# The "Whats the deal with your name?" Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2002, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211 "2002-07-16T09:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/101 "2002-07-20T04:15:23Z")
I invented this username for use on the Madonnarama messageboard. **Kung fu** because I wanted something campy and wry, and also Madonna did this awesome kung fu dancey-dance on her last tour. The **lola** is because her little daughter’s nickname is Lola, and then there is the cheeky camp factor to that, too. ---
**Author:** ![bristlesage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@bristlesage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bristlesage)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/102 "2002-07-20T04:46:52Z")
::resume desert dweller hijack:: Anyone who hasn’t seen the gorgeous Southern Utah/Northern Arizona National Park zone, get yourself there post-haste. Redrock Nat’l Rec. Area is also well worth seeing, and it has some excellent rock climbs. Man, the desert is great. As much grandeur as the ocean, and not nearly as much noise. ::end desert dweller hijack:: Okay, so according to the story of my username found in this thread, I could have just as easily have been “conebrush”. This is definitely something to keep in mind if I decide to change my name. ---
**Author:** ![briangrapes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@briangrapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/briangrapes)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/103 "2002-07-20T05:08:59Z")
My username is simply my real name. Creative, huh? I use it everywhere on the web. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_to_be_Queen)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/104 "2002-07-20T05:31:19Z")
…sometimes I feel stuck in a rut and just don’t think I will ever be the queen of anything. Plus, it sounds like something you would hear in a ballad. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/105 "2002-07-20T10:25:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kung fu lola \* > \*\*I invented this username for use on the Madonnarama messageboard. > **Kung fu** because I wanted something campy and wry, and also Madonna did this awesome kung fu dancey-dance on her last tour. > The **lola** is because her little daughter’s nickname is Lola, and then there is the cheeky camp factor to that, too. \*\* I started this reply to say… “I just have to say **Madonnarama ROCKS!** I used to play them on my radio show. Great fun.” But then realized you were talking about the REAL Madonna and not [Madonnarama](http://www.ampcast.com/madonnarama) the cover band. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/106 "2002-07-20T15:35:15Z")
My real name is Lisa. The Pundit part is sarcastic. A friend and I were watching CNN one day and the anchor introduced a panel of guests, referring to them as political pundits. My friend said, “So what exactly does one have to do to be called a ‘pundit’?” I said, “I don’t know. They have to be well read.” “We’re well read.” “Yes, but I’m not sure “Gone With the Wind” is on the pundit reading list. A pundit has to be wise, too.” “Aren’t people always telling us that we’re mature for our age?” “Well, yes. But I mean, I don’t know, _wordly_.” “Didn’t we go to Acapulco with the Spanish Honor Society when we were sophomores?” “Yes, we did. Of course these people are very articulate. And they give their opinion on stuff.” “Yes?” “My God. We’ve been pundits for years and didn’t even know it!” “And it sounds much more impressive than 'housewife.” * * * And so the name PunditLisa was conceived. It’s also a little pompous sounding, which comes in handy on occasion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/107 "2002-07-20T16:18:12Z")
I wasn’t creative at all. My real name is Paul Bietz, which is pronounced “Bites”, not “Bates” or “Bits” or “Bee-it’s” like so many people mistakenly read it. I actually have a hyphenated name, but for privacy sake I’m not revealing what the “K” stands for. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/108 "2002-07-20T16:52:32Z")
Well, mine is a double reference. There is an old poem (circa 1500?) by William Dunbar called “Lament of the Makers” with the recurring line “timor mortis conturbat me” which means (in Old or Middle English, I assume) “the fear of death troubles me.” But that’s not all. In Jack Vance’s brilliant s-f novel “The Palace of Love”, the mad poet Navarth writes a poem, a clear but un-cited parody of Lament, called “Tim R. Mortiss”. I thought it was hilarious…“Timmy” p.s. - Henry Spencer - I thought so! Eraserhead is one of my favorite movies too. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/109 "2002-07-20T22:34:24Z")
“Timor mortis conturbat me” is Latin. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/110 "2002-07-21T00:09:29Z")
I wanted something that began with Great or The Great and I always thought Zamboni was a weird word and with my weird sense of humor I liked it. Plus The Great Zamboni sounded like a weird magician name. It stuck to me, but I’m not a magician. It’s a heck of a lot better than my old username, JNoble, which is part of my real name, but it was dull and I’m paranoid about giving my real name on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/111 "2002-07-21T00:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*“Timor mortis conturbat me” is Latin. \*\* Thanks! I thought it might be, but it wasn’t in my Latin dictionary…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Beighley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a587f6/32.png) [@Beighley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beighley)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/112 "2002-07-21T01:20:11Z")
