‘Hi, I’m Barack Obama’ – can adopting a famous name make you a success?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/22/africa-barack-obama-adopting-famous-names-success

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The Malawian sports minister has given young people a key piece of advice to get ahead in life: adopt the name of a successful person in the public eye. Offering herself as a case in point, she explained how she’d excelled in life after adopting Barack Obama’s name.

Comparing career paths with that of her namesake, Grace Obama Chiumia said: “Obama became the first black American to lead the US and I have become the first women to be appointed minister of sports. Obama won the second tenure of office as US president and I won the second term of office as member of parliament”.

Obama Chiumia went on to suggest that if budding tennis players changed their names to, say, Serena Williams or Rafael Nadal they might enjoy similar sporting successes – although the Malawian Lawn Tennis association was quick to point out that hard work and determination were equally important factors.

Does she have a point? Can a name change inspire? Or are we able to emulate our heroes without going to such lengths?

If you are one Africa’s Barack Obamas, Nelson Mandelas or Serena Williams' we’d love to hear how, or if it has affected your life. Or maybe you’ve been named after a great historical hero?

If you have children we’d like to hear from you too. Have you been influenced celebrity in the naming process? Or does the thought put you off?

Add your thoughts in the comment thread below and we’ll add the best to this article.

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