Question about character's name

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When he tells her his name is Howard, she says she likes Steve better.

Was that a reference to To Have and Have Not? In that movie Bacall constantly calls Bogart "Steve" instead of his real name. Supposedly this was based on director Howard Hawks' wife calling him "Steve" as an inside joke. Hawks famously directed a few classic screwball comedies, and What's Up Doc? is an ode to classic screwball. So many layers in this movie!