@Edent in 2014 , at least 1156 people and 34 people were forenamed and surnamed Madonna in Nigeria, respectively. That's the supplement to what I learned in this article.

@Edent I've got a string of characters that can vary a bit that I use for contracts, but it isn't my name all the time

@Edent Hence why we *need* to be better at diversity in software development, so we can build systems that are inclusive of as many people as possible. Not just white men.

@Edent something something Linux kernel signed-off-by something something 😐

@Edent The article makes clear to me something I hadn't really formed into words before: this natural fluidity of names and anonymity in general is a leveller for the poor and disadvantaged. The idea that everyone has just one name (and should not be able to avoid using it) only helps the haves, not the have-nots.

@Edent It’s an interesting area. Even in the U.K. you can change your namely freely as many times if you like and without anything other than a signed statutory declaration of your new name. The power to change your name is an important right imho

@Edent This is great. And it’s another recommendation that everyone go and read “Seeing Like A State”.

In this case: standardized names have the effect of handing power over individuals to the government.

By maintaining the casual attitude to names the article describes, Nigerians are keeping out of their lives a state that may not always be benevolent, or even particularly competent.