This reminds me of a documentary series I wanted to make called "The Other". Your episode would be "The Other Lyle McKeany" where I'd find someone with your same name, we'd track them down and you two would meet, then interview each other about your lives and learn about how things are in Other Lyle McKeany's life.
My episode would feature a dentist in Pennsylvania.
This idea was inspired when I friended a colleague, ND, on Facebook but the wrong one, first. The Other ND was also a filmmaker. I didn't know about the mistake until the Other ND won a pretty prestigious animation award and I congratulated ND, much to his confusion. I thought it would have been great for the two of them to meet.
Excellent stuff. This makes me want to try the same type of piece. Mine would probably be about how nobody realises my name is popular, but they constantly ask me if I’m related to so and so with the same name. Huh.
Yeah that’s what happens. People think it isn’t that popular (it is), so when they meet another burgess they say “oh you must be related to so and so right?
Having a unique name, I’ve always felt a unique relationship with my name since it’s given me more than just an identity. I always thought it was just me, so it’s interesting to see someone take the time to write about this topic
Cool post! I have quite a common name-surname combination, and I think there was both a famous pianist and cosmonaut with the same combo. Coincidentally, I posted a short story about unique names - https://fictitious.substack.com/p/no-duplicates-a-short-story
You can’t throw a rock without hitting a Mark. But Starlin is very uncommon. So I usually can get markstarlin or mstarlin. Although most people want to add a G and make it Starling, like the bird. I like having a unique name.
Great post, Lyle! Boy am I glad I never made a Lyle Lovett joke here in the comments.
I love thinking about names, especially when I’m writing fiction. In fact, I find it almost impossible to proceed until I’ve found the perfect name for the primary characters in the story.
As for my name, I’ve found that Michael is extremely common for our generation. There were three boys named Michael in my elementary school class out of 12 boys total. But my last name isn’t so common, so I figured that made me unique(ish). Then came Google. I often get job offers for a Michael Estrin who is a software engineer. And for a time I was fighting for search engine relevance against another Michael Estrin out of Tampa, Florida who is a comedian. I like my name, it suits me, but there have been times when I would’ve killed to be a Lyle. It’s a dope name, dude.
Lol, thanks! I remember reading your last name for the first time and thinking I’d never seen it beforehand, so your stories about the other Michael Estrin surprised me.
I thought my married name Barbara Sparrow was unique until I discovered there were two others with my name, both living in my home town. While my maiden name, Barbara Thompson, which I thought very common, I was the only one.
Love your writing. You should write a novel, or movie, or for tv. Keep writing Lyle
This reminds me of a documentary series I wanted to make called "The Other". Your episode would be "The Other Lyle McKeany" where I'd find someone with your same name, we'd track them down and you two would meet, then interview each other about your lives and learn about how things are in Other Lyle McKeany's life.
My episode would feature a dentist in Pennsylvania.
This idea was inspired when I friended a colleague, ND, on Facebook but the wrong one, first. The Other ND was also a filmmaker. I didn't know about the mistake until the Other ND won a pretty prestigious animation award and I congratulated ND, much to his confusion. I thought it would have been great for the two of them to meet.
10 out of 10 would watch!
I would totally watch that. Even just the hunt for someone else with the same name could be interesting for those of us with unique names.
Excellent stuff. This makes me want to try the same type of piece. Mine would probably be about how nobody realises my name is popular, but they constantly ask me if I’m related to so and so with the same name. Huh.
Would read. I wouldn’t expect your last name to be common at first glance.
Yeah that’s what happens. People think it isn’t that popular (it is), so when they meet another burgess they say “oh you must be related to so and so right?
Having a unique name, I’ve always felt a unique relationship with my name since it’s given me more than just an identity. I always thought it was just me, so it’s interesting to see someone take the time to write about this topic
“More than just an identity” resonates a lot.
Cool post! I have quite a common name-surname combination, and I think there was both a famous pianist and cosmonaut with the same combo. Coincidentally, I posted a short story about unique names - https://fictitious.substack.com/p/no-duplicates-a-short-story
That was a cool story. Being in the company of a famous pianist and a cosmonaut is pretty cool too!
You can’t throw a rock without hitting a Mark. But Starlin is very uncommon. So I usually can get markstarlin or mstarlin. Although most people want to add a G and make it Starling, like the bird. I like having a unique name.
Starlin is a good name, for sure.
Great post, Lyle! Boy am I glad I never made a Lyle Lovett joke here in the comments.
I love thinking about names, especially when I’m writing fiction. In fact, I find it almost impossible to proceed until I’ve found the perfect name for the primary characters in the story.
As for my name, I’ve found that Michael is extremely common for our generation. There were three boys named Michael in my elementary school class out of 12 boys total. But my last name isn’t so common, so I figured that made me unique(ish). Then came Google. I often get job offers for a Michael Estrin who is a software engineer. And for a time I was fighting for search engine relevance against another Michael Estrin out of Tampa, Florida who is a comedian. I like my name, it suits me, but there have been times when I would’ve killed to be a Lyle. It’s a dope name, dude.
Lol, thanks! I remember reading your last name for the first time and thinking I’d never seen it beforehand, so your stories about the other Michael Estrin surprised me.
I thought my married name Barbara Sparrow was unique until I discovered there were two others with my name, both living in my home town. While my maiden name, Barbara Thompson, which I thought very common, I was the only one.
Love your writing. You should write a novel, or movie, or for tv. Keep writing Lyle
Thanks, Barbara! I think the last name Sparrow.