Josh v Josh v Josh v Josh

April 24, 2021 4:35 PM

The meme appeared a year ago, when Josh sent a Facebook group message to Josh, Josh, Josh, Josh.... and a lot more Joshes. Josh provided coordinates and a date. The purpose? To combat to see who gets to be Josh, with all losers having to change their name. The coordinates? Some place in Nebraska. The date? April 24, 2021. And now, after a year of anticipation, it's finally happened: The Josh Fight.

Meet the winner, the Supreme Josh: Little Josh.

There were plenty of other Joshes in attendance, too.

The "Actual Josh," who began the whole thing, AKA Josh Swain, provides background and more about the event, which he originally began as a joke during "pandemic boredom."

Keep up to date with all Josh and Josh-related updates at r/joshswainbattle.

Oh, one final thing: the event has so far raised over $8000 for the Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation.

posted by meese (113 comments total)

Josh Swain's Twitter also has more.
posted by meese at 4:37 PM on April 24, 2021

I will not ask the obvious question.
posted by Going To Maine at 4:56 PM on April 24, 2021 [8 favorites]

3 Days. 3 Acres. 3,000 Joshes.
posted by migurski at 5:03 PM on April 24, 2021 [21 favorites]

I should have had this idea like 10 years ago when I was in a FB group with a bunch of randos with my same first & last name! Pretty cool though
posted by Saxon Kane at 5:05 PM on April 24, 2021

Looking forward to copycats:
Final Phil
JenniFeud
Dave Deathmatch
The Tournament of Rachels
posted by bartleby at 5:07 PM on April 24, 2021 [27 favorites]

Jenni-Feud

not to compromise taquito anonymity or nothin' but this would be a competition to determine which of us could finish a medium-size frozen yogurt with toppings, eaten at a regular pace
posted by taquito sunrise at 5:16 PM on April 24, 2021 [23 favorites]

The War-ren
The Barbarasquabble
The Pat Spat
The Donnybrook
posted by mochapickle at 5:28 PM on April 24, 2021 [15 favorites]

The Barbarasquabble

I saw them open for Death Cab for Cutie back in the day.
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:31 PM on April 24, 2021 [36 favorites]

> People who were at the event will remember [Connor] Hogan as the guy with the drills. In a stroke of genius, Hogan attached pool noodles to cordless drills so the noodles could spin around him, instead of him having to physically swing the pool noodles.

> Though he is not named Josh, he said he was stepping in for his friend named Josh. That Josh doesn’t know he came to represent him, but Hogan believes he would be OK with his representation.

> “Better to ask for forgiveness later than permission now,” he said.

-- lincoln journal star
posted by are-coral-made at 5:36 PM on April 24, 2021 [17 favorites]

The Paul Brawl
posted by nubs at 5:37 PM on April 24, 2021 [18 favorites]

I was thinking more of Barba-rama!
(including exclamation)
Walterloo
Roberta Flak
Two Mels Enter! One Mel Leaves!
Betsy Wroth
Bad Boyds Bad Boyds, whatcha gonna do?
30 Helens Disagree
There Can Be Only Juan
and
THIS! IS! SARAH!
posted by bartleby at 5:49 PM on April 24, 2021 [41 favorites]

OMG I am helpless over Roberta Flak!!!

Anne-tietam
The Siege of Troy
The Jeff Fray
The Johnfrontation
posted by mochapickle at 5:57 PM on April 24, 2021 [28 favorites]

The Buster Buster
posted by mochapickle at 6:00 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

(echoey reverb) Mortal Tombat! (techno theme music)
posted by bartleby at 6:08 PM on April 24, 2021 [33 favorites]

Full Metal Jackie
posted by mochapickle at 6:16 PM on April 24, 2021 [21 favorites]

I, for one, respect the outcome if this contest, and will henceforth reserve the Josh honorific only for Supreme Little Josh.

