> > > Sam has probably heard many Dr. Seuss references.
> >
> > I have, and some of them even intended to be derogatory, but I never resented it. In fact, I have a "Sam-I-Am" T-shirt (as does my father, who has the same name) and wear it with pride.
>
> I'd *like* it if more people made Journeyman Project or HHGttG references when they heard my name.

My name comes from a hit 70s song, which was also included in the name of the album. Most people who paid any attention whatsoever to the music scene in the 70s recognize it immediately. Then the song was remade in 1992, so all of the 90s music listeners also recognize the name.

I can't count the number of times I've heard things like, "Hey, were you named after that Eric Clapton song?" and "Oh, there's a cool song with your name in it!" but I still haven't tired of it. I like both versions of the song, I think Eric Clapton is amazing, I like the name and it's served me well over the years. When people comment on the song, it's a conversation starter rather than a nuisance. The conversation often leads to music, tales of the mother who gave me the name, name origins, or other things related to my growing-up years (which often leads to the revelation that I grew up in a town called Weed--a whole new line of conversation in itself).

It's nice to have a way of breaking the ice when meeting new people. And, after considering the topics in this thread, I suppose all names are potential conversation starters. Names come in handy, now that I think of it.

Ell"Layla"myruh