# Help me rename my daughter **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018 "2005-09-23T05:27:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/81 "2005-09-25T14:35:51Z")
Rhiannon. She’ll even have her own song. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/82 "2005-09-25T14:52:38Z")
…[definitely go here](http://www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/6.html). Not all Welsh names are evocative of misty green cliffs and fairy creatures. Some just sound vaguely gastrointestinal. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/83 "2005-09-25T19:04:18Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Anna Clair It was noticed a few years ago after a soap character named her daughter Anna Claire that if you say these two names together, you actually get: An Eclair So, if she would LIKE to be a pastry… (I like the names you chose, Zoe, this is just an unfortunate side effect…) E. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/84 "2005-09-25T19:12:17Z")
A traditional approach would be to step back a generation and survey the names of your female grand aunts and grand parents. Barring that, think of the meaning of the new name, and find names that fit the desired meaning. Avoid the disastrous, new-style names in vogue among the stupid: do not name your kid after a retail brand of anything; do not name your kid after a disease, no matter how cool it sounds. Do not make up a new name for your kid, a la _La’Qwueee’SHe’NaNaNee_. Do not mis-spell or modify an existing name. And do not allow the 9-year old to pick the name herself. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/85 "2005-09-25T20:32:44Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > A traditional approach would be to step back a generation and survey the names of your female grand aunts and grand parents. > > Barring that, think of the meaning of the new name, and find names that fit the desired meaning. > > Avoid the disastrous, new-style names in vogue among the stupid: do not name your kid after a retail brand of anything; do not name your kid after a disease, no matter how cool it sounds. > > Do not make up a new name for your kid, a la _La’Qwueee’SHe’NaNaNee_. > > Do not mis-spell or modify an existing name. > > And do not allow the 9-year old to pick the name herself. Why shouldn’t the kid choose herself? I mean, it’s HER name after all. It seems much the most sensible way to go - if she chooses it then it’s got to be one she likes and wants to use. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/86 "2005-09-25T20:34:37Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Do not make up a new name for your kid, a la _La’Qwueee’SHe’NaNaNee_. Do you have information that that’s what all the parents are doing in Hong Kong these days? > [@](#): > > And do not allow the 9-year old to pick the name herself. Have you looked over this whole thread? The names she likes are sensible by any standard. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/87 "2005-09-26T01:28:48Z")
> [@zelie zelerton](#): > > Just a word about destiny… > > take great care with the initials of her new name. Think how things panned out for poor Bill Jefferson Clinton 😃 See what you mean. With regard to making her middle the name the name of a city, state etc, I’ve half a mind to name her after the place we conceived her! Like David Beckham. So, how about, Natalie (we keep that now, as we’ve grown to appreciate through this thread - by discussing it - how much we all like it) Vezere T-D. NVTD - not a radio station in Minnesota, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Caligulas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@Caligulas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caligulas)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/88 "2005-09-26T12:38:49Z")
Smilla Erica I don’t know, it just came to me :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/89 "2005-09-26T17:04:22Z")
Erika Shannon (Ms Bookkeeper likes it, so yours may too). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/90 "2005-09-26T18:16:24Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > With regard to making her middle the name the name of a city, state etc, I’ve half a mind to name her after the place we conceived her! I have always thought this was a fine idea. My son, CamaroBackSeat, does not agree. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/91 "2005-09-26T20:05:27Z")
Why don’t we change **Roger** ’s second name to be something that goes well with Natalie 😉 The Camera should be called Diaz, or Camera Diaz (thanks **anyrose** ) ---
**Author:** ![Barely\_Adequate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barely\_Adequate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barely_Adequate)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/92 "2005-09-27T01:44:13Z")
A thorough reading of the following should offer you some entertaining insights: [http://www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/](http://www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/) If nothing else, it’s a guaranteed LOL of the first magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/93 "2005-09-27T03:31:43Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Why don’t we change **Roger** ’s second name to be something that goes well with Natalie 😉 > > The Camera should be called Diaz, or Camera Diaz (thanks **anyrose** ) Glad to be of assistance (I had to scroll up to see how exactly I inspired you 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/94 "2005-09-27T04:01:59Z")
**Bippy** , I’ve already got a second name - the initial is ‘O’. Update: my daughter is Natalie Vezere T-D my hamster is Camilla my camera is still up for grabs I’m sorry, but Diaz or Camera won’t do, as she’s a skinny bird who does nothing for me. Might have called the camera Angelina before, but since she shacked up with the bimbus, I’ve rather gone off her. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/95 "2005-09-29T15:14:31Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Bippy** , I’ve already got a second name - the initial is ‘O’. > > Update: > > my daughter is Natalie Vezere T-D > my hamster is Camilla > my camera is still up for grabs > > I’m sorry, but Diaz or Camera won’t do, as she’s a skinny bird who does nothing for me. Might have called the camera Angelina before, but since she shacked up with the bimbus, I’ve rather gone off her. Update? Maybe Cyclops, Polyphemus, or Odin for the camera. And I meant change your surname. Roger Thornhill Trans-Dimendsional Natalie Verzes Trans-Dimentional to Roger Thornhill Godzilla Natalie Verzes Godzilla ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/96 "2005-09-30T02:21:53Z")
Perfect. I name my camera Polyphemus. So much more erudite than mere Cyclops, which everyone knows. I’m very attached to my surname, I’d have you know. My mother once joked we’re not double-barrelled, but many-barrelled: “Trans-Dimensional-I’ll-spell-it”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/97 "2005-09-30T02:43:35Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Bippy** , I’ve already got a second name - the initial is ‘O’. Doesn’t that stand for ‘nothing,’ though? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/98 "2005-09-30T20:18:38Z")
I’d let her look through a baby-name book (or books - there are a million of 'em out there) and let her pick any, oh, say, five or ten that she’d be happy with. Then you get to approve the final selection. Gives her a lot of input, but gives you veto power so that she doesn’t saddle herself with something she’ll hate (or you’ll loathe) down the road. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/99 "2005-09-30T21:01:42Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > At 9, I’d let her pick it herself. I tutored a girl (5th grade, probably 10 years old) whose parents let her do that. She was chubby, with strong features and a giggly, flakey, insecure personality. She chose… Athena. I’ve never seen a less appropriate name. For your daughter, I’d suggest something biblical, like **Dorcas Gayus** \* She’d be tease-proof, because any smartass would be so overwhelmed with possibilities as to be rendered speechless. \*(two actual Bible names, btw). ---
**Author:** ![Delepine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Delepine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delepine)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/100 "2005-10-01T11:44:45Z")
My vote goes to: Natalie **Evangaline** or Natalie **Emmeline** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018.md?page=6)