What happens when everyone in the room shares your exact name?
In 2021, a college student named Josh Swain sent a bizarre Facebook message to every other Josh Swain he could find: "You're all invited to fight for the name." What started as a pandemic joke became a global phenomenon. Nearly 1,000 people showed up in Lincoln, Nebraska. They raised $14,000 for charity. CNN, BBC, ESPN, and the Wall Street Journal covered it.
But Josh wasn't the first. In 1995, a Brooklyn writer tracked down 22 men named Phil Campbell and brought them to Phil Campbell, Alabama (population 1,000). The reunion spawned a documentary. In 2019, a pub owner in England gathered 434 Nigels after learning no babies had been named Nigel in 2016. One flew in from Texas on crowdfunded money.
Now it's our turn. There are 2,287 Christopher J. Bradleys in the United States—mathematicians, doctors, veterans, actors, and one civic educator writing this from Northwest Florida. We share more than three words on a birth certificate. We share a story waiting to be told.
On America's 250th birthday, let's find out what unites us beyond a name.
The Josh Fight
Started as a joke, became global news. ~1,000 attendees, $14,000+ raised for children's hospital. Covered by CNN, NPR, BBC, WSJ, ESPN.
Phil Campbell Convention
Brooklyn writer mailed 330 letters, 22 Phil Campbells gathered in Phil Campbell, Alabama. Spawned documentary "I'm With Phil."
Nigel Night
English pub owner gathered 434 Nigels after zero babies were named Nigel in 2016. Free pints for verified Nigels.
World Record
2,325 Ivans gathered in Bosnia—the current world record for most people with the same name in one place.