# Works in which two different characters have the same name **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022 "2024-09-09T17:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/41 "2024-09-10T15:07:18Z")
It’s been awhile since I read _Wolf Hall_, but if I remember the plot, it was about a guy named Thomas whose rival Thomas didn’t like him so allied with Thomas, who was friends with William, and William asked Thomas to tell William to betray John, because John thought William was friends with John, and Thomas decided to go ahead and do it. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/42 "2024-09-10T15:12:52Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > In season 5 _The Sopranos_ had two Tonys. Tony Blundetto, usually referred to as “Tony B” by the characters, and of course Tony Soprano, who needed no last initial. Wasn’t there also a second “Tony Soprano” and the family identified them by whose nephew they were? It’s been a while since I watched it. In _The Last Temptation of Christ_, there’s Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary (Magdelene) and Mary (sister of Lazarus). ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/43 "2024-09-10T15:25:19Z")
In Monk… Mr. Monk and the Big Game. Monk was an assistant coach and the team had two players named Emily. There were several comments about that. Mr. Monk and the Three Julies. There were two people murdered named Julie Teeger. The daughter of one of the main characters is also Julie Teeger. So, there were three people named Julie Teeger. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/44 "2024-09-10T15:34:41Z")
There’s another example in your username… ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/45 "2024-09-10T15:37:40Z")
“Sarah Connor?” “Yes?” BLAM! BLAM, BLAM, BLAM! “Shit, wrong one!” ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/46 "2024-09-10T15:38:12Z")
Technically, at the start of _The Terminator_ there were three Sarah Connors, all essential to the plot even though two were not on camera. By the end of the movie there was one, essential to the future of all humanity. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/47 "2024-09-10T15:41:14Z")
Reading my mind, again? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/48 "2024-09-10T15:41:52Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Technically, at the start of _The Terminator_ there were three Sarah Connors, all essential to the plot even though two were not on camera. By the end of the movie there was one, essential to the future of all humanity You got Ninja’d! Your only hope is to travel back in time and kill all the @burpo_the_wonder_mutt’s in the phone book before they can post ahead of you. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/49 "2024-09-10T15:42:53Z")
Woah, shit! Thankfully, my number’s unlisted! ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/50 "2024-09-10T15:48:40Z")
I think you said it better than me. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/51 "2024-09-10T16:09:33Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > The Bible gives us the apostles James and James-the-Less. Sucks to come in second, doesn’t it? Imagine being stuck with that nickname for 2000 years. > [@silenus](#): > > How many Marys are there in the Bible? Also John the Baptist and John the Apostle. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/52 "2024-09-10T16:22:02Z")
_I, Claudius_ was a nightmare of similar names. Graves gave them all separate names, some of which he invented to keep them distinct. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (Augustus) Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (Tiberius) Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula) Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus (Claudius) Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus (Britannicus) Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Nero) Agrippina the Elder (Agrippina) Julia Agrippina the Younger (‘Agrippinila’) Julia Drusilla (Drusilla) and so on. You need a score table to keep track of them. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/53 "2024-09-10T16:27:34Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > Wasn’t there also a second “Tony Soprano” and the family identified them by whose nephew they were? It’s been a while since I watched it. Tony B was Tony Soprano’s cousin, so I wonder if that’s who you’re thinking of. I don’t recall a second Tony Soprano, but it’s been equally long since I’ve watched it. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/54 "2024-09-10T16:37:40Z")
“Hi, I’m Larry. This is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl.” ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/55 "2024-09-10T16:39:31Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Tony B was Tony Soprano’s cousin, so I wonder if that’s who you’re thinking of. I don’t recall a second Tony Soprano, but it’s been equally long since I’ve watched it. Yeah, I think you’re right. The confusion was when people called for “Tony” they’d have to say “Tony Uncle Junior” or the other one. I thought it was because there were two Tony Sopranos. Never mind me. Though in the same vein, does the wedding reception in Goodfellas count, as it’s filled with Peters, Pauls and all their girlfriends and daughters named Marie? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/56 "2024-09-10T16:53:14Z")
Joey Tribbiani has _ **how** _ many sisters named Gina? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/57 "2024-09-10T17:50:36Z")
Karen in _Goodfellas_: > It was like he had two families. The first time I was introduced to all of them at once, it was crazy. Paulie and his brothers had lots of sons and nephews. And almost all of them were named Peter or Paul. It was unbelievable. There must have been two dozen Peters and Pauls at the wedding. Plus, they were all married to girls named Marie. And they named all their daughters Marie. By the time I finished meeting everybody, I thought I was drunk. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/58 "2024-09-10T17:55:48Z")
The movie _Kelly’s Heroes_ had Big Joe (Telly Savalas) and Little Joe (Stuart Margolin). ---
**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:** [September 10, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/59 "2024-09-10T17:58:01Z")
Just thought of another obvious one: _Heathers_. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2024, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022/60 "2024-09-10T18:28:08Z")
Dupont and Dupon **d**. I always liked how one would say something like “with a P as in psychology or pterodactyl” A Song of Ice and Fire has of course multi-generational names, but as contemporaries the Frey family has a very large tree with multiple Walders. Including two named Big Walder and Little Walder (the big one is smaller). In the Book of the New Sun, Severian travels with a kid named Severian. He is not a safe travelling companion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/works-in-which-two-different-characters-have-the-same-name/1007022.md?page=4)