>But do normal people really need to write their name down on pieces of paper and pass them across the desk with a wink to avoid their name being said out loud?

>I think not.

Yes. that makes no sense, if someone is targeting you specifically, they will already know your looks, and a hotel room thief won't care about your name.

There is still the George Kaplan case, but I believe it is a rare one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_by_Northwest#Plot