I offered up a list of 65 first names and asked participants to provide the first person they think of when hearing each name.
There were some general rules. I got 172 responses. See the winners below, and scroll down to read some of my own thoughtful analysis.

If you're interested:    the original name list     |    all the replies     |     dan's picks

THE WINNERS: percentages represent their winning share of 172 votes.
SCROLL >>>>>
Tracy

Tracey Ullman
37
Tracy Chapman
34
Tracy Gold
25
Strong Showings:
Morgan, Lords 		Ben
Ben Stiller
48
Ben Affleck
46
Strong Showings:
Folds, Harper, Kingsley,
Stein 		Ellen
Ellen Degeneres
159
Ellen Barkin
8
Daniel
Daniel Day Lewis
49
Daniel Boone
21
Strong Showings:
Baldwin		 Spencer

Spencer Tracy
121
Bruce
Bruce Willis
64
Bruce Springstein
41
Bruce Lee
24
Strong Showings:
Wayne, Jenner, Almighty 		Allen
Alan Alda
29
Alan Iverson
16
Strong Showings:
Thicke, Woody (tee hee) 		Christopher
Christopher Reeve
49
Chrisopher Walken
41
Strong Showings:
Columbus, Lee, Lloyd, Plummer, Robbins 		Jennifer
Jennifer Anniston
49
Jennifer Lopez
35
Jennifer Garner
22
Strong Showings:
Jason-Leigh, Love-Hewitt		 Peter
Peter Pan
14
Strong Showings:
Fonda, Frampton, Gabriel, Jackson, Jennings. Lawford, Parker, Piper, Sellers 		Leonard
Leonard Nimoy
67
Cohen
31
Maltin
16
Strong Showings:
Skynnard, Bernstein, DiCaprio		 Pam
Pam Anderson
52
Pan Dawber
26
Strong Showings:
Grier, Beesely (from The Office), Cooking Spray 		Sue
Sue Johanson
22
Sue Ellen
12
Strong Showings:
A Boy Named... 		John
John Stamos
12
John Travolta
12
John Lennon
11
Strong Showings:
Denver, Jacob-Jingle Heimerschmidt, Kerry, Wayne 		Steven
Steven Spielberg
40
Steven Segal
39
Steven Tyler
15
Strong Showings:
Baldwin, Hawking, King 		Stacy
Stacy Keach
35
Stacy Keibler (wrestler)
12
Ryan
Ryan Seacrest
53
Ryan O'Neal
16
Ryan Phillipe
14
Strong Showings:
Adams, Reynolds 		Kelly
Kelly Clarkson
72
Kelly Osborne
14
Kelly Ripa
13
Strong Showings:
Kelly Kapowski (Saved By The Bell)		 Ken
Ken, The Doll
67
Ken Jennings (Jeopardy Champ)
7
Ken Griffey, Jr.
7
Kenneth Lay
7
Chris
Chris Rock
22
Chris Klein
15
Chris Kattan
12
Strong Showings:
Kris Kristofferson, Everett, O'Donnell, Penn, Tucker 		Stephen
Stephen King
52
Stephen Colbert
11
Stepehn Baldwin
11
Strong Showings:
Hawking, Segal, Spielberg, Tyler 		Rose
Rose McGowan
65
Rose Nylund (the Golden Girls)
16
Strong Showings:
Kennedy		 Jacob
Jakob Dylan
19
From the Bible
16
Jacob's Ladder
14
Strong Showings:
Marley, Jingle Heimerschmidt, Wetterling 		Matthew
Matthew McConaughey
57
Matthew Perry
43
Strong Showings:
Broderick, Modine, From the Bible, Fox 		Emily
Emily Dickinson
52
Emily Watson
14
Strong Showings:
Rose, Post, Bronte 		Trevor
Trevor Hoffman
6
Trevor Howard
5
Strong Showings:
Trevor Dillon 		Ashley
Ashley Simpson
56
Ashley Judd
29
Ashley Olsen
28
Strong Showings:
Wilkes 		Elizabeth
Elizabeth Taylor
52
Elizabeth Hurley
26
Queen Elizabeth
18
Strong Showings:
Barrett Browning, Berkley, Montgomery		 Lindsday
Lindsay Lohan
134
Strong Showings:
Buckingham, Wagner 		Joe
Joe DiMaggio
16
Schmoe
9
Strong Showings:
Blow, Dirt, Rogan, Pesci, Simpson, Nameth 		Samantha
Samantha Fox
41
Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched)