Godspeed, you other lesser and former Joshes.
posted by mhoye at 6:23 PM on April 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

Güntherdome
Charge of the Mike brigade

Walterloo
Waterlou, certainly
posted by mcrandello at 6:27 PM on April 24, 2021 [7 favorites]

I would like to be part of a Stephen vs Steven battle.
posted by srboisvert at 6:32 PM on April 24, 2021 [12 favorites]

The Norman Conquest
The Kimbroglio
The Dana Bash
posted by mochapickle at 6:46 PM on April 24, 2021 [14 favorites]

I believe that Elizabeth has enough alternate spellings and nicknames for a peaceful coexistance.
posted by cheshyre at 6:51 PM on April 24, 2021 [10 favorites]

I would like to be part of a Stephen vs Steven battle
Oh I'd like to see that go down. Along with the no-H Saras vs the Sarahs, Brians vs Bryans, etc. Sort that shit out, settle some scores.
posted by bartleby at 6:51 PM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

Any time someone with my fairly unusual first name makes the news, it’s something like “Florida man injured attempting to use alligator for gender reveal party”. I’m curious what our name-convention would be like.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 6:51 PM on April 24, 2021 [10 favorites]

I believe that Elizabeth has enough alternate spellings and nicknames for a peaceful coexistance.

Wouldn’t you want to know for absolute certain which one is the Elizabest?
posted by mochapickle at 6:55 PM on April 24, 2021 [35 favorites]

The summary post mentioned Runza, which brought back horrifying memories.
posted by dismas at 6:58 PM on April 24, 2021

The Andy 500 would be a hell of a marathon.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:16 PM on April 24, 2021 [7 favorites]

The Dwight Fight
posted by at by at 7:21 PM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

Mikes on Bikes.
posted by madcaptenor at 7:25 PM on April 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

I thought that left out Michaels, and I’m a Michael, not a Mike. But those of us who use our full name could have Michaels on Cycles.
posted by madcaptenor at 7:28 PM on April 24, 2021 [19 favorites]

My first real boyfriend was a Josh. And he hurt me so I'm biased against people named Josh. But I welcome Little Josh as the King of All Joshes. He's a good way forward.

(I mean, it was 20+ years ago. I'm over it. I hold grudges but this mostly a joke. If you are named Josh, I'm sure you're a good person and I like you.)

My friend Sarah talked about coming across all the various nicknames for Sarah, including the one she liked, Sadie. And I said "but that's really not that much shorter than Sarah." She said, "but the point was that everyone was named Sarah so they had to call them something else." Fair point.

With my name, I don't really have this problem.
posted by edencosmic at 7:34 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

Hell with some Dels
posted by dismas at 7:55 PM on April 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

Mattle Royale
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:01 PM on April 24, 2021 [11 favorites]

The irony of the situation is that he originally was just Joshin'.
posted by notoriety public at 8:02 PM on April 24, 2021 [9 favorites]

Dawn of the Seans/Shauns/Shawns
Apocal-nicks
Royal rumble
sMatt down
Last Juan Standing
Faith Off
posted by later, paladudes at 8:03 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

This was so great, thanks for posting.

It could have all gone wrong, but it didn't! A genuinely fun and random community event, with money and food raised for charity, and a worthy and cute Josh as the winner. This is what the internet can do. There's hope for humanity yet.
posted by pianissimo at 8:13 PM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

Alisons in my life would like to have it out with the Allisons to determine the one true spelling.
posted by grubby at 8:16 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

Alisons in my life would like to have it out with the Allisons to determine the one true spelling.

Hell Over the "L"
posted by nubs at 8:29 PM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

Roald War II

Emmarathon

Jodie, die, DIE

This Jeans War
posted by sixswitch at 8:30 PM on April 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

the donny-brooke donnybrook
the melstrom
kathyclysm
there can be only juan
a nguyen nguyen situation
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:31 PM on April 24, 2021 [11 favorites]

I know SO MANY Sarahs, y'all. It's worse than the Jennifers.

I did laugh at the picture that said everyone's told to avoid other people, and then "America," followed by a photo of the noodlin' crowd.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:44 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

Aaron of Grievances
Andy-capitation
Charles in Charge
posted by traveler_ at 8:58 PM on April 24, 2021 [12 favorites]

Coup d’Todd
posted by mochapickle at 9:00 PM on April 24, 2021 [10 favorites]

The Paultercation
HUGHGILISM
The Joedown
Land War In Frasier
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:06 PM on April 24, 2021 [8 favorites]

Sarah, Pain and Fall
The Battle of Timopylae
The Jay Fray
Annarchy
posted by jquinby at 9:21 PM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

Rumble in LeBrons (probably not going to be any challengers, but still a great show)
posted by The Bellman at 9:21 PM on April 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

Barry-All
Bruces All Over
Donnies Brooked
Holdens Emboldened

The Barbarasquabble

Surely it's The Barbaradook.
Or Barbararians.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:27 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

Wonderful that they actually carried this through and weren't just Joshing with the announcement.
posted by Dysk at 9:46 PM on April 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

Now is the time of the Chris-aning. There can be only one.
posted by vrakatar at 10:02 PM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

I was just spurred to look, and my name was at its most popular ever the year I was born. Still, it’s not a very common name. I was once at a fast casual restaurant and the person bringing out the food called my name, but when I looked he had way too much food.

