Doggie. Style?

August 11, 2005 6:12 AM

DogFilter: Help my girlfriend name her dog.

The picture, seen below, is of my girlfriend's dog, who she adopted yesterday. She is a 4-year-old Yorkie bitch (the dog, not the girlfriend). The shelter had named her Angelica, but that name is out. So I'm putting the question out there: what should this dog's name be?

My vote, FWIW, is for Marley, which was the name of Trey Anastasio's late Golden Retriever. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

posted by LilBucner to pets & animals (61 comments total)

That's a pretty cute dog so I'd be inclined to name her something kinda silly like The Cuteness or The Duchness of Cute.

As for a serious name? Well, I like the name Abigail and she kind of reminds me of an Abbey. It might be too close to Angelica for your gf though. I might also consider naming her something that reflects her "convict" status. By this I mean her time in the Shelter. We had a cat from the shelter we named Alcatraz. IT suited him pretty well as he was a monster-sized black cat with a great personality.

Have you noticed any interesting characteristics yet? I know its a bit soon for this stuff to come out but it might help pick a name.

Anyways, good luck naming the new member of your household!
posted by LunaticFringe at 6:22 AM on August 11, 2005

Buster. Scraggs. Jizz. Pinkle. Hankster. Nixon. Jabber. DuDu. Peepers. Crip. Snapple. Bunker. Deeter. Sparks. Snickers. How about Trey?
posted by pissfactory at 6:23 AM on August 11, 2005

That's a pretty cute dog so I'd be inclined to name her something kinda silly like The Cuteness or The Duchness of Cute.

When my sister-in-law was growing up, she had a dog named Ted E. Bear. The "E" stood for "extra-cute". I kid you not.

I know it's a female, but my suggestion is "Charles Barkley". GET IT?!
posted by emptybowl at 6:25 AM on August 11, 2005

I'm a big fan of giving pets common human names, because I think that it's funny to call your dog's name and see people turn their heads, and then realize that you're talking to a dog.

Based on that, I would go with something that lots of parents are naming their daughters these days...but that's just me.
posted by elquien at 6:27 AM on August 11, 2005

"Asker"

That way if someone asks you what her name is, you can say, "Ask her!" Then they'd say to the dog, "What's your name, puppy!!?"

(old comedy routine, i think)
posted by sublivious at 6:27 AM on August 11, 2005

A little free-form thinking:

Canine Mop
Harry
Hump Wednesday
Greenbay Pooper
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Hollaran
Gumption
Grit
Greta
Gretchen
Gone Fishin'
Poop Factory
Butt-Licker
Butt-Sniffer
Sweet Puppy
That's Not My Dog
I Can't Believe That's My Dog
Dog-a-roney
Fifth Yorkshireman
Herriot
Herrod's
Hadad
Dodi
Princess
Paris
Kräftskiva
posted by Mo Nickels at 6:27 AM on August 11, 2005

could angelica possibly be an ex-girlfriend's name?

pets should be named somewhat like racehorses, in my opinion. something in the vein of the cuteness or post-consumer daydream gets my approval. all in all though, i think the dog looks like a captain avery if i've every seen one.
posted by bryak at 6:32 AM on August 11, 2005

Pick a character from a favorite movie, teevee show, book or a music star. She reminds me of Charro
posted by theora55 at 6:41 AM on August 11, 2005

Muffin.
Dustmop.
Carnage Incarnate.
Comedy Option.
Hyper.
Where's My Bow?
Lapdog.
Wonder Bitch.
Studz.
The Terror.
Spendy.
Benji: The Hunted.
Montezuma.
The Magdalene.
Fluffies.
Jake.
posted by staresbynight at 6:49 AM on August 11, 2005

Spot. It's ironic, see, because she doesn't have any spots.
posted by scratch at 6:51 AM on August 11, 2005

Kitten.
posted by kuperman at 6:56 AM on August 11, 2005

Ethel
posted by thejimp at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2005

Coltrane. I've always wanted a dog named Coltrane. Can I live vicariously through you?
posted by grateful at 7:02 AM on August 11, 2005

I too like to give my pets human names. She looks like a Gertie to me.
posted by gaspode at 7:03 AM on August 11, 2005

Faye Dunaway.

