Name (song)

The song's unusual guitar tuning, D-A-E-A-E-E,Dolls, G. (1996). Goo Goo Dolls - a Boy Named Goo*. Milwaukee: HAL LEONARD. is accomplished by replacing the B string with a high E string. In an interview with Guitar World Magazine, the singer and songwriter Johnny Rzeznik explained: "Both the top strings are high E strings. Whenever I tried tuning a regular B string up to E, it would pop. It was really tough on the tension. I've seen guys play 'Name' with regular tuning. It doesn't sound right."{{cite web | url=http://www.musicfanclubs.org/googoodolls/misc/GW1996.htm| publisher=NewBay Media, LLC | title=Guitar World Magazine, May 1996 "Goo Vibrations"| access-date=2012-10-14}} Rzeznik says that the song's unusual composition happened "quite accidentally". In an interview with KFOG, he explained: "It was weird, I was just sitting on my couch randomly twisting the tuning pegs, and I couldn't figure out what notes the guitar was tuned to, so I had to grab my tuner to find out, and then I jotted them down on a post it. ... I just sat there and let my fingers play the fretboard openly, and that is what became the progression of 'Name'."{{cite web | url=https://www.angelfire.com/nd/amigone/gwa.html| publisher=NewBay Media, LLC | title=Guitar World Acoustic, Issue 29 "A Simple Twist of Fate"| access-date=January 22, 2012}}

In her book The Kennedy Chronicles, former MTV VJ Kennedy claimed that the song was actually about her complicated relationship with Rzeznik, with the lyrics referring to their time together and her full name being a secret to most. Rzeznik admitted to the inspiration in the book, saying, "I was trying to capture a moment...it was pretty interesting to have a song inspired by a moment. And I thought it was a very sweet song."Kennedy, The Kennedy Chronicles, 2013, Macmillan, pp. 103–105.

In October 2012, "Name" was ranked number 24 on Billboard's "Top 100 Pop Songs 1992–2012" chart. This chart also featured the Goo Goo Dolls' hits "Slide" (ranking at number nine) and "Iris" (which topped the chart). The Goo Goo Dolls are the only musicians to have three songs chart on the list, two breaking the top 10 and all three falling within the top 25. They are also the only musicians who have back to back singles ("Iris", 1998 and "Slide", 1999) featured on the list.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/474814/the-top-100-pop-songs-1992-2012-from-no-100-to-no-1|title=The Top 100 Pop Songs 1992-2012, From No. 100 To No. 1|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|date=October 3, 2012|access-date=January 11, 2016}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

US cassette single and Australian maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Name|others=Goo Goo Dolls|year=1995|type=US cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Metal Blade Records, Warner Bros. Records|id=9 17758-4, 4-17758}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Name|others=Goo Goo Dolls|year=1995|type=Australian maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=5439177582}}

:A1. "Name" – 4:29

:B1. "Burnin' Up" – 2:29

:B2. "Hit or Miss" – 2:43

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Name|others=Goo Goo Dolls|year=1995|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=WO333CD, 9362-43661-2}}

1. "Name" – 4:29
2. "Nothing Can Change You" – 3:11
3. "I Wanna Destroy You" – 2:34

{{col-2}}

Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Name|others=Goo Goo Dolls|year=1995|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Metal Blade Records, Warner Bros. Records|id=WPCR-684}}

1. "Name"
2. "Burnin' Up"
3. "Falling Down"
4. "Naked"

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Name"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Goo Goo Dolls|title=Name|award=Gold|relyear=1995|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=January 22, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Goo Goo Dolls|title=Name|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1995|certyear=2022|access-date=July 1, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

• List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)
• Number one modern rock hits of 1995
• List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles (Canada)

{{Reflist}}

{{Goo Goo Dolls}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1994 songs

Category:1995 singles

Category:Goo Goo Dolls songs

Category:Post-grunge songs

Category:Songs written by John Rzeznik

Category:Warner Records singles