Mr. Kane may not yet be a household name in the U.S., but in Europe he has already climbed to fashion's summits.

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And while Flir Systems may not be a household name these days, Teich says the company has plans to build up its ThermoVision brand.

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Rhett Miller ought to be a household name by now: With model-esque good looks, considerable stage presence, and an arsenal of catchy pop songs, the charismatic frontman for alt-country favorite Old 97's doesn't want for raw materials.

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Philip Gordon may not be a household name in Washington DC let alone in the UK but as assistant secretary for European affairs he is the most senior official in the US State Department who deals with Europe.

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As the first black man to make it to the top of a lily white sport, jumping from a stellar amateur career to early majors victories, he was always going to be a household name, even if he never signed a single endorsement deal.

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The wines they created in the mid-to-late 1990s won international attention and acclaim, though it would be a while before Malbec became a household name.

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If it is cheap and affordable then as a common household name it will be a winner.

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In opposing Mr Livingstone, Mr Blair would be taking on a popular household name.

ECONOMIST: Labour in London

Thaksin became a household name in the U.K. in 2004 after he was rumored to be interested in buying a stake in Liverpool soccer club.

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