Help us name our cats.
January 12, 2013 1:32 PM Subscribe
We just acquired two new kittens from the shelter. Problem: we are stumped as to what to name them.
Obligatory cat photo provided by the shelter. I haven't taken any yet because they're both still hiding inside the carry case we brought them home in.
They're four months old, both female. Names we have batted around, with varying degrees of seriousness: Lucy, Wallace (after Alfred Russel Wallace), Marie Curie, Lorenz (after Ed Lorenz -- this one was not my idea), Harriet. We like scientists and "human" names. I have been informed that I am under no circumstances allowed to name them something "stupid" like Bagel and Cream Cheese. But please provide these anyway and I will sweet-talk my partner into going along with it.
Obligatory cat photo provided by the shelter. I haven't taken any yet because they're both still hiding inside the carry case we brought them home in.
They're four months old, both female. Names we have batted around, with varying degrees of seriousness: Lucy, Wallace (after Alfred Russel Wallace), Marie Curie, Lorenz (after Ed Lorenz -- this one was not my idea), Harriet. We like scientists and "human" names. I have been informed that I am under no circumstances allowed to name them something "stupid" like Bagel and Cream Cheese. But please provide these anyway and I will sweet-talk my partner into going along with it.
They're fog-colored: how about London and SF?
posted by honey badger at 1:37 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by honey badger at 1:37 PM on January 12, 2013
How about Marie and Curie?
Or Grace and Ada, for two groundbreaking female computer scientists?
posted by Tomorrowful at 1:38 PM on January 12, 2013 [9 favorites]
Or Grace and Ada, for two groundbreaking female computer scientists?
posted by Tomorrowful at 1:38 PM on January 12, 2013 [9 favorites]
One of them seems to be naturally soft-focus and the other one higher definition.
What about Monet and Renoir?
posted by tel3path at 1:40 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
What about Monet and Renoir?
posted by tel3path at 1:40 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
The Nobel-winning neurologist Rita Levi-Montalcini just passed away at the age of 103 at the end of December. Her identical twin Paola was an accomplished painter.
posted by bcwinters at 1:40 PM on January 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by bcwinters at 1:40 PM on January 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
If you admire one of the world's premiere anthropologists (who happened to be female), how about Margaret and Mead?
posted by RRgal at 1:40 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by RRgal at 1:40 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
They look like Muffin and Snuggles. Sorry it's non human and cheesy :(
posted by katypickle at 1:47 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by katypickle at 1:47 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ada and Marie.
posted by Etrigan at 1:50 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 1:50 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Tegan and Sara
posted by 4ster at 1:54 PM on January 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by 4ster at 1:54 PM on January 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
Hypatia and Alexandria
posted by hat_eater at 1:54 PM on January 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by hat_eater at 1:54 PM on January 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
Bistre and Isabelline (both are shades of gray)
posted by jaimystery at 1:57 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jaimystery at 1:57 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
That is *not* what I meant to put there.
Edie and Ewing is what I meant to say.
posted by carsonb at 2:00 PM on January 12, 2013
Edie and Ewing is what I meant to say.
posted by carsonb at 2:00 PM on January 12, 2013
Dian and Rosalind? (Taken from a list of female scientists.)
posted by wolfgirl at 2:02 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by wolfgirl at 2:02 PM on January 12, 2013
Paired names featuring kick-ass women:
Lucy and Linus (Peanuts)
Lucy and Ricky (I Love Lucy)
Victoria and Alfred (Queen Victoria)
Vera and Vladimir (Nabokov)
Marie and Pierre (Curie)
Harriet and Quimby*
*Not a pair name
posted by DarlingBri at 2:03 PM on January 12, 2013
Lucy and Linus (Peanuts)
Lucy and Ricky (I Love Lucy)
Victoria and Alfred (Queen Victoria)
Vera and Vladimir (Nabokov)
Marie and Pierre (Curie)
Harriet and Quimby*
*Not a pair name
posted by DarlingBri at 2:03 PM on January 12, 2013
Ada (Lovelace) and Grace (Hopper)?
posted by sldownard at 2:09 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by sldownard at 2:09 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Cumulus and Cirrus?
