# How is it that "Fido" is a name that only seems to be given to dogs and not people?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 20, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898 "2002-05-20T03:20:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898/21 "2002-05-21T07:52:34Z")

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_Dammit! The rest of my post…_

? Do you believe the pet’s feelings are hurt?

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**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898/22 "2002-05-21T10:38:02Z")

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I believe so, yes. I think dogs are bright enough to know when they have a dumb name by the reactions of other humans when they are told their name. Imagine if a dog hears his name, then sees people laughing all the time. Eventually, they’ll figure it out. I truly believe that they will.

Nobody likes to be laughed at.

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**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898/23 "2002-05-21T13:10:25Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Chris Luongo \*  
> \*\*I’ve never much liked it when owners give “people” names to their pets.
> 
> Like you hear some people talking about how Jerry had a lot to eat last night, or Jerry’s dying of cancer, or Jerry’s being a big pain in the ass or whatever…then you join the conversation only to find out that Jerry is their cat. \*\*

Hey, now! I used to have a cat that I named Jerry after the late, great Jerry Garcia. Sadly, Jerry the cat got hit by a car and joined her namesake in the afterlife…where I imagine she is meowing along to Jerry Garcia’s guitar solos.

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**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898/24 "2002-05-21T18:25:53Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by leechbabe \*  
> \*\*Due to my current Buffy obsession all my cats have been named after characters in the show.
> 
> We currently have Kendra and Dawn.
> 
> Dawns kittens were called - Buffy, Xander and Willow.
> 
> I’ve just realised how sad I am.
> 
> Mental note to self: Get a Life! \*\*

What? no Kitty Fantastico?😃

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**Author:** ![domesticatedjunglefowl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@domesticatedjunglefowl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/domesticatedjunglefowl)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-fido-is-a-name-that-only-seems-to-be-given-to-dogs-and-not-people/109898/25 "2002-05-21T20:41:57Z")

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there is also the classic texan dog name ‘booger’

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