# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Mattie\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mattie\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mattie_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/61 "2012-09-25T14:52:15Z")
Another NPR correspondent - [Neda Ulaby](http://www.npr.org/people/3850482/neda-ulaby). I just like the way it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/62 "2012-09-25T15:05:21Z")
So, how in the world did plain old Paul Brown get hired by NPR??? (I used to listen to Paul when he was news director at WFDD down here in North Cackalackey). ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/63 "2012-09-25T18:10:06Z")
Benedict Cumberbatch Joey Jojo Junior Shabadoo ---
**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:** [September 25, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/64 "2012-09-25T19:06:00Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > Benedict Cumberbatch If there was ever a man whose birth name was straight out of a Dickens novel, it is him. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/65 "2012-09-26T18:36:29Z")
[Manly Wade Wellman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly_Wade_Wellman) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/66 "2012-09-26T19:14:50Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > [Manly Wade Wellman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly_Wade_Wellman) WHOA! That’s quite a name to live UP to. ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/67 "2012-09-26T19:43:43Z")
There was a contestant on American Idol a few years ago named Didi Benami. To this day, my wife and I still like to say her name in a sort of sing-song, Pikachu voice. “Didib’NAMI!” ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/68 "2012-09-26T20:01:05Z")
My favorite from sports was a running back from the Ohio State University, Hiawatha Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![Groucho\_Twain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Groucho\_Twain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Groucho_Twain)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/69 "2012-09-26T21:09:53Z")
Apropos of nothing (other than the numerous mentions of NPR on-air personalities), it took me _years_ to realize it’s “Marco Gorman”, _not_ “Mark O’Gorman”. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/70 "2012-09-26T21:16:54Z")
> [@Groucho\_Twain](#): > > Apropos of nothing (other than the numerous mentions of NPR on-air personalities), it took me _years_ to realize it’s “Marco Gorman”, _not_ “Mark O’Gorman”. If you’re talking about PRI’s _The World_, it’s [Marco Werman.](http://www.theworld.org/team/marco-werman/) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/71 "2012-09-26T23:39:04Z")
I’ve been amused by the name of gold-medal winning swmmer [Ranomi Kromowidjojo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranomi_Kromowidjojo) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/72 "2012-09-27T00:10:15Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I’ve been amused by the name of gold-medal winning swmmer [Ranomi Kromowidjojo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranomi_Kromowidjojo) I’m going to name my next kitten that. ---
**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 27, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/73 "2012-09-27T02:31:44Z")
> [@Mattie\_Blue](#): > > Another NPR correspondent - [Neda Ulaby](http://www.npr.org/people/3850482/neda-ulaby). I just like the way it sounds. Like something you sing to your infant daughter to lull her to sleep. Seriously, does NPR require their on-air talent to have mellifluous monikers? “I’m sorry, Mr. Smith. While the Pulitzer you won at the _New York Times_ is impressive, we feel you’re just not right for NPR. Try CNN.” ---
**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 27, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/74 "2012-09-27T06:11:03Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I always liked Boutros Boutros Ghali, especially if you pronounce Ghali like you’re Gomer Pyle. How about KwaZulu Minister Mangosutho Buthulese? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Groucho\_Twain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Groucho\_Twain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Groucho_Twain)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/75 "2012-09-27T15:45:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If you’re talking about PRI’s _The World_, it’s [Marco Werman.](http://www.theworld.org/team/marco-werman/) Add to “to do” list: Get. Ears. Checked. Now. Thank you, ThelmaLou. ---
**Author:** ![Groucho\_Twain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Groucho\_Twain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Groucho_Twain)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/76 "2012-09-27T15:49:18Z")
Great name (although probably _not_ so great for Nigeria): Goodluck Jonathan ---
**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 27, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/77 "2012-09-27T17:16:16Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I always liked Boutros Boutros Ghali, especially if you pronounce Ghali like you’re Gomer Pyle. I intend to adopt this policy immediately, along with calling the current prime minister of Israel “Benjamin Netan-YA-HOOOOOOOOO!” ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/78 "2012-09-27T17:44:36Z")
I can recall being shocked – but not displeased – to learn that the “Marketplace” host I’d always known as “Guy Rizdoll” is actually [Kai Ryssdal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Ryssdal). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/79 "2012-09-27T18:17:12Z")
Lynne Rossetto Kasper has a pretty decent name, but an absolute purr in her voice when she talks about interesting or beloved foods on The Splendid Table. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171/80 "2012-09-27T19:30:21Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If you’re talking about PRI’s _The World_, it’s [Marco Werman.](http://www.theworld.org/team/marco-werman/) For years I thought I was listening to Daniels Wordling instead of [Daniel Zwerdling](http://www.npr.org/people/4173096/daniel-zwerdling). I always thought it interesting there was someone named “Daniels” instead of “Daniel.” :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171.md?page=5)