sir chompsworthy?

April 20, 2008 3:18 AM

It's name my puppy time!

I brought home this little guy yesterday. He's a french bulldog pup, and although I've been calling him either Chauncey or Baxter, neither of the two seem to really fit.

My initial reaction was to give him some sort of title, like "Sir" or "Lord" and then a name, but I don't know anymore. He's snuggly and funny and wiggly and he snores like an old man. I love him...what should I call him?

posted by monkey!knife!fight! to pets & animals (76 comments total)

Frank FAQ.
posted by flabdablet at 3:35 AM on April 20

Ahn, very cute!
I've always liked straight-up human names with a little nerdy or old-fashioned twist (think Rodney, Hubert, etc), especially for a dog like yours which is a combo of mooshed-face doggy dignity (harumph!) and total silliness.
posted by vodkaboots at 3:47 AM on April 20

Aww, what a beautiful baby! What types of things are you into? Are you looking for people-names for him, or can they be other things, too? I always thought 'Smeagol' was a cute name for a French bulldog or a pug, or else 'Grond' if he's gonna grow up to be a stout little powerhouse ... but then again I suppose those are only apt if you really like LOTR ... If you're looking for a French word, maybe 'Corbeau' would suit (means raven, doesn't it? Good, perhaps, for a little black pooch?) ... or maybe 'Charlemagne,' King of the Francs? You could call him 'Charlie' for short ...

Well, whatever you end up calling him, he's absolutely adorable and I hope you two have many very happy years together =)
posted by zeph at 3:51 AM on April 20

I'd call him 'Milton'.
posted by gregor-e at 4:05 AM on April 20

He is lovely. I'd call him Arthur.
posted by Elmore at 4:08 AM on April 20

Looks like a Sarge to me (or whatever the Ukranian equivalent is).
posted by netbros at 4:15 AM on April 20

Full name: Sargeant Lyaksandro Matviyko Mufflenuttin.
posted by netbros at 4:22 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Arthur is great. There's a bulldog at our dog park named Mister, which suits him perfectly, so I get what you mean about a title. Maybe Duke Somethingorother? Whatever you pick, practice yelling it as if at a dog park and see how it feels - short consonant-heavy names are definitely easier for that.
posted by judith at 4:28 AM on April 20

Marshal something?
posted by k8t at 4:31 AM on April 20

Chaucer. Or.... Giles?
posted by Lotto at 4:34 AM on April 20

Marshal Raggamuffin?
Marshal Snugglebugs?
Marshal Fluffernutter?
posted by k8t at 4:34 AM on April 20

There's no doubt about it: Hoover. He's a spittin' image of J. Edgar.
posted by dinger at 4:41 AM on April 20 [3 favorites]

There's another possibility: Hitchcock. When he grows up he's going to look a little like Alfred.
posted by dinger at 4:44 AM on April 20

I've always been partial to Eustace--or Boomer.
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 4:45 AM on April 20

Lord Bullingdon
posted by Bromius at 4:52 AM on April 20

I totally second Giles.

He is so cute! Congrats!
posted by miss tea at 4:53 AM on April 20

Admiral Chauncey Barkington
Sir Cholmondeley (Chumley) Von Woof
"The Marshall"
Stovepipe Baxter
Major Winston Hoover of the 34th Barking Highlanders (Ret)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:01 AM on April 20

I'd call him Dog.
posted by jacalata at 5:03 AM on April 20

Wow, these are fantastic, thanks! So far there has been a positive reaction (from his lordship) to Arthur, but keep 'em coming! I've also decided most likely, his last name will have to be Von Woof...unless he's Admiral Chauncey Barkington.

Part of me would love to call him Giles, but then he'd likely just want to move near the hellmouth and end up getting me in all sorts of trouble.

And I was calling him Boomer earlier today - he just sort of rolled hid ginormous eyes at me. Picky!

