What’s in a Name? (2.0)
Paull with two L’s. It’s certainly unique, and it’s caused me plenty of problems over the years. Misspelled school certificates, a single ‘L’ in autograph dedications from my childhood sports heroes, heck, I’ve even got a personalised Ghostbusters book where the fifth ghostbuster is some kid I’ve never met - Paul Young.
For all my childhood chagrin at my unusual name – I’m starting to think it could give me a competitive advantage in a wired world.
Online there are two big positives from having a strange name – It’s a ready made credibility gauge and, of course, Google juice.
Credibility
When I receive an email, blog comment or link from someone, the first step in checking out their credibility is by checking the spelling of my name. I understand that a single ‘L’ can simply be an oversight or a typo, but I know if someone uses the double ‘L’ they’ve taken some time to become familiar with me. That’s an instant boost for their credibility and will always earn brownie points.
When a world asks a question, they turn to Google. And on Google, there’s only one “Paull Young” (yes I did a vanity search – but surely that doesn’t make me too much of a tosser… it was research after all).
Of course Google asked me “Did you mean Paul Young?” and thank goodness I didn’t. If not for my second ‘L’ I’d be deeply embroiled in a Google death match with two pop singers - Britain’s Paul Young and legendary Aussie John Paul Young.
I also thankfully avoid picking up a Google doppelganger like Erin Caldwell or Richard Bailey.
Down the track could we see parents trying to build their kids a Google profile by giving them a unique name? If I want to keep my name alive will I wind up calling my first-born Paulll?
What do we think Forward readers think? In a wired world will a different name give you a boost?
Of course it was just “research”! Don’t worry, I’m sure we all do our own vanity searches sometime…
Ed
Comment by Ed Lee — July 26, 2006 @ 8:14 pm
Paull; I also have an unusual name, so I know what you are talking about. I do think that it gives you an edge in an SEO sense. But do we really want to SEO-ize our children? Remember, content over form. Or more directly, don’t subject your child to a world of peer taunts just to get good SEO.
Comment by Kami Huyse — July 27, 2006 @ 12:28 am
So you wouldn’t be a fan of my idea to enclose their name within html tags then Kami?
Comment by Paull Young — July 27, 2006 @ 1:14 am
Shakespeare clearly needs updating for the Google generation - but then he was writing in the fifth century BG (Before Google)…
‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet.’ (Romeo and Juliet)
Comment by Richard Bailey — July 27, 2006 @ 3:36 am
Paull; Not if you want them to take care of you when you are old! (ha-ha)
Comment by Kami Huyse — July 27, 2006 @ 8:35 am
Plus, html is so dated!
Comment by Kami Huyse — July 27, 2006 @ 8:36 am
Hell yes it will make a difference.
How many Owen Lystrup-s do you think are out there?
Not many I guarantee.
Comment by Owen Lystrup — July 27, 2006 @ 8:09 pm
My last name is misspelled and mispronounced all the time. It drives me crazy! Some of the spellings are utterly ridiculous.
“Scholey” (which is the English branch of my surname, I do believe)
“Schully”
“Scullay”
The list goes on and on …
I actually do searches from time to time to make sure “my name” isn’t involved in something illegal.
Comment by Jennifer Schooley — July 29, 2006 @ 12:40 pm
The problem that I have is that if I write Alex most people will asume I’m a bloke. At least Paull is definately a boy name!
Apparently there was also a porn star called Alex Pullin.
*sigh* A male one.
Comment by Alexandra Pullin — July 30, 2006 @ 11:29 am
I have to agree with you on the credibility part about the spelling of names. I get a little bit of joy when I see people spelling my name correctly. But especially if they can actually pronounce my name, I immediately find something likable in them. Special names are a nice way to separate yourself from the wolfpack and get you noticed in SEO’s. You could always get extra creative with your kids names, maybe I will name my daughter Tuaniffer, who else could have that name and talk about a high SEO.
Comment by Tuan Huynh — August 1, 2006 @ 12:30 am