# Should there be a new word/ name for mobile phones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384 "2025-01-25T16:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/1 "2025-01-25T16:42:44Z")
Since calling people is about 17th on the list of things people seem to do with them. Pocket comps, just plain comps? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/2 "2025-01-25T16:51:48Z")
I nominate [jeejah](https://anathem.fandom.com/wiki/Jeejah). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/3 "2025-01-25T16:53:52Z")
In Germany they’re called a "handy’ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ow1nHW4j_8o/maxresdefault.jpg "QI | Mein Handy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow1nHW4j_8o) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/4 "2025-01-25T16:56:21Z")
I just call mine “my cell”. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/5 "2025-01-25T16:57:13Z")
No. I like to let these things evolve organically. When it’s time for a new name it will arrive. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/6 "2025-01-25T16:57:36Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Pocket comps, just plain comps? Newt Gingrich already has priority over you: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5UNeaTbuD38/maxresdefault.jpg "Newt Gingrich Smartphone") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UNeaTbuD38) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/7 "2025-01-25T17:04:19Z")
I don’t trust people who are named after amphibians. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/8 "2025-01-25T17:07:16Z")
I don’t think the newts were too happy, either. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/9 "2025-01-25T17:07:33Z")
I’m not sure that ‘Newt’ really qualifies as being a person; more a bundle of inexorable evil in bipedal form wrapped up in a cheap suit. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/10 "2025-01-25T17:08:50Z")
c’mon, let’s call a Newt a Newt: “I don’t trust Newt Gingrinch”. Why tar poor amphibians with distrust? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/11 "2025-01-25T17:15:46Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > “I don’t trust Newt Gingrinch”. That is too equivocal of a statement. It should be something like, “I wouldn’t trust Newt Gingrich with my pet rock, and it is actually a petrified mastodon turd. He would end up doing something nasty with it, or using it in his weekly Hitler-worshiping ritual.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/12 "2025-01-25T17:17:44Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > No. I like to let these things evolve organically. Indeed. Words and names can’t be mandated by fiat (“Gulf of America” aside). As it is, people “dial” their mobile phones when they do call someone, and mobile phones are sorely lacking in actual dials. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/13 "2025-01-25T17:26:23Z")
People also “dialed” phones with push buttons. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/14 "2025-01-25T17:28:00Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > People also “dialed” phones with push buttons Completely agreed. It’s just another example of the English term for something which no longer “accurately” describes it, but the term hangs in there, because language doesn’t necessarily follow logical patterns of evolution. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/15 "2025-01-25T17:28:26Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I don’t trust people who are named after amphibians. [![](https://i.imgur.com/ru9af6u.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/ru9af6u.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/16 "2025-01-25T17:28:54Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > the term hangs in there, because language doesn’t necessarily follow logical patterns of evolution. Nor does imagery, as the “save” icon on all computer programs indicates. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/17 "2025-01-25T17:30:26Z")
Can you help me out here? what is the relevance of those two dudes to a discussion of amphibians? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/18 "2025-01-25T17:31:32Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > mobile phones are sorely lacking in actual dials. I bet there is an app for that. > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > […] wrapped up in a cheap suit. I don’t think the suit is cheap. The tie, yes, and the way the knot is tied, of course. And the ~~reptilian~~ amphibian brain under the gray hair. That, in particular, is the trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/19 "2025-01-25T17:33:13Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Can you help me out here? what is the relevance of those two dudes to a discussion of amphibians? > **[Frog Brothers](https://lostboys.fandom.com/wiki/Frog_Brothers)** > > The Frog Brothers, Edgar and Alan, are professional experts who dedicate their lives to hunting vampires. Edgar and Alan worked in their parents' comic book store at a very early age, not for money, but for survival guides and tactics. They somehow... ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384/20 "2025-01-25T17:41:03Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > my pet rock, and it is actually a petrified mastodon turd. It’s petrified because it has to hang out with Newt. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-new-word-name-for-mobile-phones/1013384.md?page=2)