# Step Right Up and Help Name the Baby. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724 "2000-01-11T20:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/81 "2000-01-12T17:05:00Z")
How about Dorothy? Nobody names their daughters that anymore. I also like Lucille (although you wouldn’t love Lucy). P.S. I wasn’t trying to be clever. P.P.S. I still really like Tegan but I want to pronounce it like Megan, not like Reagan. * * * Sucks to your assmar. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/82 "2000-01-12T17:19:00Z")
Svetlana could be shortened to Lana, which is still a nice name too. Rochelle isn’t bad… ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/83 "2000-01-12T17:36:00Z")
Phouka, Please! Esmeralda. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/84 "2000-01-12T17:41:00Z")
Sparky! Shazam! Rufus! Helga! Or, just be boring, and go with Tegan, or Grace, or Gretchen. (Gretchen O’Hare sounds really cool.) * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![Neobican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Neobican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neobican)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/85 "2000-01-13T06:21:00Z")
Chris: > [@](#): > > this thread has caused me to make a mental note: “Do NOT ask TMs, **especially my husband** , to help choose names for MY second baby.” Oh? Why don’t you try and see just how easy it is to **make** another baby without my help!! * * * _“Wow! Spider-Man! Are you really friends with the X-men?”_ **"Not since Cyclops tried to use my viewmaster."** (Marvel Team Up #1) ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/86 "2000-01-13T06:34:00Z")
Could always name the kid Morrigan and hope she comes out raven haired and wild. 🙂 I remember that Cuchuanan was the great male Gaelic Hero, but I can’t remember the name of female one…the one that ran the race at 9 months pregnant and won, but caused her to forsake her husband and mortals…been a while since I read any Celtic mythology. * * * \>\>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.\<\< —The dragon observes ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/87 "2000-01-13T06:42:00Z")
StGermain: > [@](#): > > Seriously, I like Maureen, but “Maureen O’Hara Arndt” won’t do. Interesting. As the one who originally suggested Maureen, I specifically thought it went well with O’Hara as a middle name. You know, I can’t believe no one on this message board suggested Cecile or Cecilia. I mean, sure, it violates Shirley’s guidelines, but this is the Straight Dope Message Board! Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Felinecare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Felinecare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felinecare)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/88 "2000-01-13T00:47:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The problem with Siobhan is 1) no one can pronounce it and 2) no one can pronounce it. > > I might just go with unifying the polarized white and black communities by naming our daughter " LaQwerty" for my love of typing. Go with ShaVonne. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/89 "2000-01-13T00:48:00Z")
I think Tegan is great. I have an aunt named Hollis, who goes by Holly, have always liked the name. My great-grandmother was named by her not much elder sister and was stuck with Lulu Tootie. What the hell were they thinking? I was named after my grandfather, by taking the C out of his name, which left mine ending in “ene”. When my mom told him of the honor, the old wag said “Good thing my name’s not Uriah…” Man, I really miss him still! Another elderly aunt is named Ione. A great name, but wouldn’t work with your last name.“Ione Arndt gonna do that at all…” ---
**Author:** ![Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/97f17d/32.png) [@Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nu_Vo_Da_Da)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/90 "2000-01-13T00:51:00Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong here, but aren’t clearly ethnic names sort of…well, trendy? (celtic ones especially). And if you want to keep her from having any nicknames you could try giving her a name that is simply to short to make into a nickname(since any such attempt will just result in something much harder to say than her actual name) Hey, it worked with me… ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/91 "2000-01-13T00:57:00Z")
This is why Maureen O’Hara Arndt won’t work: [http://us.imdb.com/Name?O%7Hara,+Maureen#Actress](http://us.imdb.com/Name?O%257Hara,+Maureen#Actress) Old fogies and movie buffs would be forever asking if they’re related. I quite like “Tegan” myself, of the suggested names, but think (as suggested above) “Allison O’Hara Arndt” has a very nice sound to it as well. Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/92 "2000-01-13T00:59:00Z")
[http://us.imdb.com/Name?O%27Hara,+Maureen](http://us.imdb.com/Name?O%27Hara,+Maureen) Dang. Try this one. Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/93 "2000-01-13T01:37:00Z")
Fiona is nice, _Maeve_ just say it out loud, its beautiful! Miriam Kailey-Cailey kelly—hey! its irish, unless its too…_trailerpark_ for you… tegan _sounds_ great, but its a made -up name, and I dont like those, or robyn, or Kell **i** , or other odd spellings. ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/94 "2000-01-13T01:42:00Z")
