What should we name our hedgehog?

October 19, 2012 2:07 PM

What should we name our hedgehog? My boyfriend and I just got a pet hedgehog and are having trouble deciding on a name. He's a boy, and we're thinking about a New Orleans-y name since we just moved here. Please help.

So far, the best New Orleans-y option is beignet, but it doesn't sound much like a pet name to me. In my mind, the best pet names are easy to say, should have strong consonants (so a lot of French derived names, like beignet, don't work), and have lots of good nickname options. I floated Henry last night, which is looking like a contender.

About Mr. Hedgieman (what I'm currently calling him): he has blue eyes, loves hiding in his igloo and climbing up our arms when we hold him, and is a little scared of toilet paper tubes but can get into them (partially) when the mood strikes him. He's pretty friendly and cuddly so far. He's not a fan of politics (he fell asleep during the last debate).

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posted by MadamM to pets & animals (93 answers total)

Is Sonic too obvious?
posted by 2bucksplus at 2:11 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Jazz
posted by bitdamaged at 2:11 PM on October 19, 2012 [3 favorites]

Pierre
posted by Sal and Richard at 2:13 PM on October 19, 2012

I'd go with Ti-Jean (little John), if you want to go the Cajun/French route.
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 2:14 PM on October 19, 2012

For the record, beignet would be an awesome name for a hedgehog.
posted by selfnoise at 2:14 PM on October 19, 2012 [16 favorites]

My aunt has a dog named Beignet. He's a fluffy white Bichon, so it works perfectly. She also has a Dachshund with a New Orleans food name, but I'm blanking on whether it's Lucky or Andouille. Boudin? Could it be Boudin?

All of which would be fine names for a Hedgehog, I suppose, though not very Hedgehoggish.

Muffy, for Muffaletta?

Tchoupitoulas?

Gumbo? More Louisiana in general than New Orleans in particular, but still a great name.

Audubon? Pontalba?
posted by Sara C. at 2:14 PM on October 19, 2012

Marty (or Marti, as in Mardi, as in Mardi Gras). Lots of nicknames possible depending on the situation. If he's flatulent, he's Farty Marty. If he's slow, he's Tardy Marty. If he's overweight, he's Lardy Marty.
posted by Dansaman at 2:15 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Professor Bristlehair?
posted by sculpin at 2:15 PM on October 19, 2012 [7 favorites]

Easy?
posted by cecic at 2:17 PM on October 19, 2012

Everyone loves Hedgical Trevor.
posted by jeather at 2:18 PM on October 19, 2012

Voodoo? (what with the pins and all, perhaps not sensitive to the culture?)
posted by rumposinc at 2:18 PM on October 19, 2012

Bon-Ton
posted by drlith at 2:21 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have decided to answer all pet name questions with the very first name that pops into my head when I see the picture.

For this little dude, that was Gobstopper.

If you remember from the movie, the everlasting gobstoppers were spiky. I think it fits.
posted by phunniemee at 2:24 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Rage cage
posted by herbplarfegan at 2:25 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

If you want to go on the "hog" angle, what about Bouchon?

The internet tells me that the French word for Hedgehog is "herisson". That said, it's not like New Orleanians speak French, or like Hedgehogs are part of the local flora and fauna. But it would be a funny linguistic joke if you had a Hedgehog called Harrison.

Other random New Orleans/Cajun/Louisiana ideas:

Haricot? (Supposedly the origin of the word "Zydeco", which would also be an idea.)

Marigny?

Papa Legba, if you want a nod to Voodoo. Or Marie Laveau.

Rodrigue is the name of the blue dog in those paintings you see everywhere.

Boudreaux or Thibodaux would be good Cajun names. (If you ever think you might get a second 'hog, I highly recommend going with one of these, because Boudreaux and Thibodaux are characters in a famous series of Cajun jokes.)
posted by Sara C. at 2:25 PM on October 19, 2012 [5 favorites]

Beauregard, shorten to "Bo" as needed.
posted by tuesdayschild at 2:31 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

'Fundy'.

