I need 3 names that flow
April 18, 2018 2:31 PM Subscribe
I need names for 3 categories that have a clear order to them. A group of us are trying to come up with this list and we have been having problems. [Fast, Medium, Slow] and [Large, Medium, Small] are examples, but none of them quite work.
I want to stay away from the last category being a term that might make someone bristle. I don't want to call anyone Slow. Money is the determining factor, so calling something Small is also not ideal. It is surprisingly hard to find lists of 3 ordered items.
Metals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) are out since that conflicts with other categories. Geography and Color for similar reasons. The main issue is that the order of the categories has to be obvious.
I want to stay away from the last category being a term that might make someone bristle. I don't want to call anyone Slow. Money is the determining factor, so calling something Small is also not ideal. It is surprisingly hard to find lists of 3 ordered items.
Metals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) are out since that conflicts with other categories. Geography and Color for similar reasons. The main issue is that the order of the categories has to be obvious.
Planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars)
Rainbow Colors (Red, Orange Yellow) or (Yellow, Green, Blue)
Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson)
posted by metahawk at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018
Rainbow Colors (Red, Orange Yellow) or (Yellow, Green, Blue)
Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson)
posted by metahawk at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018
Can you do things that are just alphabetical? So like ABC trees: Aspen, Birch, Cypress, or ABC animals: Aardvark, Bison, Caterpillar etc.
Otherwise, how about Tic, Tac, and Toe; or Snap, Crackle, and Pop, or something like that?
posted by brainmouse at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Otherwise, how about Tic, Tac, and Toe; or Snap, Crackle, and Pop, or something like that?
posted by brainmouse at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
fast, faster, fastest?
rock, paper, scissors?
posted by koroshiya at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
rock, paper, scissors?
posted by koroshiya at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Rare, medium, well-done?
posted by huimangm at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by huimangm at 2:35 PM on April 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
greek letters (alpha, beta, gamma etc)? or phonetic alphabet (alpha, bravo, charlie etc)?
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:36 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:36 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall
You don't mention what the list is for, but if it's for training or finance purposes the seasons can go well with this (Summer is fruitful (Major Cash flow), Spring is for planting (Portfolio review), Fall is for preparing for the barren Winter (minus cash flow) etc, etc.
posted by fantasticness at 2:42 PM on April 18, 2018
You don't mention what the list is for, but if it's for training or finance purposes the seasons can go well with this (Summer is fruitful (Major Cash flow), Spring is for planting (Portfolio review), Fall is for preparing for the barren Winter (minus cash flow) etc, etc.
posted by fantasticness at 2:42 PM on April 18, 2018
Breakfast, lunch, dinner?
posted by bleep at 2:42 PM on April 18, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by bleep at 2:42 PM on April 18, 2018 [6 favorites]
Past, present, future
Tall, grande, venti
Spring training, regular season, World Series
posted by epj at 2:43 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Tall, grande, venti
Spring training, regular season, World Series
posted by epj at 2:43 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
First, Second Third?
Beginning, Middle, End?
Kilo, Mega, Giga?
posted by Megafly at 2:44 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Beginning, Middle, End?
Kilo, Mega, Giga?
posted by Megafly at 2:44 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I, II, III
posted by xo at 2:44 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by xo at 2:44 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
bytes: (kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terrabyte)
octane: (regular, premium, jet-a)
animals: (chimp, gibbon, ape or robin, hawk, osprey, etc.)
Oz: lions and tigers and bears
transport: (biplane, jet, rocket or sports car, mini van, truck, etc.)
posted by carmicha at 2:50 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
octane: (regular, premium, jet-a)
animals: (chimp, gibbon, ape or robin, hawk, osprey, etc.)
Oz: lions and tigers and bears
transport: (biplane, jet, rocket or sports car, mini van, truck, etc.)
posted by carmicha at 2:50 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
1rst base, 2nd base, 3rd base, Homerun?
posted by fantasticness at 2:51 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fantasticness at 2:51 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
acorn, tree, forest
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:56 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:56 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Primary, secondary, tertiary.
Some, more, most.
Basic, Standard, Premium.
I also like the Greek letters named above, though.
posted by fedward at 2:57 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Some, more, most.
Basic, Standard, Premium.