The table of three girls behind me ALL had my name. It was eerie.
posted by Night_owl at 10:04 PM on April 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

I...am...MARTA!
posted by klausman at 10:10 PM on April 24, 2021 [8 favorites]

I believe that Elizabeth has enough alternate spellings and nicknames for a peaceful coexistance.

Bath of Erzsebet.
posted by vira at 10:25 PM on April 24, 2021

Al-mageddon (meh)
Al-pocalypse (too obvious)
The Fin-Al Countdown (built in theme music!)
posted by Big Al 8000 at 10:26 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

The table of three girls behind me ALL had my name. It was eerie.

Damage of Heather
posted by vira at 10:28 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

The Fin-Al Countdown (built in theme music!)

Al-potheosis
posted by vira at 10:29 PM on April 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

the battle of the al, all mine
the all a moe
the ted offensive
the council of trent
posted by 20 year lurk at 10:33 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

The Kerfuff Al?
posted by mochapickle at 10:33 PM on April 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

Can't thing of a suitable pun, but I want to see a contest among the Aidens, Bradens, Cadens, etc.
posted by The Potate at 10:34 PM on April 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

Can't thing of a suitable pun, but I want to see a contest among the Aidens, Bradens, Cadens, etc.

Alpher-Bethe-Gamow Contention
posted by vira at 10:42 PM on April 24, 2021

This can only end with a Treaty of Best Phil-ia
posted by kaibutsu at 11:08 PM on April 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

I would like to be part of a Stephen vs Steven battle.

Meh. We'd all come out even.
posted by flabdablet at 11:30 PM on April 24, 2021 [15 favorites]

Reminds me of Are You Dave Gorman?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:53 AM on April 25, 2021

I was just spurred to look, and my name was at its most popular ever the year I was born. Still, it’s not a very common name. I was once at a fast casual restaurant and the person bringing out the food called my name, but when I looked he had way too much food.

The table of three girls behind me ALL had my name. It was eerie.

My name was so common in the decade in which I was born that I think the only time there weren't at least two of us in any class - Kindergarten through University - is the time I took wood shop in Grade 7 and the class was almost all boys. At the high school I attended, almost every girl was named either Michelle, Jennifer, Julie, Christa, or my name. Girls without those names were a definite minority. The boys were mostly David, James, Michael, Steven, Richard, or Daniel.

Off the top of my head, the only kids I can think of who didn't share a first name with at least one other kid were my sister and most of the foreign exchange students. No teacher ever had to say, "No, no; I meant the other Hamid."
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:04 AM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I'm a Sarah and I firmly believe it's a popular name because it's a great name. Like Ann(e|a). In high school, 12% of my class were called Sarah. The first time I was the only Sarah in a group (college), I ignored the person calling my name because surely they were talking to another Sarah!

Anyways, I'd like to think we don't need a battle as we'd be busy attacking the imposters. The Saras.
posted by dame at 1:15 AM on April 25, 2021 [5 favorites]

Emelee?

I feel pretty safe with this one. There's like four people with my name. I think I can take them. That, or lure them to a single spot, then have my ninja army take care of them. Now to build a ninja army.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:40 AM on April 25, 2021 [5 favorites]

Surly you Josh!
posted by srboisvert at 3:37 AM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

> the Paul Brawl
> the Paultercation

Paul-y exclusion principle: two or more folk cannot occupy the same name-state within a naming system simultaneously. First formulated for Pauls, later extended to all folk with half-integer spin.
posted by are-coral-made at 4:07 AM on April 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

It's a nice gracenote that the funds raised were donated to the children's hospital, which apparently treated Little Josh for seizure when he was even littler. It sounds like it was a coincidence, too, not something that was planned.
posted by synecdoche at 5:13 AM on April 25, 2021 [3 favorites]

Can't thing of a suitable pun, but I want to see a contest among the Aidens, Bradens, Cadens, etc.