20
Samantha Jones (from Sex and the City)
18
Strong Showings:
Bee (the Daily Show), Mathis 		Ethan
Ethan Hawke
88
Ethan Allen
49
Strong Showings:
Frome 		Williams
William Shatner
35
William Shakespeare
28
Strong Showings:
Prince William, (Willem) Dafoe, Hung, Hurt, Tell, Wallace 		Anthony
Anthony Hopkins
57
Anthony Edwards
16
Strong Showings:
Kiedis, Michael Hall, LaPaglia, Perkins, Quinn 		Sarah
Sarah Jessica Parker
59
Sarah McLachlan
11
Fergie 11
Strong Showings:
Bernhardt, Silverman 		James
James Taylor
13
James Earl Jones
11
James Dean
11
Strong Showings:
And the Giant Peach, Blunt, Caan, Frey, Gandolfini, Wood 		Natalie
Natalie Portman
82
Natalie Wood
27
Strong Showings:
Imbruglia, Merchant, Cole 		Francis
Francis Ford Coppola
45
McDormand
34
Strong Showings:
McDermott, Scott Key, Drake, Bean, Bacon 		David
David Duchovney
22
David Spade
22
David Schwimmer
17
Strong Showings:
Copperfield, Sedaris, Blaine 		Samuel
Samuel L. Jackson
115
Sam Addams
22
Strong Showings:
Beckett 		Justin
Justin Timberlake
129
Strong Showings:
Guarini 		Rachel
Rachel McAdams
29
Rachel Green (from Friends)
22
Rachel Ray 20
Strong Showings:
Weisz, Leigh-Cook, Hunter		 Thomas
Thomas the Train
42
Thomas Jefferson
26
Strong Showings:
Edison, Kincaid (Painter of Light) 		Luke
Luke Skywalker
57
Luke Wilson
34
Luke Perry
33
Strong Showings:
Danes (the Gilmore Girls), Spencer, Duke 		Maria
Maria Shriver
40
Maria Von Trappe
10
Maria (West Side Story)
10
Strong Showings:
Bello, Callas, Full of Grace 		Nicole
Nicole Kidman
75
Nicole Richie
47
Strong Showings:
Miller, Simpson, Anna (Nicole) Smith 		Brad
Brad Pitt
144
Strong Showings:
Renfro		 Kyle
Kyle McLachlan
43
Kyle (South Park)
12
Strong Showings:
(Kylie) Minogue, Petty 		Dawn
Dawn of the Dead
10
Dawn (from Buffy)
10
Strong Showings:
Dawn (from the Babysitter's Club), Delta (Dawn), Dawn (from The Office), Dawn Dishwashing Detergent, Wells 		Stephanie
Stephanie Seymour
16
Stephanie Powers
12
Strong Showings:
Mills, Tanner (from Full House), Zimbalist 		Matt
Matt Damon
46
Matt Dillon
30
Matt LeBlanc
18
Strong Showings:
Lauer 		Sharon
Sharon Stone
139
Sharon Osborne
15
Strong Showings:
Tate 		Charles
Charles Manson
26
Charles Barkley
22
Strong Showings:
Dickens, ... in Charge, Kuralt, Nelson Reilly, Prince (Charles), Schultz		 Kim
Kim Catrell
44
Kim Bassinger
34
Strong Showings:
Delaney, Fields 		Melanie
Melanie Griffith
131
Strong Showings:
Mel C (Spice Girl) 		Gere
Richard Gere
54
Richard Nixon
11
Strong Showings:
Dreyfus, Pryor, Simmons		 Jake
Jake Gyllenhaal
95
The Snake
10
Strong Showings:
And the Fat Man, Johanson, LaMotta, Plummer 		Amy
Amy Sedaris
17
Amy Grant
15
Strong Showings:
Adams, Fischer, Irving, Smart 		Henry
Henry the 8th
35
Henry Ford
26
Strong Showings:
Fonda, Kissinger, Rollins, Thomas, Winkler 		Paul
Paul McCartney
56
Paul Newman
12
Strong Showings:
Rudd, Schaffer, Simon 		Eric
Eric Clapton
16
Eric Roberts
11
Strong Showings:
Stolz, McCormick, Bana, Estrada 		Ronald
Ronald Reagan
97
Ronald McDonald
64
Bill
Bill Clinton
105
Bill Murray
10
Strong Showings:
Gates, Paxton 		Hillary
Hillary Clinton
142
Hillary Swank
14
Strong Showings:
Duff		 Margaret
Margaret Thatcher
89
Margaret Cho
32
Strong Showings:
Meade, Mitchell