Or, 'Fawkes'-- 'Faux', perhaps.
posted by jamjam at 2:35 PM on October 19, 2012

That hedgehog looks like a "Sparky" to me. But you could also name him "Everett" for Everett Maddox, New Orleans poet and author of one of my favorite poems, "Moon Fragment". I'm not sure I'd go with anything associated with voudoun - that could easily seem a bit in poor taste to anyone who is/knows actual practitioners, especially given how it is treated in popular/white culture.

Although he also looks kind of like a Pierre.
posted by Frowner at 2:36 PM on October 19, 2012

Baguette - maybe a little too French, but still cute. How about Chicory? Bourbon? Crawfish? Crawdad?

Across the lake, you could go with Abita.

I really like Gumbo.
posted by Fig at 2:37 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Crawdad?

A hundred times more offensive than the most ill-informed voodoo reference.
posted by Sara C. at 2:38 PM on October 19, 2012

Lafitte. Or Bourbon, like Fig suggested.
posted by halogen at 2:39 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

It's unintentional, sorry! Was not aware that was offensive. Thanks for informing.
posted by Fig at 2:40 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Fishface.
posted by mullacc at 2:42 PM on October 19, 2012

Croquembouche?
Ignatius?
posted by VelveteenBabbitt at 2:43 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

I'll bite. Why is "crawdad" offensive to some people?
posted by Tanizaki at 2:45 PM on October 19, 2012 [4 favorites]

Sazerac? Really, though, Henry Hedgeman (pronounced with a de-emphasized "muhn" like most names ending in "man") is a fine name. I don't think you need to look further.

I didn't realize "crawdad" had offensive connotations, either. Would Mudbug be any better?
posted by contraption at 2:45 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Pokey
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:45 PM on October 19, 2012

I came to say "Sazerac" so am agreeing with contraption on that.
posted by gingerbeer at 2:47 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Hahaha, guys, Crawdad is not literally offensive. It's not a racial slur or anything.

But in Louisiana, we say crawfish.

Uttering the word crawdad marks one as the most hideously rank amateur. Someone who will never belong.

If MadamM names her hedgehog Crawdad, it would be really embarrassing. I cringe at the thought of her even telling a local that she'd named her hedgehog that.

Mudbug, on the other hand, could work.
posted by Sara C. at 2:49 PM on October 19, 2012 [10 favorites]

Oh geez, dang. I was really embarrassed there for a while. That's what happens when a Yankee suggests Cajun names ;)

Mudbug is 100X cuter anyhow.
posted by Fig at 2:52 PM on October 19, 2012 [3 favorites]

Spike.
posted by wwax at 2:53 PM on October 19, 2012 [4 favorites]

From the pictures, I'd probably name him "Carpet," so that you're always reminded to look out for him camouflaged on the floor!
posted by rhizome at 2:55 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Big Chief.
posted by macadamiaranch at 2:57 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

How on earth has no-one else suggested Spike? Bonus points because he kinda looks a bit like the Buffy character.
posted by prentiz at 2:57 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Curse you wwax...
posted by prentiz at 2:58 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Mr. Tiggy-Winkle
posted by Dasein at 3:04 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Cold Chef. CC for short.
posted by HeyAllie at 3:09 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Someone I know named her hedgehog Norman -- inspired by Monty Python's Piranha Brothers sketch, one of whom was convinced that he was being watched by a giant hedgehog whom he referred to as 'Spiny Norman' ... Normally Spiny Norman was wont to be about twelve feet from snout to tail, but when Dinsdale was depressed Norman could be anything up to eight hundred yards long.

