Is it a Friendship or an Acquaintance?

I was just recently forced to rethink my friendships and I realized that most people in this world see a friendship as a relationship where you think you know someone and think you have befriended them. People also think that in order to be friends with someone, you have to know their last name. Why is this? You have to admit that you think of someone in your life as a good friend and yet you do not know his or her last name. Does their last name truly matter to you?

I have a few friends (or should I say acquaintances) that I hang out with every day and have some very interesting conversations with. Yet, I do not know their last name. Do you think these people could be considered friends? Or maybe pals? Or maybe even just (I hate to say it) acquaintances? Well I truly do consider these people as my friends and hope they consider me the same way.

If you go through your life separating friends and acquaintances in this way, will you ever have real friends? I know that people's last names matter. That is if you wanted to send them a letter but these days, there is Instant Messaging and email. This does not require names at all. But in real life, people expect you to know their last names. But do they now your last name?
Next time you see someone you consider a friend, think about my questions to you and really reprioritize your relationships. And life.