ONE NAME

Those who know me well understand my deep appreciation for human beings who are recognizable with only one name. They must have done something really special. Back in the middle ages there were not many people in the average village and if you were John, you might be the only one. Eventually, as the populations increased, you were given your own name and were further identified by your father as in "Tom, John's son" or as it would be said today, Tom Johnson.. As the world got even more populated we added middle names because there may be another Tom Johnson... you became Tom W. Johnson. Less likely to be confused with one another, and so on.

But through history, there have been people who were so famous or infamous that their first name is the only name they need. Sure you could find some other people with the same name but when you say that one name, you think of only one person. Jesus not Jesus my Mexican gardener, for example. Madonna is one of these and so is Cher and Oprah. If I say the name Elvis, you only think of one. (Forget Costello or the alligator on Miami Vice.) Paul McCartney doesn't qualify no matter how great he was in modern culture. When you say Paul, it could be St. Paul. Ringo, on the other hand...one and only.. no wait there was that old cowboy gunslinger, Johnny Ringo, wait, he needed two names.

What is it that makes you think of only one person in a world of 6 billion people when you hear the name "Madonna?" Or "Elvis?" Or, who else do you know by their one and only name? Johnny? Johnny Cash or Johnny Carson? Bob? Bob Dylan, or Bob Hope? Jack? The Ripper, or Nicholson? Carly? Simon, Fiorina, or iCarly from TV? See what I mean? It is a small list.

Write me and let me know who is on your list of One-Namers.