The Internet And Unique Names

December 12, 2006 ·

I’ve always loved my last name of Stucki. I love the Swiss heritage of it. But, I can’t tell you how often I heard “Hey Stucki Dookie” in school growing up. And every person thought they were the first one to think of it.

Well to those who teased, consider this. In this internet age, I have another reason to love my last name. It’s rare.

When I wanted to buy a domain name, www.BrianStucki.com was available for me. When I sign up for email address or community names, Brian Stucki is available.

But the most fun thing about having a unique name is that I’m easy to be found online. If you search “brian stucki” on Google, there is my site at the very top. The second entry would be my pictures on flickr. (The third entry is some opera singer named Brian Stucki. That’s not me and I’m glad the name is manly enough to take such a blow.)

The reason I bring this up is that I’ve heard from so many old friends because they searched my name on the internet and found my site at the top. it’s been fun to hear from them and it’s all thanks to the unique name.

Take that John Smith’s of the world

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Comments

15 Responses to “The Internet And Unique Names”

Richard K Miller on December 13th, 2006 10:25 am

I’ve thought about this exact thing before, but from the opposite view. I’ve never had to spell or pronounce my name to anybody, but on the other hand, there are thousands of Richard Miller’s on the Internet. Often I can’t get the usernames I want on websites. But I’m slowly climbing the rankings (currently #4 on Google or #1 with my middle initial.)

Still didn’t stop me from being teased in elementary school: “Richy Rich”.
Jamie on December 13th, 2006 12:00 pm

I went from Stucki to Smith, and I have mixed reviews. It’s weird never being asked to spell my last name! But, I had to put numbers after my name on my email address because Smith is so common. Are you sure that you aren’t the opera singer?
Mare Ushkovska on December 14th, 2006 11:22 am

I can so relate to what you’re saying!
I’m from Macedonia and in my country only my family has my last name, which is to say it is very rare. And I love it! But it is also a funny last name because it means ’someone with big ears’. Now, I haven’t been teased in school, but I’ve noticed people’s looks when I tell them my last name. Regardless, I feel proud of my unique name and I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s great to know I am the only Mare Ushkovska in the world.
P.S. I love the name of Stucki! Especially because it reminds me of the imaginary town of Stuckyville from my favourite series ED:)
Joel Scott on December 14th, 2006 1:38 pm

Yeah, isn’t it nice being able to do that.

With my pleasant name I have to resort to numbers, acronyms, etc. (BTW, I am not the Realtor in Seattle found by googling my name.)

I really do enjoy reading your blog though and I absolutely love your tastes in music at freemacmusic.com.

Keep it goin’!
brandon stucki on December 14th, 2006 10:05 pm

brian.. dude our last name is awesome! and i still hear stucki dookie to this day in college

but yeah, a lot of people in high school and college dont know me by a first name basis, but my last name Stucki. ive been called it since elementary school, and dont hate it one bit.
Myrl on December 18th, 2006 9:28 pm

I don’t know . . . I think I win. I mean, come on. I got Myrl@Hotmail.com, for an e-mail address. Were you the only Brian in your elementary school, high school or university? I think not. Are you the only Brian at your job? Maybe, maybe not. Are you the only Brian within your circle of friends? Think about it . . . Who needs a last name when you can just pull a Madonna?
Brian on December 19th, 2006 12:29 pm

Myrl, that’s true. Your first and last name are both quite unique.
Erica Bowers on January 12th, 2007 8:54 pm

i think my name is kinda unique. think about it brian. haha. just kidding. there are probably 20 billion different bowers in the world. but i it when people say”hey bow wow” or bowser. its just plain disgusting. I dont think people need to think of a clever way to say ur last name. Unless they want to make fun of you. lol.
Erica on January 12th, 2007 8:54 pm

oops. i meant to put after i and before the it.
Shane on January 20th, 2007 6:31 pm

Hi Brian,

I am a good friend of the Opera Singer Brian Stucki and never fear, the masculinity of your name is quite safe…the opera man is married to a wonderful lady named Ann and a new baby named Colin.

Take Care!
Brian on January 20th, 2007 6:37 pm

Shane, That’s cool to know a bit more about the other Brian Stucki. Thanks for leaving a comment.
The REAL Brian Stucki on February 25th, 2007 6:43 pm

OK-
I am choosing not to be offended by your ill conceived view of opera singers. However I won’t pretend I haven’t encountered this narrow stereotype before…It’s about as common as Stucki Dookie (My friends actually usually opted for Stook dog.) In any case, I think we Brian Stuckis should probably be sticking together rather than creating divisions on the basis of aesthetic pursuits. I think our paths crossed actually a long time ago. I was at BYU and had lost my day planner. I went to the lost & found to check for it. After a couple of minutes they returned with a planner. The name inside was indeed my name, but the planner, I can only assume, was yours- unless there is a third Brian Stucki out there (heaven forbid). Anyhow, I will forgive your slight against male opera singers (many of whom are quite manly), if you will promise not to take brianstucki.net before I have the chance. As an opera singer at the start of my career, I will be needing a good website in the near future. I’ve already had to content myself with stucki.brian for email accounts since you are clearly way ahead with the computer savvy. Please don’t consign me to brianstucki.biz or .org. BTW, my wife Ann Hinckley Stucki (also a good name) is a free lance photographer, and we think your stuff is pretty good. Congrats on the impending baby, fatherhood is great stuff. I hope it doesn’t further impugn your masculinity that an opera singer beat you to it.
Cheers-
The REAL Brian Stucki
ps- I think I’m also older than you, which would make me the FIRST Brian Stucki as well…
Brian on February 25th, 2007 7:06 pm

Brian,

Cool to get a comment from you. Don’t take too much offense to the opera dig. It was totally tongue in cheek.

brianstucki.net is all yours. It’ll be cool to see what you do with it.

Did your stucki line come thru the Santa Clara Stuckis or the Idaho Stuckis?
The REAL Brian Stucki on February 25th, 2007 7:23 pm

Hi there

This is actually Brian’s wife Ann, as he is looking at photos from his most recent opera. We are in Manhattan but need to go home tomorrow and it is a long story. . . But our Stuckis are from Idaho and the Northwest. I only married into the name.

You can look up my husband on his agent’s website: http://www.guybarzilayartists.com (Brian is a tenor). We are (slowly) working on my photo website, annstucki.com. I mainly do head shot work and family photos these days.
Shauna on May 10th, 2007 9:12 pm

I also appreciate the uniqueness of your name. I was doing a google search for the opera singer Brian Stucki. What a delight to read your article and see him mentioned and then to see that he had also left a comment. I had a huge crush on Brian all through my teenage years. I have always admired his musical talent and I’ve been trying to track him down lately because I’d love to see him sing. Now, thanks to your article, I have some clues on where to find him!