I don’t know why people keep making suggestions when I’ve already offered the best name EVER… Come on, Shirley, name her Valerie Blaise! You know you love the name. 🙂 * * * “I’ll tell you a secret, baby - maybe you can’t do better - gotta settle for second best” - the Judybats ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/95 "2000-01-13T15:29:00Z")
Boy, if Maureen O’Hara is bad because it’s an actress’s name, I’m glad I didn’t suggest Scarlett. I still think it sounds nice, though, and it does fit all of Shirley’s guidelines. She never said it can’t be an actress’s name. 🙂 Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/96 "2000-01-13T15:41:00Z")
I’m so busy with this nesting thing that I barely glance at the computer. I rent out for house cleanings… Tegan is not a made up name,I have a problem with made up names because I fear the trailer park trash syndrome. Tegan (various spellings are applied: Tiegan is the other alternate that is most pronouncable) is an old Welsh and also an Old Cornish name. It grew in popularity over in the UK back in the early 80’s and in Australia because of a TV program. I could just name her Kellibelli 🙂 We have had some fun with this when people ask us the name, btw, you Dopers are the only ones who know her considered name. Our families and friends we like to keep in the dark until D day. The pleasure I receive from torturing them with suspense cannot be compared. I’ve told a few that if we were having twins they woulda been named, " Iam Spartacus Arndt" and " Noah Iam Spartacus Arndt" . Only older folks get that one. As for the Maureen O’Hara …I like both, just not together. I have watched a variety of Mo O’Hara’s flicks and well, I just can’t recall any of them off the top of my head. If I were to name her anything remotely Hollywoodish,and after my favorite actresses, it would be along the lines of Katherine Hepburn or Tallulah Bankhead 🙂 I’m off to clean grout. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/97 "2000-01-13T15:41:00Z")
I have to agree with Chris that you should never ask the TM about baby names. We’re generally a bright charming bunch, but the ecclectic and frequently geeky attributes are showing, not making for names which don’t lend themselves to abuse. > [@](#): > > Svetlana? Almost impossible to shorten. How about Svety??? May want to hold off on that one. Sake said: > [@](#): > > I don’t know about you, but if my folks ever told me that my name was chosen by a stranger on an internet message board, I’d beat them with my birth certificate and make a trip to the courthouse the very next day. I feel the same way about baby name books, and websites. Unless you go with a family name or some spontaneous spurt of creativity every kid out there would need to change their name. Shirl, I gotta be honest that I’m not a big fan of the names you picked. Keely is brutally trendy. Tegan (still not sure if its TEE-gan, or Tay-ghan (as in Ronny Reagan)) is a “made-up name” which in itself is pretty damn trendy today. But if you’re against an American “whitebread” name your options get sorta thin. I am curious why you’re using your **grandmothers maiden name**. Is there some significance to that particular generation or was that just your favorite of the family, and is that the “middle” name or a second last name (ala hyphenated). I would reccommend NOT using a Celtic or Gaelic name, they are the “de jour” of ethnic names today, combined with the traditionally unusual spelling they are kinda a double whammy. Arndt is a tricky name to pair with, its not real fluid with any ending of a given name. A name that ends in ‘a’ is a bit awkward, but the rest of the sounds aren’t much better. Well shit, being a guy I don’t put much thought into names, I can shoot them down, but I don’t have anything productive to offer. Kinda shady of me I must say. Maybe I’ll scratch my head for a bit and come back with something. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2000, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/98 "2000-01-13T16:10:00Z")
I was going to hold off since I don’t think Shirley’s tastes and mine are the same, but what the hell. Be warned that most of these will fall into the gently old-fashioned category. Charlotte (my pick, if I ever have a daughter) Lucy Sophie Tamar Helena (OK, not two syllables, but I really like it anyway) Isabel (ditto) Martha Lyndall (Americans, of course, will invariably hear this as “Linda” … which is the only reason it’s _not_ at the top of my list. Somewhat more common in Britain and the other former colonies, though.) Note to those who like “Regan”: You do realize, of course, that people will have their choice of associating it with _King Lear_ OR _The Exorcist_ OR Ronald. IMHO, one bad association can be overcome (“Cassandra” and “Eve” aren’t bad), but _three_? * * * \\| |/ === '\> ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724/99 "2000-01-14T05:45:00Z")
Well, I’ve read teh thread, but, due to possible unforeseen brain malfunctions, there may be repetition here (Warning: I’m not up with what names are currently “trendy”, so we’ll ignore that rule. Some of these break other rules.): Gail/Gale/Gayle (sounds better with Arndt than with O’Hara, I think) Lisa or Lisette Amy O’Hara Arndt Cheryl/Sheryl (same comment as with Gail) Martine Selene Rahne Clarice Claudette (sounds better with O’Hara than with Arndt, I think) Lorraine or Lauren [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/step-right-up-and-help-name-the-baby/12724.md?page=4)