JKR and reusing names (was: Augustus)

[Naama]

No: HPFGUIDX 77085

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "susanbones2003" <rdas at f...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "psychic_serpent" 
> <psychic_serpent at y...> wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "susannacedric" 
> > <susannacedric at p...> wrote:
> > Did anyone else notice there were two characters (albeit both 
minor 
> > characters) named Augustus in OOP-Augustus Rookwood-DE and 
Augustus 
> > Pye-Trainee Healer.  I didn't think JKR ever reused names.  I 
can't 
> > think of any other characters that have the same first names.  Am 
I 
> > forgetting some?  Is there any significance to this, or am I just 
> > being overly analytical.
> > 
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arioth1" <arioth at p...> 
wrote:
> > There are two named Tom aswell. Tom Riddle and the barman in the 
> > Leaky Cauldron.
> > 
> > Me:
> > 
> > Actually, the usual way in which she reuses names is by going the 
> > father/son route.  We had two Tom Riddles, one a Muggle father 
and 
> > one an evil spawn of a son; we had two Barty Crouches, each one 
> more 
> > vile than the last, and Harry himself bears his father's first 
name 
> > as his middle name, as we finally have confirmed when he has his 
> > trial in OotP.  Frankly, I'm surprised that we don't see more 
names 
> > reused in this manner in the HP books, but authors have a certain 
> > amount of control over their worlds to avoid this when it would 
be 
> > undesirable 

****snip****

> Two more:
> Nicholas Flamel and Sir Nicholas (Gryffendor ghost!)
> Jennifer

And here are some more:

Ernie Macmillan and Ernie Prang (Knight Bus driver)
Sturgis Podmore and Patrick Delaney (aka Properly Decapitated) Podmore
Frank Bryce and Frank Longbottom
Tyberius Ogden (I'm not sure I got her first name right- she's a 
friend of Professor Tofty) and Ogden's Old Firewhisky (well maybe 
that doesn't really count...)

That's what I like about JKR's names - they *do* repeat themselves. 
It's practical. I mean what are the odds of having so many different 
characters and not having two Joes or something?

--Naama