You guys rule, thanks - I'm throwing out every suggestion to him, and I'll let you know what sticks.
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 5:11 AM on April 20

Looks like a Brautigan to me!
posted by brautigan at 5:12 AM on April 20

Faust
posted by ersatzkat at 5:22 AM on April 20

Rupert? It's Giles-y, but less so than Giles!
posted by Lotto at 5:24 AM on April 20

Stanley. Love people names on dogs.
posted by beachhead2 at 5:26 AM on April 20

Hank, the PBR of names.
posted by jimbotex at 5:35 AM on April 20 [2 favorites]

what about governor / "guv"
posted by beccyjoe at 5:36 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Cosmo.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:39 AM on April 20

Marcel? Gunga? Festus? J.R.?
posted by mundy at 5:45 AM on April 20

We've nicknamed my English bulldog, originally named Riley, such names as 'Riles,' 'Riles M'Guiles,' and, eventually, 'Chubbles McDubbles.' Now, at age 9, he's called Chubbles more often than Riley... so I think Chubbles is a great bulldog name.
posted by farishta at 6:01 AM on April 20

We're also in favour of people names for pets. Some ideas:

"Alan", my wife has always wanted to call her dog Alan.
You could call him "7" in homage to George Costanza.
"Muttley"....do something!
Our neighbour has cats named "Adrian" and "Emil"

Of the other suggestions so far, I like "Hoover".
posted by arcticseal at 6:11 AM on April 20

I want to CRY about how cute that dog is!!

He looks like a Virgil to me.

Good luck!
posted by mccxxiii at 6:14 AM on April 20

Looks like "Buster" to me.
posted by Kangaroo at 6:19 AM on April 20

He fits in the sink!

I know he's a French bulldog but the first only name that comes to mind is Churchilll. Then again, who cares what he's called when he's as CUTE as that!
posted by ceri richard at 6:38 AM on April 20

I think he looks like a Cecil, or possibly a Humphrey.
posted by penguinliz at 6:39 AM on April 20

Reichsfurher Snootsnout J Slobgoblin.
posted by bunnytricks at 6:47 AM on April 20

My husband's grandfather has named all of the dogs he's ever had Sam. "That's what you call a dog," he says. So there's that.

I think your little guy looks like a Chumley or a Bubba. You can spruce those up with Sir Chumminsworth or Archduke Bubbins, I suppose.
posted by macadamiaranch at 6:50 AM on April 20

I like the name Churchill. And no, I'm not an anglophile. It's just a great name. (Winston is too, but it doesn't really seem to suit him).
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 7:29 AM on April 20

how adorable! i third giles and second sarge.

alternatively: aloysius (you could call him al for short), barkley, chester, ivan, jack, jake, jim, marcus, or alfred.

i am also a fan of totally pedestrian human names for pets, like mike, kevin, bruce, steve, etc.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:30 AM on April 20

Doctor (and Doc).
posted by pracowity at 7:37 AM on April 20

Napolean. (Can you picture the little hat?)
posted by dinger at 7:57 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Jowly McJowlerson there is definitely a Hoover or a Sir Winston Churchill.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:07 AM on April 20

"Mister President"
posted by aheckler at 8:21 AM on April 20

We had an English Bull dog named Sir Beauregard, but we called him Bo. We also had a Winston :)
posted by saucy at 8:22 AM on April 20

I am in love.

Like lost the power of name-thinking-up in love.
posted by KAS at 8:24 AM on April 20

Little Lord Fauntlerarf
posted by Flunkie at 8:32 AM on April 20

He looks like an Alfred von Woof to me. Because serious first name + silly last name = hilarious.

And he's totally adorable! I literally squealed.
posted by lilac girl at 8:41 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

I would go for a traditional hyphenated French name like Sébastien-Audrey Maurice. You could conveniently abbreviate it as S.A.M.

On the English names don't forget to add the location. For example Duke Edgar Chumsworthy of Stafordshire-on-Chitchesster
posted by kscottz at 8:48 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

Gotta nth Hoover for that little guy. Not crazy about either of his predecessors (Humphrey or J. Edgar) but on the bright side, if he's anything like the other Frenchies I know, he'll probably vacuum up any kind of food that finds its way to the floor.

Let us know what you decide -- and congrats. Frenchies are adorable and not always that easy to come by.
posted by Work to Live at 8:59 AM on April 20

Humphrey? Err... Herbert. Fingers type faster than brain thinks sometimes.
posted by Work to Live at 9:00 AM on April 20

Lord Waldorf!!!
posted by onepapertiger at 9:00 AM on April 20

I agree with all the Anglophilia. French Bulldog, or no, that face bespeaks Albion.

If you want to call him "Chumley," which I agree is a fine name, you should know that properly it's spelled Cholmondeley for extra awesomeness points.

