When the gaming group is large, there is a good chance some people will share the name. In those cases nicknames could help, f. e.: Big Mike, Crazy Mike, Vegan Mike
Personally I prefer in our group to call everyone by the name of their characters. Unless they make it hard to remember or pronounce. Or making puny names, I hate them.
Author Notes:
Not that it'll stop them from teasing each other about it.