They can be, yes. I think it's sweet. Completely unnecessary, but sweet.

[[She tilts her head at the second question, trying to decide how best to respond.]]

I suppose it might be, but when one acts like an insufferable prick, you cannot expect to be named otherwise. As of late though, he's given me so little reason to use that name. I mostly refer to him as Dave.

Oddly enough, he seems almost proud of his original name though. Which is really no surprise, considering who he acts like.