What's in a name ?

Friends, I am going through an identity crisis, literally. And the person overshadowing my identity has got a name that is superset of my name( or mine is subset of his). On top of that we have a common last name and we come from the same state. And in his first name he has got one additional element 'j' and rest is same as mine( not in the same order though). 

Since my name is shorter it is logical to expect that it will have 'top of mind' recall in people's mind. Unfortunately it is not the case. Almost 7 out of 10 common acquaintances call me by his name first and if good sense prevail get it right in second attempt. If he has posted something on Yahoo group there were occasions when recipients came to me for queries regarding mail that I have not sent.  Well sometimes he also get called by my name but it is less than 1 out 10 cases.

Things have reached to a level that if someone is shouting his name outside I go and check if he is actually looking for me :). This whole confusion over name reached its height when I went to deposit my hostel fee. Our hostel warden credited the money to my namesake's( I think I can call him so) account. Later I detected the mistake and he transffered it to my account.

This incident set me seriously thinking of why people confuse me as him? I think I have found the answer. Read on. If you consider us as two brands with our own brand personalities and of course,  brand names(which are not so distinct) then it is the brand personality which is responsible for my current identity crisis. His is an extrovert, gregarious( eat, drink and be merry) kind of personality on the other hand I am an out-and-out( or in-and-in?) introvert who prefer to stay all by himself. It is his outgoing, mixing personality which gives a top of mind recall to his name vis-a-vis a recluse, taciturn personality with almost similar name.

Therefore if one is launching a brand which has a brand personality similar to me extra care should be taken while choosing a name for it lest a brand which has similar name with my namesake's personality will win the race of occupying prospect's mind. Now I guess you guys can understand the feelings I undergo if someone quotes Shakespeare "What's in a name?".

@ My namesake: I know you will be reading this so I will request you again to remove the moustache you have recently started sporting. I think that was the only stark difference between us that helped people getting my name right(atleast in 2nd attempt :).