names in the mirror universe

[archersangel]

i was wondering why when sci-fi tv shows do a mirror universe or alternate timeline are the names the same?

i suppose it's to avoid confusion for the viewers, but is it reasonable to think the first names would be the same? like you could be jane in this universe & sally in another. or the spelling could be different. anne vs ann, for example.

ST: DS9, which had more mirror universe episodes than any other trek, touched on this by having mirror sisko call mirror universe o'brien smiley. although he was not thrilled with the nickname.

Comments

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Fascinating question! For years, I wondered why we'd get the same groups of people at all, but I decided one must be in some way closer to a universe where many of the same people are together, and so it's easier to slip into that one. But why would they always have the same names, especially given names?

I had forgotten Smiley!