What are some of your favorite out of the ordinary names from history, religion, or fiction? Could be the name of a person, animal, place, etc.
I’ve really always liked the name Bellerephon from Greek mythology. I also like the name of the home planet of the Time Lords from Dr. Who, Gallifrey, as well as Rassilon, a Time Lord.
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R. Daneel Olivaw - not as much for the name itself but more of its significance. My AI assistant’s name is Dors Venabili.
Spoilers!
For some reason I really like Ānanda, who was the Buddha’s primary attendant.
In Hinduism, Ananda means something akin to ecstatic or joyous, and swamis will often take it as part of their name. Such as Vivekananda, or Yogananda. I’ve always loved that, and Vivekananda is a major player in forming my personal philosophies about life.
Also the dog from Swiftly Tilting Planet.
I love most names. I know that sounds stupid, but I have a weird fascination with names. I love meeting people with names I haven’t heard before, it makes me really happy. I also love to introduce my friends to people with fake names, like I might introduce two people to each other as Telemachus Entwhistle and Victoria Saint Watercress, then walk away and let them figure out their real names. Sometimes I use people’s full names in fake anger, but make up a middle name, like Aloysius or Jezebel, or make up a name that their already full first name might be short for.
One of my favorite jokes in all of TV is the running gag on Psych where the main character introduces his friend and partner, Gus, by a different name in every episode, like Lavender Gumes or Galileo Humpkins.I really don’t know why I find it so amusing, but I love it.
I think some of my actual favorite names, like ones I might really name a kid, would be like Ruth, Miles, Olivia, Matthew, James, Joe, Sorrel, Elan, Evan, Lyric, Bear, Atticus, and Cynthia.
That running gag is one of the best parts of a great show. Especially when Gus just goes along with it.
Here are some of my favorite names I’ve come across:
Sylphrena, a spren (type of sprite) from the Stormlight Archives
Koriel Zeth, a Adept who was in charge of “The Magma City” in a Warhammer 40k book
Duncan Idaho from Dune. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was originally a name Frank Herbert used on a fake ID
Funny story, specifically on the name “Idaho”, from Wikipedia’s article on the state, “Etymology” Section:
The name’s origin remains a mystery.[9] In the early 1860s, when the U.S. Congress was considering organizing a new territory in the Rocky Mountains, the name “Idaho” was suggested by George M. Willing, a politician posing as an unrecognized delegate from the unofficial Jefferson Territory.[10] Willing claimed that the name was derived from a Shoshone term meaning “the sun comes from the mountains” or “gem of the mountains”,[11] but it was revealed later that there was no such term and Willing claimed that he had been inspired to coin the name when he met a little girl named Ida.[12] Since the name appeared to be fabricated, the U.S. Congress ultimately decided to name the area Colorado Territory instead when it was created in February 1861, but by the time this decision was made, the town of Idaho Springs, Colorado had already been named after Willing’s proposal.
The same year Congress created Colorado Territory, a county called Idaho County was created in eastern Washington Territory. The county was named after a steamship named Idaho, which was launched on the Columbia River in 1860. It is unclear whether the steamship was named before or after Willing’s claim was revealed. Regardless, part of Washington Territory, including Idaho County, was used to create Idaho Territory in 1863.[13] Idaho Territory would later change its boundaries to the area that became the U.S. state.[14]
[…] but it was revealed later that there was no such term and Willing claimed that he had been inspired to coin the name when he met a little girl named Ida.
Imagine pissing a politician off so hard he tries to name a state after your name plus “hoe”
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Local newspaper had a section for babies born recently in the community. Never forget this picture of a happy baby and had the most rockstar name. Frankie J Savage.
My kid was on a tee ball team with the coaches youngest son. The coaches two older sons were assistant coaches and the youngest was named “Maverick”.
Like, yeah, that kids set up to become an MLB Superstar. Or at least a washed-up alcoholic former Double-A in player.
I like long, ridiculous names like Sylvester Birtwistle from Lovecraft Investigations or Thockmorton P. Ruddygore from Jack Chalker’s Dancing Gods novels.
