodore [Matthew Perry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Perry#Film), actor ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/9 "2010-12-30T18:04:12Z")
Two with San Francisco ties: [Roger Craig](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Craig_(American_football)) - football player [Roger Craig](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Craig_(baseball)) - baseball player/manager ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/10 "2010-12-30T18:44:58Z")
Are any of the names posted thus far really ‘uncommon’ as defined by the OP? Even “Brandon Flowers” is not all that uncommon IMO, as I know lots of "Brandon"s and I know several families with “Flowers” as a surname. John Daly is name shared by a professional golfer and the former host of _Whats My Line_ but I don’t consider the name “John Daly” uncommon. Now, if there was another “Kitty Carlisle” beside the one who was on _Whats my Line_, I would consider that an uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/11 "2010-12-30T19:23:24Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Are any of the names posted thus far really ‘uncommon’ as defined by the OP? Even “Brandon Flowers” is not all that uncommon IMO, as I know lots of "Brandon"s and I know several families with “Flowers” as a surname. To clarify, I mean as a combined name. So, “Brandon Flowers” is going to be not all that common, even if there are a fair number of Brandons and Flowers. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/12 "2010-12-30T19:31:36Z")
In an extremely strange coincidence that somewhat makes up for the commonality of the name (Wikipedia lists 4 others), Alan White is the name of two English rock drummers. > **[Alan White (Yes drummer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_White_%28Yes_drummer%29)** > > Alan White (14 June 1949 – 26 May 2022) was an English drummer, best known for his almost 50-year tenure in the progressive rock band Yes. He joined Yes in 1972 as a replacement for original drummer Bill Bruford. He was the longest-serving member of the band and the only member besides original bassist Chris Squire never to leave. > In 1969, White joined John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band, after Lennon invited him to play at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival, followed by a sho... > **[Alan White (Oasis drummer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_White_%28Oasis_drummer%29)** > > Alan Victor "Whitey" White (born 26 May 1972) is an English drummer, best known as the drummer of the rock band Oasis from 1995 to 2004. Before Oasis, he was the drummer of Starclub from 1991 to 1994. He joined the band in April 1995 after the band's original drummer Tony McCarroll was removed, and is the longest-serving drummer in Oasis's history, performing on three studio albums, a B-side compilation, and one live album during his tenure, as well as recording one track that would be appear ... Additionally, Alan White the elder played drums on some of John Lennon’s solo hits. Lennon was in some obscure band whose drummer was Ringo Starr. Ringo’s son, Zach Starkey, replaced Alan White the younger as the drummer for Oasis. The younger Alan White was also born the same year the older Alan White joined Yes. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/13 "2010-12-30T19:31:45Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Are any of the names posted thus far really ‘uncommon’ as defined by the OP? Awright… Flagstaff Steampickle Frakkenhammer is a fictional character I just invented. Flagstaff Steampickle Frakkenhammer is \*another \*fictional character I just invented. (assuming fictional names count; if not, nevermind) mmm ---
**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 30, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/14 "2010-12-30T19:35:41Z")
I assume cases like Englebert Humperdink (where the singer deliberately took the composer’s name as a stage name) don’t count? ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/15 "2010-12-30T20:12:09Z")
Jesse James, Outlaw Jesse James, Actor (?), Husband of Sandra Bullick Abraham Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln, early 19th century mayor of Worcester, Mass. Jerry Lewis, Actor Jerry Lee Lewis, Singer Winston Churchill, British Statesman Winston Churchill, late 19th century American author ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/16 "2010-12-30T20:12:32Z")
Back about ten years ago, there were two NFL players playing at the same time with the same name, but I don’t recall it (and not Curt/Kurt Warner). ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/17 "2010-12-30T20:41:00Z")
There are two people in show biz with the name Nick Wechsler. One is a movie producer and the husband of Stephane Romanov (who played Lilah on ‘Angel’.) The other is an ‘It’s that guy again’ TV actor, best known for his regular parts on Team Knight Rider and Roswell. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/18 "2010-12-30T20:56:13Z")
Do Eva Longoria, Actress, and Evan Longoria, major league baseball player, count? ---
**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 30, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/19 "2010-12-30T21:08:53Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > In an extremely strange coincidence that somewhat makes up for the commonality of the name (Wikipedia lists 4 others), Alan White is the name of two English rock drummers. And the elder Alan White’s bandmate in Yes, Steve Howe, shares his name with a major league baseball player. ---
**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 30, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839/20 "2010-12-30T21:15:09Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > Jesse James, Actor (?), Husband of Sandra Bullick Custom motorcycle builder. Owner of West Coast Choppers. His television work has been mostly based around that. (Also, he’s Bullock’s _ex_-husband.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-well-known-people-who-share-unusual-names/565839.md?page=2)