# Please explain the compulsion to name objects **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635 "2011-01-06T18:05:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/1 "2011-01-06T18:05:27Z")
I’m not talking about naming a pet or a recipe, I’m talking about naming inanimate objects e.g. [this current thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=591952). I don’t get it. It strikes me as bizarre if not completely insane. I’m writing this on my laptop, not “Steve” or “Blinky.” I drive around in my car, not “Bertha” or “Li’l Lightnin’.” Please explain this strange compulsion to me. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/2 "2011-01-06T18:07:03Z")
Don’t anthropomorphize my laptop. He hates that. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/3 "2011-01-06T18:31:42Z")
I don’t get it. I assume it’s a kid thing. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/4 "2011-01-06T18:40:40Z")
I used to name my cars, but not with people names. I had The 'Vette, The Chebby, and the Little Red Wagon. But my favorite was The Chickmobile. '79 Pontiac station wagon in battleship grey, with a bench seat stuck in the forward position, no muffler or exhaust pipe, an ignition that would just turn off while I was on the road, and a passenger side door that would open randomly. That was one hot car. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/5 "2011-01-06T18:43:58Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Please explain this strange compulsion to me. it’s not a new phenomenon. Let’s start with an old folk tale, one of the bases of western culture: Back in the garden of Eden, there was this guy named Adam… And do you know what he does?—he gives names to all the objects around him. Even before he meets his wife, he names “all the cattle and every beast of the field” (Genesis 2:20) How’s that for a paradigm?—It just seems to be imbedded in human nature that people need to name things. Adam and Eve didnt have much property, so they named the beasts.We’re just continuing the tradition when we give a name to our first clunker car. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/6 "2011-01-06T18:47:37Z")
First of all, computers have names. That’s how they are identified in a network. Second of all, naming of the type you are talking about is how we distinquish between different things of the same type. If you have a car do you call it ‘a car’ or ‘my car’. That’s naming. Just because some people are more creative about than you doesn’t make it a compulsion. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go watch WonderBoy, my 67" TV. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/7 "2011-01-06T18:48:13Z")
And every boat that ever sailed, unless of course the OP has ever had one, but then “the boat” is also technically a name too isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/8 "2011-01-06T18:52:54Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > it’s not a new phenomenon. Let’s start with an old folk tale, one of the bases of western culture: > Back in the garden of Eden, there was this guy named Adam… And do you know what he does?—he gives names to all the objects around him. Even before he meets his wife, he names “all the cattle and every beast of the field” (Genesis 2:20) > How’s that for a paradigm?—It just seems to be imbedded in human nature that people need to name things. > Adam and Eve didnt have much property, so they named the beasts.We’re just continuing the tradition when we give a name to our first clunker car. But… Adam was naming things that had no name. And he wasn’t giving them _individual_ names, he was giving entire groups of same-objects/beasts general names. “These creatures are lions, these creatures are horses, these objects are trees, …” etc. not “This particular creature is ‘Kevin,’ this particular object is ‘Hayim,’ …” You don’t see the difference? ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/9 "2011-01-06T18:56:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > First of all, computers have names. That’s how they are identified in a network. This. I assumed the OP in the linked thread was talking about a host name or DNS name for network identification purposes. Or even just to change whatever lame/meaningless default host name the manufacturer/Microsoft had set up, like “ **Rigamarole** ’s Laptop” or “THINKPAD-7BF5CD.” Some people put much more effort in to coming up with something creative/witty than I would, but I’m not going to knock 'em for it. Naming cars is a little weird, though. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/10 "2011-01-06T19:03:28Z")
This is a topic that comes up very frequently at boards dedicated to guns and shooting. It seems about a third of gun owners name their guns, or at least their favorites. They cite everything from folkloric heroes possessing named weapons to it being a carry-over from military basic training where they were required to name their weapon to it basically being a code word for the gun. The other two thirds find the idea baffling or even disturbing. I’m one of the people who don’t name guns or other mechanical objects. If I did, though, I’d call my refrigerator “Victor.” ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/11 "2011-01-06T19:15:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > First of all, computers have names. That’s how they are identified in a network. That’s fair. Guess I misread the purpose there. > [@](#): > > Second of all, naming of the type you are talking about is how we distinquish between different things of the same type. If you have a car do you call it ‘a car’ or ‘my car’. That’s naming. Just because some people are more creative about than you doesn’t make it a compulsion. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go watch WonderBoy, my 67" TV. This is not. Semantics aside, it should be pretty clear I was talking about a personal name, not a general one. Giving a boat or a car or some other vehicle a name is one thing I suppose, but bestowing a cutesy name on your hammer or stand mixer OTOH is insanity. ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/12 "2011-01-06T19:25:16Z")
