Isn't it obvious? It's one character shorter. Just like one of Arc's guiding principles: "How code looks matters: short names, no swearing". Of course, since ones name is so frequently typed, one might prefer something even shorter. Like, "Joe", as a purely hypothetical example. I'm not sure one can go any shorter than three characters for a common male US name.

More seriously, I'm guessing Mark/Steven is of Asian descent (Bao make this seem more likely). They don't necessarily take their American name very seriously, since it's not their "real" name. I've known several Asian folks who've gone through a couple of Americanized names over the span of a few years. Their Japanese or Chinese or Vietnamese or Thai name stays the same throughout.

Most Asian Americans I know take their "American" names very seriously, as it's their legal, social, and personal identity.

Growing up Asian in the US, I hated when kids always asked me for my "real" name. I have a Chinese name, as well as an English name. Both are aliases for the person and both are "real".

Apologies for implying otherwise. I was primarily referring to Asians who grew up in Asia and still call Asia home, but that do business with Americans. I promise I won't ask you your "real" name.

Al?

Now you're talking! You can call me "Al" from now on, thanks.

Now we know why the superintelligent being called himself "Q".

Another alternative is to name yourself Zed, then emigrate to the UK.

But, we like to reserve one character identifiers for variables used in loops and such, right?

My hairdresser is from Korea. His name? "D".

Beat that!

I'll see your D and raise you a friend named Y.

(With apologies for the figure of speech to our poker playing friends).

Yes, I did. It was previously something Chinese, which I changed to Steven a year or so before, and decided that it wasn't what I liked, so Mark is what I changed it to.

It is, however, my legally recognized name.

Ah, good call. Steve Bao sounds like it has too many vowels. Mark Bao is much better :)