NAMES IN THE NEWS : What’s In a Name? A Big Party

LONDON — Some people might think that fussing over a name is much ado about nothing, but those people aren’t named Shakespeare.

Of those who are, about 115 turned up to celebrate the Bard’s birthday today at the site of the new Globe Theater. It was the largest gathering of Shakespeares since 1964, which was celebrated as the playwright’s 400th birthday. All seemed proud of their illustrious name.

Of course, it may be that none of the latter-day Shakespeares is related to England’s premier playwright. Genealogies are hazy on this point.

But never mind.

“We all like to think we’re related to the Bard,” said Stanley Shakespeare, a London hairdresser, who pored through phone books for six months to compile the invitation list of 600 Shakespeares throughout Britain.