# help naming a bed & breakfast **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846 "2013-12-08T20:39:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5e9695/32.png) [@newhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newhere)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/1 "2013-12-08T20:39:19Z")
Hey out there, I am opening a bed & breakfast and would love some help coming up with a good name. I saw that a decade ago some folks here came up with some great names for a western/southern/rural theme ([Need Help Naming a Bed & Breakfast! - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=260811)) and am hoping for some good suggestions for a small town victorian house in Michigan. Thanks in advance 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/2 "2013-12-08T20:51:34Z")
Can you give us some insight into your bed and breakfast? Theme, attitude, color scheme, some of your interests? Help us find inspiration! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/3 "2013-12-08T20:58:11Z")
Victorian Secret ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/4 "2013-12-08T21:12:02Z")
Are there any prominent places or features nearby? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/5 "2013-12-08T21:19:17Z")
Not the Bates Hotel ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/6 "2013-12-08T21:25:09Z")
_‘The Elves’ Wee Bed’a’Bye’_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/7 "2013-12-08T22:04:36Z")
Prince Albert in the Can We Are Not Amused Ghillie John Brown’s ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/8 "2013-12-08T22:07:30Z")
The Poke n’ Choke ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/9 "2013-12-08T22:22:57Z")
Not a snark, but I’m rather surprised at the use of the word ‘Victorian’ to describe a house in the US, given that you had been independent for over sixty years before she came to the throne. [I’m assuming that ‘Victorian’ relates to the UK’s Queen Victoria…] If you’re looking to push the Victorian theme, old British aristocratic names such as Grovesenor, Tavistock or Chumley-Warner might work. Or Fawlty Towers… ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/10 "2013-12-08T22:23:19Z")
I, for one, am not particularly creative. I submit: Wake And Bake Inn. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/11 "2013-12-08T22:26:34Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Not a snark, but I’m rather surprised at the use of the word ‘Victorian’ to describe a house in the US, given that you had been independent for over sixty years before she came to the throne. [Victorian](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Victorian) > [@](#): > > 1. > > Architecture . > a. > **noting or pertaining to the architecture, furnishings, and decoration of English-speaking countries between c1840 and c1900** , characterized by rapid changes of style as a consequence of aesthetic and philosophical controversy, technological innovations, and changes of fashion, by the frequent presence of ostentatious ornament, and by an overall trend from classicism at the start to romanticism and eclecticism at the middle of the period and thence to classicism again, with attempts at stylistic innovation occurring from time to time. > b. > noting or pertaining to the massive, elaborate work characteristic especially of the period c1855–80, derived mainly from the Baroque and Gothic styles and characterized by the presence of heavy carved ornament, elaborate moldings, etc., by the use of strong and generally dark colors, by the frequent use of dark varnished woodwork, by the emphasis on geometrical form rather than on textural effects, and frequently by an effect of harshness. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/12 "2013-12-08T22:32:02Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Not a snark, but I’m rather surprised at the use of the word ‘Victorian’ to describe a house in the US, given that you had been independent for over sixty years before she came to the throne. [I’m assuming that ‘Victorian’ relates to the UK’s Queen Victoria…] > > If you’re looking to push the Victorian theme, old British aristocratic names such as Grovesenor, Tavistock or Chumley-Warner might work. > > Or Fawlty Towers… I think it makes it sound cooler. I’m not sure if that term was used near the same time - might be more recent to call them that. It is fairly common here to use many British sounding names in the marketing and sale of homes. Especially names of home models (specific floor plans). Plus a Victorian era lasts a lot longer than say a “Lincoln era” style would. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/13 "2013-12-08T22:33:26Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Not a snark, but I’m rather surprised at the use of the word ‘Victorian’ to describe a house in the US, given that you had been independent for over sixty years before she came to the throne. [I’m assuming that ‘Victorian’ relates to the UK’s Queen Victoria…] Lots of people have desperately been trying to reclaim some of the culture that was left behind when we became our own country. Hence Hollywood Royalty, near-reverential worship of the Kennedy family, and the First Lady of the US, which has been an institution since 1860. Prior to that, they were occasionally referred to as “Presidentress;” this is a change I heartily endorse. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/14 "2013-12-08T22:49:00Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > [Victorian](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Victorian) As I said, I was surprised, I wasn’t doubting the OP. It seems a bit strange that, after winning independence from your old colonial overlords you would use British architectural terms. Ignorance fought. You still owe us some tea, though… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/15 "2013-12-08T22:52:22Z")
It’s in the harbour! Notice the spelling… 😛 . ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/16 "2013-12-08T22:58:07Z")
I don’t know why, but I just love the name **The Firefly Inn** or **The Rosewood Inn** or **Honeysuckle House** or **Moon Glow Manor** ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/17 "2013-12-08T23:01:39Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Notice the spelling… 😛 > . Gooble Gobble, Gooble Gobble, We accept you, one of us… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/18 "2013-12-08T23:05:46Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Gooble Gobble, Gooble Gobble, We accept you, one of us… > > 😉 You just signed my death warrant! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/19 "2013-12-08T23:10:54Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > As I said, I was surprised, I wasn’t doubting the OP. > It seems a bit strange that, after winning independence from your old colonial overlords you would use British architectural terms. > Ignorance fought. > > You still owe us some tea, though… If it describes the style, it’s appropriate to use it. We also use Bauhaus to describe styles despite not being German… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846/20 "2013-12-08T23:12:50Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Not a snark, but I’m rather surprised at the use of the word ‘Victorian’ to describe a house in the US, given that you had been independent for over sixty years before she came to the throne. You underestimate the influence Victoria had around the world. The term “Victorian” can pretty much be applied to all English-speaking countries in the late 19th century. It covers many things besides architecture: fashion, morality, science and technology, and so on. **EDIT:** No, I did not see Post #11 before I wrote this. ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-naming-a-bed-breakfast/675846.md?page=2)