Why do some people use false names when travelling? Is this legal? I'm interested in the history of people using noms de voyages, people who do it now, attitudes towards them, and what practical difficulties there are and were.
posted by westerly on Nov 28, 2009 - 9 answers

I guess I know too many Saras and Sarahs, Teresas and Theresas, etc., because I find myself having a hard time remembering who spells their name which way. I know that people can become annoyed when their name is spelled incorrectly, so I'm wondering if anybody has any suggestions for how to remember the correct spelling when someone has a common name with multiple possible spellings, without having to consult an address book every time I want to write or type their names. Thanks.
posted by Balonious Assault on Nov 12, 2009 - 14 answers

Members of the SCA, how did you come up with your name? [more inside]
posted by Cookbooks and Chaos on Nov 1, 2009 - 10 answers

What are some good names for a zombie cowboy? [more inside]
posted by hilaritas on Oct 29, 2009 - 47 answers

I need great, imaginative, appealing names for black dogs! A friend operates a rescue organization for dogs and cats, and mentioned how hard it is to find homes for black dogs (see Black Dog Syndrome)... and since I was already helping her come up with names, I thought I'd come up with a special list of Black Dog names that are perhaps evocative of personality types, and that might inspire interest so that potential adopters will maybe find their curiosity/sense of whimsy piqued and stop to at least read a description on the website, instead of just passing by any photo of a black dog. Some specific considerations inside... [more inside]
posted by taz on Oct 29, 2009 - 65 answers

Needed: Memory hacks. I have trouble remembering names. How do you do it? [more inside]
posted by ASM on Oct 20, 2009 - 22 answers

I am looking for translations for the words "twin" and "sister". I have used babelfish and other sites but really want the pronunciation not just foreign writings I can't decipher. Also, translations in other languages not listed such as different Native American tribal translations. Help?!
posted by madmamasmith on Oct 14, 2009 - 24 answers

I will make you a dress but I will also make you pants. [more inside]
posted by bendy on Oct 3, 2009 - 10 answers

Questions about Hong Kong Chinese people renaming themselves with more "American" sounding first names. [more inside]
posted by Jacqueline on Sep 29, 2009 - 62 answers

How do photojournalists keep track of subjects names? [more inside]
posted by baggers on Sep 29, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the literal meaning of "Yukichi?" ( 諭吉) It's kitten naming time... [more inside]
posted by HopperFan on Sep 8, 2009 - 16 answers

Should we name our baby girl Roxanne? Why or why not? [more inside]
posted by wrinkle on Sep 1, 2009 - 112 answers

I'm trying to put together a list of gender-neutral first names. [more inside]
posted by Karmakaze on Aug 31, 2009 - 76 answers

Baby Name Block: I'm pregnant with my third boy. I'm so totally out of boy names it isn't even funny. I have a total block. Help me get inspired by participating in this exercise. [more inside]
posted by Bueller on Aug 30, 2009 - 80 answers

If the name on my birth certificate is 'Jeffrey', can I use 'Jeff' on my next passport or drivers license? [more inside]
posted by flowerofhighrank on Aug 20, 2009 - 25 answers

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. [more inside]
posted by miagaille on Jul 31, 2009 - 53 answers

I have two new dwarf rabbits in my family and I need some naming help from the hive mind. I've been noodling around names for two weeks now and I'm just drawing a blank. "Bunnnnneeeee!" and "bayyyybbbbeeeeeeee bunny!" just isn't cutting it anymore. Details and (killer-cute) pics inside. [more inside]
posted by _Mona_ on Jul 27, 2009 - 46 answers

Ideas for name of Croquet team... [more inside]
posted by Cosine on Jul 26, 2009 - 20 answers

I've just got a hold of my class lists for next year and there are a few names that I'm not sure how to pronounce. [more inside]
posted by alby on Jul 17, 2009 - 29 answers

How do you pronounce composer Charles Wuorinen's name? Which syllable is accented?
posted by mediareport on Jul 16, 2009 - 8 answers

Help me name my child. [more inside]
posted by It ain't over yet on Jul 14, 2009 - 113 answers

Name pronunciation help! (Bengali and Albanian) [more inside]
posted by Lotto on Jun 16, 2009 - 8 answers

What made-up names does your very young child call favorite movies, books, games, or television shows? [more inside]
posted by Mo Nickels on Jun 6, 2009 - 33 answers

What was the first church to give themselves a non-geographic name? [more inside]
posted by relucent on May 18, 2009 - 11 answers

Businessnamefilter: How similar is too similar? [more inside]
posted by Ctrl_Alt_ep on May 6, 2009 - 8 answers

When attempting to register at an online forum I was repeatedly blocked when attempting to pick a username. My choices included random strings of letters and numbers. I sent a email asking what was up. The answer was that one had to register using ones "real" name... How the heck can a web admin make that determination? The only question asked previous to picking a username and pw was DOB. (Which seems a bit weird too.) Since that time I have attempted to pick a username with several plausable "real" names including my real real one and have been blocked Does this make any sense?
posted by flummox on May 5, 2009 - 10 answers

I need some help deciphering (what I assume) is an Arabic name. [more inside]
posted by GalaxieFiveHundred on Apr 29, 2009 - 7 answers