ANALYSIS: stuff I find interesting/disturbing

First, a couple explanations:
  • I chose to include the name Allen by accident. I meant Alan. It really seemed to screw people up. Sorry.
  • I chose to include both of the names Steven and Stephen on purpose, to see if spelling of a first name affected the outcome. It did slightly, but barely.
  • I lumped some political names together at the end on purpose as well, to see if I could skew the results and influence your answers based on how I presented the information. I learned this at the Fox News School of Journalism and Polling. From these results it would seem that Hillary Clinton is quite ubiquitous in the minds of my readers. The lesson you should take from this: polls are for suckers.

The Top 10 in First Name Ownership

These people definitely own their names. For instance, if you have a baby and name it Ellen, people will probably assume it's a lesbian. Kidding.

1. Ellen DeGeneres
2. Brad Pitt
3. Hillary Clinton
4. Sharon Stone
5. Lindsay Lohan
6. Melanie Griffith
7. Justin Timberlake
8. Spencer Tracy
9. Samuel L. Jackson
10. Bill Clinton

From the results of this list, a Lindsay Lohan/Justin Timeberlake hook-up would be a paparazzi journalist's wet dream, since I'm assuming Ellen and Brad aren't ever going to get together.

A Breakdown of the Winners

This list takes into no account any personal names entered on the lists. For example, the names Pam, Sue, and Trevor had far more personal name entries than celebrities.

Authors: 2
Athletes: 2
Actors/TV Personalities: 42
Musicians: 8 (if you can consider Samantha fox a musician)
Fictional Characters: 4
Movies: 1
Historical Figures: 1
Politicians: 4
Mass Murderers: 1 		Least Popular Names

There were no clear winners in these categories. No one owns these names. Everyone should name their next kid Trevor, because apparently NO ONE knows a Trevor, famous or otherwise:

1. Trevor
2, John
3. Peter
4. James
5. Stephanie
6. Eric
7. Joe
8. Amy
9. Jacob
10. Sue
     
Different Spellings of DeGeneres

1. Ellen De Generes
2. Ellen De Generess
3. Ellen De Generous
4. Ellen DeGeneras
5. Ellen DeGenered
6. Ellen Degeneres
7. Ellen Degeneris
8. Ellen Degeneros
9. Ellen Degenerous
10. Ellen Degeners
11. Ellen Degenneres
12. Ellen DeGerouss

And of course, the forever lame:
13. Ellen Degenerate

Different Spellings of Gyllenhaal

1. Jake Gennyhal
2. Jake Gilenhal
3. Jake Gilenhall
4. Jake Gilianhal
5. Jake Gillenhall
6. Jake Gillenhaul
7. Jake Glenynhall
8. Jake Gyellenhaal
9. Jake Gyenhall
10. Jake Gylenhalahlahalahal
11. Jake Gylenhall
12. Jake Gyllenhaal
13. Jake Gyllanhal
14. Jake Gyllenhaal
15. Jake Gyllenhal
16. Jake Gyllenhall
17. Jake Gyllenthal
18. Jake Gyllinhall
19. Jake Gynllenhall
20. Jake Gyylinhall

Different Spellings of McConaughey

1. Matthew Macanahay
2. Matthew Maconahey
3. Matthew Mc Connahey
4. Matthew McCaughnehey
5. Matthew McCaughney
6. Matthew McCaughnaghheyehay
7. Matthew McCaunaghey
8. Matthew McConaghey
9. Matthew McConaghy
10. Matthew McConahay
11. Matthew McConahey
12. Matthew McConaughey
13. Matthew McConaughy
14. Matthew McConeghey
15. Matthew McConehey
16. Matthew McConnaghey
17. Matthew McConnaghey
18. Matthew McConnahay
19. Matthew McConnahey
20. Matthew McConnaughy
21. Matthew McConnoughy
22. Matthew McConuhey
23. Matthew McCounahey
24. Matthew Mconahay
25. Matthew Mconaughey
26. Matthew Mconaughtyuguygyg
27. Matthew McConnahay
     
Other Interesting Tidbits

There were six porn star names listed that I recognized. Seven, if you count Elizabeth Berkeley.

