# Help name my new (maybe) dog! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437 "2009-09-17T13:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/1 "2009-09-17T13:23:13Z")
Everyone, meet [“Bob”](http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14428340). As you can see, despite his listing, he’s clearly not a shar pei. Whatever he his, he’s pretty darn cute. I went by his current home to interact with the available dogs, thinking I’d be taking his cellmate [Cutter](http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13439981) home with me this weekend. Well, Cutter’s nice and all, but Bob made a really strong impression with me. Plus, he’s already gotten along great with resident dog [Tilly](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjconnor10/3928976978/), who’s been wanting a playmate for some time. So I’ll be “test driving” Bob this weekend (they let you take a dog home for a few days to see how it does in your home environment. The problem with the name “Bob” is two-fold. Not only is it a pretty terrible dog name, it’s also the name of my stepfather. So, any and all suggestions are appreciated. A few things about me that may help: I’m a huge baseball fan (Royals in particular), so something baseball related would be wonderful. I’m a Notre Dame fan - but “Gipper”, “Rockne”, “Corby”, “Teddy” and “Digger” are already taken by friends’ pets. Favorite TV shows include: Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, West Wing, Futurama, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother, Seinfeld, and The Office. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/2 "2009-09-17T14:01:00Z")
Kansas City – Monarch? Archie for short? ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/3 "2009-09-17T14:06:58Z")
Brett (for George, not Favre). Doggie Howser (for Dick Howser, not the TV show). Saberhagen. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/4 "2009-09-17T14:07:58Z")
Seinfeld, eh? How about Farfel from the impossible dog Jerry had to babysit. 🙂 On the off-chance you have to reprimand him, you can do it in that desperate Jerry voice. My car was named Royal–I know it’s too obvious, but Roy is a cute nickname. I LOVE the pictures. Look at me. Look at me. Look, I like to play ball. ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/5 "2009-09-17T15:26:13Z")
I suck at coming up with creative names, but I just wanted to say that I think “Bob” is part Shar Pei. I can see it in his face. Also, there have been similar threads in the past where I thought a lot of good names were suggested, so if no body offers something that jumps out at you here, it may be worth while to search for the others. FYI, my favorite that was offered in the past was “Bender” (“Bite my furry brown ass!”), but I am a Futurama fan. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/6 "2009-09-17T17:35:54Z")
After some brainstorming, I have a few ideas. And more names are always welcome. Satchel - after Satchel Paige. I’m not too worried about crossover with the _Get Fuzzy_ cartoon. Howser - after Dick Howser, former Royals managerial genius. Adama - after the BSG character. Bartlet - after the West Wing president. Kinsella - after the _Field of Dreams_ writer/character. Davis - after Crash Davis, character in _Bull Durham_. Satchel is in the lead, currently. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/7 "2009-09-17T17:42:25Z")
Just don’t name him John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. That’s my name. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/8 "2009-09-17T17:47:01Z")
The **Attackclan** recently went through this exercise. Here are the guidelines we used when we named our dog. 1. Nothing cute: My poor mother had to yell ‘ARF ARF ARF’ everytime she wanted my childhood dog (Arf) to come in. 2. Nothing common among humans. It is just to damn awkward to have a friend and a dog with the same name. It really impedes the friendship when you say, ‘yeah, Dave had a piece of plastic hanging out of his ass after he pooped when I was out with him last night’. 3. Two strong syllables. They don’t pay a hell of a lot of attention, so they need that second syllable as a longer cue that they should pay attention. ‘Bob’ sounds like every other noise we humans make. We named our dog ‘Rufus’. ‘Satchel’ is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/9 "2009-09-17T17:56:08Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Everyone, meet [“Bob”](http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14428340). As you can see, despite his listing, he’s clearly not a shar pei. American Nosehound, I know one when I see one. How about Schnozz? Or Durante? If you want the “two strong syllables” idea mentioned above, Kal-El. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/10 "2009-09-17T17:59:19Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > 1. Two strong syllables. They don’t pay a hell of a lot of attention, so they need that second syllable as a longer cue that they should pay attention. ‘Bob’ sounds like every other noise we humans make. > > We named our dog ‘Rufus’. ‘Satchel’ is pretty good. Absolutely. I would have really prefered to go the Buck O’Neill route, but “Buck” just doesn’t work very well. And it’s kinda ridiculous to waffle between “Bucky” and “Satchel”… Huh - from the Get Fuzzy wiki: “Rob is a sports fan, and it is alleged by his friend that he named both pets after stars of baseball’s Negro Leagues – Buck O’Neil and Satchel Paige.” That’s just odd. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/11 "2009-09-17T18:11:04Z")