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:12 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:12 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
They look tiny. Femto and pico?
posted by bessel functions seem unnecessarily complicated at 2:14 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by bessel functions seem unnecessarily complicated at 2:14 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
What beautiful eyes! Jade (inspired by the eye color) and Bianca.
posted by Currer Belfry at 2:16 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by Currer Belfry at 2:16 PM on January 12, 2013
I like:
Tesla and Fibonacci
Sappho and Nefertari
Heisenberg and Schrodinger
posted by Sara C. at 2:21 PM on January 12, 2013
Tesla and Fibonacci
Sappho and Nefertari
Heisenberg and Schrodinger
posted by Sara C. at 2:21 PM on January 12, 2013
Rosalind (Franklin) and Grace (Hopper).
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:22 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:22 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Machu and Pichu.
posted by special-k at 2:28 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by special-k at 2:28 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Smoke and Ashes.
posted by saraindc at 2:41 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by saraindc at 2:41 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
But what are their personalities? I mean just looking at them I think Emma (grey) and Esther (tabby), but what are they really like? It's so important their names suit them. Maybe wait a week until they relax into the home?
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:54 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:54 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
My nephews have a grey cat who they named Sylvie, short for silver, which I think is such a great cat name for a grey cat that I am sharing it. Their Sylvie looks like your grey cat, but would be a great name for a silver tabby as well.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:02 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by hydropsyche at 3:02 PM on January 12, 2013
Sonya/Sonja and Blaire.
posted by DoubleLune at 3:04 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by DoubleLune at 3:04 PM on January 12, 2013
Response by poster: Seanmpuckett, you're right, of course -- I just feel somehow negligent to let them go nameless for too long! It's like taking a baby home from the hospital with no name.
Great names so far, everyone. Thank you!
posted by baby beluga at 3:14 PM on January 12, 2013
Great names so far, everyone. Thank you!
posted by baby beluga at 3:14 PM on January 12, 2013
Ozzie and Harriet!
posted by Fister Roboto at 3:16 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by Fister Roboto at 3:16 PM on January 12, 2013
It's like taking a baby home from the hospital with no name.
Had two kittens once that were variations on Kitten 1 and Kitten 2 for about two days, until they started actually responding to the words Ace and Deuce, at which point we decided that we needed to come up with real names. Fortunately in those two days, we had a good enough feel for who they were as kitties.
posted by radwolf76 at 3:30 PM on January 12, 2013
Had two kittens once that were variations on Kitten 1 and Kitten 2 for about two days, until they started actually responding to the words Ace and Deuce, at which point we decided that we needed to come up with real names. Fortunately in those two days, we had a good enough feel for who they were as kitties.
posted by radwolf76 at 3:30 PM on January 12, 2013
I was also coming in to suggest Grace and Ada.
posted by marylynn at 3:37 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by marylynn at 3:37 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Ash is a great name for a gray cat, short for Ashley which may be better for yelling at them. A fun grey cat name we passed on was Poupon.
posted by oneear at 3:45 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by oneear at 3:45 PM on January 12, 2013
Pepper & Pattie - Like peppermint parties. Which is what I think about when I see gray kitties (I don't know why).
And I love alliteration with animal names - it's why my own kitties are named Texas & Trixie (they're both torties & Texas has the state on her face), and I helped my boss name his rambunctious, hurricane-like chocolate labs Hazel & Hugo (especially significant to my area of the country).
posted by Kronur at 3:53 PM on January 12, 2013
And I love alliteration with animal names - it's why my own kitties are named Texas & Trixie (they're both torties & Texas has the state on her face), and I helped my boss name his rambunctious, hurricane-like chocolate labs Hazel & Hugo (especially significant to my area of the country).
posted by Kronur at 3:53 PM on January 12, 2013
Strange & Charm!
posted by d11 at 4:02 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by d11 at 4:02 PM on January 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Lucy and Ricki
posted by JohnnyGunn at 4:28 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by JohnnyGunn at 4:28 PM on January 12, 2013
N'thing the votes for Grace and Ada. Specifically, the grey one (the grey of Navy ships!) as Grace and that elegant little tabby as Ada.
posted by easily confused at 4:37 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by easily confused at 4:37 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Naming pets after historical figures is so last year. The new hotness is* naming pets after species to which they do not belong. I vote for Bufo Bufo and Gulo Gulo.
*Well, okay. But it SHOULD be.
posted by and so but then, we at 4:51 PM on January 12, 2013
*Well, okay. But it SHOULD be.
posted by and so but then, we at 4:51 PM on January 12, 2013
Ramona & Beezus 'cause they are sisters.
posted by missjenny at 5:03 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by missjenny at 5:03 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
Curled up little gray one looks like a Grace to me (and oh so cute!)