I used to work as a telemarketer (I know, I know, everyone hates them) and I certainly didn’t want to use my real name, so I used the name Beighley Evans. The name stuck at work, and now my friends still call me Beighley. And I just love the name. _grin_ ---
**Author:** ![Victory\_Candescence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Victory\_Candescence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victory_Candescence)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/113 "2002-07-21T02:03:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\* > > You gonna change your name when you run into dynamic programming? 😉 > > [sub]Actually, look it up. It’s way cool, and can blow recursion out of the water sometimes.[/sub] > > The source of my name is described [here](http://www.wikipedia.com/wiki/ultrafilter). Believe it or not, someone actually recognized where it was from. \*\* Actually, I recently learned about dynamic programming, and it was really impressive. However, I’m known as **Recursion** here, and I’m not going to change it every time a new idea amazes me; I’m really attached to that name. By the way, I didn’t know where your name was from, but I did recognize it as something to do with math (I had read Rudy Rucker’s _Infinity and the Mind_ in my early days on this board. ). I couldn’t understand that link, though, so I don’t think you can give me “partial credit”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/114 "2002-07-21T02:21:47Z")
I did my thesis research on hummingbirds in Panama. Colibri is Spanish for hummingbird. ---
**Author:** ![Pink\_Pussycat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Pink\_Pussycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pink_Pussycat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/115 "2002-07-21T15:34:03Z")
I used to drink on occasion at this divey bar named “Lala’s Nugget” and it was totally demented. Dark, with Xmas decorations and a tree year-round, clown puppets all over the ladies loo, Sinatra on the jukebox and the barkeep/owner, Lala, was a crusty old thing who used to serve me **Pink Pussycats** whilst abusing me with her sarcastic wit. Actually, I kicked around the thought of using “Lala’s Nugget” but, for some odd reason, the drink won out in the end. (It usually does.) -pinky ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/116 "2002-07-21T16:02:44Z")
We threw a costume party for New Year’s 1999, and the theme was “Salute to the Twentieth Century.” You could dress as any famous thing, concept, event, or person from the 1900s. (We had one person who said he was coming as the grassy knoll, but the loser never showed up. Bastard.) We had Plastic, Television, Vince Lombardi, Winston Churchill, Lenin, a poodle-skirt girl, Cabbage Patch Kids, Albert Einstein, Dorothy Gale, the Lion, the Scarecrow (Wizard of Oz), Harry Potter, and probably a few I’m forgetting. I dressed as Carol Burnett doing Scarlett O’Hara – you know, with the curtain-rod dress and all. Two birds with one stone and all that. I wanted to be **Katie Scarlett,** but as others have reported, the name was taken, and the wench only posted a few times. **Scarlett** was taken also, so I appended the year I was born. ---
**Author:** ![madcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@madcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madcat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/117 "2002-07-21T16:52:03Z")
Mine is a nickname from playing coed lacrosse in a league in the southern US started by expatriated New England prep school kids. I got into it by making the mistake of mentioning to the wrong person that I’d played field hockey in high school gym class. The other teams invaribly had some huge ex-linebacker on steroids named “Maddog” & since I was usually the smallest person on the field my team started calling me Madcat(kinda like calling a bald guy ‘curly’). ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/118 "2002-07-21T21:11:47Z")
Have I answered this yet? I don’t think so. If I have, deal with it 😉 I used to be in an industrial band called **interface 2x**. We stopped making music, but I’ve taken to using the name as my internet handle for the past couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![blindboygrunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@blindboygrunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboygrunt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/119 "2002-07-21T23:45:27Z")
Bob Dylan had songs that he wished to record but didn’t fit with his album’s theme( the songs were more traditional folk ) so being under contract to Columbia he couldn’t use his real name so the songs were recorded for Vangard and he used the name Blind Boy Grunt. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211/120 "2002-07-22T01:55:08Z")
I have a cat who likes to run around the house like a mad thing without warning. Then I got another. So I named myself after them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whats-the-deal-with-your-name-thread/119211.md?page=7)