Visit The Unbelievers With Explanatory Pamphlets
Adonalsium Will Remember Our Plight Eventually
Sir Archibald Cunningham Nastyface
Kurt Russell’s main stuntman was named DICK WARLOCK
I used to collect and make up stupid names :
- Ada Goodwin
- Aiden Abbott
- Albert Hall
- Amanda Boat
- Amelia Cooke
- Andy Bannister
- Arthur & Holly Day, Dawn Day & Annie Day - Day’s Travel Emporium
- Barney Daley
- Ben & Eileen Dover
- Ben Nevis
- Bert Rand
- Blanche and Hugh Allbright-White
- Bob Waite
- Carrie Oakley
- Carol Singer
- Charlie (Chuck) Ball - “How very singular”
- Chit Price
- Chris Cross - Conflict Resolution
- Christopher, Lord Sandwich II (Chip Butty - a chip off the old block)
- Cliff Edge
- Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
- Didier Dolittle - schoolboy
- Donald Key
- Doreen Knox
- Dorothy Morse (Dot) - Former cryptologist at Bletchley. She’s dotty about her dachshund, Dash
- Douglas Wells
- Drew Leith
- Dustin Ledger
- Ed Clutterbuck - Librarian and wannabe author with writer’s block
- Elsa Goodfellow
- Felicity Weston - Flic
- Fleur Meadows
- Gloria Devine
- Dr. Godwin Hale & Dr. Mia Harty
- Gus ‘the’ Bus - bus driver
- Heather Moore (real)
- Holly & Hugh Wood, Hazel, Elizabeth (Betty) & Evan (grandma Olive)
- Honor Crookes
- Hugh Grant (real / stage name)
- Hugh Green (stage name)
- Iona Carr
- Isabella Bell
- Izzy Humble
- Jack & Constance Dawes - keen ornithologists
- Jack Hughes
- Jenny Darling
- Jo Lein - Joe King’s gf
- Juan Mann
- Justin Case
- Keir Royale
- Kiefer Roux
- Lance Ennis-Hand
- Liam Perrin
- Lilly & Grant Watts, Max the dog
- Logan Berry
- Lou Tennant
- Fr. Martin Dupre
- Mary Christmas
- Megan Bacon (real)
- Michelle Wordsworth (Shelly)
- Millie Boinet
- Mike West
- Minnie & Harry Driver
- Monica Marx
- Neal Standswick
- Noah & Ellie Wan
- Norman Castle
- Oliver Bath
- Orla Broad - marries Miles Long
- Dr. Ozzy Foster
- Paddy & Anne Field, and son Pete
- Paula Piano
- Pixie Locke
- Randy Vicars
- Ray Leader (lay reader)
- Prof Rebekah Elizabeth Newell
- Ray Bans
- Red Herring
- Robyn Banks
- Robin Holmes
- Rodney Marsh
- Roger Moore (real)
- Rose Hedge
- Russell Russell
- Sally & Carrie Mee
- Sam Hain - b. October 31st
- Seymore Cleverley - Optician
- Stuart Prince
- Tom Bell
- Walter Lilley
- Wendy Merryweather
- Willy Lord
That is an impressive list! I know a person who collects words that sound cool, I should probably start doing something like that as well.
:) That’s an idea from the film The Interpreter. I like nice sounding words too.
In the spirit of this list: Max Watts
:) Nice one! Thanks
Thelsim: I like my name :)
Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit: Bangkok’s full name. It makes it sound very stately, I wish there were more cities that did this.
Mormel: Our late cat’s name. The literal translation is mongrel, but it’s gotten a completely different meaning for me. Also in Chinese pronunciation it sounds like māo māo, which just means “cat cat” :)
My favourite name is Luna (who could’ve guessed)
for some reason the name Pyrrha has a nice ring to it
Ariadne. Princess of Crete who led Theseus through the labyrinth.
I like Greek mythological names and this one is beautiful.
Any idea how it’s pronounced?
I just listened to an audiobook of the same name. They pronounced it “Air-ee-odd-knee”. But I actually like the pronunciation “Are-ee-odd-neigh” better. Emphasis on the “odd” in both cases.
Gracias, amigo.
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I like the names of the Machine People in the Ringworld books by Larry Niven.
Vallavirgillin and Harriloprilar are my favorites, though I wouldn’t guarantee that I’ve spelled them correctly.
