Ok, I figured out that you can rename individual ObjectRefs by sticking them into a quest alias that has a force-name set to a MESG... the title of the MESG becomes the name of the ObjectRef, which is kinda nifty.

Does anybody know a way to combine TWO Mesg into a single alias?

This could lead to all kinds of interesting possibilities, such as giving every single generic Bandit, townsperson, traveller, etc have their own unique first and last name; eg you have a list of a hundred or so first names and a hundred last names, pick one of each randomly, combine them and assign it to newly-encountered genric NPCs. It would certainly make you think twice before killing anyone: "Crap! they have a real name! are they quest related? Lets go ask and-- oops they wanna kill me!!!!"

Any ideas on this? Can messages be titled with vars maybe?