# Why do we call noted murderers by their full names? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133 "2013-02-12T23:40:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/21 "2013-02-13T21:11:28Z")
A good friend of mine is named Stephen Hayes, same name as one of the monsters responsible for the Connecticut home invasion and murders. He ain’t happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/22 "2013-02-13T21:28:30Z")
There is a well respected , and very eminent, luthier by the name of David Berkowitz, who many years ago I chose to make a joke with on a forum, given that his name was the same as "Son of Sam " … His civilised, and considered, reply to my crass posting has remained with me all these years …I had never stopped to think what a burden his name must have been to him in high school … ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/23 "2013-02-13T21:56:54Z")
Could it be simply that this is how the people referred to themselves? That’s why only some use middle name. I use my middle initial all the time. . With true crime aficianados (yes my dirty secret too) it is common to simply refer to gacy, bundy, Ramirez etc. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/24 "2013-02-13T22:24:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I think that is it. No one wants to be confused with a notorious murderer or a serial killer. That extra bit of clarification goes a long way to eliminate any confusion. The chances of any two people having all three names in common is usually hundreds or more times smaller than just having the same first and last name. Holy Sh-t! Some dude with my first, middle, and last name was recently a leader of the LDS church in a particular reasonably well known country, and was considered a “general authority” of the LDS church (whatever that means). Sorry - can’t elaborate; I value my semi-anonymity, but I was impressed when I googled myself! :eek: I so far haven’t been able to find an evil namesake (unless you consider the LDS evil). ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/25 "2013-02-13T22:46:20Z")
I have an acquaintance named Amanda Marie Knox, no not that one. She even resembles her IMHO superficially. Her FB life is really interesting and guys in bars… Have some interesting er suggestions. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/26 "2013-02-14T01:05:26Z")
Although it might make John William Smith feel better when the killer is announced as John Thomas Smith, how many people who know the first Mr. Smith would know his middle name? How many of your acquaintances know yours? For me, maybe 2 or 3 out of a hundred. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/27 "2013-02-14T01:27:58Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Although it might make John William Smith feel better when the killer is announced as John Thomas Smith, how many people who know the first Mr. Smith would know his middle name? > > How many of your acquaintances know yours? For me, maybe 2 or 3 out of a hundred. I don’t have any experience with this. My name is unique to the world as far as I know and I have looked. However, I would guess that it helps when you are dealing with official matters like a routine traffic stop if you can make a quick distinction between yourself and a notorious criminal. Presumably your friends and acquaintances can figure it out in other ways but other people you deal with might not find it so easy without that extra identity marker. ---
**Author:** ![Terra1041](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Terra1041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terra1041)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/28 "2013-02-14T01:32:33Z")
Not a noted murderer, but I always wondered why Martin Luther King is always referred to with his middle name in there. Is there any other famous Martin King that has to be distinguished from him? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/29 "2013-02-14T02:02:47Z")
> [@Terra1041](#): > > Not a noted murderer, but I always wondered why Martin Luther King is always referred to with his middle name in there. Is there any other famous Martin King that has to be distinguished from him? His first and middle name have historical significance and are meant to be used together. [Martin Luther](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther) was the key figure in the Protestant Reformation during the 1500’s. It was important enough to their family to name his father Martin Luther King (Sr.) as well. Some family traditions especially in the South and among Irish populations use the first and middle name more as a double first name. I doubt Martin Luther King Jr. went by a double first name throughout his early life but the historical parallels with his namesake make it easy to see why people use his full name today. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/30 "2013-02-14T03:41:51Z")
I once worked with a fellow named James Ray. He said the FBI did show up at his house after MLK was murdered. However, he was only 5 at the time, so they left soon. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/31 "2013-02-14T03:51:07Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > Happened on Seinfeld, when Elaine dated a guy with the same name as a serial killer. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV0oCv4lDmc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV0oCv4lDmc) Lightning would’ve struck twice had he gone with “OJ.” ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/32 "2013-02-15T02:23:35Z")
There was another fellow named Jimmy Raye who was a college quarterback just before the King assassination. He played at Michigan State in 1965-1967, best known as the starting QB in the famous “tie one for the Gipper” game against Notre Dame. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/33 "2013-02-15T03:18:11Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Because the news stories generally first pick up their names from police reports, which use suspect’s full names. And that is also the reason why in Spain they’re often given as _José Luis Pérez García, alias “el Madriles”_ (with my apologies to any actual JL PG who happens to be from Madrid): it’s how police press releases give it. > [@Terra1041](#): > > Not a noted murderer, but I always wondered why Martin Luther King is always referred to with his middle name in there. Is there any other famous Martin King that has to be distinguished from him? As **Shagnasty** explained, because “Martin Luther” isn’t quite the same as “Martin”. In Spanish those would be considered _nombres compuestos_, multi-word names: others include Francis Xavier (any Xavier baptised with that name is always a Francis), Francis Borja or Francis Borgia (same), Francis Sales (ibid.) and Francis Assissi (the default Francis, being the oldest saint by that name). ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/34 "2013-02-15T12:38:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What’s Ted Bundy’s middle name? How about Sirhan Sirhan? Robert and Bishara. No, I didn’t look. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/35 "2013-02-15T12:52:54Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I so far haven’t been able to find an evil namesake (unless you consider the LDS evil). Nitpick: A “namesake” is someone who has been named specifically for the purpose of honoring or memorializing you. It’s not just anyone who coincidentally has the same name. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/36 "2013-02-15T12:55:21Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > See, for example, [this story](http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=123793&page=1) about a (non-murder related) cease-and-desist letter over name confusion. That’s not a very good example, because I don’t see how there could possibly be a legitimate claim of any kind in that case. Using your name as your name doesn’t give you exclusive rights in that name qua name absent any intent to defraud or mislead, no matter how famous you are. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/37 "2013-02-15T13:58:10Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > The same reason your parents call you by your full name - you’ve done something wrong? “Who ruined the President’s skull? Tell me now–Lee Harvey Oswald, was it you? Don’t lie, now. I know it was you.” ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/38 "2013-02-15T15:57:12Z")
Speaking of John Wayne Gacy, Chuck Shepherd, who writes the syndicated News of the Weird column, has compiled a list of people charged with murder having the middle name of Wayne. There’s a ton of them. Something with the Wayne middle name itself? Coincidence? Just the fact that news media includes that middle name for some reason? [http://www.newsoftheweird.com/wayne.html](http://www.newsoftheweird.com/wayne.html) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/39 "2013-02-15T17:05:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > His first and middle name have historical significance and are meant to be used together. [Martin Luther](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther) was the key figure in the Protestant Reformation during the 1500’s. It was important enough to their family to name his father Martin Luther King (Sr.) as well. There was some confusion over the naming. Martin Luther King Senior was named after the Protestant leader. But he was commonly known by his nickname Michael or Mike. King Senior decided to name his son after himself. The doctor, who knew the family, mistakenly thought his friend’s name was actually Michael and recorded the child’s name as Michael Luther King, Junior. So there was a father whose legal name was Martin but who was called Michael and a son whose legal name was Michael but who was called Martin. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133/40 "2013-02-15T17:16:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There was some confusion over the naming. Martin Luther King Senior was named after the Protestant leader. But he was commonly known by his nickname Michael or Mike. King Senior decided to name his son after himself. The doctor, who knew the family, mistakenly thought his friend’s name was actually Michael and recorded the child’s name as Michael Luther King, Junior. So there was a father whose legal name was Martin but who was called Michael and a son whose legal name was Michael but who was called Martin. I did not know that. Cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-call-noted-murderers-by-their-full-names/650133.md?page=3)