Just seven out of 172 people named me under Daniel. Seven. Seriously. Bastards.

At least 26 people named themselves.

Strong showing for non-human entries included: Spencer Gifts, Pam Cooking Spray, Williams Sonoma, Ethan Allen, Thomas' English Muffins, Dawn Dish Detergent, and Charles in Charge.

Natalie Wood and Matthew McConaughey seemed to get the most unsolicited positive comments.

Inexplicably, all of the Baldwins had strong representation in the results. Even Daniel. I'll repeat again that only seven people chose me for the name Daniel. Seven. Seriously. Bastards.

Apparently, people are under the impression that a certain Green Goblin is actually named William Dafoe.
I'm Disappointed in You Guys For...

These answers made me want to cry:

1. Allen CHARACTER IN TWO AND A HALF MEN

2. Kelly McKillop (Saved by the Bell)

3. Chris O’Donnell, talk about hot, I’m so glad he’s on Gray’s Anatomy

4. Chris Matthews

5. Stephen Dorf

6. Matthew Lillard

7. Joe "You can leave your hat on" Cocker

8. William Hung (met him once)

9. Samuel (Screech’s real name on Saved By the Bell was Samuel)

10. Thomas Kincaid (christian artist)
 But I Love You For...

I clearly have a lot of Gilmore Girls fans as readers:

• Daniel Palladino (excoexec of Gilmore Girls)
• Chris Hayden (character Gilmore Girls)
• Emily Gilmore
• David Sutcliffe (actor Gilmore Girls)
• Luke Danes
• Richard Gilmore (charcter Gilmore Girls)
• Amy Sherman-Palladino (creator Gilmore Girls)

Non-Gilmore-Girl-Related Entries That I Love:

• Joan Allen
• Sue Ellen Mitsche (From Seinfeld, the braless wonder)
• Sue (Tyrannosaurus rex @ Chicago Science Museum)
• Jacob Moogberg (of Zoolander fame, inventor of the pianokey necktie)
• Emily Haines (lead singer for Metric)
• Sarah The Labyrinth
• Francis (aka Chainsaw from Summer School)
• Maria Von Trapp
• Dawn Weiner
• Dawn Tinsley (from BBC The Office)
• Stephanie Zanoni (from Grease II)
• Richard Dawkins (evolutionary biologist)
• Jake Ryan
• Amy Sedaris
• Margaret from "Are you there God, It's Me, Margaret"
• Ashley Bartlet Bacon (Ok, so I am responsible for this entry, but it made me laugh that I even thought of it, and if you know what it is from then you are awesomely retarded like me.)

I'm so proud of you guys!

Most Hated Entries

Based on your unsolicited comments, you guys really hate that these people are so foremost on your mind. Here are the people you seem to hate the most, with your comments included:

Most Hated Male:
Ryan Seacrest (oh, NO)(I can't believe I just thought of him)(ugh!)(shudder)(what a tool)(ugh!)(ewwww!)(sadly)(eew again)

Most Hated Female:
Lindsay Lohan (yuck, I hate it that this name popped into my head)(UGH!)(yuck)(gag)(i REALLY didn't want to say her!)(barf)(yuck, I am sick of her can’t believe that’s who I thought of!)(how sad for me)(Ugh!)(man, i thought I'd have better answers than that...)(what is wrong with me?)

