Meet the real-life muggles named Harry Potter

This article was originally published on 29th March 2018, and the interviews carried out that year.

Shortly before midnight on November 1st, 1981, Minerva McGonagall, a stern-looking woman, made an important observation. Moments earlier she had been a tabby cat, but now she stood with the elderly Albus Dumbledore, and the two were talking excitedly about the baby they were about to leave on the doorstep of number 4 Privet Drive.

“That boy is going to be famous!” McGonagall murmured to the man beside her, who was popping another lemon drop into his long, silver beard. “They’ll write books about him – everyone will know who he is!”

She was absolutely right. The baby, Harry Potter, would quickly become incredibly famous. His name would be known around the world, thanks to JK Rowling’s books, which sold over 500 million copies in 74 languages. Even the name itself – four simple syllables – would become officially trademarked and even have its own unique font.

Even now, nearly 21 years after the first ‘Harry Potter’ book came out, ‘Harry Potter’ remains more popular on Google than Donald Trump, Kanye West, and Gandalf all put together. In fact, people search for ‘Harry Potter’ 17 times more often than they search for Jesus Christ.

Despite how accurate Professor McGonagall’s prediction was, she failed to consider one major thing. While the boy known as ‘The Boy Who Lived’ would become world-famous, so would other people named Harry Potter. There were, for example, around 23 Harry Potters of voting age living in the UK.

Even though they had no connection to Hogwarts or anything magical, people named Harry Potter would always be associated with the world of wizards, whether they liked it or not.

For those named Harry Potter, is it a lifelong burden or a magical icebreaker? We spoke with five real-life Harry Potters – everyday people who, at least publicly, follow the rules about revealing magical secrets – to find out how the famous name has impacted their lives, both positively and negatively.

Sir Harry Potter, Lawyer

Want to see this content?

You can’t see this Twitter post right now while you’re logged into Contentpass. Please sign out of Contentpass to view it.

Potter’s unusual name often gets a reaction, even bringing a lighthearted atmosphere to serious court proceedings. He recalls one instance in Crown Court where he was representing a client named Martin Luther King, while another court was simultaneously hearing the case of someone named Gandhi. The announcement of all three names over the courtroom’s public address system caused widespread laughter.

You might expect a lawyer who makes people laugh at them wouldn’t inspire confidence in a jury. It’s also logical to assume a lawyer who causes disruptions and laughter during witness examinations – like when questioning figures such as the Sheriff of Nottingham or Michael Caine, as Potter sometimes does – would be detrimental to their client’s case. However, that’s not necessarily true.

Potter believes juries respond positively to his name. He’s noticed they often smile at him in a way they don’t with other lawyers, and he thinks putting them in a good mood makes them more receptive to his arguments. He also points out that prosecutors sometimes inadvertently help him by introducing him as ‘Harry Potter,’ which gives him an immediate advantage – something they’re likely aware of and even find amusing.

Sometimes, Potter’s name causes amusing problems in court. He recalls one case where a judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation for a client. The resulting 17-page report concluded the client was delusional, believing his lawyer was actually Harry Potter. The judge jokingly told Potter, ‘I suspect we’ll need another report, Mr. Potter!’

Experiences like these led Potter to write to JK Rowling, jokingly introducing himself as a lawyer and pointing out the similarity between his name and the famous character (‘I’m the real Harry Potter and I know the Chamber of Secrets!’ he told her). He even wondered if he might have inspired the name, explaining, ‘Being Scottish, I asked if she’d heard my name while she lived in Edinburgh.’

Surprisingly, Rowling actually responded! While she clarified that the character Harry Potter wasn’t based on the lawyer who asked, she did share where the name came from: ‘Harry’ was simply a name she liked, and the Potters were the family who lived next door.

It wasn’t quite the response Harry Potter hoped for, but J.K. Rowling’s reply was actually more heartwarming. She joked, “I keep that letter safe – it’s probably my pension fund!”

Harry Potter, Former Student at Sheffield University

Similar to the other Harry Potter mentioned, this Harry was born just five months before the first book, The Philosopher’s Stone, came out. He clarifies that his parents always emphasize he wasn’t named after the famous character, but the wizarding world has been a constant presence in his life since childhood. He explains, “It’s always been there for me, ever since I was a kid.” At school, he was always known as ‘Harry Potter,’ never just ‘Harry’ or ‘Potter.’

