"we have the same name" vs "we had the same name"

Question

"we have the same name" vs "we had the same name"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'We have the same name' is used in the present tense to indicate that two or more people currently share the same name. 'We had the same name' is used in the past tense to indicate that two or more people shared the same name at a specific point in the past.

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

This phrase is used in the present tense to indicate that two or more people currently share the same name.

Examples:

We have the same name, so people often get confused when they call us.
Do you know that we have the same name as the famous actor?
They realized they have the same name when they met at the conference.

Alternatives:

Our names are the same.
We share the same name.
We both have the same name.
Our name is identical.
We possess the same name.

This phrase is used in the past tense to indicate that two or more people shared the same name at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

When we were born, we had the same name, but I changed mine later.
Back in high school, we had the same name, and it caused some confusion.
They had the same name until they got married and changed it.

Alternatives:

We used to have the same name.
At one point, we shared the same name.
Our names were the same.
We both had the same name.
Our name was identical.

Answer 1

we have the same name

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

we had the same name

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"we have the same name" vs "we had the same name"

we have the same name

we had the same name

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