I was born with the same name as half of a popular comedy double act of the eighties.
Rhymes with "Nobby Nall". This man had a catchphrase - *pulls on braces* "Rock on, Tommy!" The first time I heard that it started to lose its appeal. I subsequently heard it about once a week at school.

Then when I was about 13, on a school skiing trip, some bright spark noticed that the song "Rubber Ball" also bore a similarity to my name. Not only did I have a catchphrase, I now had a terrible, terrible song that people would sing at me as well. By the time I left, I'd acquired the nickname "Rubber", used by pupils and teachers alike.

After leaving school I changed my name by deed poll to something ordinary and anonymous. It worked, since the worst nicknames I've had to put up with since then have been Morrissey (hair-related) and Geoff (two people with the same first name living in one house). I quite liked Geoff.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 30 Jan 2009, 12:00, Reply)