September 4, 2007
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…I’m thinking about names. We have a new horse,
and he needs a name. I love names and naming things and usually claim the honor of giving our pets and other things their monikers. But I have to deal with my husband, who does NOT like “clever” names. He prefers regular guy names, like George or Jack or Tom, easy to remember and say. Right now, we have Tex, Lucky, Bandit and Buddy. Past horses have been Roper, Red, Cato, Danny Boy, Rusty, Fox and a few others I can’t recall right now. With registered horses, you usually look at their papers and choose a name related to one of their predecessors. But we’ll just choose something we like and hopefully it will suit this new horse.
Besides animal names, I love place names. In our rural county, there are some unique ones. At one time, there were 90 one-room schools in Ozark County, the highest number of any county in the state. And the school defined the community it served. I love the names Igo, Barefoot, Never Fail, Romance, Truevine, Tranquility, Bald, Lone Pilgrim, and the ubiquitous Hog Danger. Wouldn’t it be neat to be able to say you were a graduate of the Romance…or Barefoot….School??
When school number 88 was organized, the patrons couldn’t agree on a name, so it was always known as Eighty-Eight. Many communities were named for women, perhaps a daughter or sweetheart of a founder. Recently I’ve been to Fay, Theodosia, Isabella, Ava and Dora, and I live in Almartha (named for both of the couple.)
People are giving their children such strange names these days. It’s difficult to look at a sweet newborn and think of calling her Apple or Rain. But the idea of strange names is nothing new. My own family tree includes Aunt Etter and Uncle Nimrod, my husband had an Uncle Parrot and an Aunt Edgie, and I had an Aunt Cleffie. There’s a grandmother Jimpsey and an Uncle Burr.
I’d like to hear some of the strangest or most unusual names you know. Let’s have a contest. Submit your suggested name, in one of two categories: people and places. I’ll collect the “entries” and a winner (ta-da!) will be announced. Pass this exciting contest on to your friends and fellow Xangans, so we’ll have plenty from which to choose!
And if you have any horse name ideas for our sorrel gelding, send those, too. Remember that he’s a ranch horse. I’m sure my husband will appreciate simple, to-the-point, easy-to-remember suggestions. Like Ed, or Fred, or Ted….
(P.S. Here’s a chick update….there are now 4! Bertha is SUCH a good mama. See below…)
Comments (17)
I don’t know any people with strange names; but I do think that the strangest name for a place is the town of Intercourse, Pennsylvania. I have never heard another name of any place where I would most not want to be from.
Our town name is Kalona, come to think of it, that’s a bit strange. The town was established back in 1879 and named after a prize-winning bull. Imagine that!!
So that would explain why there is a Bulltown Pizza Cafe, Bulltown Pub, etc. LOL I was so busy thinking about other towns that I forgot my own hometown.
I think Beau is a very nice name for a horse. Of course, I’m like you. I like unusual names for animals, not just Puff and Spot and Blackie and Porkie and so on. Our dogs are named Buddy (the children named him, after they watched Air Bud.. how could I not let them name him that?!) and Emily. Both are yellow Labs, and Emily has the most lovely green eyes. I just thought, when we got her as a pup, that she looked like an… Emily.
And how hilarious that you mispronouced the town of Lititz. Poor thing, though, that the clerk laughed at you. It makes me chuckle, too, though. lol
I do all the naming around here and when we got the cattle I tried to name them but hard as I tried one black Angus looks like another Black Angus…except to Wil. He can tell who is what number without seeing the numbers. lol
Couldn’t you name him something like Cowboy or Partner
All I could think when I saw the horse was “chocolate buttercream!” He looks like a big piece of chocolate buttercream with one bite out of the bottom! My favorite buttercreams are made by Fannie May…so maybe he could be called, “Fannie?” But, that ‘s a woman’s name! Maybe Mr. Fannie? Since your fanny is what sits on a horse…oh boy, I’m thinking about this too much!
What an interesting post! Unusual names got me to thinking. How about Hot Coffee, Mississippi? And we have a road here in Nox Co. named Togo Rd. Who wouldn’t want “to go” to Togo Rd? My niece had a foal to name this spring and my grandaughter gave her a list of names halfway to her elbow. The one name that I sort of liked was Pepito, so I named one of our kittens that. But sometimes Pepito is a mouthful and I tend to shorten it to Pinto, instead. I always think of western names for horses for some reason, like Reno, Gunnison, Casper or Pheonix. Whatever, I’m sure you’ll come up with a good one. I lvoe the baby chicks. That mother has got to be so proud!
A few years ago on the evening news we were hearing about this horse race – I don’t know if this particular horse won or not – but the horse race was going on and it was between another horse and this one named, Hoof Hearted. Kinda naughty, I know. You got to say the name out loud. I thought it was rather funny. I truly enjoyed seeing the hen and baby chicks. I was raised on a farm in North Dakota, but left there in 1965 – a long time ago. Lovely site you have. Blessings ~Carolyn
RYC: Thanks for some more titles to look for! I read one othe Ladies Detective series too. It was a little different but I like the flavor.
Have you ever been to Tomatoe AR, hope I spelled that right. Sits right next to the Mississippi River. Some houses were on heavy chains. Never saw that before, being from Virginia. Dawn
I LOVED this blog entry! You’re always so interesting and fun to read.
Okay, I’ll play.
People: Sugar Pie Watkins. Little Tiny Heard. For a couple, Miss Tinky and Mr. Tiny Chancellor take the prize.
Places: Shuqualak, Mississippi. Snowball, Arkansas. Bright Star, Arkansas. Alligator, Mississippi. Hog Eye, Mississippi.
I left you a message in response to your question.
I’m the worst one to pick a name. I’m just not very creative in that department but I hope you find a good name for your horse.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Cute post!
My husband’s grandma was named Loma. My grandma’s cousin was Exie. And my great aunt was Carmie. Oh, and I had an uncle Cotton. As for weird town names, there is one around here called Matfield Green and another called Hollyrood.
For the horse…in honor of your husband’s love of plain names, just name him Fred!
Oh! I thought of another strange name….Taka, pronounced Tonka, like the toy truck. My daughter-in-law’s mom.
Do I win???
Just ran onto your site ~ love the photo of the scissor-tail in a past post ~ I’ve never seen one ~
Okay… immediately a horse’s name came to mind… Credence. That’s what I would name my horse if I was ever lucky enough to have one. I love horses.
Funny names… I have a friend whose name is Third. He’s the 3rd one born and his oldest brother is First. Since he’s Thai he has difficulties with the ‘th’ sound, so he introduces himself as, ” Hi. I’m Tird.”
Another friend of ours, is named Pee WEE Poo, emphasis on the WEE.
I had a great aunt named Pansey Rosebush.
Those are my best contributions…
this is fun
I’ll stay posted
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!! I did have a non-tear afternoon. My granddaughter loved her first day of preschool, and we chatted 20 or 30 minutes after I picked her up!! HUGS, Linda