Let the Fighting Begin
July 17th, 2007Ok, naming the fur ball is becoming a problem.
Our last cat was named for a boat (despite anything you might have heard). When naming him, we decided that we would name our future animals from the wealth of boat names. So we have a list to work with (a rather LONG list).
Now, we quickly eliminated dumb names like Fir, Birch, Blueberry, Anvil, Active, Durable — oh, did I mention we were working from Coast Guard Cutters? Seriously there are WHOLE classes of boats that will not qualify. Then there is a wealth of girl names (Spar, Isis, Althea); names that won’t work because of his color (Mellon; Blackberry); and other unacceptable names (like anything with just a number; most of the island and river names; the nautical terms class; American Sailor/Mariner/Seaman; you see where I’m going here). Finally, I was also veto’d on Semper, Cutter, and Cartigan — the last of which is one of my favorites.
Prince wants a name with distinguished record, which eliminates some (depending on your definition of distinguished). URGH. Also, I should mention that the kitty in question has not shown any distinguishing personality characteristics, other than his very loud purring motor. Seriously, how am I expected to know if a name fits this cat if I don’t know if he’s a cuddle bunny or a terror?
So, this has lead to me going through the list and trying to narrow the choices. I keep thinking I have a great name (Storis, Argus, Hamilton, Healy, Blake….) only to try to use it with the cat and it just doesn’t work. Now, Prince thought it should be Healy, but I can’t stop thinking about the kids I HATE with the wheelie shoes. Now, he’s taken to calling the cat, Hudson. I’m currently thinking he should be Dexter because of the added dexterity of his extra toes.
And what I can’t shake is that I think his name should be Sherman, but even though he’d be named for a boat that wasn’t named for that horrible Atlanta burning general, I’m not entirely sure my mother (who already is pretty sure I have four or five screws loose now) will forgive me for it.
Oh and if I push hard to break the ‘tradition’ (which it isn’t tradition until there is more than one of them), his name should be Sterling (like in Silver).
What the heck am I supposed to do?
barb:
July 17, 2007 at 9:35 am
Well, my 3 votes would be Midgett, Munro, or Sassafrass…
Before dh went into the CG he had a cat named Midget.
The KING of Snarkville:
July 17, 2007 at 12:03 pm
We toyed with Midgett - there’s history there, plus we think that he’s going to be a big cat.
The short list-
Healy
Storis (pronounced Store-es, also Danish for Big Ice)
Snohomish
Hudson
Sherman
Hamilton
Campbell
Sorrel
db:
July 17, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I say call it Bob and be done with it.
The Queen:
July 17, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Um — that’s HIS short list. I have only agreed to the following on his list:
Storis — though while cool, it doesn’t roll off the tongue.
Hudson
Sherman
Hamilton
But I add:
Dexter
Blake
URGH — how did we ever agree on naming ANY of the animals, thus far?
Niki:
July 18, 2007 at 7:10 am
OK, if naming a cat is this hard for you guys, I’m glad it’s not a baby! I can only imagine how long it took for you guys to come up with Duke’s name! I can get into Dexter, or even Campbell. But please not Blake. And Sherman? I think Sherman Helmsley every time I hear it. Snohomish would end up being Homey, I just know it. DB may have the best idea of all though - just plain Bob. My youngest and her friends at school conjured up an imaginary classmate named Bob, and they still joke about him.
Niki:
July 18, 2007 at 7:11 am
Oh, forgot to mention, like the new theme!
Beth Alm:
July 18, 2007 at 7:54 am
I like Sherman. Wait! Did you know today is Bobby Sherman’s birthday? OK, I’m a wee bit older than you and I actually remember Bobby Sherman, but he lives in that neck of the woods, and it’s on your list. I think it fits. If you’re still having problems with the stinky poo let me know. I bet I can help with that.
AlisonH:
July 18, 2007 at 11:43 am
My neighbors named their cat after a boat, and it was Hobie. I had a story about Hobie that didn’t make it into the first book (editors!), but definitely will in the next: not often you get to talk about a green cat. I had to explain to my neighbor what had happened.