It wasn’t a bad thing at all, this sudden recognition. As I remember it, things started to get… well, pretty cool. Like those midnight launches for the new Harry Potter books? I was lucky enough to be at the Exeter WH Smith on July 21st, 2007, for the release of Deathly Hallows. They even asked me to dress up as a wizard! Honestly, I was just happy to get my hands on a copy, so I definitely wasn’t complaining.

As he grew older, things became more noticeable, as Potter describes. He recalls family holidays being particularly eventful. He explains that American immigration officials always seemed to put on a show. They would maintain serious expressions until he approached, at which point they’d excitedly exclaim, “Oh my gosh! Harry Potter?!” and rush to inspect his passport.

That’s not the strangest thing that’s happened to Potter at an airport. He recalls a school trip in 2013 with around 30-40 students when someone noticed Gary Oldman – who played Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films. Naturally, one of his classmates then yelled out his name.

Oldman initially thought it was a prank, but he went along with it. He asked, with a smile, ‘Oh really?’ Then, he pulled me from the crowd – I’d been trying to hide, knowing something like this might happen. He looked at my passport, hesitated, and exclaimed, ‘Oh no!’ I was secretly thrilled.

Harry now works as a Governance, Change and MI Lead (Op Res) at MUFG

Harry Potter, Marketing & Customer Services worker

Looking back at Harry’s earliest memories, it’s clear ‘Pottermania’ started very young. Even at four years old, before he could really read J.K. Rowling’s first book, he was getting a lot of attention because of his name. He recalls reporters from The Sun newspaper and the BBC coming to his house. While it was a lot for a young child to handle, he admits he actually enjoyed the excitement.

His rising popularity led to some amazing opportunities, like when he was invited to the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” in 2002. He recalls going with his mother, and remembers the confusion when they arrived. While all the photographers were focused on the famous stars, they were soon asking, “Who are these people?” After baffling the press, he even got to watch the movie alongside the stars, seated next to actor Vinnie Jones.

But for Potter, a 24-year-old who works in marketing for a shelving company, the initial amusement of having that name has faded a bit. He still receives emails from clients jokingly thanking him for “working his magic,” but his name sometimes causes more trouble than it’s worth. He recounts an experience trying to enter a golf competition: when he gave his name, the person on the phone didn’t believe it wasn’t a joke and hung up on him. “Sometimes the name really doesn’t help me,” he says with a laugh.

Harry Potter, Salesman

If Harry Potter ever decided to leave his job as an auror and start a regular business, our advice would be simple: order plenty of business cards! This Harry Potter, who works in business development, says he goes through 80 to 100 cards at each event. People often approach his booth just to get a card with his name on it. He doesn’t mind at all, though – it’s a fun conversation starter, and it helps people remember him and what he’s selling!

The name has proven helpful beyond just making sales. For example, when Potter arrived an hour late to the Harry Potter History of Magic exhibit at The British Library, simply mentioning his name got him immediate access. He explained, “After my friend told them my name and they checked, we were let in right away. They even told us not to worry about the closing time – we could stay as long as we liked!”

One of the best things for Potter is having a simple costume idea already. He explains, “I’ve dressed as a wizard around five times! People always assume I wouldn’t want to, but it’s perfect for Halloween!”

Harry Potter, Fitness & Nutrition Coach

You might not have thought about gyms for wizards (except maybe because of a funny internet meme!), but one Harry Potter fan is trying to make it a reality. He’s really into fitness and uses Instagram and YouTube to share his workout and nutrition advice.

I’ve been following Harry Potter’s online transformation, and it’s fascinating! He’s really moved away from the bulky look of someone like Viktor Krum and is now all about achieving a superhero physique. He even goes by ‘Harry Ashton Potter’ online – a smart move, I think, to differentiate himself and make sure people know this is the real deal. He’s explained that using just ‘Harry Potter’ might lead people to believe he’s pretending to be someone else, which is understandable!

Even in his daily life, the unusualness of his name still gets a reaction from others, even if he’s gotten used to it. He says his friends sometimes jokingly test new people by asking for his last name, and he pretends to be confused just to make them look silly.

