putting...
tank1 = this
...in a tank's init feild doesn't make the tanks name "tank1". It makes the tanks ID tank1. The ID is what you can use to reference that tank later in scripts, like so..
tank1 move (getpos player)
Name's that are retrived by the "name" command are either defined by the mission maker in description.ext file, by your player profile, or assigned randomly by the game.
Every unit (AI or human) is assigned a name. Inaminate objects don't get names assigned to them.
To display your name ont he screen you use the name command like so...
_myname = name player
hint format["Hello %1",_myname]
or you could just do it like this...
hint format["Hello %1",name player]