Other Unlikables, with YOUR comments:
1. Daniel Baldwin (huh? i have no explanation for this)
2. Bruce Vilanch (ugh!)
3. Bruce Almighty (my brain is lame)
4. Allen Parsons Project (embarrassed of this one)
5. Jennifer garner (ugh, and I can’t even stand her..why is she in my head??)
6. John Boy (Waltons, are you kidding me?)
7. John Stamos (I couldn’t believe it either, but this was indeed the first name I thought of)
8. John Denver (I don't know HOW that happened!I don't know anything about him other than those glasses!)
9. Steven Segal (God forbid.)(ug, why did I say him? hate him.)
10. Ryan Phillipe (I hate myself for thinking of him first)
11. Ryan Cabrera (another embarrassing one)
12. Peter Gabriel (wow, I am a dork)
13. Pam Tillis (eew)
14. Pam Dawber (scary)
15. Kelly Clarkson (I don't like her, it's just what comes to mind unfortunately)(ashamed, very ashamed)(that actually hurt)
16. Kelly Ripa (ouch! my ears hurt just thinking her name...)(Barf)
17. Stephen from Laguna Beach (this is also embarrassing)
18. Ashley Simpson (why God why does that have to be the first Ashley I think of)(blech)(another painful one)
19. Ashley Olsen (and hating myself…)
20. Elizabeth Berkeley (I feel so dirty)
21. Joe Simpson (double barf! This is Jessica Simpson's creepy dad)
22. Ethan Hawk (that sucks I hate Ethan Hawk)(yuck!)
23. David Schwimmer (ew)
24. David Spade (eesh)
25. Justin Timberlake (Ack!)(Why? Why?)(arg: Timberlake)(again, shame)
26. Rachel Green (ooh that one is SAD)
27. Thomas Gibson (eww this saddens me)
28. Thomas Kinkaide, Painter of Light (OY)
29. Nicole Kidman (again, yuck)
30. Nicole Richie (yuck again!)(I’ve got to stop reading US magazine!)
31. Brad Pitt (not even a fan of his... at all)(Ick!)(ick.)
32. Stephanie Tanner (yeeesh)
33. Charles Gibson (ew!)
34. Melanie Griffith (yuck, yuck, yuck)(ew!)
35. Ronald Reagan (though I am loathe to type it)(he has ruined the name Ronald)(yuck)
36. Bill O'Reilly (oh god, I sicken myself)
37. Hillary Clinton (not my favorite)
 
Funny/Odd Entries

I know I told you not to be funny or clever, but sometimes it seems as if it were unavoidable. Below are some funny/odd entries, with YOUR unsolicted comments still attached:
  • Ben (Uncle – of the rice)
  • Ben Johnson (local firefighter)
  • Ben Dover (oh my gawd, i went there)
  • Ellen, personal friend (not really her name come to think of it, shes Helen)
  • Ellen Geller (it is really “helene” i think, the little girl who learn to speak with her hand because she was deaf)
  • Ellen Degeneres (the gay one)
  • Danielsan (Karate Kid)
  • Spencer (sorry, I can only think of the store that sells crap you don’t need)
  • Personal Name (this ex of my roommate who bled on her twice during xxx)
  • Bruce (a gay guy with a neatly trimmed beard)
  • Bruce Allen (Bryan Adam’s old agent)
  • Allen (this asshole my grandparents used to force me to call "uncle allen")
  • Jennifer Warnes (because her love lifted me up where I belong)
  • Leonard (my Jewish exboyfriend’s stepdad)
  • Leonard Nimoy (don't know where i know the name)
  • Personal Name (this CRAZY ex girlfriend of my ex who is now sitting in jail because she is charged with conspriary to commit murder it's quite the long entertaining Lifetime story)
  • Sue (school bully/crackwhore)
  • Sue (any random old woman)
  • Ken (can’t remember his last name, but he was a hot trick from awhile ago with about a 9” penis. I can’t forget his name. ;))
  • Ken Paves (Jessica Simpson's hair dresser)
  • Chris (the boy with cooties in 4th grade)
  • Stephen (curly haired guy from summer)
  • Stephen baldwin... (ew now i'm thinking of the ugly Baldwin)
  • Personal Name (exfriend, affectionately known as Big Nose Rose)
  • Rose (a hot asian porn star)
  • Jacob (every little kid born in the last 8 years)
  • Jacob (every kid under 5 at the park)
  • Emily (good friend... possible little sister)
  • Trevor (the dude Hilary dated on Fresh Prince)
  • Ashley Simpson (the ugly simpson)
  • Lindsay Wagner and her damn sleep number
  • Samantha Fox (omigod, I'm old!)
  • Samantha Danza? (Alyssa Milano's character on Who's The Boss?)
  • Rachel (my best friend who used to shake her big boobs at bartenders cause they never heard her)
  • Rachel (girl who gave hickeys in 8th grade)
  • Kyle Minogue
  • Kyle (son of a fat girl I went to elementary school with)
  • Dawn Johnson
  • Dawn (some girl I used to know with horrible frizzy hair!)
  • Stephanie (a girl I used to know, also known as “fluffy”)
  • Matt (what do you call a man with no arms and no legs…)
  • Melanie Whorehouse
  • Richard Rector

CONCLUSION:
If you are searching for a conclusion, then you are assuming there was a point to all of this.