Whether it’s dealing with the fame after the Harry Potter books, as documented in a psychiatric report, or simply being mistaken for the wizard while playing golf, people named Harry Potter have all had unusual experiences. But what connects these individuals – Sir Harry, a student named Potter, a salesman named Potter, a marketing professional named Potter, and a fitness instructor named Potter – despite their different lives?

Most people prefer J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings – only a couple of those asked really know the Harry Potter story well. Even those who are fans tend to keep it to themselves. One student admitted, “I love both series, but I have to act like I don’t. Years ago, I wore Gryffindor gloves and got a lot of teasing for it, so I won’t be doing that again!”

Many people dislike having to state their full names when making restaurant reservations or paying bills – really, any time it’s required. Sir Harry explains that this often leads to teasing or demands for their ‘real’ name. He jokes that while he hasn’t been pulled over by the police yet, he fears he could be in trouble for providing a false identity, and might even face a breathalyzer test.

This isn’t just a problem they face in person. The Potters have experienced the same disbelief online, too. Student Potter remembers, “Whenever a new Potter movie came out, Facebook would ban my account, thinking it wasn’t a real profile. I had to repeatedly send in a copy of my passport, and it would take about two weeks to get back on. It was incredibly frustrating!”

It was surprisingly difficult for people named Harry Potter to create accounts on social media. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter often rejected applications, suspecting fake identities. As a result, many Harry Potters had to get creative to be accepted. They’ve used variations like adding Scandinavian characters to their names (a nod to all the Harry Pøtters!), emphasizing their middle names, or even adopting entirely new nicknames.

It’s not just social media that causes this issue. Surprisingly, if you share a name with a famous character like Harry Potter, you’ll likely become hard to find online. Any information about you – whether positive or negative – gets lost amongst countless memes, forum discussions, and fan theories about the fictional character.

This new technology effectively hides your personal information online, meaning your data and photos won’t be found by Google and you’ll be protected from identity theft. Plus, if you’re an author who published a book before J.K. Rowling, you might even see a sales increase as fans accidentally stumble upon your work (one author jokes that kids might be surprised to find books about serious topics!).

It’s funny, being a young Harry Potter these days presents some unique challenges! I was chatting with a student who’s thinking about a career in consulting, and he joked about trying to leverage his initials – ‘HP’ – to boost his Google ranking. But he quickly realized that’s easier said than done, considering HP is already a massive company. He admitted with a laugh that even if it worked, he wasn’t sure he’d actually make any money from it!

Simply being connected to the Harry Potter world isn’t enough to legally start a business using the name. If someone tries to capitalize on the brand without permission from Warner Bros – like opening a ‘Harry Potter’ dry cleaner with references to the books – they could face a lawsuit. In the US, a ‘Harry Potter Dry Cleaners’ is a frequently used example of how a trademark can be weakened by unauthorized use.

While a Harry Potter isn’t likely to start a successful business using that name, having it certainly helps when applying for jobs. Salesman Potter explains, “It makes me memorable in interviews and changes the whole conversation.” He believes being able to laugh at the inevitable ‘Harry Potter’ jokes shows you’re a well-rounded person – a skill that’s valuable in any workplace.

Having the name Harry Potter proved surprisingly beneficial for Sir Harry during a local election. He won a seat on the Greenwich council in London in 2002, narrowly winning by just two votes. He believes his name was a key factor, especially with children recognizing him while he was campaigning. In a close local election, even a small boost in recognition can make all the difference.

Last year, while running for the international students committee, Harry Potter won the election, though it wasn’t a typical contest. He was the only candidate, but the ballot still included the option to reopen nominations, listed simply as ‘RON’ alongside his name. He jokingly recalls being worried about the unusual situation, but admits his recognizable name likely helped. He’s considering a career in politics and hopes to make a positive impact.

Even Potters who aren’t seeking public attention find themselves under intense scrutiny because of their family name. As Salesman Potter explains, any misstep, even a small one that upsets someone or causes embarrassment, is likely to be remembered and won’t be easily forgiven. This constant pressure forces them to be exceptionally careful and aware of their behavior, making everyday interactions feel less spontaneous and natural.

Student Harry Potter recalls being recognized and talked about on the app Yik Yak early in his first year. People were posting things like, ‘There’s a Harry Potter in my politics class!’ or ‘Someone named Harry Potter lives in my building!’ These posts consistently received dozens of likes daily, leaving Potter wondering who was behind them and why.

