# Cool names for average folks. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003 "2005-11-28T03:35:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/61 "2005-11-29T23:59:43Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > One of my college professors was named Dean. He wasn’t a Dean, but he should have been. Then he would have been Dean Dean. When I was in college, one of the schools had a Dean Martin. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/62 "2005-11-30T03:02:04Z")
> [@YaWanna](#): > > What contrast? Raphael is a Jewish name - it got co-opted by Christians because it’s the name of one of the archangels, along with Michael & Gabriel. (Hint: names that end in “-el” are Jewish - the suffix identifies them with G-d.) Superman is Jewish!? :eek: 😃 ;j ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/63 "2005-11-30T03:13:01Z")
I always thought that **Carrie Nation** was a cool name. Even cooler was she was a famous activist. Think of the first name and last name together. Mindblowing. I want to change my last name to nation. Maverick Nation sounds pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/64 "2005-11-30T03:37:21Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Superman is Jewish!? :eek: 😃 ;j so was his father 😃 my last name could also be a female first name - so with my middle name, I have 3 first names (and I always use my middle name) A lot of people have told me they thought that was kinda cool A woman I know just had a baby girl and named her Presley My niece-in-law wants to name her baby (if it’s a girl) Madison (and she sweears she never saw Splash)\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/65 "2005-11-30T03:55:13Z")
There was a sophomore couple when I was a senior in high school that named their son Cruiser. It probably sounded pretty cool to 16-year old parents. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/66 "2005-11-30T18:23:32Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > One of my nephews has **Raphael** as his first name. His last name is unmistakably Jewish. Imagine how “Raphael Rosenblatt” or “Raphael Goldstein” may register, and you’ll get the idea. I like the contrast. My husband has had the privilege of having correspondence with a gentleman named Raphael Chong. Now there’s some contrast … and a very cool name, I think. He’s also corresponded with someone named Drinda Spillane. Sounds like a character from a 30s detective novel! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/67 "2005-11-30T18:31:34Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > my last name could also be a female first name - so with my middle name, I have 3 first names (and I always use my middle name) A lot of people have told me they thought that was kinda cool From that standpoint, I’ve got three last names. I’ve really got to get moving on this name change thing. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/68 "2005-11-30T19:24:06Z")
Speaking of contrast, one of my favourite names has to be the true-crime writer **Aphrodite Jones** You hear the elegant, exotic “Aphrodite”, and expect it to be followed by something mellifulous and melodic, but no, you get “Jones”. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/69 "2005-11-30T21:47:11Z")
**Memphis Sun** - a Chinese guy I used to work with. **McGee Long** - a Chinese gal I still work with (she pronounces it Maggie). **Queenie Victoria Forster** - a now departed distant relative (yes, born in 1898) **Gladdie Bostock** - my mum’s maiden name was Bostock, and this was apparently some distant aunt. My dad swears it’s true, but mum denies it (I hope dad’s right). **Ben Duck** - a former employer of my mother’s. Sounds like a children’s book character. **Denver Beanland** - second tier Australian politician. **Richard Face** - as above This doesn’t really count, but my sister used to have a flatmate with some boring name or other, and he’d always book restaurant tables under the name _De Soto_. Not only is it fun arriving late and telling the waiter you’re “with the De Soto party”, but you invariably get a great table. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/70 "2005-11-30T22:26:05Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > This doesn’t really count, but my sister used to have a flatmate with some boring name or other, and he’d always book restaurant tables under the name _De Soto_. Not only is it fun arriving late and telling the waiter you’re “with the De Soto party”, but you invariably get a great table. is this of some local australian significance? or is it like booking a table under “Donner” (“Donner party - you’re table is ready”) Once my friends (4 of them) and I booked under the name of a small furry critten often hunted for sport: the maitre’d announced “Fox - Party of Five” :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/71 "2005-11-30T22:42:50Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > is this of some local australian significance? > or is it like booking a table under “Donner” (“Donner party - you’re table is ready”) > > Once my friends (4 of them) and I booked under the name of a small furry critten often hunted for sport: the maitre’d announced “Fox - Party of Five” :D:D:D No, it’s just a cool-sounding name. Of course, we never really had De Soto cars here, so maybe that’s why it still sounds a little exotic. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/72 "2005-12-01T01:47:15Z")
In next a school principal named Junior High. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/73 "2005-12-01T01:49:26Z")
Also, _I knew_ a principal named **Junior High**. :smack: Knew Betty Birdsong’s husband too. ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/74 "2005-12-01T02:02:33Z")
My father’s name is **Knuckles McShuffle**. Or at least that’s what everyone calls him. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/75 "2005-12-01T02:07:29Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > My husband has […] corresponded with someone named Drinda Spillane. Sounds like a character from a 30s detective novel! That’s kinda how I felt about Turk Mully. He would have been played by [Harold Huber](http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/j/Harold%20Huber.jpg). I am informed that a distant relative was named Hattie Pedicord. Now _that’s_ a name. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/76 "2005-12-01T03:30:11Z")
> [@Ultraviolet](#): > > Speaking of contrast, one of my favourite names has to be the true-crime writer **Aphrodite Jones** You hear the elegant, exotic “Aphrodite”, and expect it to be followed by something mellifulous and melodic, but no, you get “Jones”. Sounds sort of like a name from a blaxploitation movie. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/77 "2005-12-01T04:05:24Z")
In my family, we have the given names: Prince Columbus Gloria Sunshine Princess Duchess Icy Mae Sage You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. One of those is one of _my_ given names! ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/78 "2005-12-01T04:47:34Z")
I went to elementary school with a girl named Caty Rose, Rose being her last name. I could never really call her just ‘Caty’. I also have a relative name Raphael [Jewish-sounding name]. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/79 "2005-12-01T06:01:33Z")
I knew a guy named Robert Matey. Yes, he signed “R. Matey”. ---
**Author:** ![influenza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@influenza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/influenza)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003/80 "2005-12-01T06:52:29Z")
My mom’s first married name was “Sew,” which was somewhat ironic being that she was in fashion design at the time. I also once met a girl named Athena, which sounds somewhat corny but I remember thinking it was kind of cool at the time. She was also one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met, so it is entirely possible my judgment is somewhat clouded. But, I think my favourite name of all time has to be Ben Fox. Friend of a friend, he answers every call with “Ben Fox.” Can’t blame him, I would too. I’m certain I’ll think of at least four more over the next 15 minutes and wish I’d punched them in too. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-names-for-average-folks/333003.md?page=5)