Help us pick a fancy new surname
November 14, 2008 7:33 PM
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My brother and I want to invent a new family surname for ourselves and our future families. Our Christian names are Kristy-Lee and Thomas. Can you help? We're wondering about logistics, as well as being desperately in need of ideas for surnames! It's tricky trying to find one name to suit two people.
Our current surname is a name my Dad made up anyway – long story. Neither of us particularly like it and we also feel that since our family is split up, we should create a name that's just for us and that we can carry into the future.
So far we haven't come up with much. He kind of wants something in the vein of having "Danger" as a middle name. He's fond of the name Tommy Gunn but it doesn't go well with my name, so it's out!
I've been partial to things like Honeywell, or Roseberry! Quite pompous names. But I'm open to anything really! Does anybody have any ideas? We don't mind if the suggestions are humorous, or if they reference pop culture – in fact, we'd probably prefer it!
So anything goes, song titles, book characters, historical figures -- if there's a story behind the name, that's great.
But anything, no matter how plain, is a good suggestion. Anything would match my first name better than my current surname does!
I'm hoping to get the input of writers or wordsmiths here ... I know a lot of mefites have a good aesthetic understanding of language. You're the best bunch to ask for a combination of words/names that roll off the tongue.
Things to keep in mind:
–Must sound good with a Mister/Doctor/etc in front of it.
–As long as it sounds appropriate with some derivation of Thomas (Tom, Tommy), that's fine.
–I find Kristy-Lee a mouthful to pronounce as it is, but don't let that stop you from suggesting a complicated or fanciful surname.
–Don't worry about middle names.
Also, logistically, do you think this is possible? Is there anything we're not considering? Have you heard of anybody else who did this with any other family members? I don't think we mind the initial hassle of explaining to everybody that our last name is now different. But maybe it's more complicated than we've considered. Throwaway email is yay.new.last.name@gmail.com in case you need to ask further Qs.
posted by anonymous to writing & language (64 comments total)
11 users marked this as a favorite
Kristy-Lee and Thomas Vinova.
Tom Vinova
Dr. Vinova
Mr. Vinova
Mrs. Vinova
Emphasis on the 'o'.
It's a elision of "Vita nova", latin for "new life".
I think it sounds pretty, but I guess it's very subjective. Good luck with whatever new name you choose!
PS: "Vita nuova" is also the title of a work by Dante Alighieri about his love for Beatrice Portinari, who was used as a symbol for ultimate salvation in his more famous work, "Divine Comedy".
posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:49 PM on November 14, 2008 [3 favorites]