BUR #17355 has been approved by @nonamethanks.
create alias historical_reference_connection -> historical_name_connection
Currently, I see an issue with historical reference connection: its name is confusing. As seen when the tag was first being populated (forum #232120), I'm not the only one who thinks of references to historical events when I see the word "reference", instead of what the tag is supposed to be used for, which is as a historically based name connection tag. There are examples of the tag being misused because of its name, seen here:
post #6269430 (historical connection between Okita Souji and the Shinsengumi, but no other Okita to be seen)
post #6089657 (historical connection as both Hizamaru and Ushiwakamaru were Genji, but they are not based on the same person)
post #6098376 (historical connection to the owner of the horse's daughter, and comment #2302450 called this tagging choice into question)
post #5415350 (historical connection as Higekiri was the sword used by Watanabe no Tsuna to cut off the arm of Ibaraki Douji)
I think it's fine that the tag is meant to be referring to two characters based on the same historical entity (hence, they reference it), but the tag name is still bound to be used inappropriately, and as we can see, it has been. I think the name of the tag should be reworked. Personally, I'm going with "historical_name_connection" to make the subset idea more obvious. An expansion of the wiki would be nice too, to more closely follow the guidelines of name connection (i.e. not just pairings), but if that's outside the scope of the tag then so be it. I would have preferred a full rename, because someone who types in "historical_reference" is still going to be linked to this tag when instead they should be using historical connection, so if there are any solutions to that please present them. If I'm misunderstanding something, please point that out too.
Any related BURs should also go in this thread.