Asterisk is also called Nathan Hale (mentioned) and here's why:
Nathan Hale n.

An asterisk (see also splat, ASCII). Oh, you want an etymology? Notionally, from "I regret that I have only one asterisk for my country!", a misquote of the famous remark uttered by Nathan Hale just before he was hanged. Hale was a (failed) spy for the rebels in the American War of Independence.
from http://www.elsewhere.org/jargon/jargon.html#Nathan%20Hale