(Note: to this day I regret not naming my dog Robert Duvall.)
posted by dobbs at 7:07 AM on August 11, 2005

Eleanor.
posted by sohcahtoa at 7:11 AM on August 11, 2005

Bones.
posted by gingembre at 7:16 AM on August 11, 2005

I think that it's funny to call your dog's name and see people turn their heads

I agree! We had dogs named James and Bob when we were kids . . . . this dog looks like a "Molly" to me.
posted by jamesonandwater at 7:18 AM on August 11, 2005

When we were in high school a friend named his dog Shithead. Except around his mom he pronounced it Shi-thead, rhyming with mead or deed. He told her it was from Chaucer.
posted by LarryC at 7:25 AM on August 11, 2005

Madame
posted by blueneurosis at 7:26 AM on August 11, 2005

When we were in high school a friend named his dog Shithead

The name, of course, of Steve Martin's dog in The Jerk.
posted by LilBucner at 7:31 AM on August 11, 2005

Going by looks, I'd say "Scruffy" or maybe "Fuzzbutt".

True story: One of our neighbors has 2 golden retrievers, named Abby and Katie; another neighbor has 2 human children named Abby and Katie. Hilarity ensues.
posted by SteveInMaine at 7:38 AM on August 11, 2005

Missy
Muffin
Honey
Duchess
Silky
Licorice
Peach
Beana (Sami for dog)
Köpek (Turkis for dog)
Pudding (Yorkshire pudding!)
posted by Savannah at 7:38 AM on August 11, 2005

Farty McBumBum
Spiny Norman
Grignr
Grignr the Defenestrator
Zucon the Somewhat Vincible Barbarian
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:43 AM on August 11, 2005

My parents had a dog named Bob and then when he died they named the two new dogs Sam and Dexter. As others have already pointed out, there's something amusing about using human names for dogs. Especially really generic names. And they named me Joe - so I guess the trend isn't species-specific.

Anyway, I'd name the dog after one of your girlfriend's friends. Not her best friend, but someone she sees occasionally. That way you get all the awkwardness, but can plausible claim you didn't name the dog after her.
posted by mullacc at 7:54 AM on August 11, 2005

moxie
lydia
helen
ruth
maggie

(I, too, am fond of teh people names)
posted by whatnot at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2005

elquien:
I'm a big fan of giving pets common human names, because I think that it's funny to call your dog's name and see people turn their heads, and then realize that you're talking to a dog.

jamesonandwater:
. . . . this dog looks like a "Molly" to me.

Sigh. I, and, I suspect, many of the other Mollies of the world hate you people. Hate!!

Ok, fine. I don't really hate you, but you have no idea how old it gets introducing yourself only to hear, "Oh, I [my best friend, my cousin, my bikini waxer] has a dog named Molly!!!"

Won't someone please, please think of the children?! :)

I think I'd call the dog something like Muppet. Cute, fluffy, non-human.
posted by MsMolly at 8:11 AM on August 11, 2005

Abbath, after this cutie.
Or Gargamel.
Okay, how 'bout Stymie?
posted by hellbient at 8:15 AM on August 11, 2005

iPod
Oolong
Pepsi Blue
Chatfilter
posted by box at 8:20 AM on August 11, 2005

Scamp
posted by fire&wings at 9:26 AM on August 11, 2005

Monchichi.
posted by macadamiaranch at 9:32 AM on August 11, 2005

Wife Beater.
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:36 AM on August 11, 2005

My wife's mother had a dog named Mary. Aquaintances thought that Mary was my wife's missing sister - the one who nobody ever met. Kinda funny, in a not-so-much way.
posted by booth at 9:40 AM on August 11, 2005

Biscuit
Marge
Lucy
Maggie
posted by aacheson at 9:44 AM on August 11, 2005

Adorable dog, by the way. Lucky girlfriend!
posted by aacheson at 9:45 AM on August 11, 2005

Drama Queen
posted by haqspan at 9:51 AM on August 11, 2005

My two dogs are named "Abby" & "Roscoe"
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 9:52 AM on August 11, 2005