Not sure about the other one, but I'm sure they'll let you know their names once they're settled in :)
posted by lwb at 5:44 PM on January 12, 2013
Not sure about the other one, but I'm sure they'll let you know their names once they're settled in :)
posted by lwb at 5:44 PM on January 12, 2013
Cinder and Ashe
Cinder and Ella
Something gray related?
posted by amileighs at 6:07 PM on January 12, 2013
Cinder and Ella
Something gray related?
posted by amileighs at 6:07 PM on January 12, 2013
If you're going to name a cat after a female scientist might I recommend Maud Leonora Menten? She's half of the team that gave us Michaelis Menten kinetics (before physical biochemistry was cool). She followed it up by being the first person to separate proteins by electrophoresis, invented dye coupled alkaline phosphatase and was first to characterize three bacterial toxins. (Whereas, if I had an equation (or even half an equation) named after me, I'd wander around some research institution patting myself on the back for the rest of my days.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 6:08 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 6:08 PM on January 12, 2013
What a great idea to name them in honor of accomplished women! And those kitties are adorable!
My faves so far: Rita & Paola or Rosalind & Grace. And Ada.
I trow in the mix:
Hedy (she led a colorful and adventurous life, her "frequency-hopping idea serves as a basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology, such as Bluetooth, COFDM used in Wi-Fi network connections, and CDMA used in some cordless and wireless telephones".
posted by travelwithcats at 6:15 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
My faves so far: Rita & Paola or Rosalind & Grace. And Ada.
I trow in the mix:
Hedy (she led a colorful and adventurous life, her "frequency-hopping idea serves as a basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology, such as Bluetooth, COFDM used in Wi-Fi network connections, and CDMA used in some cordless and wireless telephones".
posted by travelwithcats at 6:15 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Upon viewing, the obvious names are Chunkback and Boogieboard. (Chunkback is on the right.)
posted by robi at 6:16 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by robi at 6:16 PM on January 12, 2013
For all the Ada Lovelace & Grace Hopper fans: be it known that the Corpse family already boasts two female cats named Ada & Hopper. If you go this route, be alert for muddled future AskMe trails.
posted by feral_goldfish at 6:22 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by feral_goldfish at 6:22 PM on January 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My 2-year-old says their names are Weak Saving (left) and Gina Green (right).
posted by maniactown at 6:58 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by maniactown at 6:58 PM on January 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
Arwen and Galadriel? Tolkien describes the elves in his books as always wearing silver and green.
(Those are totally adorable-looking kitties. We are from the internet, and we demand more pictures of kittens!)
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 7:18 PM on January 12, 2013
(Those are totally adorable-looking kitties. We are from the internet, and we demand more pictures of kittens!)
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 7:18 PM on January 12, 2013
luna and selene :D
posted by lemniskate at 7:39 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by lemniskate at 7:39 PM on January 12, 2013
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
posted by vitabellosi at 7:39 PM on January 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by vitabellosi at 7:39 PM on January 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
Jamie Lee and Emmy Lou, after two famous gray haired women?
posted by fshgrl at 8:01 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by fshgrl at 8:01 PM on January 12, 2013
I vote for Luna and Selene! Those names are perfect lemniskate.
Famous sisters:
Magda, Zsa Zsa, or Eva, The Gabor sisters.
Kate and Pippa
posted by JujuB at 8:05 PM on January 12, 2013
Famous sisters:
Magda, Zsa Zsa, or Eva, The Gabor sisters.
Kate and Pippa
posted by JujuB at 8:05 PM on January 12, 2013
You've got two gray cats and are looking for a sciencey name, therefore there is no choice but to call them Louis(e) and Harold, for British physicist Louis Harold Gray, after whom the SI unit the gray is named.
My work is done here. (And Harold is such an awesome name for a girl, too.)
posted by HotToddy at 8:17 PM on January 12, 2013
My work is done here. (And Harold is such an awesome name for a girl, too.)
posted by HotToddy at 8:17 PM on January 12, 2013
My 2-year-old says their names are Weak Saving (left) and Gina Green (right).
