# So, what's going to happen when we run out of Greek letters to name the variants? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 27, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003 "2021-11-27T00:26:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/21 "2021-11-28T15:46:56Z")
They might start using sequences of numbers and letters, like B.1.1.216 or A.23.1 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/22 "2021-11-28T18:45:21Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Start naming them after figures from Greek myth from A to Z starting with Andromeda. Somewhere I read they’re actually going to use names of constellations. Andromeda is a constellation. > [@Smapti](#): > > I say we just start using the names of Pokémon. Gotta catch em all? No, don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/23 "2021-11-28T20:50:14Z")
It seems to me that a lot of the covid “variants of interest” never graduate to become “variants of concern”. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron all made the latter category, while some of the variants of interest have lost that designation. Perhaps we should hold off giving short, catchy names to variants of interest until they become variants of concern, or name the former after elements of a set with a lot more members? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/24 "2021-11-28T21:19:03Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Has nobody noticed that, when compared side-by-side, the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Cyrillic, and some other alphabets are basically _all the same alphabet_ with only some minor variations? Well, yes, sure, Phoenician, but just that nobody uses _that_ any more… ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/25 "2021-11-28T22:52:35Z")
If we did that, you’d have future children hearing about Pokemon and their names and saying, “Hey, that’s a coronavirus strain!” (Kind of like kids hearing this and saying, “That’s the Ozempic song.” [Pilot - It's Magic • TopPop - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASGgn8bNQuA) ) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/26 "2021-11-29T04:33:08Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Well, yes, sure, Phoenician, but just that nobody uses _that_ any more… Say, rather, we _all_ use Phoenician. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/27 "2021-11-29T14:59:19Z")
When the Pargon variant comes around I’m just giving up and locking myself away. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/28 "2021-11-29T15:07:52Z")
They can go back and use “Xi”, they seemed to have skipped that letter for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/29 "2021-11-29T17:49:36Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > “Xi”, they seemed to have skipped that letter for some reason. Because it’s a common family name in China. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/30 "2021-11-29T18:03:04Z")
Technically they are named a series of letters and numbers. I assume the variations within get sub letters/ numbers. The orginal delta was B.1.617.2. It’s given the greek designations for public discussion. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/31 "2021-11-30T05:34:41Z")
And the letter itself is pronounced “zee”, which might have many people thinking that it’s a Z variant and therefore the last one we would ever have. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/32 "2021-11-30T06:04:18Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > They can go back and use “Xi”, they seemed to have skipped that letter for some reason. I mean, they skipped nu, too. I don’t think they’ll be going back. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/33 "2021-11-30T11:02:35Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Because it’s a common family name in China. Black is a common family name in the English speaking world and no one cried about it being called the Black Plague. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/34 "2021-11-30T11:10:41Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Black is a common family name in the English speaking world and no one cried about it being called the Black Plague. For all we know, people named Black did complain, but whatever records of those complaints were made (if any) did not survive the 650 years since. But I can guarantee you that any proposal to name a disease “Black” today will be shot down immediately. And not just because of the common family name. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/35 "2021-11-30T11:18:03Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Because it’s a common family name in China. > [@BigT](#): > > I mean, they skipped nu, too. I don’t think they’ll be going back. Well, that settles it - we need to go with the NATO Phonetic Alphabet so we don’t have to deal with any issues of people complaining about the names of the Charlie variant, the Mike variant, the Yankee variant, or the Zulu variant. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/36 "2021-11-30T12:22:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, that settles it - we need to go with the NATO Phonetic Alphabet so we don’t have to deal with any issues of people complaining about the names of the Charlie variant, the Mike variant, the Yankee variant, or the Zulu variant.   Then people will complain about the India variant (which actually happened, as the variant first found in India became Delta instead); and the Lima variant, and the Quebec variant. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/37 "2021-11-30T13:04:09Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Then people will complain about the India variant (which actually happened, as the variant first found in India became Delta instead); and the Lima variant, and the Quebec variant. People in the hospitality industry will complain about the Hotel variant, dancers will complain about the Foxtrot and Tango variants, NY sports fans will complain about the Yankee variant, Shakespearean fans will complain about the Romeo and Juliet variants. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/38 "2021-11-30T13:06:26Z")
And Trump will complain about the Golf variant. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/39 "2021-11-30T16:10:38Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > For all we know, people named Black did complain, No I said “cried”. If you dispute the claim then provide evidence. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003/40 "2021-11-30T19:48:17Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I mean, they skipped nu, too. I don’t think they’ll be going back. That would be very confusing to people going forward whenever a new variant emerged. “OK, is it a new variant, or is it the nu variant?” or “Will the vaccine work on the nu variant, or a new variant?”. And I can see why they skipped xi - we already have enough problems with President Xi of China, and the whole racist China-virus thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-going-to-happen-when-we-run-out-of-greek-letters-to-name-the-variants/955003.md?page=3)