What's In a Name?

In my hometown of Winterset, Iowa, there is a sleek-looking museum highlighting the achievements of movie star John Wayne.

You know: The Duke, America’s favorite cowboy actor who occasionally stepped outside his acting comfort zone to portray such characters as Attila the Hun (see above).

Wayne was born in Winterset -- hence the museum -- but his family soon moved to nearby Earlham (another Iowa burg) and then headed west to the Golden State when he was four.

But did you know that Wayne’s real name was Marion Morrison?

Yep, Marion.

Just try to imagine Wayne going by that name as he climbed the movie star ladder of fame. Somehow, Wayne’s rough and rugged features just don’t say “Marion.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. Marion’s a perfectly lovely name, but for a chiseled film icon who built his entire career on being super macho, it leaves something to be desired, don’t you think?

Then there’s Cary Grant, the ultra-suave actor who came to epitomize male beauty (should I say handsomeness?) during his long and admired screen career. Just saying the name -- Cary Grant -- rolls off the tongue and hits the ear in a most pleasing way.

But did you know Grant’s actual birth name was Archibald Leach?

Oh God.

Yes, it’s true. Grant dropped his original moniker to be taken more seriously by movie makers, and thereby found a richly rewarding career and life.

Then there’s Rock Hudson. With a name like “Rock,” you just know that’s not what was written on his birth certificate. I mean, who names their baby “Rock”?

Hudson had a famously sad end as one of the first casualties of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. But before that he enjoyed tremendous popularity in such films as “Giant’ and “Pillow Talk.”

But did you know his real name was Roy Scherer Jr.?

How far in Tinseltown do you think he would have gotten under that handle?

Or how about Marilyn Monroe, perhaps the sexiest woman who ever graced this Earth (my humble opinion)?

Did you know her real name was Norma Jean Mortenson? Not a bad name for an average American woman, but how far would that have taken her? Marilyn Monroe was PERFECT for that lady, who was always underrated as an actress and a human being.

So here’s the thing: Does your given name make a difference?

It really shouldn’t. People should be judged and admired on the content of their character and their talent and not on whether their parents made a good first-name choice. Or had an oh-hum-or-worse last name.

But, unfortunately, I believe it often does make a difference. And perhaps not just in the lives of movie stars but to ANYONE with a somewhat jarring-to-the-ear name. I wonder how many job applicants don’t make it to the interview stage because the name on their application put off the hiring director.

On the other hand, I have seen some people with seemingly very unfortunate names make it to the top of their profession -- though I can’t think of one right now…

Anyway, my point is this: People are -- thankfully -- able to change their name once they reach adulthood, and that’s great.

But maybe we as a society should evolve a bit more and get past whether someone’s name holds them back on reaching their dream.

That would be nice.