... a description which matches neither the photograph nor your description of his personality, sadly. But it's a cute name for a hedgehog. Sadly she couldn't abide picking it up or touching it -- poor planning on her part -- so she ended up giving it to a friend, who renamed him Draco and gave him a good home.
posted by orthicon halo at 3:09 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

I came to say Spike, or Mr. Prickles.
posted by dtp at 3:10 PM on October 19, 2012

Why call him Spike when you could name him Lestat?
posted by Sara C. at 3:12 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

I vote Henri or Harrison for the French word for hedgehog (herisson). Also very appropriate considering the word to make someone 'bristle' in anger is herisser;) I laugh that my own 'hog always seems a little angry :P

I named my hedgehog Tank because my fiancé is military and the little guy reminds me of a tank lumbering along, armored;)
posted by lizbunny at 3:12 PM on October 19, 2012

I would totally name him Mr Booty.
posted by elizardbits at 3:16 PM on October 19, 2012

Urchin.

(And I can never see a hedgehog without thinking of the one who related he "be'nt no common tiggy, measter, for to be munched and mumbled" in The Once and Future King. He wouldn't uncurl, but he sent some dry leaves - with bonus fleas - as a coronation present to the Wart.)
posted by likeso at 3:25 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Jumbo, short for jambalaya.
posted by Doofus Magoo at 3:26 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

BurGUNdy?
posted by beniamino at 3:27 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Renee (the French movie Hedgehog is so good)
posted by okbye at 3:35 PM on October 19, 2012

Remy!
posted by mochapickle at 3:53 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Fats
posted by dhammond at 3:59 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

I say name him after a Mardi Gras parade - he looks like a Bacchus to me!

Other good Krewe names:

Rex
Endymion (Endy?)
Chaos
Argus
Morpheus
Thoth
Tucks
posted by tryniti at 4:00 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Louie
Dixie (Dixieland)
Emeril (from New Orleans)
posted by barnone at 4:16 PM on October 19, 2012

New Orleans food names are very popular for pets there - I've met my share of Gumbos and Rouxs. Beignet is definitely a pet name, I knew a yellow lab in New Orleans named Beignet. That said, your little guy doesn't look like a Beignet to me.

Rex would be hilarious because he's the king of Mardi Gras and your little guy is so small and adorable! Ignatius also because the character was such a big dude. But I like ironic names!
posted by radioamy at 4:23 PM on October 19, 2012 [3 favorites]

I have a tendency to name animals after the food they would be in benshermanville (my cat is named Kung Pao). If this hedgehog isn't named Muffaletta by the end of the day, I will be crushed.

Come here Muffy, you little prick!
posted by bensherman at 4:37 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Farragut
posted by srboisvert at 4:46 PM on October 19, 2012

François!
posted by Specklet at 4:48 PM on October 19, 2012

Prudhomme?
posted by Sara C. at 4:50 PM on October 19, 2012

Twatbadger
posted by ZipRibbons at 4:51 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

If you had gotten a snake, I would sugget Carville.
posted by Sara C. at 4:52 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Oh wow, so many good choices. I suggest Oyster (because I think it's cute sounding). Or Erster. Or PoBoy.
posted by pompelmo at 5:13 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

My 7 year old suggested Nipples. I have NO idea why, but it's probably more appropriate for New Orleans than he knows.
posted by Cloudberry Sky at 5:20 PM on October 19, 2012 [4 favorites]

Bourbon

Frank
(President Nixon's got a hedgehog named Frank)
posted by bondcliff at 5:21 PM on October 19, 2012

Fats Domino.
posted by box at 5:43 PM on October 19, 2012

Claude.
posted by esmerelda_jenkins at 5:58 PM on October 19, 2012

Jean-Francois (can be shortened to JF or Jiffy)
posted by mannequito at 6:05 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

He looks like a Philip to me.
posted by coppermoss at 6:09 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

I would call him Ralph - although I have no idea why!
posted by heyjude at 6:39 PM on October 19, 2012

When I looked at him I decided on the name Sparkbrush. (I don't think that's even a thing. Maybe Sparky for short.)
posted by JDHarper at 6:45 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Pinhead.
posted by Wordshore at 6:48 PM on October 19, 2012

Ignatius J. Reilly, Iggy for short.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 6:55 PM on October 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Jambalaya--
Jam-jam, JB, or Jammy for nick names
posted by calgirl at 7:11 PM on October 19, 2012