I’m a namer. Not everything of course; upon reflection I realize it’s primarily moving objects that I name. My iRobot vacuum is named Bucko (who took over for Peppe who suffered an untimely demise). My friend named hers FRED (Fucking Ridiculous Electronic Devise). They resemble pets to me with an ability to move on their own without my involvement - so it felt right to name them. My vehicle and my husband’s vehicle had names based on randomly assigned license plates - and because they were identical but for colour. I didn’t want him to call his “Greenie” and mine “Whitey” so we made Benny and Winnie from a combination of letters in the aforementioned license plates. We recently bought new vehicles, also identical but for colour - this time the plates didn’t lend themselves to names, so we chose one name and the second is a derivative of the first. I think I’m inclined to name things that I have a relationship with but are mysterious to me in some way, in as much as I can’t fix them if they break but I am reliant upon them (like a car). I understand naming the gun thing - if I hunted a gun would be the other half of a partnership in obtaining the goal. It certainly couldn’t act alone, but I couldn’t achieve the goal without it - there is absolutely an element of spiritualism in naming an object of that nature. I accept that it’s a bit silly and cutsey - but I’m okay with that. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/13 "2011-01-06T19:32:42Z")
I think it’s cute. My friend had a Dell laptop that she named Adele. I have stuffed animals that I name. Not that weird, but they have backstories and intricate lives, too. (I usually don’t inflict the insanity on most people.) ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/14 "2011-01-06T19:42:13Z")
I’m going to guess that this is an aspect of human nature. In general we like to anthropomorphize things, and I think this helps us to make sense of our surroundings a little bit. I’m certainly not saying that everyone does this or is compelled to do this, but it comes up pretty often in our (human) culture. Just look at animated films, and how we tend to give non-human characters human features. I named _everything_ when I was younger. These days I just name devices that require names, like **TriPolar** mentioned. But when I come up with these names, I do put a little thought into it, and I will often start mentally assigning my devices genders and personality traits based on my name choice. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/15 "2011-01-06T19:50:30Z")
I had a girlfriend once who named her car and house plants and other miscellaneous objects. It bugged the absolute hell out of me. Upon reflection I suppose I found it immature. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/16 "2011-01-06T20:00:37Z")
My rifle’s name is Charlene ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/17 "2011-01-06T20:03:32Z")
I give fun names to computers because I can. They have a name anyway, so I may as well make it fun. I enjoy naming things that can be named. When I make a new RPG character I spend much more time deciding the name than deciding the class or race. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/18 "2011-01-06T20:04:07Z")
So you’re asking us to name the reason people name objects? I name it Mollina. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/19 "2011-01-06T20:04:20Z")
For me and my cars/trucks it’s based on the large amount of time, effort, money and emotion I have invested in them, not unlike my human family in that respect. But if you don’t give a toss about some (type of) thing (someone?) I suppose that might seem odd. There’s lots of people working in the same building I do I see on a daily basis and either don’t know or cannot remember their name because frankly I don’t care to. Not in my sphere of influence and no desire to be on my part, either. They, even as human beings, are nameless to me. It’s a pretty subjective matter. How you relate to people and things is not necessarily the gold standard and contrary to popular belief, the world does not revolve around you. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635/20 "2011-01-06T20:06:06Z")
Oh dear god. You would _hate_ our house. Husband and I suffer from a bad case of Creeping Shamanism. The following are some of the items that have developed names and personalities over the years: A heating pad (Flatty) A slotted spoon (Spoony) A matching potholder & oven towel (Ferdinand & Emiliano, they’re brothers) A lava lamp (Lav-or) and the contents thereof (Jenova) A brush (Shnuffly) Our tub (no name except The Tub, but it has a personality) And of course, our various plush roommates. It’s one of my favorite things about Us. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-compulsion-to-name-objects/566635.md?page=2)