ɔːlðˈoʊ ðɛɹ ɪz lˈɪɾəl ˈæktʃuːəl ˌoʊvɚlˈæp, ɪnðə wˈɛstɚn pˈɑːɹt ʌv ɪts ɹˈeɪndʒ ðə kˈɑːmən hˈækbɛɹi ɪz sˈʌmtaɪmz kənfjˈuːzd wɪððə smˈɔːlɚ nˈɛtliːf hˈækbɛɹi kˈɛltiz ɹˌɛɾɪkjʊlˈɑːɾə, wˌɪtʃ hɐz ɐ sˈɪmɪlɚ bˈɑːɹk.
Although there is little actual overlap, in the western part of its range the common hackberry is sometimes confused with the smaller netleaf hackberry (Celtis reticulata), which has a similar bark.