Error trying to remove linked server 20583 Cannot Drop Server xxxx because it is used as a Subscriber in replication.

Hello, here is my set up. I have server1 as a distributor, server2 is a publisher, server3 is a subscriber to server2 and server3 is acting as a publisher and distributor for other subscribers. I am trying to add a second linked server to a to server2 for server3 using a different name and login/security context for applications that use the data as the linked server set up for replication is not appropriate. I have set up another linked server on server2 to server3 using the ipaddress\instancename since replication has set up a linked server using the servername\instance name. It is all working, but I dont like using the ipaddress\instancename approach and would like to try and use a more generic name to make the data access simpilier. When I try to run sp_dropserver for the ipaddress\instancename, I get the above error which makes it appear I have used ipaddress\instancename in replication but did not. This linked server I am trying to remove was set up after I created the replication. I have seen some other posts similar and the resolution is to drop replication and start over....

Anyone know what is going on here? How can I remove that linked server without going through and dropping/recreating replication? Also how can I rename or set the name of the ipaddress\instancename to a more friendly name. Thanks