I don't think it would be rude. It would be more rude to keep calling them by the incorrect name, wouldn't it?

I like the super power question. That can give you a real look into how a person views themselves and the worl they are in. Thanks I will use that myself.

Sometimes if I feel I may be losing some students during a lecture I will insert a "war story", from my time in the field, that is relevant to the subject. If I can tell it in a somewhat humorous way, it can bring the students back and maybe show them what it can be like when they are working in the field.

On my first day with a new class, when taking roll call, I like to ask each new student what they hope to do after graduating, and incorporate that into class when I call on them in the future.