I know this is off topic, but what IS a Rose by any other name? Is it a flower than? Or what do you call it? (Sorry, curiosity got the better of me)
In the context of Shakespeare's rhetoric, the Rose is Romeo, and the other name is Montague.
EDIT: To clarify, thiis is from the famous Balcony Speech by Juliet,
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
["Wherefore" means "why"; everyone thinks that she's asking where Romeo is. She's actually asking why Romeo must have the name he has, which makes him a Montague and therefore not appectable dating material for a Capulet according to her family] Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO [Aside.]:
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name
Belonging to a man.
What's in a name?
That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
ROMEO:
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET:
What man art thou, that, thus bescreened in night,
So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO:
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET:
My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words
Of thy tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound.
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
ROMEO:
Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
I have something of a passion for Shakespeare, if you can't tell. ;D