# The best name ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171 "2012-09-19T14:41:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/21 "2012-09-20T16:59:47Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I’ve liked her since she did a personal piece about having to keep her children indoors because of all the pollution where she lives, Beijing I think. [That was Louisa Lim.](http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/143214875/clean-air-a-luxury-in-beijings-pollution-zone) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/22 "2012-09-20T17:35:31Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I always think of gymnastics when she’s on. Wasn’t there some move called a Triple Sow-Cow? 😃 I’ve liked her since she did a personal piece about having to keep her children indoors because of all the pollution where she lives, Beijing I think. You’re thinking of the \*triple salchow \*in figure skating. But I can see why you are. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/23 "2012-09-20T17:46:00Z")
I lived in New York State like twenty years ago and every Tuesday night, they had various women reading the winning numbers aloud. One of those women was Yolanda Vega, and she had a really great way of saying her own name. I remember one radio station even had a contest to see if any of the listeners could duplicate her delivery. (I did a Google search and found [this New York Daily News article](http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-02-06/local/27055568_1_new-york-lottery-yolanda-vega-20th-anniversary) on her.) ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/24 "2012-09-20T17:50:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > NPR correspondent, [**Ofeibea Quist-Arcton**](http://www.npr.org/people/4513318/ofeibea-quist-arcton), has THE best name ever. And possibly the best voice, too. When she signs off, the way she says her name and her city, _Dakar_, is heavenly > > You can hear her [here](http://www.npr.org/2012/09/10/160864049/for-many-s-africans-strikes-recall-apartheid-era). > > That is all. Yep. I listened to her for the first time last week when she did a report on African miners. I re-listened three times simply because of her voice and accent. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/25 "2012-09-20T17:53:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > No fucking joke. I was at a party one time where all of us took turns imitating how she says her name. And then (firmly): _ROME_.. I doubt we were at the same party, but we’ve done the same. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/26 "2012-09-20T17:59:18Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I doubt we were at the same party, but we’ve done the same. I whisper it along with her when I am in the car - Sil-vyah Poh-zjoly, Rome. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/27 "2012-09-20T18:08:49Z")
I always liked Boutros Boutros Ghali, especially if you pronounce Ghali like you’re Gomer Pyle. ---
**Author:** ![Abortion\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@Abortion\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abortion_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/28 "2012-09-20T18:17:39Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I like Deblina Chakraborty from HowStuffWorks. Me too, especially since she pronounces it like Dub-leena. Dub-leena Shock-ra-bordy, I always find myself whispering on the subway, listening to the podcast. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/29 "2012-09-20T18:32:18Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I whisper it along with her when I am in the car - Sil-vyah Poh-zjoly, Rome. And I always try to anticipate how hard and long Ofeibia Quist-Arcton is going to hit the second syllable of Dakar and say it along with her. “Dakarrrrrr!” What’s wrong with us? 🙂 [QUOTE=lieu] I always liked Boutros Boutros Ghali, especially if you pronounce Ghali like you’re Gomer Pyle. [/QUOTE] That’s how I pronounce it in my head, too. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/30 "2012-09-20T19:21:54Z")
Terri Gross’s name is fairly pedestrian, but she sure knows how to say _ **FRRRRRRRRRR** _esh Air! ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/31 "2012-09-20T19:24:42Z")
stateside, Nancy Ann Cianci is definitely a contender. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/32 "2012-09-20T19:37:50Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I always liked Boutros Boutros Ghali, especially if you pronounce Ghali like you’re Gomer Pyle. Well, from now _on_ I will. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/33 "2012-09-20T19:47:28Z")
Way back in the day, I used to tune in to Air America’s “Morning Sedition” purely to listen to Sue Ellicott. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/34 "2012-09-20T19:55:37Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Back before Maria Hinojosa left NPR for CNN, I used to love hearing her say her name - it sounded like a satin ribbon slipping through her fingers. > > NPR seems to have a hiring requirement that their correspondents have euphonius names. _Nell Greenfield Boyce_ and _Mara Liassen_ are two more of my faves. Hinojosa still has a program on NPR called, I think, Latino USA, and I agree that when she speaks Spanish it’s like liquid gold. [QUOTE=Crotalus] There’s a woman who reports from Asia whose name I enjoy - Doualy Xaykaothao, pronounced dwa lee sy ky tao. [/QUOTE] I believe she pronounces it dwa-ha-lee sai-kow-tow, where the “ha” in the first name is barely breathed. I’ve never looked it up so I didn’t know how it was spelled, but all three syllables in the last name are given the same emphasis when she says it. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/35 "2012-09-20T19:58:08Z")
I was distracted and lost my edit window but, keeping with the OP, I was quite fond of the flow of “Ellicott” as well as her voice. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/36 "2012-09-21T02:42:07Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I whisper it along with her when I am in the car - Sil-vyah Poh-zjoly, Rome. She always sounds to me as if she has to catch herself to keep from saying “Roma”. As for her wonderful name, well, that sounds like something foodies brag about eating on a trip to Italy: “Oh, Jim and I found this little trattoria off the Via Rospigoli that made the best Sylvia Poggioli! It’s so much better with fresh basil and buffolata mozzarella, you know…” I was surprised the first time I saw Don Gonyea’s name in print. NPR names being what they are, I was sure it had some exotic spelling, like “Ghoenjeah”, with an umlaut or two. Just like I’m certain that the big bosses at NPR are putting the screws to the host of _All Things Considered_, to get him to spell his name “Hrothbeart Tsei-Ghall”. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/37 "2012-09-21T02:52:01Z")
Ethnic Chinese who matriculated in my alma mater: Edgar Allan Pe Johnathan Livingston Sy Christian Dee-Ong Washington Dy-Sy Chica Go Earvin “Magic” Tiongson ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/38 "2012-09-21T03:08:06Z")
Zdeno Chara. > **[Zdeno Chára](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zdeno_Ch%C3%A1ra#_)** > > Zdeno Chára (Slovak pronunciation: \[ˈzdenɔ ˈxaːra\]; born 18 March 1977) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played 24 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals between 1997 and 2022. Standing at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) tall, Chára is the tallest person ever to play in the NHL, earning him the nickname "Big Z". > Chára served as the Bruins' captain for all of his fourteen seasons with the franch... ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/39 "2012-09-21T03:08:50Z")
I also could listen to Sylvia Poggioli say her name on infinite loop. I don’t even need to hear her speak Italian; just her name will do. > [@Ludovic](#): > > I always liked Psoriasis Hari Nelson’s name, too. Damn you! Now I’m going to hear “psoriasis” every time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/40 "2012-09-21T04:43:19Z")
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