Data hygiene is a problem everywhere. Most companies I worked at just throw out 'bad data' and file a bug. Occasionally, if the data is a secondary source, it w

Data hygiene is a problem everywhere. Most companies I worked at just throw out 'bad data' and file a bug. Occasionally, if the data is a secondary source, it will be recreated from a primary source (assuming the primary source is still available). In the particular case, your coworker would be stored by some identifier (like an SSN or similar) and their name would be stored as "aliases" and allow multiple names. I have two nicknames that I answer to, depending on when in my life you met me, and my family calls me by my proper name. Online, I go by several handles depending on whether I want the reader to be able to figure out my real name. I even used to work somewhere where I was called by this handle (withinboredom) more than my real name.