cartoon hero names A-Z suitable for monkeys

July 31, 2009 6:24 AM

I work in a lab with rhesus monkeys. They need names. For reasons of historical precedent and notational convenience, lab animals are usually named alphabetically, from A ("Abe") until you run out of monkeys. For reasons of awesomeness, we're naming our monkeys after spunky cartoon characters. So, please help me come up with the best comic/cartoon/superhero names for each letter of the alphabet.

We currently have two monkeys: Zim and Yogi (we started from the end of the alphabet). Eight new monkeys are arriving next week, and probably more in the months and years to come. The names should be short (no more than two syllables) or have shortened forms. Both male and female names would be great. We're especially in need of the rare letters (X?); we could skip them, but that would be less awesome.

Note: no monkeys were harmed in the preparation of this AskMe, and no monkeys are maimed/killed/dissected in our lab, either. They live long, healthy lives, which is why we need good names from the start. Thanks!

posted by miagaille to grab bag (53 comments total)

I call "M"

Muttley from Wacky Races - woot!
posted by greenish at 6:32 AM on July 31

from the PowerPuff Girls: Bubbles, Blossom, Buttercup (Although maybe you don't want to saddle some poor monkey with Bubbles, what with all the Michael Jackson hoop-de-do)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:32 AM on July 31

U: Underdog
posted by aetg at 6:34 AM on July 31

D: Destro
posted by Loto at 6:37 AM on July 31

I realise it might get confusing, but I would totally call one of them 'Monkey', after the character Monkey (a monkey) from the Dial M for Monkey shorts in Dexter's Laboratory.
posted by chrismear at 6:37 AM on July 31

M is also for Mojo Jojo, who is actually a monkey.
posted by mkb at 6:41 AM on July 31 [2 favorites]

D: Darkwing (Duck)
posted by runningwithscissors at 6:45 AM on July 31

This Wiki Answer might be helpful.
posted by Dukat at 6:51 AM on July 31

P: Papa Smurf
posted by mdonley at 6:52 AM on July 31

B: Batmanuel.
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:54 AM on July 31

P: Penfold! (Danger Mouse)
G: Gromit (does claymation count?)
S: Skwisgaar (Metalocalypse totally counts)

But most importantly:
B: Bananaman, because it's the best monkey name ever, and a comic superhero to boot.
posted by Coobeastie at 6:54 AM on July 31 [1 favorite]

A--Arthur! (The Tick)
posted by corey flood at 6:56 AM on July 31

G = Gleek

C = Chim-Chim
posted by Shohn at 7:00 AM on July 31

Well, the last eight before Y and Z would be Q-X. Might I suggest...

Q - Quinn (as in Harley), Quickdraw (McGraw)
R - Rajah (Jasmine's tiger from Aladdin), Rosie (the Robot)
S - Sonic (the Hedgehog), Snidely (Whiplash)
T - Taz, Tigger
U - Underdog, Ursula (Little Mermaid)
V - Velma (Scooby-Doo)
W - Wilma (Flintstones)
X - Xavier (as in Charles?)

This is a handy page, a lot of wikipedia copying but at least it's all on one page.
posted by miratime at 7:01 AM on July 31 [1 favorite]

Well, you could always go for Professor Charles Xavier AKA Professor X for X. From the X-Men animated series.

But I actually bet there's a lot of X names in comics and cartoons...hmm...
posted by lampoil at 7:01 AM on July 31

Astro
Boober
Cartman, Eric
Daria Morgendorffer
Elektra
Felix
Gobo
Homer Simpson
Ikaris
Jean Grey
Kenny McCormick
Lex Luthor
Mokey
Natasha Fatale
Olive Oyl
Popeye
Quicksand
Red
Stimpleton J. Cat
Thor
Underdog
V
Wembley
Xena - Warrior Princess
posted by scrutiny at 7:02 AM on July 31

I'm partial to the Muppet show:

A - Animal
B - Beeker
F - Fozzie
G - Gonzo
R - Rowlf


X is a challenge. I'm drawing a blank at the moment.
posted by swngnmonk at 7:04 AM on July 31 [1 favorite]

Rocky and Bullwinkle!

Damn, how could I forget Mojo-Jojo!!!! And I've seen every episode of P-P Girls at least 3 times, too...
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:04 AM on July 31

Beavis
posted by The Straightener at 7:05 AM on July 31

A - Atom Ant
B - Bandit (Johnny Quest)
C - Chumley (Tenesee Tuxedo), Chimchim (Speed Racer), Chongo (danger island)
D - Dudley (Doo Right), Drooper (Banana splits)
E -
F - Fang Face, Fleegle (banana splits)
G - Grape Ape, Gleep (super friends)
H - Henrietta Hippo,
I -
J - Jana (superfiends (other wonder twin), Jabber Jaw,
K -
L -
M - Muttley (already suggested), Magilla
N -
O -
P - Penelope (Pittstop), Penry (Hong Kong Phooey)
Q - Quiggly ?
R -
S - Squiggly
T -
U -
V - Velma (Scooby Doo)
W -
X -
Y -
Z - Zan (Super Friends (one of the wonder twins)

Sorry, I've run out of steam here.
posted by BLuR at 7:05 AM on July 31

Quasimodo!
posted by miratime at 7:07 AM on July 31

M is also also for Monkey, the monkey superhero from Dexter's Lab :)
posted by jozxyqk at 7:14 AM on July 31

Xander from "Drawn Together."
posted by greekphilosophy at 7:17 AM on July 31

X ... is hard. I give up.
Wilma
Velma
Urotsukidōji ("Legend of the Overfiend". Maybe shorten it to "Uro"?)
The Thing
Sideshow Bob
Ren
Q (You know... from Star Trek. Does that count?)
Pebbles
Dr. Octopus
Nibbler
Mo
Larry
Krusty
Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo
Invisible Woman
Human Torch
Grampa
Fred
Elroy
Dino
Carl
Bender
Akira

I know I've violated the "two syllables rule", but I'm sure you could shorten them if you need to.

