A method begins by a processing module obtaining common storage name information regarding data that is stored in storage units of a distributed storage network (DSN) as a set of data slices. Each data slice of the set of data slices has a unique storage name, where each of the unique storage names for the set of data slices has common naming information regarding the data. The method continues where the processing module interprets the common storage name information to determine whether a difference exists between the common naming information of a data slice of the set of data slices and the common naming information of other data slices of the set of data slices. When the difference exists, the method continues where the processing module indicates a potential storage error of the data slice and implements a storage error process regarding the potential storage error of the data slice.