Will the real "Joshua Baer" please stand up?

For all of my childhood, I was the only Joshua Baer.

Sometime in high school, my cousin sent me a picture of the sign in front of Joshua Baer & Co, an art dealer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. And I realized that I was not the only Joshua Baer in the world. My innocence was shattered.

10 years later I set up a Google alert for "Joshua Baer". Except for the occasional message about the art dealer, I only received alerts about myself.

Then last year I joined Facebook and was surprised to see 26 other Joshua Baers! From their pictures and school info, they all seem to be much younger than me - most graduated after 2000. LinkedIn shows 5 other Joshua Baers. I can't figure out how to find Joshua Baers on MySpace.

Are my Google alerts doomed to be polluted with news about other Joshua Baers?

I have joshuabaer.com and joshbaer.com and @baer.name. I have joshuabaer on twitter and on MySpace and on Linkedin. But how long can I keep it up?

Will the real "Joshua Baer" please stand up?

Comments

[Kelly Kane]

I too, can relate. Kelly Kane is a SUPER popular name, but I never knew that. A few years ago, I was on vacation at a small island in Rhode Island, and another Kelly Kane was getting my mail and vice versa! I even called someone who sent a vague postcard because I thought I knew them... but I didn't.

At least you're winning the Google alerts battle!

[Silona]

Um yea I can sooo relate. The first time I ever found another silona was on the net. Actually chatted with a young gal in Israel for awhile since we both wanted silona@yahoo.com :-)

[Joe Doyle]

Fun post!

But you are lucky – you could have it the opposite way. I'm one of a bazillion Joe Doyles in the world, but I was the first to register my name (in '98). I get at least a half dozen requests per year – most notably was from the guitarist of the popular Irish band, The Frames.