You can already figure out exactly the same distinction in English if it is presented to you as a puzzle. Even though it's not something you usually have to do, because it requires a context in which you don't know what it is that a name refers to. You are just confused when you have to do it in German because you haven't internalised German verb conjugation yet.

Here is the puzzle:

> A British pop fan made a confession about his bad taste. Put his sentences back into the correct order. Start with the two that are about a woman.

> 1. But I still like them.  
> 2. Quinn Quinn is really bad.  
> 3. Clover Leaf make bad music.  
> 4. But I like her anyway.