# Repetitive Panda Names?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 6, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756 "2004-05-06T01:53:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/1 "2004-05-06T01:53:08Z")
I was reading an article about some pandas that (may have) just mated in. Their names are Shuan Shuan and Ling Ling.
Reading the article, here are the names of some of the pandas at the Tokyo Zoo that were mentioned:
Shuan Shuan
Ling Ling
Fei Fei
Huan Huan
Tong Tong
You You
I assume the double names for pandas must be a traditional thing. Where did this come from? Is it just a lack of originality of Japanese zoo keepers? As a (stupid) foreigner I find it slightly annoying and repetitive.
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### Author:  [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/2 "2004-05-06T01:55:05Z")
Its not really relative to the question, but here is the link to the story.
[http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040425-105947-6310r.htm](http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040425-105947-6310r.htm)
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/3 "2004-05-06T02:15:36Z")
IANAPNE (I Am Not A Panda Naming Expert), but my understanding is that the double names are a diminutive. It’s like calling a boy named Jim “Jimmy” or someone named Robert “Bobby.” Basically, Ling Ling is the cutesy form of Ling.
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### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/4 "2004-05-06T02:59:36Z")
I’d just like to mention that those names, like pandas themselves, are Chinese. They don’t even look like Japanese words.
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### Author:  [@Luzion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luzion)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/5 "2004-05-06T03:27:27Z")
That is correct. It isnt uncommon for Chinese people to give “double names” to things or pets when they want to make it seem more cute. Sort of like how people say “love-y dovey” or something was “yummy yummy.”
For example I have a friend that has a pomeranian named Dou Dou. It literally means “Bean Bean,” but someone would interpret it as “Little Bean,” or “Bean-y” if there was such a word.
> [@Diceman](#):
>
> IANAPNE (I Am Not A Panda Naming Expert), but my understanding is that the double names are a diminutive. It’s like calling a boy named Jim “Jimmy” or someone named Robert “Bobby.” Basically, Ling Ling is the cutesy form of Ling.
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### Author:  [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/6 "2004-05-06T03:49:03Z")
FTR, we have pandas at the Memphis Zoo named Ya Ya and Le Le.
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### Author:  [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/7 "2004-05-06T12:13:07Z")
Also, this repeating of words is pretty much a staple of Chinese. It’s used in many situations for various effects.
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/8 "2004-05-06T22:27:52Z")
the pandas born in san diego don’t fall into this pattern. hua mei and mei sheng; mom (born in china) is bai yun. the dads have double names, shi shi and gao gao.
it is neat to hear the handlers call the pandas in. the double name works well, like mr cosby said, you have to go with the name you can really stretch out when calling. (paraphrased)
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### Author:  [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/9 "2004-05-07T00:02:00Z")
I remember a story some time ago, when China lent a panda to an American zoo (might have been the Bronx Zoo?) for the purpose of mating so that the American zoo could get a panda exhibit going. The pair were together for quite some time, and neither was interested in the other. Probably David Letterman gave his observation that Ling Ling and Shang Shang were Gay Gay. 😃
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### Author:  [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/10 "2004-05-07T00:55:18Z")
> [@rocking chair](#):
>
> the pandas born in san diego don’t fall into this pattern. hua mei and mei sheng; mom (born in china) is bai yun. the dads have double names, shi shi and gao gao.
>
> it is neat to hear the handlers call the pandas in. the double name works well, like mr cosby said, you have to go with the name you can really stretch out when calling. (paraphrased)
Very typical in Chinese for kids nicknames or pets to give they a full name such as “hua mei” and then a nickname like “mei mei.” YMMV
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### Author:  [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/11 "2004-05-07T02:56:54Z")
The mascot for the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing was named [Panpan](http://210.75.208.159/eolympic/ydy/bjjy/image/bjjy_yyh2.jpg).
It was a little disturbing to see the logo of the panda aiming a gun (for the shooting events) just a year after the whole Tiananmen tragedy.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/12 "2004-05-07T03:19:36Z")
> [@dqa](#):
>
> It was a little disturbing to see the logo of the panda aiming a gun
Kinda gives new meaning to the phrase “bamboo shoot.”
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### Author:  [@Amberlei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amberlei)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2004, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repetitive-panda-names/243756/13 "2004-05-07T10:12:34Z")
We have two Chinese students in our lab named Tingting and Dingding, respectively. Tingting means “tall and beautiful” but Ting by itself, is just gibberish. It’s only when the repetition is there that the name has meaning. Perhaps the same is true of the panda names?