[Seinfeld] _Newman…_ [/Seinfeld] Or Dwight. He’s adorable, by the way. Good luck with him! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/12 "2009-09-17T18:42:09Z")
You said he’s a Shar Pei mix. Satchel, in the _Get Fuzzy_ strip is a Shar Pei/Golden Retriever mix. It’s looking like a better fit all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/13 "2009-09-17T19:22:42Z")
Potus ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/14 "2009-09-17T19:31:32Z")
Maybe would be a good name. Then Wrinkles, Sunbeam (they make irons, therefore no wrinkles) . ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/15 "2009-09-17T19:52:39Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Maybe would be a good name. Speaking of which, I should also add “Arrested Development” to my list of TV shows to mine for information. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/16 "2009-09-17T23:26:23Z")
He looks like an Edgar to me. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/17 "2009-09-18T00:37:03Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > He looks like an Edgar to me. Not bad. I live in an historic part of town that has a strong Halloween tradition, so an Edgar Allan Poe reference would be excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/18 "2009-09-18T01:52:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Not bad. I live in an historic part of town that has a strong Halloween tradition, so an Edgar Allan Poe reference would be excellent. That would be Edgrrrr. Sure, it’s all fun and games NOW, but wait till you get him home and he lets out “The Telltale Fart.” Or you get drunk one night and find him trying to wall you up in the wine cellar. Or something. Since you like the TV show Firefly, you could go with the name Nishka, but “Bob” looks like too nice a doggie for that. I like the name Badger for a dog, but again, the character of Badger in Firefly was a jerk. Plus, people who didn’t know it was a Firefly reference would be very confused because real badgers are black and white. If you really like Field of Dreams, and since “Bob” could have easily ended up on death row, you could always name him Iowa, as in, “Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.” In all seriousness, though, if “Bob” has been going by that name for any significant length of time, it might be kinder to him to just keep the name and refer to him as “Bob the Dog” around your family, and then transition to some kind of nickname over time. He’s going to have a lot of adjusting to do as it is. Good luck with him. He looks like a fine dog. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/19 "2009-09-18T02:08:33Z")
**Pork Chop** ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437/20 "2009-09-18T05:31:27Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > That would be Edgrrrr. Sure, it’s all fun and games NOW, but wait till you get him home and he lets out “The Telltale Fart.” Or you get drunk one night and find him trying to wall you up in the wine cellar. Or something. > > Since you like the TV show Firefly, you could go with the name Nishka, but “Bob” looks like too nice a doggie for that. I like the name Badger for a dog, but again, the character of Badger in Firefly was a jerk. Plus, people who didn’t know it was a Firefly reference would be very confused because real badgers are black and white. > > If you really like Field of Dreams, and since “Bob” could have easily ended up on death row, you could always name him Iowa, as in, “Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.” > > In all seriousness, though, if “Bob” has been going by that name for any significant length of time, it might be kinder to him to just keep the name and refer to him as “Bob the Dog” around your family, and then transition to some kind of nickname over time. He’s going to have a lot of adjusting to do as it is. > > Good luck with him. He looks like a fine dog. Great dialogue! 1. He’s been “Bob” for a few weeks, so he doesn’t know the difference. 2. “Badger” is the last name of a friend of mine, so that doesn’t work. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-my-new-maybe-dog/510437.md?page=2)