The *A(i)den Upbraidin'

I know SO MANY Sarahs, y'all. It's worse than the Jennifers.

my sister & I once worked for 40 minutes in a Starbucks in Dallas & if we'd gone up every time they called a Sara(h) or a Jen* we would have had five extra beverages & three baked goods (I thought about it but I couldn't trust that we were the alphas & therefore able to beat the others in a fight if it came down to throwing hands over cake pops)

her cluster of high school friends go by their last names to this day because like 60% of them are Sara(h)s, it's So Much
posted by taquito sunrise at 5:22 AM on April 25, 2021 [6 favorites]

The Jeff Fray would be a fakeout, staged to pit those named Jeffrey against those named Jeffery. But then, they'd all gang up to vanquish those named Geoffrey.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:49 AM on April 25, 2021 [8 favorites]

There is a woman in Florida with my exact name--which is not exactly unique, but the same first and last name as me does strike me as weird--and she's a lesbian that works in management for a regional sandwich chain so that's cool. Unfortunately for her, I am the main search result for our name and I have already taken all the Apple IDs you don't have to futz with as well as Gmail. So sorry, same-named stranger.
posted by Kitteh at 5:51 AM on April 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

I'm remembering a weird moment where, having never met another Jeremy until entering my teens, I joined a regional religious youth group, and not only were there five other kids named Jeremy in the midwestern region of the group, someone thought it would be funny to put us all in the same cabin at a weeklong camp event. We all became pretty close friends, but all week long, people loved to walk by and yell out "Hey, JEREMY" and laugh as all of us turned our heads to look, since, well, none of us were used to the existence of others of our kind.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:57 AM on April 25, 2021 [6 favorites]

The Bills' Butcher's Bill

--

We went to a family reunion 1300 miles from home. My kids were mildly amused to see so many people with our very unusual last name, and when we introduced my teen age son to the 50-ish man who shared his first and last names, he just went kind of...blank. Not something he ever considered, I guess.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:35 AM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I knew one Sarah in elementary school and she's still the only Sarah I know. I live in an age bubble with few Sarahs.
posted by acrasis at 6:37 AM on April 25, 2021

Well, at least the former Joshes have a good reason to get people listening to this catchy song: ‘fuck off stop calling me Josh’

Also I am by far one of the oldest members of my now rather substantial name cohort, not sure how that would serve me in a combat situation.
posted by soy bean at 6:56 AM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Years ago when facebook was young and I was too I added everyone with my exact first and last name as a friend on there, which was a few dozen, and only about 3 accepted. Just think of what could have been if my fellow namesakes had been more open to the idea. I thought we could strike up a community of like-named people but maybe I wasn't the One Who Was Chosen. I'm just not a Josh, in the end.
posted by dis_integration at 7:01 AM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Three cheers for Little Josh, First of his name!

Kimbroglio is genius! I have never been in a classroom or at a job where there wasn't another Kimberly. But when I became a Russell I was finally able to fully embrace the sweet anonymity of a very common name. (And a delightful portmanteau for internet usage, too!)
posted by kimberussell at 7:24 AM on April 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

What I think really gets me, right in the Feels, about this whole event is how much it feels like the Old Internet. You know, the internet, back before billion-dollar corporations and algorithms and influencers. It takes me back; it makes me nostalgic. It's just a bunch of Joshes having fun and being dumb and creative and silly.
posted by meese at 7:29 AM on April 25, 2021 [10 favorites]

Imagine carrying a baby for 9 whole months just to name it josh lol
posted by wreckingball at 7:47 AM on April 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

In college in the mid 90s, the same thing happened. Except it was more of just a meetup than a battle royale, but otherwise yeah. A guy named Josh put up posters all over campus and all the folks named Josh got together to meet the folks whose mail they’d been getting. Also no funding for charity, so that’s a nice improvement.

Always struck me as a little weird since it seemed to me there were a lot more folks names Chris than Josh, but maybe there’s just something in a name.
posted by nickmark at 8:38 AM on April 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

My first name is...uncommon, but not super-rare nor unusual, I'd say. In my lifetime, I've personally known maybe 3 or four other people who shared it. Come to think of it, I knew them all in high school, I don't know what that says.

My middle name, especially with its spelling, is much less common. I've only ever known three people who shared it, and two don't really count--one was my father (who had it as his first name), and one is my youngest son (whom we gave it to as a middle name). The third, though, had it as a middle name and was one of the people in high school who shared my first name (and we hadn't lived anywhere near them at the time of my birth, so it's not like it was a local name/pair of names).

There's a former professional (American) football player who shares my first name/last name combination and who happened to move in conjunction with me once, which led to a bit of confusion.

