Thanks for the reply ... I guess I'll use your script as a base and dive in one day when I get a chance. Weird that they don't support that. Max handles duplicate names perfectly fine...
I don't know of any built in way, but you can use this script: macroScript CloneKeepNamecategory:"monsterBlues"toolTip:"Clone Keep Name"buttonText:"Clone"( newNodes = for obj in selection collect (copy obj name:obj.name) select newNodes)