Why do NPR reporters have such unusual names? [more inside]
posted by empath on Apr 15, 2009 - 70 answers

I know that some Hebrew and English names are identical (e.g., Maia, Deborah, and Miriam), some English and Hebrew names are similar (e.g., Isaac/Yitzchak, Jonathan/Yonatan, Jonas/Yona), and some are translations (e.g., Eve/Chava). Are there other less obvious correspondences between Hebrew and English names? Specifically, nobody has been named for my late grandfathers, whose Hebrew names are Chaim and Yona. We could use those as Hebrew names for a boy, but what are the options for Hebrew names for a girl and English names for either? My Hebrew name is Chava, so I would not want to use that as a feminine version of Chaim.
posted by anonymous on Apr 7, 2009 - 14 answers

Say I'm writing a story and I want to emulate the old practice of referring to proper nouns by initials: i.e. Dr. M— from the town of S—. Where and when did this start? Why did they do this? (It hides the person's name, but from the author's perspective, is it to give his story an air of veracity, as with Defoe and Cervantes's works?) Would some names remain hidden and others not? Do I hide the last name only? If a man came from Monte Cristo, would I write M— C— or simply M—? I want as much information on this as possible. The name of this practice, if there is one, might be useful.
posted by Busoni on Apr 7, 2009 - 13 answers

How important is it to purchase all available domain extensions? [more inside]
posted by scarello on Mar 22, 2009 - 12 answers

Asking for family member: Brother is thinking of starting a merchandise delivery business and needs name suggestions for said business. Southwest TX if it matters.
posted by tradeer33 on Mar 3, 2009 - 14 answers

Does anyone know any obscure synonyms or industry-related terms for 'Special Bookings' or 'By Appointment Only'? [more inside]
posted by LongDrive on Mar 1, 2009 - 5 answers

Help my neighbor name her new rescue dog with an enormous head! He's a black dog with white markings here and there. But the really distinguishing feature is his HUGE cranium! He is a super-sweet pit bull mix and is looking for something that will not add to the fear some will feel just by looking at him because of his breed. [more inside]
posted by murrey on Feb 12, 2009 - 72 answers

In eight years, I'm still not used to my married name. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 21, 2009 - 38 answers

On naming son with the same name as emerging boy band: would you, or wouldn't you? [more inside]
posted by dreamphone on Jan 20, 2009 - 84 answers

What are some good ethnic-neutral last names? [more inside]
posted by razdrez on Jan 19, 2009 - 45 answers

There's a book I read about 8 years ago I'm trying to identify. I can't remember the title. It was a thick paperback, a blue cover with possibly a butterfly on it. But here's the weird thing about this book, which is why I am hoping someone can help me - it was written by two people, and they were only identified by their first names on the cover. I had never seen that before. On the cover, it was like, "Edward & Judy" or something like that. Weird, huh? [more inside]
posted by Sully on Jan 16, 2009 - 9 answers

Why do cities and countries have such vastly different names in different languages? [more inside]
posted by yellowbinder on Nov 23, 2008 - 11 answers

How is the name Pritha pronounced? [more inside]
posted by peep on Nov 19, 2008 - 5 answers

Unusual name filter: My first name is Irish and hard to spell and understand for most people. I have never had a nickname except for a juvenile one and various people making up a pronunciation of my name. But now I'm grown up and I constantly have to spell my name to people on the phone. [more inside]
posted by sio42 on Nov 14, 2008 - 55 answers

Who are some famous LIVING people, in America, who are named Joe, who are not fictional and, very important, who are NOT plumbers? [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Nov 12, 2008 - 29 answers

I now own an untitled cat. Inspire me with ridiculous pet names you've encountered. [more inside]
posted by spamguy on Nov 10, 2008 - 172 answers

I was engaged, but never married to, a guy 11 years ago - somehow our names and my mother's address are linked together in several combinations out in cyberspace and on direct-mailing lists. How can I unlink them? [more inside]
posted by amysk on Nov 9, 2008 - 6 answers

SEO filter: What's this about getting descriptive domain names for forwarding? [more inside]
posted by letahl on Oct 21, 2008 - 12 answers

Help me name a newsletter!!!! Details inside. [more inside]
posted by boyinmiami on Oct 15, 2008 - 7 answers

Conference-room-naming filter (since yall are so damn good at it). [more inside]
posted by allkindsoftime on Oct 10, 2008 - 25 answers

After many weeks of consideration, my wife has decided to start a Spanish translating/tutoring business. Everything looks good, we've done our research, we're moving into an area where Spanish is taught k-12, we...just can't figure out a name for the biz. Help [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Hands of Manos on Sep 24, 2008 - 20 answers

What are the meanings of the surnames Seliukova and Bessadna? [more inside]
posted by mooreeasyvibe on Sep 8, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm looking for suggestions for monosyllabic girl names that are more unique/interesting than things like "Ann" or "Jane" or "Sue" but still familiar enough that my as-yet-unnamed fetus won't have to go through life spelling out BOTH her first and last names for people. (She'll have my husband's last name to deal with--something like Dziewolrgjeoaezkxyzski.) [more inside]
posted by mere on Sep 6, 2008 - 83 answers