For real fun, I recently discovered there was someone who flipped my first two names and shared my last name who died last year, who was about a decade older than me. No known relation of mine--I only found out about him while googling to see if my father's obituary was online yet.
posted by Four Ds at 8:47 AM on April 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

I never shared a classroom or any other environment with anyone else with my same first name. It's always been odd to meet anyone else with it.
posted by maxwelton at 10:19 AM on April 25, 2021

Alison: My Name is True
posted by jclarkin at 10:52 AM on April 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

Oh man I enjoyed watching this unfold, And then I thought that if there was a Jessamyn brawl...

1. it would be kind of small
2. I would most definitely get killed because this Jessamyn and this Jessamyn would clearly be the superior Jessamyns
posted by jessamyn at 11:33 AM on April 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

JoshMaster™
posted by not_on_display at 11:40 AM on April 25, 2021

Speaking as a Josh married to an Amy, it was important to both of us not to give our kid a common name. We very specifically chose one that had never been in the top 1000 names per social security name records. The abbreviation is common enough not to be unusual, but his full name is rare.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:50 PM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I would like more of a swap meet-- you have your name on a badge or something and you wander around until you meet someone with a name you like better and if they agree they can trade, and keep going until you find the best name for you, then leave and file the paperwork.
posted by The otter lady at 12:50 PM on April 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

Yeah, the only problem with a swap meet is that my name is so damn boring that I’d never meet anyone who wanted to swap and I’d get even more demoralized than I already am about having an incredibly dull name (first, middle, and last).
posted by holborne at 12:54 PM on April 25, 2021

Brian vs Bryan

Brains vs Brya(w)ns
posted by BeeDo at 1:11 PM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Speaking as a Josh married to an Amy, it was important to both of us not to give our kid a common name. We very specifically chose one that had never been in the top 1000 names per social security name records

Hahahahah, I would do the same if I was naming anyone's kids again.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:13 PM on April 25, 2021

There's one guy in either Minnesota or Wisconsin with my exact first and last name. I love it. I can't be googled. Everything that comes up when you search my name is about him. I had one of my English essays published in my college journal once and for years I worried because that essay would make the people in my industry absolutely hate me. It was a top result on Google for about five years. Now I can't even find it. I have to click through 15 pages before any results show up that aren't his.
posted by downtohisturtles at 4:30 PM on April 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

My first+last name is common enough that an internet search (even an image search) brings up all sorts of people that aren't me. I'm cool with that.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:52 PM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I feel like there has to be a balance in naming now between "not 100% immediately identifiable as YOU AND ONLY YOU because you are the only Schnickelfritz Unicorn MacGuffin in the entire world," vs. "There are 100+ people with my exact same first and last name and no middle name at my alma mater and across the entire Internet." In my line of work, extremely common last name + extremely common first name drives me up a blasted wall because everyone assumes I can just easily figure out which, say, Kevin Tran you are out of 150 Kevin Trans when Kevin Tran emails me wanting something, but gives no other identifying information. If you know a bunch of people with the last name of Tran and a bunch of people with the first name of Kevin, think about how many of this same name you're gonna find....

Obviously my first name is dirt common, especially in a certain generation, but at least my last name isn't that common except on the Internet. I haven't Googled myself in a long-ass time but there were 30+ of me (before I quit counting, anyway) online last I checked, but at least I can be found in most RL things without their being several of me at any one location/event/organization.

I guess the moral of the story is, (a) check how common the first name you want is online before you give it, and (b) optimally have a mix between really common and at least somewhat uncommon within all the names you pick. And (c) if you have a dirt common first and last, for the love of god, give someone a middle name, preferably something where you can tell which of the Kevins you are dealing with.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:00 PM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Which is better: Bea-Master or Bea-Keepers?
posted by Pronoiac at 7:39 PM on April 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I may have made an error in emphasizing conflict and competition within the name groups; instead of focusing on the real outcome, which was ultimately to engage in collective action and mutual support.
So perhaps we could encourage these cohorts to muster into borderless pseudo-countries to pool their efforts towards charity and solidarity?
Like the Lion's Club or those Red Hat Ladies?
the Pearl Scouts
Sandranavia
Benmark
the State of Grace
Barry H'ai (is calling, come away, come away)
Jimbabwe
Cameronroon
Rosstralia & Lou Zealand
Planet Claire
Gordeaux
Our Sharona
then there's the tropical Margaret Archipelago, from Key Margo(t) to Marguerite-aville to Peg-o Peg-o
posted by bartleby at 1:32 AM on April 26, 2021 [8 favorites]

