Nameberry's Name of the Day

November 1

Ringo

On November 1, 1960, the Beatles played their first gig at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg, Germany. Ringo Starr wasn’t a part of the band yet. He would join in August 1962, and in October 1962 the Beatles released their first hit song.

Coincidence? No. We believe that it was not John or Paul but Ringo who catapulted the band to superstardom. And not because of his drumming but because of his name.

Coming at the end of the Fab Four — John, Paul, George, and Ringo were always named in that order — the name Ringo sounded like a chime that both amused and intrigued us: Who was this drummer with the crazy name?

Wacky names were not the norm for rock musicians back then. So the name Ringo stood out more than it would in this era of The Edge, Slash, and Flea.

Ringo got his nickname — his real name is Richard — from his band before the Beatles, because he wore so many rings.

And Ringo wasn’t the only band member to use a stage name. Paul at one point called himself Paul Ramon. George used the first name Carl in honor of Carl Perkins, who wrote Blue Suede Shoes. John was Long John.

But the only stage name to stick was Ringo. Ringo Starr did not inspire lots or even any baby boys named Ringo. But he helped broaden our idea of what names could do, showing that a unique name might help you more than it could hurt. He undoubtedly launched the fashion for boys’ names ending in o.

Oh, and he made the Beatles unforgettable.