I also like the Greek letters named above, though.
posted by fedward at 2:57 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:00 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:00 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
seed, sprout, blossom, [fruit]
posted by amtho at 3:06 PM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by amtho at 3:06 PM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Rock, paper, scissors
posted by ilovewinter at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ilovewinter at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral.
posted by elsietheeel at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2018
posted by elsietheeel at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2018
Response by poster: Sorry, no animals and the order has to make sense - like if I tell you that you are in the orange group, you should know that is the middle group. I know this is really picky. There is no need for it to be "clever" either =)
posted by soelo at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2018
posted by soelo at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2018
seed, sprout, bloom
posted by jennstra at 3:10 PM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by jennstra at 3:10 PM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
egg, larva, pupa
roving, yarn, sweater
ice, water, steam
solid, liquid, gas
wax, candle, flame
nectar, honey, candy
ore, ingot, girder
spring, stream, river, ocean
snow, rain, fog
dawn, day, dusk
egg, tadpole, frog
posted by amtho at 3:10 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
roving, yarn, sweater
ice, water, steam
solid, liquid, gas
wax, candle, flame
nectar, honey, candy
ore, ingot, girder
spring, stream, river, ocean
snow, rain, fog
dawn, day, dusk
egg, tadpole, frog
posted by amtho at 3:10 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Cold, warm, hot
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 3:12 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 3:12 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Pond, Lake, Ocean
Orbit, Solar System, Galaxy (Or Solar System, Galaxy, Universe)
posted by Crystalinne at 3:12 PM on April 18, 2018
Orbit, Solar System, Galaxy (Or Solar System, Galaxy, Universe)
posted by Crystalinne at 3:12 PM on April 18, 2018
crawl, walk, run
posted by jennstra at 3:13 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by jennstra at 3:13 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Maiden, mother, crone
Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly
Wood, fire, coal (or ash)
posted by elsietheeel at 3:15 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly
Wood, fire, coal (or ash)
posted by elsietheeel at 3:15 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Might be too obscure, but: antepenult, penult, ultima?
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis?
Connery, Brosnan, Craig?
posted by praemunire at 3:19 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis?
Connery, Brosnan, Craig?
posted by praemunire at 3:19 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
(or any trilogy: Star Wars, ESB, Return of the Jedi?)
posted by praemunire at 3:19 PM on April 18, 2018
posted by praemunire at 3:19 PM on April 18, 2018
Family, genus, species
Major, Colonel, General
Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age
Duke, Prince, King
posted by elsietheeel at 3:28 PM on April 18, 2018
Major, Colonel, General
Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age
Duke, Prince, King
posted by elsietheeel at 3:28 PM on April 18, 2018
Matthew, Mark, Luke
John, Paul, George
Could you do three-name people, like Francis Scott Key or Franklin Delano Roosevelt?
posted by FencingGal at 3:32 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
John, Paul, George
Could you do three-name people, like Francis Scott Key or Franklin Delano Roosevelt?
posted by FencingGal at 3:32 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Appetizer, Entree, Dessert?
posted by Occula at 3:32 PM on April 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Occula at 3:32 PM on April 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
Morning, noon, and night?
posted by salvia at 3:37 PM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by salvia at 3:37 PM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Morning, Afternoon, Evening?
If it's money...something like "Planning, Building, Maintaining"? Or "Plan, Build, Protect"? Save, Spend, Splurge?
I think you have two conflicting mandates here. When it comes to money stuff, categories are purposefully vague so that no one has to be in the "Economy" or "Budget" group and non-linear so that no one can deduce that the "Bluebirds" are in fact the "Budget" group.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:38 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
If it's money...something like "Planning, Building, Maintaining"? Or "Plan, Build, Protect"? Save, Spend, Splurge?
I think you have two conflicting mandates here. When it comes to money stuff, categories are purposefully vague so that no one has to be in the "Economy" or "Budget" group and non-linear so that no one can deduce that the "Bluebirds" are in fact the "Budget" group.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:38 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
this makes me think of the development codenames for Magic: the Gathering expansions. they don't imply literal order the way "small, medium, large" does, but they usually riff on familiar "X, Y, and Z" phrases, so there's still some implication of proper order. some examples:
bacon, lettuce, tomato
earth, wind, fire
control, alt, delete
snap, crackle, pop
rock, paper, scissors
live, long, prosper
lights, camera, action
shake, rattle, roll
hook, line, sinker
friends, romans, countrymen
huey, dewey, louie
blood, sweat, tears
lock, stock, barrel
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 3:54 PM on April 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
bacon, lettuce, tomato
earth, wind, fire
control, alt, delete
snap, crackle, pop
rock, paper, scissors
live, long, prosper
lights, camera, action
shake, rattle, roll
hook, line, sinker
friends, romans, countrymen
huey, dewey, louie
blood, sweat, tears
lock, stock, barrel
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 3:54 PM on April 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
yesterday, today, tomorrow
tall, grande, venti
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:17 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
tall, grande, venti
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:17 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:18 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:18 PM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
silk, linen, cotton
stone, brick, wood
solid, liquid, gas
posted by jamjam at 4:31 PM on April 18, 2018
stone, brick, wood
solid, liquid, gas
posted by jamjam at 4:31 PM on April 18, 2018
Harvard, Yale, Princeton
Oxford, Cambridge, Hull
etc.
