How do/did you name you your pets?

[SoTier]

My current dog is mostly an Australian Heeler/Australian Shepherd named Leroy Jethro Gibbs that answers to Gibbs.  I found him at an Amish farm, but didn't buy him that day because I had a road trip to an event at RIT planned the next day.  Somebody had texted me while I was on the road that I should name my new pup Jethro, which didn't impress me.  Then on the way home, we passed the Thruway exit for Leroy, NY.  Being a fan of the early NCIS, what else could I name my new little boy but  Leroy Jethro Gibbs???   By sheer chance, naming Gibbs after the lead character in the original NCIS is a perfect fit because both have kind of "unique" personalities.  In the case of my Gibbs, a lot of it is related to his genetic make up:  he's OCD when it comes to balls (he will fetch balls until he drops, and he also hoards them); he hates rakes, mops, and brooms as well small wheels on baby buggies, lawn mowers, etc. trying to get them to stop; and he "smiles" when he meets his favorite people (a notable trait linked to Heelers).  While Gibbs will chase squirrels and woodchucks, he's not a killer; he tries to herd them.  He's also very vocal, letting the world know when he's unhappy, especially when he can't go everywhere I go, but also when he's playing with various squeaky or chew toys.  He also takes his job as watch dog very seriously, not just at home, but at the local dog park, while walking in the neighborhood or in the park. The world is full of suspicious things like pigeons, flapping laundry, boats at the ramp across the street from the dog park, etc that he needs to warn me about.  He also sings to sirens and joins his besties at the dog park in community howls.

[Roundybout]

Ours was adopted from a rescue agency that saves dogs from kill shelters. He was rescued from Lennox County, Tennessee. We named him Lenny. 
 

He’s some mix of American fox hound, Labrador, and maybe Pitbull? Not sure. He’s very intelligent but fiercely defensive of the house and us. Hates cats, squirrels, and mail trucks. Rather apathetic towards rabbits, though. 

[Draconator]

Calvin was already named Calvin when we got him at 6 weeks. We liked it. 

Emery showed up in our back yard and wouldn't leave. My stepdaughters named her Emery, and I got to give her her middle name. All black cat, so she's Emery Cygnus. 

Chloe was named Punkin when we rescued her from 10 Lives Club. We didn't like Punkin but kept it as her middle name. Chloe was a group decision. 

Millie and Maggie were already named that when we rescued them. We were told they were a bonded pair, but there's no bond between them lol. We didn't mind Millie and Maggie. 

And Riley our dog was actually named Recon. I mean he's a Staffie so I get why Recon, but we were going to rename him. We wanted to keep something similar, so we went with Riley. My stepdaughter said Cooper went well with Riley, so he's called Riley Cooper. No affiliation to the former Eagles WR. 

[Simon]

We've got a 9 month old half Golden/half Bernese named Raina June.

Raina because my wife loves Mt Rainier and June because it makes her initials RJ for a good friend that I lost.

And when she is in trouble she gets her full name; Raina June Carter Cash. 

 

[Augie]

I chose from the names that my wife hasn’t put on the verboten list.  I really liked the name Maggie for a dog, but it was my MIL’s “Americanized name”, so I knew that would never fly. There are several others, like Bailey. We voted 3-1 to name one dog Bailey, but that was the name of a red headed girl who threw up in my MIL’s car when the wife was young. 🤢  🤮 They couldn’t get the smell out, so they had to trade the car in. (I know, it sounds like a Seinfeld episode.) Apparently that left a lasting impression with my wife. 

 

I guess it’s fair to say we both have veto power, but somehow it still feels like the wifey gets her way. I have to pick my battles. 

 

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Edited 2 hours ago by Augie

[The Jokeman]

Color pattern plays a part. First cat was black and named Midnight, second cat was gray and named Smokey and third cat was tuxedo with a black "mask" on ears and upper face with white mouth area was named Bandit. Current cat a tortie named Chloe before we met. 

[qwksilver]

We had Zoey, a brindle boxer pit mix. Zoey because it fit her. She is 8. Then we adopted an Akita belgian malinois mix when he was 3 months. We went with Zeus because that means both dogs begin with a Z. Also Zeus is a cool name for a dog of his looks and size. He's about 5'8 when he stands on 2 legs just under 80 pounds

 

[Augie]

 

I had the family dog with me in college when my parents started traveling for work. Her name was Brandy, chosen by my parents. And yes, I would serenade her when the song came on the radio. 

 

Brandy was friendly with one of my buddy’s dog, an Irish Setter named Teisha. When I turned 21 my parents gave me a Golden puppy, and Brandy was not fond of the addition to the family. It was touch and go for a while, more so than any experience I’ve had since. Brandy was old and very grumpy. I had to make Brandy spit the puppy’s head out of her mouth. (Truth be told, I tried to get something nasty from her as a kid, and she scared the crap out of me! 😂) It was not my proudest moment. I swear it helped that I named the puppy Teisha. I was desperate.  🤷‍♂️

 

Other than that, we just pick (eligible) names, usually starting with a hard consonant. 

 

 

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Edited 43 minutes ago by Augie