(yes, I admit I used Wikipedia to get the spelling of Urotsukidōji. The rest are off the top of my head)
posted by Diag at 7:22 AM on July 31

Mitch!
posted by applemeat at 7:29 AM on July 31

Having read back through what I just posted, I wonder if Carl in The Simpsons is actually Curly? Larry, Moe and Carl? Hmm...Is this just a joke I have been missing for 20 years?
posted by Diag at 7:31 AM on July 31

Ampersand.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:33 AM on July 31

Which is not one syllable, but.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:34 AM on July 31

Wolverine
Zan and Jayna (wondertwins)
Cartman
Chef
Megatron
Tetsuo (Akira)
Racer X
Godzuki (old Godzilla cartoon)
Monarch (Venture Bros.)
Chowder
Space Ghost
Shmoo
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 7:35 AM on July 31

Here's The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons on Amazon - the Index is chock full of cartoon names, and you can look at it on the site.

More conveniently, perhaps, is this online Cartoon Encyclopedia (the link goes to the 'X' page).
posted by amtho at 7:42 AM on July 31

There's always Aladdin's monkey Abu.
posted by pemberkins at 7:43 AM on July 31

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, please.
posted by esmerelda_jenkins at 8:01 AM on July 31 [2 favorites]

let's not forget the mayors, quimby and west
posted by phritosan at 8:22 AM on July 31

Quimby. Damn...
posted by Diag at 8:44 AM on July 31

You could go with the names of Simpsons characters.

Abe/Arnie Pye/Apu
Bart/Burns
(Superintendent) Chalmers
Duffman
Edna Krabappel
Fat Tony
(Barnie) Gumble
Homer
Itchy
Jimbo Jones
Krusty/Kang/Kodos
Lisa
Maggie/Marge/Moleman
Ned Flanders
Otto
Patty/Poochie
Quimby
Ralph
Selma/Smithers
Troy McClure
Uter
Wiggum/Willie

Sorry, no V, X, Y or Z

via
posted by Orange Pamplemousse at 8:58 AM on July 31

He's not spunky, but you could name X after Professor X from the X-men?
posted by kldickson at 9:04 AM on July 31

Only two suggestions

M = Mister Mxyzptlk

B = Bat Mite

both spunky mischievous characters
posted by 543DoublePlay at 9:17 AM on July 31

How about Professor Xavier for X?
posted by purlgurly at 9:37 AM on July 31

X -
Madam Xanadu
Xerxes (from 300)
posted by sandraregina at 9:52 AM on July 31

Are video games fair sport?

Qbert
Xevious
Zaxxon
posted by Skot at 9:56 AM on July 31

So, please help me come up with the best comic/cartoon/superhero names for each letter of the alphabet.

Allow me to introduce you to Wikipedia Category "DC Comics superheroes" and Wikipedia Category "Marvel Comics superheroes"
posted by Mike1024 at 10:20 AM on July 31

E = El Kabong!
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:09 AM on July 31

Furious George.
posted by iamabot at 11:11 AM on July 31

Am I really going to have to say Kong?
posted by Z1LCH at 11:26 AM on July 31

Alucard
posted by Iron Rat at 11:48 AM on July 31

'S' needs to be 'Snagglepuss'
posted by Spyder's Game at 12:10 PM on July 31

Here's some illustrated comic character alphabets.
posted by zamboni at 1:52 PM on July 31

Xavier Roberts, of Cabbage Patch Kids fame. He was mentioned in the cartoony CPK materials storybooks, books on tape, etc) as a sort of "long ago" figurehead.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:05 PM on July 31

Asterix!
posted by just_ducky at 4:23 PM on July 31

If I had a monkey, I'd call it Lance Link. He's not a cartoon, but he is a Secret Chimp, and that's got to count for something!
posted by Mael Oui at 8:27 PM on July 31

Lancelot Link, I was referring to.. Lance would just be his nickname. Or Bubbles.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:28 PM on July 31

I would have to go Disney:

Aladdin
Baloo or Buzz
Cruella or Cogsworth
Daisy, Doc, Dopey
Eeyore, Eve
Figaro, Flounder
Grumpy
Hades, Happy, Hercules
Iago
JackJack, or just Jack Sparrow
Kanga, Kuczo
Lady, Lilo, Lucky
Marie, Mater, Mickey, Minnie, Mufasa
Nemo, Nala
Owl
Pongo, Pan, Pluto, Pumbaa
Quasimodo, Queen of Hearts
Rafiki, Remy, Roo
Scar, Sebastian, Simba
Timon, Tinker Bell, Tramp, Tweedledee/Dum
Ursula
Violet
WallE, Wendy, Woody
Xanatos (gargoyles)
Yeti
Zeus
posted by legotech at 2:33 AM on August 2

Kimba!
posted by deborah at 1:08 PM on August 4