posted by zaixfeep at 5:31 PM on April 18, 2018
Oxford, Cambridge, Hull
etc.
posted by zaixfeep at 5:31 PM on April 18, 2018
kindling, match, flame
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:44 PM on April 18, 2018
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:44 PM on April 18, 2018
QEC: Question; Evidence; Conclusion
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 5:44 PM on April 18, 2018
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 5:44 PM on April 18, 2018
beginning, middle, end
posted by XtineHutch at 5:50 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by XtineHutch at 5:50 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Is this a job for ordered lists?
1, 2, 3
A, B, C
Alpha, Beta, Gamma
posted by this-apoptosis at 6:23 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
1, 2, 3
A, B, C
Alpha, Beta, Gamma
posted by this-apoptosis at 6:23 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
well. call. premium.
widget, gadget, ultramegasuperthing.
posted by vrakatar at 7:01 PM on April 18, 2018
widget, gadget, ultramegasuperthing.
posted by vrakatar at 7:01 PM on April 18, 2018
Stoplight order -- red, yellow, green.
posted by cnidaria at 7:34 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cnidaria at 7:34 PM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
How about 3 days of the week, or 3 months or 3 hours?
Other ideas:
Ready, set, go
Reptile, dinosaur, bird
Solo, duet, trio
Straw, sticks, brick (cf three little pigs)
Bach, Mozart, Chopin (3 great composers in chrono order of when they were born)
Newton, Einstein, Hawking (3 great scientists, similar to above)
Finger, arm, shoulder
Toe, foot, ankle
X, Y, Z
Spoke, hub, wheel
Head, body, tail
Veni, vidi, vici
posted by foxjacket at 8:38 PM on April 18, 2018
Other ideas:
Ready, set, go
Reptile, dinosaur, bird
Solo, duet, trio
Straw, sticks, brick (cf three little pigs)
Bach, Mozart, Chopin (3 great composers in chrono order of when they were born)
Newton, Einstein, Hawking (3 great scientists, similar to above)
Finger, arm, shoulder
Toe, foot, ankle
X, Y, Z
Spoke, hub, wheel
Head, body, tail
Veni, vidi, vici
posted by foxjacket at 8:38 PM on April 18, 2018
dust, sand, rock
rock, boulder, mountain
word, sentence, paragraph
verse, chapter, book
flow, Flow, FLOW
whisper, tell, shout
in, at, out
ice, water, steam
meh, ok, eek
sparse, sufficient, plentiful
posted by zengargoyle at 9:02 PM on April 18, 2018
rock, boulder, mountain
word, sentence, paragraph
verse, chapter, book
flow, Flow, FLOW
whisper, tell, shout
in, at, out
ice, water, steam
meh, ok, eek
sparse, sufficient, plentiful
posted by zengargoyle at 9:02 PM on April 18, 2018
darryl, larry, other brother larry
Wynken, Blynken, Nod
Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe
city, state, ZIP
eat, drink, be merry
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:44 PM on April 18, 2018
Wynken, Blynken, Nod
Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe
city, state, ZIP
eat, drink, be merry
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:44 PM on April 18, 2018
Alvin, Simon, Theodore
Rip Van Winkle
Un Deux Trois
Moustache Goatee Beard
Triangle Square Pentagon
Ready Set Go
Since it's about money, what about
Nickel Dime Quarter, or Dime Quarter Dollar?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:25 PM on April 18, 2018
Rip Van Winkle
Un Deux Trois
Moustache Goatee Beard
Triangle Square Pentagon
Ready Set Go
Since it's about money, what about
Nickel Dime Quarter, or Dime Quarter Dollar?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:25 PM on April 18, 2018
ilovewinter: "Rock, paper, scissors"
This seems like a winner to me. There is a clearly accepted order, but the entire point of the game is that none of the three is "better" than the other - it's a circular hierarchy where no individual category is "best" or "worst" intrinsically.
Otherwise, Larry, Moe, Curly ...?
posted by caution live frogs at 9:03 AM on April 19, 2018
This seems like a winner to me. There is a clearly accepted order, but the entire point of the game is that none of the three is "better" than the other - it's a circular hierarchy where no individual category is "best" or "worst" intrinsically.
Otherwise, Larry, Moe, Curly ...?
posted by caution live frogs at 9:03 AM on April 19, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by btfreek at 2:34 PM on April 18, 2018