If you give him a military title, I suggest tacking-on a knighthood one as well. Thus "Admiral Sir Winston Chompsworth." Pick a last name that's good on it's own, though, so that for gruff, chummy occasions he can be referred to simply as "Chompsworth" and still convey a whiff of the peerage with it.
posted by mumkin at 9:07 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

I'd name him Lemmy.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:14 AM on April 20

Brigadier Bullimore Barkington.

*head asplods from teh kyoot*
posted by essexjan at 9:31 AM on April 20

Churchill.
posted by 6:1 at 9:36 AM on April 20

Wedge.
posted by Dizzy at 9:38 AM on April 20

Or even "Winston".
posted by 6:1 at 9:45 AM on April 20

Pancake
posted by okbye at 9:50 AM on April 20 [1 favorite]

nthing Churchill.
posted by wayward vagabond at 10:01 AM on April 20

To me, with due respect, Churchill is passé now, sort of like naming a cat Elvis. I second Hank, for Hank Williams Sr. That's just a very bad ass name for a bad ass, but adorable dog. That or Frank (after Sinatra) or Dude.
posted by dawson at 10:08 AM on April 20

I think Arthur suits him fine.
posted by Pallas Athena at 10:48 AM on April 20

Rufus.
posted by Evangeline at 11:12 AM on April 20

Do remember that, sooner or later, you will have to holler your dog's name after he has set off across the park/beach/neighbourhood/whatever... When you're distressed by the fact that your pooch is apparently making some sort of a bid for freedom is the last moment you want to be dealing with the humiliating stares of strangers as you yell "Sergeant SNUUUGGLEMUUUUUUFFFFIIIINNNN" at the top of your lungs.

That said, "Chauncey" rocks.
posted by kxr at 11:30 AM on April 20

Colonel Randy H. Franklin III (Ret.)
Barnaby Wigglesnort
Sir Fred Garvin

Endless possibilities!
posted by rhizome at 11:41 AM on April 20

I just gotta nth robocop's "Major Winston Hoover of the 34th Barking Highlanders (Ret)." That's beautiful.
posted by bettafish at 12:02 PM on April 20

Gordon
posted by 999 at 1:17 PM on April 20

Lord Dogfrey of Humberland
posted by Fence at 2:04 PM on April 20

I think Franklin (Frank for short, of course) is an ideal dog name.
posted by lemonwheel at 2:23 PM on April 20

I met his adorable double in my neighborhood two days ago. They call their 8 week old, Boomer, and it sure seemed to fit. This little one was trying as hard as he could to remember what they taught him in obedience class, so between jumps and barks he would sit down and look up for about five seconds. Boomer's mom was using his name quite frequently, so I agree with the earlier commenter who reminded you that you need to pick something that won't embarrass you too badly. Best of luck to you and your little guy.
posted by LiveLurker at 2:46 PM on April 20

Name him after American aristocracy:

Franklin
Theodore (Teddy)
Roosevelt (Rosey)
posted by andreap at 3:34 PM on April 20

Smooch.
posted by biscotti at 4:54 PM on April 20

Magnus.
posted by heavenstobetsy at 4:58 PM on April 20

Purvis? Gomer? Rufus? Grover? Beetlejuice? Bartleby?
posted by Smalltown Girl at 7:22 PM on April 20

Thank you all so much! I tried Arthur to some mixed reaction, and this morning slipped back into Chauncey, which he's seemingly reacting to, so I guess after all the fantastic suggestions and hilarity, we'll be staying with Chauncey. But...his full name will be Sir Chauncey Von Woof, although I won't be yelling that in the park, I'll save it for special occasions like vet visits and black tie affairs.

And I'll likely be calling him Cholmondeley from time to time, so it's good to know how that's actually spelled.

If he weren't snoring in my lap right now, and if he could...you know...talk, I'm sure he'd say thanks as well. Then he'd pee on your floor. That seems to be he signature move at the moment.
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 9:12 PM on April 20

i once had a goldfish named Al Pacino. (I won him at an Italian street fair)
posted by dm_nyc at 7:44 AM on April 21

It's too late, I guess, but I like Maurice, which is French but English-y too. Also, he might turn out to have a knack for the pompitous of love!
posted by thinkpiece at 9:47 AM on April 21

Sir. It will sound like you're talking to someone else, which might be hilarious or annoying. But it sounds funny. Sir!
posted by hulahulagirl at 8:35 PM on April 21

Awesome. I'm looking forward to pictures of him when he's old enough to grow an van dyke.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:25 AM on April 22