I am writing my Congressman to demand a federal law mandating that when a 2-year-old names a pet, that pet is named.
posted by Etrigan at 8:29 PM on January 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
I am writing my Congressman to demand a federal law mandating that when a 2-year-old names a pet, that pet is named.
posted by Etrigan at 8:29 PM on January 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
You could name them after two of the seven sisters in the Pleiades:
Alcyone ( al-SY-ə-nee )
Electra ( i-LEK-trə )
Maia (MAY-ə, MY-ə )
Merope ( MERR-ə-pee)
Taygeta ( tay-IJ-i-tə )
Celaeno ( sə-LEE-noh )
Sterope, Asterope ( (ə)-STERR-ə-pee)
posted by cat_link at 9:22 PM on January 12, 2013
Alcyone ( al-SY-ə-nee )
Electra ( i-LEK-trə )
Maia (MAY-ə, MY-ə )
Merope ( MERR-ə-pee)
Taygeta ( tay-IJ-i-tə )
Celaeno ( sə-LEE-noh )
Sterope, Asterope ( (ə)-STERR-ə-pee)
posted by cat_link at 9:22 PM on January 12, 2013
I was in exactly the same situation, with two similar looking female kittens 8 years ago, and I asked the same question on my old blog. They ended up going unnamed for quiet a while, and eventually they were named by my girlfriend 'Pink' & 'Blue', after the colors of their collars.
Sadly, one died a year ago, and the other one just the other day.
posted by growabrain at 10:44 PM on January 12, 2013
Sadly, one died a year ago, and the other one just the other day.
posted by growabrain at 10:44 PM on January 12, 2013
Bosun and Higgs
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:48 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:48 PM on January 12, 2013
Vivienne and Zelda
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:48 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:48 PM on January 12, 2013
Itchy and Scratchy.
posted by Alaska Jack at 11:38 PM on January 12, 2013
posted by Alaska Jack at 11:38 PM on January 12, 2013
I always wanted two cats named Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Vladimir and Estragon would work too.
posted by NoraReed at 2:43 AM on January 13, 2013
posted by NoraReed at 2:43 AM on January 13, 2013
Valentina and Svetlana for the first two women in space, though Sally is acceptable too as the first U.S. woman in space!
posted by platinum at 2:52 AM on January 13, 2013
posted by platinum at 2:52 AM on January 13, 2013
Smoke and Fire (especially if they tend to stick together)
posted by winston at 4:46 AM on January 13, 2013
posted by winston at 4:46 AM on January 13, 2013
Ash and Silvie. Ashcan and Sylvester for more formal occasions.
posted by Dolley at 5:57 AM on January 13, 2013
posted by Dolley at 5:57 AM on January 13, 2013
Valentina and Sally has appeal! I also like Rita & Paola.
I am all for weird cat names, but be aware, if you name yours something totally weird (like, I love naming them after the Pleiades . .) you will never, ever have an easy time at the vet and you'll be constantly correcting people about what to call them. Our boy has spent a very stupid amount of time at the vet, and no one can say his name (Daksha). Whether you ought to consider this in your naming process goes along with what your tolerance for that sort of thing may be.
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:18 AM on January 13, 2013
I am all for weird cat names, but be aware, if you name yours something totally weird (like, I love naming them after the Pleiades . .) you will never, ever have an easy time at the vet and you'll be constantly correcting people about what to call them. Our boy has spent a very stupid amount of time at the vet, and no one can say his name (Daksha). Whether you ought to consider this in your naming process goes along with what your tolerance for that sort of thing may be.
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:18 AM on January 13, 2013
The heroine of a SF radio show in the 80's had two cats:
Onanoff & Offanon.
posted by mule98J at 12:15 PM on January 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Onanoff & Offanon.
posted by mule98J at 12:15 PM on January 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bernadette Rostenkowski and Amy Farrah Fowler?
My cousin called her grey cat Willow because she looks like a pussy willow bud.
posted by BoscosMom at 3:16 PM on January 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
My cousin called her grey cat Willow because she looks like a pussy willow bud.
posted by BoscosMom at 3:16 PM on January 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Final update: we settled on Lucy and Ada -- Grace was out because my beloved childhood cat was named Gracie. Thanks for all the input, everyone! It was very useful.
posted by baby beluga at 10:49 AM on January 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by baby beluga at 10:49 AM on January 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
« Older Forwarding a suitcase from Italy to Toronto | Does this kind of swivel fastener exist? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dotgirl at 1:37 PM on January 12, 2013 [3 favorites]