It is possible to change the name of process listed by ps by changing the $0 variable.
For example, at work we have a script that runs modules specified on the command line. This is so the modules can be tested. It isn't useful to see that script listed everywhere so it changes the $0 to the module it is running.
Another good example is postgres. The server processes change their name to include the database, user, client address, and command. Makes it very easy to see which command is taking up all the load and tracking it back to a client program.
