# Help me name a new puppy **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329 "2003-08-01T11:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/21 "2003-08-02T03:17:58Z")
What did Steve Martin call his dog in The Jerk? Shit Head? 😃 How about Maggie? ---
**Author:** ![beegirl13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@beegirl13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beegirl13)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/22 "2003-08-02T03:39:01Z")
Maggie is a good name. It’s the name of my border collie mix. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/23 "2003-08-02T06:21:58Z")
Go here: [http://www.ceantar.org/Dicts/search.html](http://www.ceantar.org/Dicts/search.html) Check all the little boxes. Drag the menu down to “word” (instead of “headword” or “substring”). Type in “trouble,” hit the button. More words for “trouble” in more types of Gaelic than you can shake a can of pennies at. I kind of like “Boirey” myself. ---
**Author:** ![verbigerate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@verbigerate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbigerate)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/24 "2003-08-02T11:27:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rabid\_Squirrel \* > \*\*Whatever you name you puppy, do this to screen potential names. Stand at your back door and yell out the name three times. See if it doens’t sound _too_ stupid. > > Apparently that method works for kid’s names too. > > How about Beefeater? \*\* I don’t think “Beefeater” would pass your test… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![3.885AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/58956e/32.png) [@3.885AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3.885AM)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/25 "2003-08-02T15:13:35Z")
Our pet names seem to evolve. After a year or two the name has been adjusted to better fit the personality of the animal, usually with two or three iterations. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/26 "2003-08-02T16:52:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bbbill \* > \*\*Our pet names seem to evolve. After a year or two the name has been adjusted to better fit the personality of the animal, usually with two or three iterations. \*\* Yeah, our pet names always got distorted until someone found something that stuck. Like Maggie would probably eventually become Mags. ---
**Author:** ![Lennon\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Lennon\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lennon_Lives)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/27 "2003-08-02T18:13:51Z")
Ever think of using a Spanish name? When we name our cats we go to a Spanish/English dictionary and look through that. So far we had cats named Lobo (=wolf), Chica (=girl), Pocha (=Mexican-American), and Pinta (=little stone). I sure there is a Spanish speaker that will tell us that these are not the correct translations but we just liked the sound of Spanish names. LL ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/28 "2003-08-02T23:56:19Z")
Chloe. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/29 "2003-08-03T00:32:49Z")
How about _Fido_? My favorite dog name that as far as I can tell no one has actually ever used. I’ve offered this utterly perfect name before and it always fails to inspire. Fair enough. Next dog in the 'addi house, male or female will be Fido. That’s a promise. Unless it’s one of those cute little mini-daschunds and then it’ll have to be “TV’s Frank.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alexnbink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cab0a1/32.png) [@Alexnbink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexnbink)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/30 "2003-08-03T01:20:44Z")
I’ve always thought Parsnip would be a good name. Don’t quite know why… ---
**Author:** ![terd\_ferguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@terd\_ferguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terd_ferguson)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/31 "2003-08-03T02:41:24Z")
Is there something wrong with Damnit? ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/32 "2003-08-03T02:56:31Z")
When I name my pets I always give them a rank along with a simple one or two syllable name. You know, Admiral Boots, Captain Fido. Lieutenant Commander Petie. Then again, I’m insane. PS. I once read the PERFECT name for a cat somewhere (it might have been right here on the SDMB): Chairman Meow! ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/33 "2003-08-03T05:15:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OESGal \* > \*\*I would suggest NOT naming your dog something that is very uncommon because whenever you board your dog or take her in for veterinary care her name will get mispronounce, misspelled, etc. > I like the previous suggestion of Tara. You could also try Emma, always liked that one 🙂 Looked at this site:[Baby Name site](http://www.babynames.com) \*\* Emma is one of my dogs names…so you can’t use that:) how about this…Gypsy ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/34 "2003-08-03T13:21:44Z")
I think Rover is a very good name for a border collie. ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/35 "2003-08-03T15:01:12Z")
How bout: Abigail (Hebrew–father of all joy) Mara (Hebrew–bitterness, bitter) Gillian (Gaelic–Youthful) Giselle (French–promises) Griselda (German-Gray) Blanca (Spanish–White) Washi (Japanese–Eagle) Wenda (Welsh–White Wave) Wendy (Welsh-White Skinned) Wilda (German-Untamed) IDBB ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/36 "2003-08-03T17:48:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by koeeoaddi \* > \*\*How about _Fido_? My favorite dog name that as far as I can tell no one has actually ever used. > > I’ve offered this utterly perfect name before and it always fails to inspire. Fair enough. Next dog in the 'addi house, male or female will be Fido. That’s a promise. \*\* Does it count if I spelled it ‘Phydeaux’? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/37 "2003-08-03T17:52:53Z")
The spouse suggested “Poppy” or “Spaz”. Given what I know about border collies, I suggest “Anklebiter”. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/38 "2003-08-03T21:31:42Z")
My father was a veterinarian for forty-seven years, mostly in small animal practice, and never treated a dog named either Rover or Fido. You could be the first, if he hadn’t retired. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/39 "2003-08-04T02:00:17Z")
I had a border collie/minature collie mix the family named Spunky after the dog on _Rocko’s Modern Life_. He was bashful when we first got him, so it seemed to work in an ironic way. He made up for it within two weeks by turning out to be extremely hyper. I just got a female Jack Russell a month ago that I named Ringyo, which two Hungarian girls I used to know told me meant “bitch” in Magyar. As for suggestions: Delores Pogue Rabies (always wanted to name a dog that) Ballsniffer (stolen from a George Carlin bit) Pandora ---
**Author:** ![Pandora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eada6e/32.png) [@Pandora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandora)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329/40 "2003-08-04T14:40:19Z")
Well, the puppy has offically been named …Maggie… (not my first choice, but this is a joint effort involving conference calls across several times zones…) Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, many many good names here. Pictures of Maggie will be posted later this week… after I figure out the borrowed digital camera 🙂 -Pandora (upon posting after more than 2 hours sleep, I’ve realized that this whole thread probably should have been in IMHO… my apologies to the mods.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-new-puppy/192329.md?page=1)