How about: "Newyorkie"...? :)
posted by rabbus at 10:10 AM on August 11, 2005

Spike or Bruiser. For the incongruance.
posted by Carbolic at 10:10 AM on August 11, 2005

I"ve been naming my cats after towns in Maine: Biddeford, Derby, Saco, Ogunquit, Kennebunk...
But I were you I'd go with "Vendetta".
posted by maryh at 10:17 AM on August 11, 2005

Won't someone please, please think of the children?! :)

Someone already did...: http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-11-01-brazil-pets_x.htm

(Sorry I'm bad with formatting, etc.)
posted by elquien at 10:20 AM on August 11, 2005

Chuckles.
posted by bachelor#3 at 10:21 AM on August 11, 2005

elquien's link
posted by michaelkuznet at 10:24 AM on August 11, 2005

UPDATE: My girlfriend (who doesn't yet have an account on MeFi, but I think she will after this exchange) writes:

just wanted to say that i've got some names in mind. these were great suggestions. i like the following but cannot decide:

Molly
Maggie
Charro
Peanut (although the obvious nut jokes will be made and i dont think i want that)
Peach (cus i'm from GA)
Joan (i.e. joan crawford-huge fan)
Faye (faye dunaway playing joan crawford-huge fan)
or.....
Norma (i.e. Norma Shearer Norma Desmond and my late and wonderful Teddy Bear Hamster Norman)

please help me to decide between those. thank you again...

posted by LilBucner at 10:42 AM on August 11, 2005

My husband once had a cat named Coltrane. This dog, she does not say Coltrane to me.

This dog, she says:

Lulu
Trotsky
Minnie
Mimi

and into my pink caribou heart, she whispers:

La Lulu
Mme Trotsky
Miss Minnie/Mimi

but that might be a wee bit over the top for you, I know.
posted by melissa may at 10:43 AM on August 11, 2005

Buster. Scraggs. Jizz. Pinkle

Holy crap PLEASE name her Jizz. Now that would be some funny shit. Actually Jizz Pinkle would be a great full name.
posted by spicynuts at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2005

Ahhh...I post too late. Well then. Continue apace to:

Norma!

or, Joan-Faye, a nice southernish hyphenate. "Joan-Faye, sweetie, Mommie's not mad at you -- she's mad at the poop."
posted by melissa may at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2005

Hazel or Lucille.
posted by deborah at 11:05 AM on August 11, 2005

Chudleigh. I thought this name up for my sister's cat, but she wants to call it Puddin'.
posted by Sara Anne at 11:09 AM on August 11, 2005

I vote for Norma.
posted by jrossi4r at 11:41 AM on August 11, 2005

Hee. That guy in Brazil rocks my world. So ridiculous, and yet I love that someone feels my pain.

Out of the girlfriend-approved names, I like Charo the best.

Besides, Molly as a dog's name is so passe. It's been done to death. She says hopefully.
posted by MsMolly at 11:45 AM on August 11, 2005

Charro is the coolest dog's name ever.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:22 PM on August 11, 2005 [1 favorite]

Kitty.
posted by nickmark at 2:01 PM on August 11, 2005

Smedeley
posted by tirebouchon at 3:47 PM on August 11, 2005

Topper
posted by qwip at 4:37 PM on August 11, 2005

Of the approved choices, I like Maggie. But I'm odd.
posted by musicinmybrain at 4:44 PM on August 11, 2005

Roverbush (if you gag on Rove or Bush)
Rosebud (if you gag on Citizen Hearst)
posted by ozziemaland at 4:51 PM on August 11, 2005

Peach, or Peaches!

Moppet?
posted by Savannah at 10:59 PM on August 11, 2005

I like Maggie, too.
posted by joshuaconner at 11:24 PM on August 11, 2005

i dig maggie and abby, and marley is also very nice. lucy is cute but i have met sooo many pooches named lucy.
posted by radioamy at 10:35 PM on August 14, 2005

This dog, she says:

Lulu
Trotsky
Minnie
Mimi

melissa may wins ... she named the dog Lulu after all.
posted by LilBucner at 8:20 AM on November 10, 2005