G-G
Senior Jockey
Without wishing to be picky but Flintoff could just be a word, if the horse was named as Andrew Flintoff then yes I would think you would need permission. Some years ago I enquired about the availability if a name which was the surname of a footballer. I told the naming department the reference of the name but as it was just the surname I could have registered it without permission as it did not refer to any individual specifically.
Robin Hood wasn't a real person as much as we would love him to have existed, and if he had, he wasn't given the name of Robin Hood at birth.
Some years ago I know someone who wanted to use Agatha Christie, but this was blocked as Weatherbys stated the name was protected by copyright, similarly Pooh Bear and Paddington Bear I believe.
Robin Hood wasn't a real person as much as we would love him to have existed, and if he had, he wasn't given the name of Robin Hood at birth.
Some years ago I know someone who wanted to use Agatha Christie, but this was blocked as Weatherbys stated the name was protected by copyright, similarly Pooh Bear and Paddington Bear I believe.