I recall walking to a seminar when someone suddenly stopped me on the street. He pulled off his headphones and yelled, ‘You’re a wizard, Harry!’ It was a really surprising and overwhelming moment.

You know, it’s funny – I’ve noticed a pattern with people named Harry Potter. It’s not just when they’re kids starting Hogwarts, it happens every time they enter a new phase of life. Like starting a new job or school, they get that reaction. I was talking to a guy named Salesman Potter, and he told me his first week at a new job, they announced his name during an assembly. Suddenly, everyone was whispering! He said it felt exactly like that moment in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when everyone finds out who Harry is. It’s wild how that keeps happening to them!

People who became fans of Harry Potter during its peak popularity often feel a strong connection to the names of the characters. It’s easy to see why – imagine being named Harry Potter and constantly having people comment on it. One person estimates that around 75% of people they meet want to talk about their name! This becomes a defining part of who they are, and how others see them. As one person named Potter explained, it’s strange how much their name shapes their identity when they first meet someone – it can really become their defining characteristic.

Interestingly, while having the name ‘Potter’ did seem to influence people’s personalities a little, it didn’t turn them into nervous or resentful individuals constantly seeking approval. Quite the opposite, actually. Everyone with the Potter surname we interviewed was remarkably open and positive about their connection to the Harry Potter books. They were friendly, cheerful, genuine, self-assured, and had a great sense of humor. Simply put, they were all incredibly kind people.

Okay, let’s be upfront: my sample group wasn’t exactly random. I only spoke to people willing to talk to me, and specifically those who still go by ‘Potter.’ I did try reaching out to a few former Potters – people who’ve legally changed their names – but they weren’t interested in sharing their stories, making them a tough group to get a hold of.

Most of the Potters we talked to were happy to share their stories. Even though they’d faced years of stressful situations, they remained surprisingly positive about everything.

You know, it’s funny – not a single one of these actors felt the need to legally change their name. Honestly, you could slap a name tag on each of them, put them in front of the Mirror of Erised, and it would still reflect back ‘Harry Potter.’ It’s like the role became so much bigger than any individual identity – they’ll always be associated with that character, and that’s pretty powerful.

Perhaps it’s because they always have something to talk about. While it’s often the same question – whether they’re really Harry Potter – it’s a topic they’ve become accustomed to answering. As Student Potter explains, starting with a joke to reassure people they aren’t a wizard helps break the ice. “It makes me seem more approachable and willing to connect with others, which is much better than awkward small talk.”

The name Harry Potter is instantly likable. When people hear it, they immediately connect it to the cherished character from their childhood. This creates an instant connection, drawing people into the magical world J.K. Rowling created—a world filled with happy memories and the excitement of growing up. As Sir Harry Potter himself notes, while some names might create distance, Harry Potter is a name that draws people in.

Bringing joy to others feels good, and if you can easily brighten someone’s day, it’s worthwhile. It leaves you feeling happy and fulfilled.

We did hear some complaints from people named Harry Potter – they mentioned the downsides of being constantly recognized. However, every story they shared ended with a chuckle, not a regret, showing a positive outlook even when things were tough – similar to how Harry Potter’s Patronus charm always drove away the darkness.

With all things considered? All was well.

As a big fan of the Harry Potter series, it’s been really disheartening to see J.K. Rowling caught up in controversy. She shared a pretty detailed essay back in 2020 explaining her thoughts on sex and gender, but it sparked a lot of criticism, particularly from LGBTQ+ organizations like Stonewall, who strongly disagreed with her views. It’s definitely a complicated situation, and it’s tough when someone you admire says things that many find hurtful.

In 2024, J.K. Rowling expressed controversial opinions on X (formerly Twitter) regarding transgender issues. She stated that she doesn’t believe in the concept of transgender children and doesn’t agree with the idea that someone’s gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

In May 2025, J.K. Rowling created the JK Rowling Women’s Fund to provide financial support for legal battles concerning women’s rights as they relate to biological sex.

The main actors from the Harry Potter films—Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson—have publicly disagreed with J.K. Rowling’s views and voiced their support for the transgender community. Meanwhile, other cast members like Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Jim Broadbent have come to Rowling’s defense amid the criticism she’s faced.

2026-02-05 12:43