# Who shares a famous name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664 "2001-01-25T03:40:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/1 "2001-01-25T03:40:10Z")
In real life, I share the name of someone famous (actually, someone imfamous). She is well enough known that in most situations, upon learning my name, most people make some sort of comment. As a college student, I get to look forward to at least one of these comments in each of my class the first time role is called. That is especially fun in large lecture classes. Even worse, occasionally people comment ‘thats a pretty name’ and I never know if they are making fun of me or not! The worst things is, I can’t do the right thing and hyphonate my maiden name should I get married, because I want to be rid of the damn thing! So does anyone else have this problem? How do you handle it? ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/2 "2001-01-25T04:25:43Z")
I share a name with a sci-fi author. Well, her real name is Alis A. Rasmussen, but her pen name is the same as mine. She wrote the Jaran series, and Crown of Swords. Haven’t read any of her stuff… I should check it out. In another odd parallel, her husband is an archaeologist. That’s what I got my degree in. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/3 "2001-01-25T06:30:42Z")
Well, my real name isn’t shared by anyone, but for a brief while my step-father considered adopting me. If he had, my name would be Sarah Ferguson. I occasionally get mail addressed to the Duchess of York. I think it’s pretty funny these days, but I can imagine how annoying it would be if I had taken that name. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/4 "2001-01-25T06:52:58Z")
My last name is extremely unique. However, quietgirl shares her name with the principal violinist of some symphony or another. Considering she’s a musician, I think it neat. I know a woman named Monica Letwinsky. She has suffered greatly. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/5 "2001-01-25T16:18:20Z")
I have an uncle (by marriage) named Gary Cooper. Which is doubly weird becuase he is the most non-Gary-Cooperish person I’ve ever met. I’m always reminded of the song “Putting on the Ritz” … _Tryin’ real hard to look like Gary Cooper - Super-duper_ So, you want to look like Gary Cooper? Ok, first loose a few of those teeth, pull out most of your hair, gain about 150 pounds, put this mechanics cover-all on, and make sure you got a bottle of Gennesee Cream Ale in your hand and you’ll be a dead ringer. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/6 "2001-01-25T16:25:11Z")
My wife’s name is Grace Kelly. She never heard of the actress until after the accident; since then, everybody bugs her about it. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/7 "2001-01-25T17:27:45Z")
My real name is Michael Bolton. People say I should go by Mike. Why should I change, when he’s the one who sucks? 😉 MR ---
**Author:** ![Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/779978/32.png) [@Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zumba_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/8 "2001-01-25T18:04:00Z")
I went to college with Faye Dunaway. It wasn’t even the result of mean parents. Dunaway was her married name. ---
**Author:** ![shimmery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@shimmery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shimmery)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/9 "2001-01-25T18:35:28Z")
I used to know a kid named James Bond. I remember one time, our gym teacher gave him a detention on the first day of school because when he said his name, he thought he was just being a smartass. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/10 "2001-01-25T18:50:03Z")
Steve Wright the DJ is pretty well-known in the UK, and I am not he. Actually, it’s a depressingly common name. (I’m not even the only Steve Wright in the office where I work!) ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/11 "2001-01-25T20:11:24Z")
Seems like every company I’ve ever worked for has had a Steve Miller on staff. I have yet to break down and ask him where his band is… ::rimshot:: I had a roommate in college for 2 1/2 years named Courtney Cox, and she was bitter about it. And quick to point out that the actress spelled her name COURTENEY, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![WickedAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f6c823/32.png) [@WickedAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WickedAngel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/12 "2001-01-25T20:42:38Z")
I went to high school with a girl named Elizabeth Taylor. She looked nothing like her. But she did want to be an actress. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/13 "2001-01-25T20:43:16Z")
I _ **almost** _ share my name with Bush’s recently appointed treasury secretary. I’m excited – it’ll very nearly be _ **my** _ signature on new American bills. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/14 "2001-01-25T21:06:26Z")
My first name is Tonya. Wonder who pops into the minds of most people when they see that? \ And it was such a GOOD name for a long time, too… ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/15 "2001-01-25T21:17:51Z")
Oh and my grandma’s maiden name is Daniels. She has a brother Jack. Jack Daniels. I actually know another Jack Daniels too. And my neighbor at work was Tom Jones. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2001, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/16 "2001-01-25T21:45:26Z")
I share my name with a model. I’m male. The model is female. I’m amused by this. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/17 "2001-01-25T22:40:44Z")
Not me, but I thought I’d share to help out those who are less than happy with your celebesque names. For a couple years I shared an office with an older coworker. Man was somewhere in his mid to late fifties, so his name was a complete coincidence. This poor, unfortunate soul’s name was… Ed McMahon. His life was a living hell. The business we were in meant huge amounts of phone contact with our clients. Being on the phone constantly meant most people were called back. Imagine, if you will, what it was like calling in to a receptionist for him. Every fifteen to twenty minutes it was the same thing…. Ha ha ha (forced laughter) no, not _that_ Ed McMahon, yeah, I wish he’d call me too. Now, can I speak to… On and on and on it went. I don’t know how he kept from going postal. Nice guy though. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/18 "2001-01-25T23:38:13Z")
My real name is not famous but… Both my first name and last name are very common names and so the combination is also pretty common. I always get other peoples’ mail, e-mail, telephone calls, etc. And obviously I don’t know how much correspondence intended for me has gone astray. The worst part is that I’ve gotten into trouble more than once for someone else’s misbehavior. And there was the time I was interviewed for a (non-paying) job and another guy with the same name was hired. The only plus side was the time I got a call asking me if I wanted them to mail me the check or was I going to come in and pick it up. Seemed like a golden opportunity to take advantage of their confusion – but good sense prevailed and I told them they had the wrong guy. And it was a BIG check too – someone was closing an IRA. ---
**Author:** ![Nancyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d78d45/32.png) [@Nancyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancyfish)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/19 "2001-01-25T23:59:43Z")
I used to go to a vocal coach whose last name was Caruso. Her husband’s first name was Enrico. He was also a singer … an operatic tenor who had studied bel canto extensively. When they were living and working professionally in NYC he got so much crap from people thinking he was putting on airs by going with the name Enrico Caruso that he actually started using a different name professionally! When I was growing up the grocery store owner’s name was Charlie Brown. He would occasionally call a supplier on the phone and get crack comments when he introduced himself – often they didn’t believe that was his real name. Teachers I have worked with: Danny Thomas Robert Frost (an English teacher!) Chuck Norris (a Chorus teacher, bwah-ha-ha) Dennis Miller ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664/20 "2001-01-26T01:17:16Z")
I share my real-life name with one of the babies who played the Arizona quints in “Raising Arizona”. Doesn’t get much more famous than that, does it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-shares-a-famous-name/51664.md?page=2)