this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2024
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Showerthoughts

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I thought of this in the shower, then deleted it when someone in a discord I asked it to eventually said duh it's Michael Jackson, and another replied Michael Jordan you dumbass ... oof ... but then while deleted it got upvotes somehow so whatever lol

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[–] Aabbcc@lemm.ee 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Gladaed@feddit.org 10 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

LeBron ain't no first name

[–] Aabbcc@lemm.ee 1 points 12 hours ago

It's literally his first name

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 19 hours ago

Yeah he has a single name like Oprah but in 2 parts

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 1 points 16 hours ago

Who's that?

[–] Kadaj21@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Michael Jordan?

Ricky Bobby? Lol

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Neil Patrick Harris has three first names

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I've not once in my life seen Harris has a first name

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

I've met someone with the first name Harrison, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. Also, what is "Harry" short for?

[–] OneCardboardBox@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

Also, what is “Harry” short for?

Harold?

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago

I actually looked it up this morning because I was curious, and "Harry" is actually short for "Henry," "Harold," "Harrison, and "Harvey"

[–] toynbee@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

Harry Ford sounds like a very different actor.

[–] lemonmelon@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Keith David

[–] EndOfLine@lemmy.world 42 points 1 day ago (7 children)

A few more famous people with 2 first names:

  • Anne Frank
  • Bob Dylan
  • Dylan Thomas
  • Billy Joel
  • George Harrison
  • George Michael
  • Elton John
  • Missy Elliot
  • Meg Ryan
  • Kevin James
  • Elizabeth Tyler
  • Liv Tyler
  • Steven Tyler
  • Carey Grant
  • Hugh Grant
  • Mariah Carey
  • Diana Ross
  • Dean Martin
  • Steve Martin
  • Grace Kelly
  • Alexander Hamilton
  • Larry David
[–] NickwithaC@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

Today is the day I saw Missy Elliot on the same list as Anne Frank lol

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Hamilton is a last name. I won't doubt that there are some people who have it first (not checking), but they probably have two last names.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 1 points 12 hours ago

probably have two last names.

Savage.

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[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

That's a stage name. I assume some of the others on the list are too.

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

didn't even think of that lol

[–] son_named_bort@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

James Taylor

[–] niktemadur@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Reminds me of that Simon & Garfunkel lyric, along the lines of

...he's so unhip
when you say Dylan
he thinks you're talking about Dylan Thomas!
Whoever he was.

[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can think of a few others - George Lucas, Wallace Shaen, Jerry Lewis, Steve Martin

[–] niktemadur@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

How about a threefer with
Jerry
Lee
Lewis!

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 1 day ago

James

Tiberius

Kirk

[–] Madscotsman@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Jamie

Lee

Curtis

James

Earl

Ray

[–] fubo@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Either Thomas Jefferson had two first names, or Jefferson Davis had two last names.

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[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is Jackson a "first" name? Sure, I understand that some people use it as a first name, but I would say someone named Jackson Smith has two last names.

Michael Jordan though, that's legit.

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Jackson is a patronymic last name: Jack's son.

Smith is an aptronymic last name: a smith.

So yeah, bang on.

[–] phubarr@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I'd love to know why you know these terms. I'm a huge etymology nerd and I eat this stuff up.

This entire thread begs the question, why do some people have a first name for a last name? Is it just a less-clear patronym?

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 2 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

I too am an etymology geek, I had to look up "aptronym" (I already knew there was a word for it, but couldn't remember it) but already knew "patronym". I can occasionally work out the approximate Latin roots of words and take a stab at what to search for.

Regarding names' positions moving around... that's just people. People name their children all sorts of stupid things that eventually become normal.

[–] Tujio@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

There are a bunch of aptronymic last names, especially in English culture. The Baker family, the Tanner family, the Shoemaker family etc.

Don't ask about the Dickinsons.

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What about Elton John, huh? He's not famous enough for you, eh? Well what about Michael Jack(son)?? No? How about Betty Boop??

[–] August27th@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Boop? 😂 Is your first name Boop?

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago

It's short for "Boopifer"

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Abraham Lincoln

[–] sit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

Wait what’s his last name then..

[–] SatyrSack@feddit.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ghengis Khan, Julius Caesar, etc.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (3 children)
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