Aural
posted by hypersloth at 7:26 PM on October 19, 2012

Po'boy!
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:16 PM on October 19, 2012

Dexter. Sorry, but my wife insists that's the right name.
posted by maxwelton at 9:38 PM on October 19, 2012

Martin Freeman.
posted by slightlybewildered at 10:01 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Morgus!
posted by lalala1234 at 10:17 PM on October 19, 2012 [3 favorites]

actually now that I looked at the picture, he looks like Rod Stewart to me
posted by mannequito at 10:34 PM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

I think there are NOLA street and place names that would be good for a hedgehog. Tchoupitoulas has already been mentioned, but there are plenty of others, e.g.:

Carrollton
Delgado
General Pershing
posted by unsub at 10:43 PM on October 19, 2012

Oh, if we're going street names, I think Freret would be hilarious.

"Ferret?"
"No, Freret. Feh-ret."
"Ferret."

Or Calliope. Because it's Cally-ope, not Ka-lie-o-pee


But I gotta say, Morgus would be fantastic for getting in old nerdy New Orleans pop culture and having a very consonant-heavy sound.
posted by Katemonkey at 1:56 AM on October 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

How about Coco.
posted by St. Sorryass at 3:29 AM on October 20, 2012

Oooh, I really want you to name him Wynton.
posted by lauranesson at 5:56 AM on October 20, 2012

Davis.

All hedgehogs look like Steve Zahn.
posted by MuffinMan at 8:10 AM on October 20, 2012

Oh my god. Morgus. PLEASE name him Morgus! Please.

(If for some reason you have an irrational dislike of the name Morgus, what about Rougarou? It's the local pronounciation for what St. Sorryass' wikipedia article calls the "Loup Garou".)
posted by Sara C. at 9:39 AM on October 20, 2012

I named my hedgehog Mango because I liked to say it. MANGO! I'd take all of these wonderful suggestions, figure out which you have the most fun saying, and go with it. He's adorable BTW.
posted by youngergirl44 at 10:57 AM on October 20, 2012

Not Emeril (he's from Massachusetts not Louisiana)
posted by Carbolic at 12:29 PM on October 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Lagniappe.
posted by moonmilk at 4:19 PM on October 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Little Lord Pinecone

I once considered getting a hedgehog and this was my name choice.
posted by amosl at 4:40 PM on October 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sonic Po'boy or Sonic Prodhomme.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 4:48 PM on October 20, 2012

Not Emeril (he's from Massachusetts not Louisiana)
D'oh! Coulda sworn I saw something the other day about him being from New Orleans but it's probably just wishful thinking? Sorry!
posted by barnone at 5:06 PM on October 20, 2012

Splinters
posted by taz at 2:10 AM on October 21, 2012

I think we're going with Henry Harrison Hedgehog (esq., the third, the honorable, etc.). Henri if he's feeling particularly saucy/Gallic.

My boyfriend and I came to the conclusion that most of the New Orleans-y names you guys have provided (so many! I hope this thread will be useful for future NOLA pet owners) is that since we've only lived here for a couple of months, the names just don't really resonate with us. Sorry to disappoint anyone!
posted by MadamM at 12:19 PM on October 21, 2012

"Pinecone" is a great idea, amosl.

In the same spirit, how about "cockleburr"?

Translated into Cajun French, that becomes l'herbe coquine, and taking coquine from that, or rather coquin, since he's a boy, you would end up naming him the French for

1. rascal, scoundrel
2. (colloquial) lucky dog

posted by jamjam at 12:33 PM on October 21, 2012

Wonderful name!
posted by BlueHorse at 8:45 PM on October 21, 2012

He's by far one of the more welcome aliens

Name it Justin Wilson, my some sort of cousin some times removed (grandmother's first cousin's kid)
posted by Carbolic at 11:02 PM on March 13

Clay Shaw
Carlos Marcello
Jim Garrison (all in the NOLA court case renegading the JFK assassination)
posted by Carbolic at 11:07 PM on March 13