Battle of the Bobs.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 3:47 AM on April 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

My surname is double-barrelled and unique enough that I can be sure I'm related to anyone else with it. Needless to say, nobody else has my first+last name, nevermind if you include my middle name (which is also a family name, functionally another 6 surname). If I do want to be anonymous-ish, I can just use first name + second part of last name (which is common as muck in Denmark) though. It's the perfect combination IMO.
posted by Dysk at 4:05 AM on April 26, 2021

Rosstralia & Lou Zealand

Lew Zealand?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:04 AM on April 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Thirty Helens Agree

These are the Daves I know
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:11 AM on April 26, 2021 [4 favorites]

2. I would most definitely get killed because this Jessamyn and this Jessamyn would clearly be the superior Jessamyns

But what if...it took place in a library?
posted by nubs at 8:56 AM on April 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Now I'm imagining librarians trying to out-shush each other.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:11 AM on April 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

In the library, my powers are unequalled.
posted by jessamyn at 9:20 AM on April 26, 2021 [5 favorites]

I’ve never met a Liz I didn’t like, so I hope we’d somehow come together to form a MegaLiz to crush all the Beths and Lisas and Lizas before the final boss battle with those only known as “The Originals”... the Elizabeths
posted by LizBoBiz at 11:39 AM on April 26, 2021 [4 favorites]

> I'm a Sarah and I firmly believe it's a popular name because it's a great name. Like Ann(e|a). In high school, 12% of my class were called Sarah. The first time I was the only Sarah in a group (college), I ignored the person calling my name because surely they were talking to another Sarah! Anyways, I'd like to think we don't need a battle as we'd be busy attacking the imposters. The Saras.

Never before have I clicked "favorite" on a comment while I read it and then had to unfavorite when I reached the last word, which was absolutely 100% completely wrong and ruined it all. We were so close to agreeing. Harumph. Typical Sarah behavior.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:52 PM on April 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

(I kid. Your name is lovely. Almost perfect. Almost.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:53 PM on April 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

I've mentioned in a reply to an ask that I am the only person with my name, and that I am not very comfortable with it. Because of that ask, I googled my youngest daughter's full name. We deliberately gave her a simple combination of extremely common names, but she is the only person who turns up on google. I suppose that today everyone is looking for unique names, so what was once ordinary now becomes unusual.
posted by mumimor at 4:11 PM on April 27, 2021

Concern over "unusual" was a part of our kid's naming schematic. Picking a more unique name that also had a fairly common nickname was intentional. I have a friend who named her kid Maire, the traditional Irish spelling of "Moira", because they loved the name... but discovered later that no one who read it could pronounce it correctly (usually assuming it should sound like "Mary") and no one who heard it could spell it correctly (automatically assuming it WAS "Moira"). She had inadvertently subjected her kid to a lifetime of spelling her name out one letter at a time, and correcting people's pronunciations.

I personally feel that if you give your kid a name with unique spelling (like Kristougher or Alykszandre or the like) THAT IS TOTALLY FINE, but you will have to accept that you have forever given up the right to be huffy about someone not spelling it correctly after hearing it. And you also must be able to accept it if your child some day announces that s/he wishes to go by a common nickname or change to spell it differently.
posted by caution live frogs at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2021 [3 favorites]

Josh!
Josh Josh Josh!
Josh Josh Josh!
Josh Josh Joooooosh!
Josh the man, runnin the site
Got his mouse, got his dragon
He knows one day he might just do some
Moderatin’
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:57 PM on April 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

They should have fought this battle at Jericho.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:11 PM on April 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

(and the Raouls came tumbling down)
posted by mochapickle at 7:14 PM on April 28, 2021 [5 favorites]

Re: Sara(h), my partner had friends who were often called "Four" and "Five" after the number of letters in their name.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:24 PM on April 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

On my college newspaper, two women had similar names and were addressed as"Michelle" and "One L" -- the latter being Michele, of course.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:54 AM on April 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

I once worked at a place with two Colleens. They ended up nicknamed Cools and Dos (as in two, as in the second Colleen).
posted by Night_owl at 2:40 PM on April 29, 2021

OK, now: five Joshes
versus
one hundred fifty 3rd-graders with whiffleball bats.
posted by not_on_display at 9:40 PM on May 9, 2021 [3 favorites]

Surely it's
One Josh-sized duck vs 100 duck-sized Joshes
posted by bartleby at 12:55 AM on May 10, 2021 [3 favorites]